16 Comments Add your own

• 1. Debunked  |  October 7th, 2011 at 3:09 pm

  

  First, because the 8 years prior to Obama of Republican policies really helped us to avoid this whole mess. Right?

  And second, I’m fairly certain it doesn’t matter who is in the White House.

  This recession has been going on for almost four years now. It’s simply the world economy responding to the new global market.

  For the past 15 years, Americans have been giving up much of their strong manufacturing and light skill based service positions in lieu of overseas outsourcing, which has only contributed to the increasingly widening gap between the top 1% and the bottom 50% in terms of both wealth and income.

  As the poor get relatively poorer, the once solid consumer base has less money to buy the increasing supply of consumer products.

  With less consumers creating demand for goods, businesses and, thus, the economy collapses.

  Without significant policy changes to both the freedom of the global economy and business’ current ability to outsource to cheap labor markets (which Democrats have no will to change so and Republicans support), I am skeptical we will ever return to a sub 6% unemployment rate.

  Or, if that was too long. Then I’ll say it succinctly. It’s the lack of demand, stupid.

• 2. TerryN  |  October 7th, 2011 at 6:25 pm

  

  Debunked, another impasse in the making.

  No way can demand – only, lead us to where we are today economically. Especially after we were promised so much by this administration who has delivered so little. Yet, wants to remain on the same path of destruction. (I will accept unsustainable as a synonym for destruction.) Bush had 9/11 and Obama had Bush. Both can be blamed for elements of our problems.

  This lousy administration knows it’s on it’s way out. Why else would they be supporting the policy of dividing Americans even to the point of civil disobedience? Nancy Pelosi claims her wealth is “pristine”? Only a drug addled idiot on welfare could support her, and the last time I was in San Francisco I saw hundreds of them .

  I would agree that demand is down. The major reasons, FUD, “Obamacare ” global economics, and if you’re myopic, “the Republicans”..

  p.s. What’s a better example of greed? Keeping what you earned, or wanting to take by force what someone else has earned?

  Yea, yea, I know not all wealth is earned. Not all poverty deserved. That’s life…

• 3. Debunked  |  October 7th, 2011 at 10:07 pm

  

  First, you’ll have to actually explain how health care reform, most of which has not even been implemented yet, has somehow hurt demand.

  FUD, maybe a bit. But that’s not enough of a reason. Especially since the economy was slowly getting better for almost a year. How was FUD not alleviated then?

  Global economics… was basically my entire argument.

  And the Republicans definitely have much of the blame. So do the Democrats. But conservative policies have controlled this country since the early ’80s and only uninformed or idiots believe otherwise. Taxes and business regulations have, overall, been reduced, while free market policies and defense have only been increased under every President – Republican or Democrat alike. In other words — help the big corporations in hopes that the middle class will benefit. Well, it’s been a nice 30-year experiment of conservative agendas. How’s it working out for us?

  Oh, and Terry, did the plantation owners earn the money from the cotton planted, grown, and picked by the slaves? After all, they gave the slaves food and shelter, so they were compensated for their work.

  So what’s a better example of greed? Earning more than you actually contribute to society or expecting more out of society for those who earn less than they actually contribute?

• 4. TerryN  |  October 8th, 2011 at 5:02 pm

  

  Why do liberals always bring up slavery, or some other historical inequity that’s long gone to make their point?

  I’m worried about what’s happening today and not worried about past transgressions that have been eliminated.

• 5. Debunked  |  October 8th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

  

  If you really think slavery is long gone then you are quite naive. There are more slaves alive in the world today than at any other point in history. And yes, many still exist in the United States. Either via actual slave labor or extremely low wages (which, by the way, 19th century slaves were sometimes paid very low wages too!) off the grid. And who do you think is really benefiting from this free and/or extremely cheap labor?

  But, that’s off topic. You’re dodging the question and not even addressing the “wage slaves” metaphor my comment above was making reference to in rebuttal to your “greed” comment.

• 6. Dan  |  October 9th, 2011 at 5:38 am

  

  So, what are slave wage’s Debunked.
  I realize that you never would accept the fact that Obama has done a lot- not all- but a lot of damage to the economy.
  His administration have put on many regulations, has sued companies for trying to crreate jobs (see the Boeing case) is shutting down electric plants becaue they use coal. They administration, instead has put all of their eggs in green energy and that has been a complete disaster.
  Harry Reid in Nevada with help of the Obama administration, has personally killed thousands of jobs from Yucca Mountain to killing two power plants that would have had thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permament jobs.
  And when does the administration finally get blamed for the economy? After they are voted out of office?
  But keep on acting like an Obama clone- Obama has no clue and…

• 7. TerryN  |  October 9th, 2011 at 11:00 pm

  

  “Oh, and Terry, did the plantation owners earn the money from the cotton planted,”

  I did not say slavery is long gone. I was responding to your comment quoted above. That form of slavery IS long gone. Taken down by a Republican President.

• 8. Debunked  |  October 10th, 2011 at 9:11 am

  

  A progressive Republican president.

  And why do Republicans continually make reference to Lincoln as a proud Republican?

  The words Democrat or Republican make no difference. It’s the ideals behind the party that do. And Republicans at that time were far closer to Democrats than Republicans of today (as in, they were the progressives of the time) – but really they were nothing like either current party.

  And, again, you’re completely ignoring the spirit of my response to your greed question. Perhaps you really do see the inequity and similarities of today’s elite to 19th century plantation owners, but you’re just not willing to admit it yet.

  And Dan, reading comprehension much? I stated that it doesn’t matter who is in the White House and then went on to explain the core of the problem which neither party has been willing to address as pretty much every Republican and most Democrats are simply corporate controlled puppets – Republicans are just more upfront about who they really serve. Where was that defending Obama?

• 9. Elliot  |  October 10th, 2011 at 9:55 am

  

  There are still slaves. I myself have been a sexual one on occasion. Oh, that’s not what you meant? ;)

• 10. John Foust  |  October 11th, 2011 at 9:20 am

  

  What is this, Boots & Sabers?

• 11. Roland Melnick  |  October 11th, 2011 at 11:47 am

  

  I think he can win again. Most of America has witnessed the stunning success of increased government regulation, demonization of certain areas of the private sector, extended unemployment benefits and a Wall Street/Big Bank bailout…we are on the edge of our seats anxiously awaiting what this magician is capable of when he doesn’t have another election to worry about.
  Will he finally stop campaigning and finish his work fundamentally transforming (ie destroying) America?

• 12. Roland Melnick  |  October 11th, 2011 at 11:59 am

  

  There will always be slaves when people look at someone like Herman Cain and say he only got to where he is due to a handout or some turn of luck…that “Condi Rice or Colin Powell aren’t the right shade of black”…that hard work gets you no where…that prison populations grew not because each one of those prisoners made poor decisions and deserve their fate but because cops and/or the system is racist.

• 13. Debunked  |  October 11th, 2011 at 2:44 pm

  

  Roland, I have a question for you. Do you get very cold in winter?

  You know, what with all that tin foil on your head reflecting the sun’s rays away from you.

• 14. Roland Melnick  |  October 11th, 2011 at 7:52 pm

  

  Wisecracking is much easier than defending The Obama. Or, were you confused into thinking my sarcasm was actually praise for Obama? In that case the tin foil hat remark would certainly be deserved.

• 15. John Foust  |  October 12th, 2011 at 12:46 pm

  

  Debunked! Shh! Roland was trying to talk to himself again.

• 16. Roland Melnick  |  October 16th, 2011 at 4:39 pm

  

  [Insert miscellaneous Foust-like whining about ad hominem attacks.]

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