Bush economy is similar to Reagan economy in many ways...

[kentuck]

I recall the 80's quite well. It started with the dismantling of PATCO Union, the air traffic controllers. Huge taxcuts for the wealthiest because they were the ones that create the jobs. Huge dificits that followed. Then tax increases on the middle class and the poor to make up the difference when the revenues did not come in as expected. Increase in FICA taxes and unemployment insurance. More homeless people put out on the street because the IQ limit was lowered. But they still brag about how great the reagan economy was at that time.

However, from a workers perspective, I recall the fear of the average worker. Many were afraid they would never get another job if they lost the one they had. They were effective in halting all demands from the labor side. Unions were scared to death. And now, we are in the new Bush economy. The similarities are stark.

[FloridaPat]

1. Yes, that's how I remember it. Worst years of my life to that point.

You said: "Then taxcuts on the middle class and the poor to make up the difference when the revenues did not come in as expected. " For those confused, Reagan kept saying it was a tax cut, but people ended up paying a lot more money. I had a friend who was a life long Democrat and followed the news closely. We were going to a meeting when he talked about the tax cut. I asked him how much tax cut he got because I had already figured out it was a tax increase on the Middle Class. He said he didn't get a cut, he had to pay $3,000 more a year.

This is how bad propaganda is. For years this guy talked about all the tax cuts, but he didn't get one and it never occured to him that the government lied.

And why was I so quick to grasp it? I was a member of PATCO and saw how much the government lies and cheats when it wants to. I lost all respect for the government on that day.Had to change careers: to a computer programmer. And here I am again looking for a new career because another repub has sent the jobs overseas.

[kentuck]

2. Thanks. I meant to say tax "increases"..

I recall that was the first time people were asked to pay taxes on their unemployment checks...

[FloridaPat]

3. Yes taxes on unemployment checks. Ugly bunch of people.

[Free the Press]

4. um, remember that the Unemployment rate was redefined! Military added in.

Which permanently reduced the unemployment rate, as it originally was defined.

[kentuck]

6. Yep...

And they raised FICA taxes, pretending to save Social Security, but they really needed the revenues because they did not want to raise taxes on the wealthy...So here we are again...

[leftstreet]

5. Factor in the new bankruptcy bill - Indentured Servants

[Democrats_win]

7. Worker fear insured no new jobs opened up for people entering the market

People with college degrees didn´t get the jobs that would have given them the experience that would have benefitted America today.