How is the US economy doing? (1 Viewer)

[Lantzolot]

What do you think? I personally think it is doing quite well. Especially with falling gas prices and the Value of the dollar increasing.

 

[Old and wise]

In plain english: It Sucks.

 

[Lantzolot]

Please explain.

 

[Deegan]

I can tell you as a nation wide wholesale company, it's going quite well. Sales are through the roof, all of my customers are placing orders, and are expressing to me, a real change from last year in their retail stores. I am making money hand over fist, and life is good, I feel sorry for anyone who is under the impression that it is, anything but terrific, and getting better daily.

 

[Lantzolot]

The US economy grew by a faster-than-expected 4.3 per cent in the third quarter, shrugging aside both higher interest rates and the most damaging hurricane season in recent history.
-Financial Times

I'm paying $1.94 for a gallon of gas in Bentonville, AR. That seems pretty low compared to 4 months ago. AND supposedly it is to fall further. Low gas prices boost confidence in consumers and that will hopefully lead to more spending and a better economy.

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_econindicators_jobspict_20051104

The above site shows more jobs being created (56,000 in october-pretty darn good for the recent hurricanes)

 

[Comrade Brian]

Any capitalist economy that is doing well, will soon go down, as according to business cycles, it may be good now, but sometimes the better they are doing, the more they fall. E.g. in the 1920's the economy was considered to be doing extraordinarily well, the 1930's the Great Depression. So while high points of economy are welcomed, you have to pay the price, soon after will come either a recession or depression. So it may be considered good, but because it is good, it will soon collapse.

 

[Lantzolot]

Any capitalist economy that is doing well, will soon go down, as according to business cycles, it may be good now, but sometimes the better they are doing, the more they fall. E.g. in the 1920's the economy was considered to be doing extraordinarily well, the 1930's the Great Depression. So while high points of economy are welcomed, you have to pay the price, soon after will come either a recession or depression. So it may be considered good, but because it is good, it will soon collapse.

The economies of the 20's and 30's were very different than those of today. The market went completely unmonitered and people borrowed money to buy stock. Big mistake.

After a recession comes a period of renewed growth.

 

[The Real McCoy]

In plain english: It Sucks.

Yes, please explain. How does our current economy suck?

 

[Comrade Brian]

The economies of the 20's and 30's were very different than those of today. The market went completely unmonitered and people borrowed money to buy stock. Big mistake.

After a recession comes a period of renewed growth.

The economies of the 1920's and 1930's were still based upon the same econmic system, though. Some things have changed, but most of the structure remains intact, and markets are becoming more unmonitered.

But during the recessions people become more pessimistic about the current systems, history has shown that during times of recession, anti-capitalism is more apparant, such as Germany and Hitler. And during the 30's, I believe that the Socialist party was something like the 3rd largest in America, Communist, 4th. Also back to Germany, the Communist party there was 3rd largest, and had legislature seats, until Hitler.

 

[M14 Shooter]

I can tell you as a nation wide wholesale company, it's going quite well.

I'm in transportation, involved in raw materials to industry, goods from indistry to wholesale, and wholesale to retail.

2005 is almost as busy as 2004, and 2004 was the busiest in the last 10 years.

Further, transportation volume is a leading indicator, and as such, I dont see an economic slowdown any time soon-- in fact, we're moving into the 'slow' season, and we're just as busy as the busy season.

So, given my reasonably broad exposure to a reasonably effective economic indicator, I'd say the economy is doing pretty darned well.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Any capitalist economy that is doing well, will soon go down, as according to business cycles, it may be good now, but sometimes the better they are doing, the more they fall. E.g. in the 1920's the economy was considered to be doing extraordinarily well, the 1930's the Great Depression. So while high points of economy are welcomed, you have to pay the price, soon after will come either a recession or depression. So it may be considered good, but because it is good, it will soon collapse.

IIRC, we just went the worst economy in 50 years - at least that's what teh democrats told us.. Guess that means we're at the -beginning- of the growth/retraction cycle, not the middle or the end.

Will it slow down sometime? Sure. Always does. That doesnt in any way mean the economy isnt strong, presently.

 

[M14 Shooter]

But during the recessions people become more pessimistic about the current systems, history has shown that during times of recession, anti-capitalism is more apparant...

Hmm.
One can only wonder why the anti-capitalists (that is, the Modern American Liberals) didn't win in 2002 and 2004, during the 'worst comomy in 50 years'.

I think you're stuck in a 19th century paradigm.

 

[Comrade Brian]

Hmm.
One can only wonder why the anti-capitalists (that is, the Modern American Liberals) didn't win in 2002 and 2004, during the 'worst comomy in 50 years'.

