Consumer confidence is down, but the rich go on vacation

Another indicator that the economy is getting eaten by the rich is that vacation travel has not slumped among the wealthiest Americans.

At a country club outside of Portland, about 150 people spent part of a recent sunny day indoors at a "Luxury Explorers' Showcase" to learn about African safaris, tours of the Amazon and Galapagos, private jet charters and even space tourism.

Organizer Pamela Hurley-Moser said not all of the attendees were loaded with money, but all had one thing in common: They had no intention of canceling travel.

Hey Pamela, a country club membership means you have disposable income.

TCS Expeditions, which offers tours via private jets, is sold out for 2008 and nearly sold out for 2009 even though the standard price for trips like "Wildlife of the World" and "History's Lost Cities" is $64,950 per person, said Melanie Cole, vice president of sales in Seattle.

If you are feeling down, get out that People Magazine and live vicariously through people who can still have those luxuries. Either that or start demanding equal pay for equal work.


Doesn't it say something about this day and age when a pop song, like this one by Good Charlotte, can have a diatribe against the rich.