Sooo..your defence of the near-stagnation of the U.S. economy is - 'well, it's better then Europe's which is REALLY lousy'.
Okaaaaay.
That's like bringing a report card home with nothing but 'd's' and telling your parents; 'Well, I am doing a lot better then the dumb kid'.
Somehow, I don't think your parents would reply; 'Oh, well, that is different. Then well done, son'.
All the major western economies (and Japan) are following the same failed economic model - keep interest rates at or below zero and throw as much government/central bank money at the economy that they can. It's been over 8 years and still these economies are not strong enough to stand on their own feet...AND THEY NEVER WILL BE UNDER THIS POLICY; I (and others) said that years ago.
These policies are FAILING...miserably.
And all you have to say is 'well, at least we are doing better then the dumb kid'.
Oh, and some news for you...these failed policies are what is accelerating the income disparity as the rich are getting richer, the poor are growing in numbers and the middle class is shrinking. It's been over 8 years with this policy...that is long enough to show that it is FAILED and IT is causing the misery.
Food stamp usage is over 40 million in America, housing ownership rates are the lowest they have been since the 60's and the M2 money velocity is the LOWEST ON RECORD and still falling (which means people are not spending) and yet the stock market is hitting new record highs.
United States Home Ownership Rate | 1965-2016 | Data | Chart | Calendar
Food Stamps Charts | Matt Trivisonno's Blog
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M2V
It's right in front of your face - and yet still you refuse to look at the plain facts...the economy is stagnating and the cause is too low interest rates and cheap money being dumped on everyone who is rich.
And once again, I despise both parties...I have zero political agenda.