Liberals aren't anti-capitalist, I still can't figure out why some believe that, maybe you could enlighten me?

 

[The Real McCoy]

Liberals aren't anti-capitalist, I still can't figure out why some believe that, maybe you could enlighten me?

I've lost count of the number of liberals I've heard preaching the evils of capitalism.

 

[Comrade Brian]

I've lost count of the number of liberals I've heard preaching the evils of capitalism.

Maybe they just recognise some problems, and not believing its entirly perfect, but most would view capitalism positivly, anti-capitalists don't. They probably live more in reality than those who believe nothing about capitalism is bad.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Maybe they just recognise some problems, and not believing its entirly perfect, but most would view capitalism positivly, anti-capitalists don't. They probably live more in reality than those who believe nothing about capitalism is bad.

Well, if thats the case, and the Modern Americal Liberals (rightfully self-described as Socialists in countrues where they can admit it in public) arent anti-capitalists, then your theory is just that much weaker -- it means there hasnt been even an inlking of an 'anti-capitalist' uprising in any of the economic slowdown of the last half-century.

Twice, in 1992 and 2002/2004, we were told the economy was the 'worst in 50 years' -- if that wont trigger an anti-capitalist uprising, what will?

 

[Iriemon]

IIRC, we just went the worst economy in 50 years - at least that's what teh democrats told us.. Guess that means we're at the -beginning- of the growth/retraction cycle, not the middle or the end.

Will it slow down sometime? Sure. Always does. That doesnt in any way mean the economy isnt strong, presently.

I agree the Dems tried to make too big a thing out of the economy. Same with jobs. Jobs were not an issue in 2004. The unemployment rate was about 5.5%, maybe a point higher than at its best in the 90s, but historically still in the very good column. That issue was a loser for the Dems.

It is probably true stock market performance in 1999-2001 was about the worst in 50 years, but not the economy, by a long shot.

 

[Comrade Brian]

Well, if thats the case, and the Modern Americal Liberals (rightfully self-described as Socialists in countrues where they can admit it in public) arent anti-capitalists, then your theory is just that much weaker -- it means there hasnt been even an inlking of an 'anti-capitalist' uprising in any of the economic slowdown of the last half-century.

Twice, in 1992 and 2002/2004, we were told the economy was the 'worst in 50 years' -- if that wont trigger an anti-capitalist uprising, what will?

Liberals in the US aren't socialist, I shall say no more on that idiotic subject.

There have been so-called "anti-capitalist" uprisings, but none in America, media tends to be very persuasive. Unfortunatly most resulted in state-controlled economies, and there are some "anti-capitalist" revolutions/uprisings with groups such as the Zapatistas in Mexico, Maoists in Nepal(a full-scale war it is coming to), FARC in Colombia, Shinig Path in Peru(it still is there but is disappearing). There are many other countries that I haven't described.

 

[The Real McCoy]

Maybe they just recognise some problems, and not believing its entirly perfect, but most would view capitalism positivly, anti-capitalists don't. They probably live more in reality than those who believe nothing about capitalism is bad.

I agree with that. It's foolish to claim capitalism is perfect but no human organized system is... I just think capitalism is the best one we have.

 

[The Real McCoy]

Odd that no one has taken the middle ground in this poll...

 

[M14 Shooter]

Liberals in the US aren't socialist, I shall say no more on that idiotic subject.

Of course it is.

Never mind that Modern American Liberals LOVE the idea of the state owning and (especially) controlling the means of producing and distributing wealth, and the redistribution of wealth through the welfare state.

And I shall say no more on that idiotic subject.

There have been so-called "anti-capitalist" uprisings, but none in America,

And thus, my point is made. Thank you.

 

[M14 Shooter]

I agree the Dems tried to make too big a thing out of the economy. Same with jobs. Jobs were not an issue in 2004. The unemployment rate was about 5.5%, maybe a point higher than at its best in the 90s, but historically still in the very good column. That issue was a loser for the Dems.

It is probably true stock market performance in 1999-2001 was about the worst in 50 years, but not the economy, by a long shot.

Good to see we can agree on something.

 

[Iriemon]

Good to see we can agree on something.

LOL It is rare.

 

[Comrade Brian]

And thus, my point is made. Thank you.

I noticed you skipped everything else in the paragraph.

There have been anti-capitalist uprisings/movements in the past, more than 50 yrs. ago, IWW, is probably the most famous, but there are others, countless others.

 

[Nikola]

The economy is doing great, I'm a chairman of Mechacorp. and in the last 5 years we have doubled the stock, our employees have triple the pay, and twice as many people now than we have had 5 years ago. and you know what amazes me? people are saying that its horrible, and even more surpirising, is that their saying its the President's fault.