Just from today's headlines, we find that Hewlett-Packard is getting rid of 24,600 jobs, nearly 8% of it's workforce according to Jordan Robertson of the Associated Press. That's on top of the 15,000 already forced out by the company's restructuring in the last 2 or 3 years. FORTY THOUSAND JOBS GONE in one company alone, with half of those axed living in the U.S.A., the rest scattered around the world.

Remember how, not that long ago, we were all told that computing skills would make us indispensible? Ooops!

Also today, Yahoo! News reports that Lehman Brothers, the 4th biggest Wall Street firm, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - this is a firm that's been operating for 158 years, and a shut down would put another 24,000 people out of work.

In related news, Bank of America is buying troubled investment bank Merrill Lynch, the world's largest brokerage. Both companies have already layed off thousands of employees, and no doubt more will follow where the two firms' services overlap.

Pretty dire situation, but it could still get a lot worse. According to the Wall Street Journal, AIG - the American International Group - is seeking an additional $40 Billion USD in emergency funds, on top of the $20 Billion USD it already raised earlier this year. That's BILLION, with a 'B'...

But think of how many people, possibly even yourself, would be affected if AIG, the world's largest insurance company, were to fail. While Lehmann is the biggest bankruptcy in US history in terms of assets, it would pale by comparison to the collapse of AIG.

These days, perhaps more than any time in history, people all over the world are experiencing the old Chinese curse: 'May you live in interesting times.'

Interesting times indeed! But how can you protect yourself, your family and your loved ones when the big 'Blue-Chip' firms are faltering, stock markets are spiralling downward, inflation is running amok in the fuel, food and related indexes, mortgages are no longer a safe investment for the rich or available at all to the middle class?

For a rapidly-growing number of people world-wide, the answer is self-employment through Internet marketing. While no firm numbers exist, there are at least tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands that are now making money online, from a few extra bucks each month to keep up with inflation to those earning 6, 7 and 8 figure incomes online.

Far from the traditional economic model of the 'normal' entrepreneur, the Internet marketing business model is gloabally based, providing something of a hedge from any country-specific economic woes. The industry operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so there's no concern over when you work or where you're online.

Most importantly, there are two major differences from operating a microenterprise or monoenterprise in the offline world. First, the industry is based on shared knowledge - no other industry is as quick to make the 'business success secrets' available to all and asunder. Thousands of Internet marketers write online newsletters - e-zines - that detail the steps to success in the industry, explore trends as they happen, and recommend the sites, services and products one needs to succeed online in Internet marketing.

The biggest difference, however, is the level of startup capital required - in fact, one can easily start part-time without any expenditure beyond their computer and Internet connection, and use the income they earn to build their online business into a full-time activity - often generating far more profits than they've ever dreamed of before!

And since no large startup investment is required, the people who need the income most are able to get started without going into debt, and debt-free companies always survive the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with less difficulty and a greatly reduced incidence of bankruptcy.

Think about it... No major investment, no 'boss' to fire you, no threat to job security from mis-management or fraud by someone above you, a schedule to fit your own desired lifestyle, and an income limited only by your own goals, effort and abilities... No wonder it's one of the fastest growing industries world-wide - it really CAN be YOUR solution to the world's economic woes!