What do you think is going to happen to our economy?

[Tektonik]

Poll question: What do you think is going to happen to our economy?

Will we face a depression reminiscent of the thirties? A prolonged recession?

[jlake]

1. Voted Depression not as bad as 30s

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Depression but not as bad as the thirties

and hopefully not as long.

[jobycom]

3. Clinton will win, reduce the deficit, raise wages, and in eight years it will be a memory.

Oh wait, that was 92. No idea what will happen this time. :)

[jlake]

4. It can happen again if we want.

[enid602]

17. amazing

It's amazing how two politicians (Bill Clinton and GWB) can achieve such different economic results, given the same financial intitutions they had at their disposal.

[Tektonik]

5. For the record I don't believe we'll delve into a depression

But I do not see how this recession won't last another few years.

[Bozita]

6. Hope I'm wrong, but it has all the signs of a meltdown. You need to add that choice.

[Tektonik]

11. Sure I'll add a doom and gloom choice

[lligrd]

13. Meltdown, That Term Really Seems To Fit nt

[Double T]

7. Depression MUCH WORSE than the 30s.

[enid602]

19. IF

IF we don't turn things around pretty quickly. I don't know if we have another 10 months.

[dysfunctional press]

8. i'm going with prolonged recession...

but i'm hoping it doesn't last into the 3rd to 4th years of the next presidency...unless it's mccain.

i just want to make it to dec. 21, 2012- to see what all the fuss is about...it's the new y2k.

[lligrd]

9. I Predicted A Depression When Bush Got Elected The First Time

and I predict it will be bad. The guys will have had 8 years to erode the economy. Not going to be an easy fix and I predict a lot more illegal, immoral financial transactions will be uncovered in the near future. The only bright side is that I also predict this administration will be held accountable for the mess.

Okay, my psychic abilities are virtually nil but I have been right about everything since this administration took over.

[spag68]

10. food and raw materiels

unless we run out of these we stil come out on top.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. As a rather informed person, I really can't say...

So many factors...A recession, most def, since we're already in it. Depression? yeah, probably. How Bad? No one knows, yet. x(

[Tektonik]

15. I think anything can happen now,

although if we were smart we'd be preparing for the worst just in case. One serious natural disaster or foreign relations catastrophe and our fragile economy could just plain break.

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Yes, you have the right idea...

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. :pals:

[Milo_Bloom]

14. Don't see a depression... Near the bottom of a short recession.

I recession that we will be out of within the next year or so.

[DemocratInSoCal]

16. May I Come Live In Your World Please?

No offense, but nothing positive will happen during the next year or so. Are you forgetting who is King until January?

[Tektonik]

20. Well let's pray we don't touch Iran, and that we have a disaster free year

One badly placed earthquake, missile, or hurricane could result in six dollar gas.

[DemocratInSoCal]

22. You're Being Optimistic

I don't think it would take one of those to bring about $6 gas. That may happen entirely due to devaluation of the dollar.

One of those catastrophes, could make it $60/gallon.

[Tektonik]

25. If this country had no reserves, I would agree

But we would start seriously tapping into our reserves rather than letting gas reach that price. The energy markets worry me in that I wonder what price of gasoline is it going to take before the government allows and supports drilling into all of our reserves (oil & oil shale) before everything falls apart.

[Milo_Bloom]

24. You live in it already...

This recession is controlled mainly by the housing situation, which can be controlled with interest rates and a bailout.

[Tektonik]

32. We can't afford an actual bailout unless we defund the war, which won't happen under Bush

[Milo_Bloom]

36. We have been living in a defecit for years...

... what makes you think that is going to change?

Too many other countries go down in we go down, so China will be there to lend us everything we need to keep the consumer happy.

Of course, if just brought manufacturing back in house, it would solve all the same problems.


Novel concept.

[Tektonik]

37. Well there has to be a point where we cannot borrow much more than we already are

I think we are getting very near that point.

[Milo_Bloom]

39. They said that a few trillion dollars ago.

The reality is that it is unlimited, because THEY would collapse without us.

They lend us another 400 billion, we buy 400 billion worth of crap and pay them interest on the 400 billion for the next hundred years.

If America slips into a real depression and stops the consumer economy, China suffers most of all... it is in their best interest to keep us solvent... but all it assures is another 20 years of poison from "made in china".

[DemocratInSoCal]

18. Dogs & Cats, Living Together!!

MASS HYSTERIA!!

[HuffleClaw]

35. heheheehhee

classic!

[Speck Tater]

23. Look for the REAL meltdown late 2008 or early 2009. NT

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

26. ...

All going according to plan -- here's the template they're using:

http://www.crisispapers.org/Editorials/germany-1933.htm

[lpbk2713]

27. I expect there will be open class warfare.

Between the very poor and the very rich. The very poor have been backed up in a corner and there will be an eventual tipping point. Many know they are so far in debt they will never get out and they will see retaliation against those who oppressed them as the right thing to do. The poor will have strength in numbers but the rich will have firepower by hiring people like Blackwater to do their dirty work. It won't be pretty.

[Tektonik]

29. I suspect that will happen in other countries before it happens here

We Americans tend to be a very lazy bunch when it comes to being outraged. Once this recession shuts down India and China's manufacturing and I/T surge, those countries will face some tough shit.

[lpbk2713]

38. The way we do medical care in the US will be a catalyst.

In this country the level of medical care you receive is relative to how much you can pay for it. People without jobs and or health insurance have loved ones who are denied care that will save or extend their lives. Just look at Cheney. If he hiccups he has a team of specialists hovering over him within minutes and this is done at the taxpayers expense. Anyone else would be treated on a sliding scale according to how much they could pay. If enough people lose loved ones who in their estimation died needlessly due to an uncaring system they will want someone to answer for it.

[TML]

28. Not quite the 30s

But it will be very bad. I think it will be bad enough to permanently change people's perceptions of what's really important.

[Tektonik]

30. Won't happen

People forgive and forget too easily. In our lifetime there will be another Hitler/Stalin (heck Bush can catch up if we invade Iran).

[TML]

31. Nah

What I meant was people won't be buying those luxury items anymore. They'll understand that a Chevy will do instead of a Cadillac, a Ford instead of a Range Rover, a regular TV instead of a 60" LCD, etc.

[Tektonik]

33. Until people stop getting credit lines,

people will not come to such realizations.

[TML]

34. That day will arrive soon

The only question is, how long before it happens?

[lonestarnot]

40. kick

[Spider Jerusalem]

41. Prolonged recession at minimum; depression, quite possibly.

How bad? Remains to be seen. Inflationary monetary policy coupled with credit crisis? Potential models for what could happen: 1923 Germany, 1989 Argentina. Collapse of financial institutions as a result of corrective market forces re overvalued assets and bad debts? Possible scenario: 1929, although not as bad this time around.

[Norrin Radd]

42. It will begin to slowly inch toward starting to get better once

the Democratic Party candidate is settled.

[better tomorrow]

43. end of North America as we know it.....

and beginning of New World Order and the Phoenix currency. :rofl: