Why a strong economy is no GOP asset

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060421/ts_csm/apitch;_ylt=An5Vs86oXtwH1EnW_mVbCVys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

Why a strong economy is no GOP asset

By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Fri Apr 21, 4:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Of all the problems Republicans face heading into the fall political season, one of the most exasperating is the economy.
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In many ways, they say, these are the best of times: Unemployment is at 4.7 percent, lower than the averages of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. The economy is showing strong, consistent growth, without significant inflation. And the stock market is roaring along.

Yet many Americans just aren't impressed. A majority tell pollsters they trust the Demo- crats more than the GOP to handle the economy. When asked in an open-ended question which is the most important problem facing the country today, respondents to a recent CBS News poll named "economy/jobs" second after the
Iraq war - and ahead of immigration, terrorism, and healthcare.

"First, there's general concern about globalization and its effect on American manufacturing jobs," says GOP pollster Whit Ayres. "We see low unemployment, but the headlines are dominated by the thousands being laid off by General Motors and Ford."

[Avalux]

1. The unemployment rate is no longer an indicator of a strong economy.

People know it; they're living it. The bozos who keep pointing at the unemployment rate are completely clueless.

When I read your post, I noticed the way Democrats is spelled "Demo- crats" and then went to the actual article to see if it's the same there and it is. Weird.

[Stuckinthebush]

2. Well when people are not as well off as they were 8 years ago

Then you can tell them till you are blue in the face that the economy is just dandy, and they will never agree.

Many people are affected by stagnant wages, low paying jobs, and uncertain futures. They don't give a rat's ass about how the experts view the economy.

[madmom]

3. well when people who worked for GM and Ford get layed off

and have to go work for walmart or mcdonalds we're supposed to be oh so happy because a.) we can spend more quality time with our family or b.) we can have 2 or more jobs instead of that one old boring one.

edited because I can't spell when I'm angry.

[SnowGoose]

4. Additionally, I think people understand

that a good part of the current economy is being supported by unsustainable borrowing (both government and private).

Paraphrasing Ross Perot: you think things are good? Well they sure as hell ought to be, we borrowed up to the hilt - the roads, the schools, everything should be shiny and new for all the money we've borrowed and spent. But of course, everything is not shiny and new, is it?

[teryang]

5. Unemployment and inflation figures are bogus

Many economists have written on this. The criteria are changed to obtain the desired numbers.
Inflation is 7 or 8 percent. It may be a suprise to some, but some experts on "shadow statistics" believe unemployment is as high as 12 percent.

[Lithos]

6. The metrics are bad

First, being employed at McDonalds as a burger flipper is NOT the same as being a programmer. Being employed is not the issue, having access to a good job that is not being subsidized to go overseas is the problem. Free trade is NOT fair trade nor is corporate welfare in the best interest of Americans.

Second, the GDP is a sum-total measurement of the wealth. If the Top 1%'s GDP goes up $50 billion and the bottom 99% goes down $25 billion, the GDP goes up, but the majority are poorer nonetheless.

There are other similar fake metrics as well.

L-