Sometimes The Media Reminds Me Of Ghostbuster 2

Do you remember watching Ghostbusters 2? The whole concept behind these movies were really interesting if you think about it.

For example, as I read an article in the Houston Chronicle this morning it made me think about the 2nd movie. As I remember the movie, it all revolved around this substance that reacted to Human Emotion. If the Human Vibes around it were happy, the substance was happy. If there was anger around, it was Evil. Towards the end, the entire City was in an uproar and led to the uprising again of Vigo. Then our Heroes hopped in and saved the day with the Statue of Liberty by getting the City going again with a Positive Aura.

The article this morning was talking about not buying in to all of the Positive Media about Houston. ??? I was amazed. We finally start to convince the City and the rest of the Nation that it is not all Gloom and Doom down here, we get Kiplinger's Best City to Live and Work in Award and it trickles down to POSITIVE attitudes about the City from TV, Radio, Newspaper and Conversation at Starbucks.

Then, the LOCAL newspaper comes out and says BEWARE? I can't wait to see the how many spin offs will come out off of that one article on the Front Page that is noted as Commentary.

Like the sludge in Ghostbusters 2 that is so easily swayed by Emotion, the Media has the ability to affect and get some Economic aspects in a choke hold. And for the record, I'm not calling Media 'Sludge' :) We need the media.

Speaking as a Consumer here, and not as a Real Estate Professional, I would like to see the whole picture. Not what has happened in the last 3 months or 12 months but what is the outlook for the Future also? Yes, we get that Gas Prices are affecting everyone, we get the there are still parts of the Nation with Huge housing and Economic Problems, but what about these items:

• If jobs in Retail are down, what jobs have gone up? Houston has created almost 54,000 jobs in the last 12 months. In what sectors? This is also good information for those looking for a job...maybe to consider Trade Education?
• Construction Jobs are down, but where? The City is Huge!
  
• Our population has grown, could it be relevant information to add here that our population is expected to Double over the next 15 years?
• Gas Prices are High?!? Yep. But, what about that our gas prices are considerably lower than other parts of the Nation.
  
• There is 1/2 a quote from the Greater Houston Partnership, what was the other half? I would bet that it was positive. AND THEY are the ones that attract Business to come to this City.

The title of this Headline was "Better not buy into the economic hype". So, what are we supposed to do? What are we supposed to believe?

I understand, atleast I think, what the article was trying to say. But, would it hurt to look at all sides?

All of this is just thoughts. I appreciate the News that the Chronicle gets out there, and they do a Phenomenal Job of it, but I think Consumers are confused.