Sorry Peter, I was watching his news conference so I don't have a link. I believe it was his third news conference in three days prior to Thanksgiving, it was kind of a throwaway line(not his main thrust), which excerpt I saw on McNeil Lehrer(I'm fairly certain).

"You stated: It turns out Mr Obama strongly suggested individual Americans with (I assume you meant "will") be the difference maker to the negative(in this economy) if we don't spend(charge) with abandon."

Certainly that inference was present if one reverse engineered his remarks. His remark was more to the effect of hoping people spend liberally with more than a hint of skepticism in his non verbal vocalizations.

"Can you provide a link to his advising us to spend/charge with abandon. If he really said such a thing, I would think that is foolish indeed."

I agree it is a foolish long term solution but he is correct, people should spend, think of it as a temporary increase in economic blood flow. Keep in mind, thereabouts 2/3's of the American economy is largely pointless consumerism, trinkets, little used toys stores in our homes, bumper stickers, fill in the blank. Considering the American Peoples credit is being pissed(promised) away by the Fed's with abandon on global adventurism(imperialism actually) and bailing out the banking experts and their bedfellows(defrauding the American people actually) -though I disagree with it- the American people(in the short term mind you) would probably be well advised to spend with abandon too. It's not going to lessen the fall(except in how that money is spent), but it will stave it off, through the holidays, due to the temporary increased blood flow. Something like 50% of purposeless consumer purchasing occurs between Thanksgiving and Xmas.

Frankly Sir, if I could give the American People a message it would be thus: Go see your family for the holidays, make it a big tadoo!, drive so you can see the country while putting money in peoples pocket along the route. (help put the TSA out of work. yeah right.) Followed by: instead of buying pointless consumer fads, spend your money on sturdy clothing, working gloves, storable food, seed stock, gardening implements(we may have plenty of time on our hands for weeding), have your bow restrung, buy new hunting tips and/or stock up on ammo and BUY someone a Berkey and a store of filters. Canning supplies will be exceptionally valuable. Obtaining a few layer chickens are of immense value in hard times. If you have children or grandchildren, buy them clothes now that they'll grow into. Especially boots/shoes, gloves and coats. If you know someone handy at sewing or knitting, buy them supplies as they might make you a sweater later. And, tough as it is, try to buy American(thereby temporarily keeping that economic flow as local as possible).

"Additionally, can you spare a link to the rise in commodity prices. Many thanks!"

I take it you don't do the grocery shopping. Am I using the wrong term? Respective to the continuing rise in food and staple prices. If so my apologies and please educate me.

Too, I would point out markets not only can but are manipulated. For instance the IMF has been depressing gold prices by putting their supplies on the market. I believe they announced that last as their intent and goal Feb last.

peaceably