By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh
03 November 2008
Cambodians living in the US say they are starting to feel the US economic crisis. They are counting on the next US president to help.
Merrith Chhang, a retiree in Washington state, said commodities, food and entertainment were all getting more expensive.
“It affects my family a lot,” he said. “For example, I used to buy a package of cereal that cost $3; now it costs $4. The price of chicken and other foods have also increased. It no only affects my family, but it also affects all the people in America.”
Merrith Chhang said he has reduced the number of times he visits his children in other states, thanks to the high price of gas. He has also stopped eating in restaurants.
“The reality is that I don’t spend so much on food, but I spend so much on medical care, such as going to the dentist,” he said. “Medical care in the US is extremely expensive. I am old, so I always check my health. I spend so much on medical. It’s about 50 percent of my spending.”
Larry Seng, another Washington state resident, who works at the aerospace and defense manufacturer Boeing, said had cut back on entertainment expenses with his family, which includes a son and a daughter.
“When I don’t have so much income, we can’t spend [money] on the things we want to,” he said. “When the economy is down like this, we don’t have so much to do, so we have to reduce our spending. It’s kind of hurting a lot.”
The economic crisis began when many Americans failed to pay back loans on homes that had lost much of their value, leaving many banks and other lending agencies holding the debt and leading to a string of bankruptcies. Financial panic spread to world markets, where there is now a shortage of money and credit, while demand from American consumers dropped.
Some companies have already begun cutting jobs, as Americans reduce their spending on products.
Rong Sourn, director of the Cambodian Association, in Philadelphia, Penn., said she hoped the government would provide more opportunities to small businesses, despite the crisis.
“The government should allow small businesses to be comfortable,” she said. “The government should make the economy grow by allowing small businesses to get some loans to make their business more sustainable.”
David Seng, who also lives in Philadelphia, blamed the Republicans for the decline of the economy.
“We have lived with the Republican regime for eight years already,” he said. “During the era of [president] Bill Clinton, we had a surplus, but now we don’t even have money and our economy is seriously falling down. The number of wars has also increased. So much money spent on war. I think the Republicans sing the same song over and over.”
Merrith Chhang, a retiree in Washington state, said commodities, food and entertainment were all getting more expensive.
“It affects my family a lot,” he said. “For example, I used to buy a package of cereal that cost $3; now it costs $4. The price of chicken and other foods have also increased. It no only affects my family, but it also affects all the people in America.”
Merrith Chhang said he has reduced the number of times he visits his children in other states, thanks to the high price of gas. He has also stopped eating in restaurants.
“The reality is that I don’t spend so much on food, but I spend so much on medical care, such as going to the dentist,” he said. “Medical care in the US is extremely expensive. I am old, so I always check my health. I spend so much on medical. It’s about 50 percent of my spending.”
Larry Seng, another Washington state resident, who works at the aerospace and defense manufacturer Boeing, said had cut back on entertainment expenses with his family, which includes a son and a daughter.
“When I don’t have so much income, we can’t spend [money] on the things we want to,” he said. “When the economy is down like this, we don’t have so much to do, so we have to reduce our spending. It’s kind of hurting a lot.”
The economic crisis began when many Americans failed to pay back loans on homes that had lost much of their value, leaving many banks and other lending agencies holding the debt and leading to a string of bankruptcies. Financial panic spread to world markets, where there is now a shortage of money and credit, while demand from American consumers dropped.
Some companies have already begun cutting jobs, as Americans reduce their spending on products.
Rong Sourn, director of the Cambodian Association, in Philadelphia, Penn., said she hoped the government would provide more opportunities to small businesses, despite the crisis.
“The government should allow small businesses to be comfortable,” she said. “The government should make the economy grow by allowing small businesses to get some loans to make their business more sustainable.”
David Seng, who also lives in Philadelphia, blamed the Republicans for the decline of the economy.
“We have lived with the Republican regime for eight years already,” he said. “During the era of [president] Bill Clinton, we had a surplus, but now we don’t even have money and our economy is seriously falling down. The number of wars has also increased. So much money spent on war. I think the Republicans sing the same song over and over.”
4 comments:
The Repugs always come along to fuck up the economy. Then it is up to the Democrats to fix it. Once it is fixed, they loose power to the Repugs, who once again ruin the economy. It's a cycle of progress and stupidity.
I wish all people need to make to right choice for Presidenttial election,Because we are the people of US need to maintain our system to restore faith.This is the promise land of our forfather been here.We are the people need to keep our Country strong forever.
I make my choice and my prediction who will be the next President of United State?...and I believe Mr.Barack Obama will be the next President of United State.
May GOD Bless the U.S.A
At least you live in a free country. You can do whatever you like or anything you wish and can always sleep in peace. How would you like to know that someone else other than Mr. McCain can and will change America to a socialist? or marxist or a gov. controlling freak country? Fast or slow growing, McCain should be everyone's top choise. Innocense or poor people are too naiive to support anybody that can say or make them feel good. People that are smart who know exactly the different between the two worlds just don't go for anybody. They go with people of pure credibility and capability. That people are McCain's people. McCain will fight and keep America strong and free until his last breath.
By the way,isn't Bush adminis. good relation with China says anything about Cambodia and our beloved friend North Korea? oops! didn't notice it? did ya?
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