DEBUNK THIS!!!!!

[K. F. Gibbons]

The president doesn't having anything to do with the economy. Government doesn't create jobs. The economy isn't the Bush's fault.




This is the response I get every time I discuss economic issues with a republican.

[RebelYell]

1. Don't bother trying to reason with someone like that

Suggest they play in traffic.

[Maple]

2. Who takes credit when the economy is good?

And war debts and deficits always affect the economy.

[alittlelark]

3. They are Dittoheads and lost causes

unless someone they love gets killed in this debacle they will continue to swill the kool-aid daily

[camero]

4. Well, if it's the rich's economy, then punish them.

By raising their taxes. That's one way gov't helps or hurts the economy by rewarding certain behaviors and punishing others through the tax code.

Clinton's tax deduction for plant and equipment is a perfect example. Create jobs, get a tax break. Don't create or outsource jobs? Then get punished.

[joefree1]

7. How about Roosevelt

He used the Government to spend on public programs to stimulate the economy. This got a lot of people working right away. No waiting for taxs cuts for the Rich to trickle down on the rest of us.

[camero]

8. That's another good example

and welfare payments which keep the economy going in times of recession.

[bluestateguy]

5. They were happy to give Reagan a lot of credit in the 1980's

They were also happy to blame Jimmy Carter in the late 1970's too. Can't they make up their mind?

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. Same republicans

say it's Clinton's fault and never see the contradiction.

[seasat]

9. Yet, they tell you the opposite regarding tax cuts and regualtion.

They'll argue that tax cuts for the wealthy and deregulation stimulate the economy. They'll also argue that the tech market collapse was the result of Clinton's lack of regulation (actually most was due to Republicans blocking Democratic reforms or removing protective regulations) and that Gee-Dub has passed regulation that remedies that (yet still accounting firms can both consult and audit the same company). It's their schizo-economic philosophy.

Of course the government influences the economy and the president as the most powerful government official has the most influence. The difference is that most influences the president may have are long term. The main short term influence is spending or tax cuts (injecting money into the economy). They don't want to admit that the Government influences the economy because then they'd have to admit that their plans are failures.

A great example of government influence is the growth in the middle class following WWII resulting from the educated work force produced through the GI bill. If we increase the education level of the average US citizen, then we increase productivity of that citizen.

[Robert Oak]

10. quick retort

Then why is Bush claiming his tax cuts were an economic stimulus?

[mhr]

11. Government Creates The Rules Not The Jobs

Cheap Labor Conservatives (aka republicans) demand corporate friendly rules not worker friendly rules.

Ask those republicans if they have the money to fight the corporations. If they cannot compete with the Guchi Gulch Republican Lobbyists then they need the democrats to level the playing field.

[Langis]

12. That republican does not know what they are talking about

Maybe they don't understand government subsidies, taxes, tariffs, and regulations. All of these have profound effects on the economy. Your friend needs to go back to economics 101.

[Name removed]

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