1990 Year in Review

Howard Dicus: We took a census in 1990 and found American moving to the Sun Belt, but for many what counted about census was what it missed. Longstein Edwards as a Chicago street person who was never counted.

Longstein Edwards: Like I am not even here, for I am lonely. Like I am not even a person. I like to be counted too.

Howard Dicus: The Japanese bought more American businesses in 1990. Land in Hawaii, cattle ranches in Montana, studios in Hollywood. But for this 7-Eleven customer the biggest Japanese takeover was of the Convenient Store chains parent company, Southland Corporation.

Speaker: Point over this is, it's an economic war, not a military war. And the people in this country don't realize it, or won't pay any attention to it, so whole thing is going to hell.

Howard Dicus: The longest economic expansion in US history fizzled in 1990. Recession took hold. Officials refused to use the 'R' word, but economist did, and the people most directly affected knew about it. Charles Hammond, the panhandler said, December giving was down.

Charles Hammond: The economy is not happening, people are not going to donate to me, if they can't buy their kids ice skates.

Howard Dicus: The Gulf crisis made things worse. Oil traders worried that supplies would be interrupted, drove fuel prices up a third. Even though OPEC suspended production limits and there was actually a world oil glut. Somebody paid more than $80 million for a Van Gogh in 1990. Van Gogh sold only one painting his whole life.