What is your take on the economy.

[Uncle Joe]

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http://dailyhowler.com/

<snip>

The previous evening, as we’ve noted, David Gergen had answered that question on Hardball (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 7/12/06). Why aren’t voters giving Bush credit? Here was Gergen’s explanation—an explanation which is quite conventional, except among the power elite:

GERGEN (7/11/06): If you look at the numbers on the growth side, it looks great, but in terms of my actual life, most people find that their incomes are stagnant and they cannot afford the higher cost of health care and many other—and gasoline and many other things that are coming their way, and that’s why they`re very unhappy.

<snip>

MATTHEWS: Is the president`s economic program winning?

WELCH: Absolutely, Chris! I mean these numbers are quite staggering. And look at their revenues that are coming in, as the deficit comes down. I mean, this guy has got the numbers in terms of the economy. Now he doesn’t have the numbers in terms of the polls—



Edited for other.

[Sammy Pepys]

1. Other

I think you have to judge the economy like you judge figure skating: eliminate the highest and lowest "scores" to get a more accurate picture. There are always going to be numbers that are up and numbers that are down, investments that are making money and investments that are losing money, and the employment market is a lot more dynamic than what's reflected in the regular stats I think.

Right now, I think the economy is good...not great, but good.

[Skelington]

9. Well said, I agree.

[porphyrian]

2. You have to be rich and isolated to think the economy is somehow good.

There haven't been this many homeless people since reagan plagued the White House.

[Clarkie1]

3. Neither. eom

[saltpoint]

4. Folks who benefitted from Bush's tax cuts are able to meet all expenses

and have plenty left over for savings, vacations, and kids' college plans.

Almost everybody else is less rosy, in some state of flux, either managing-but-not-thriving or struggling outright.

It's an upper-class prosperity on the backs of the struggling majority.

[HughBeaumont]

5. Gangbusters for Wall St. Crapcakes for Main St.

Incomes have been stagnant in terms of keeping up with the cost of living since the late 90s. The gap between the earning power of rich and middle class/poor has skyrocketed. There is no strength in an economy that has lost this many manufacturing and industrial jobs.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. I have seen several economists being interviewed lately and they

all seem to say the same thing. The economy is good for the investor class, but that the average American is not feeling the benefits.

[Rosemary2205]

7. Other, incomes here are falling

I'm in a blue collar to lower class area and alot of people I know are actually making less money now than they made in 1990 --- I'm not even talking about adjusted for inflation but in actual straight dollars - they are taking pay CUTS.

[AzDar]

8. Between stagnant wages, and the increased price of EVERYTHING,

a lot of folks see their economic ships sinking fast.
I don't believe it's sustainable....

[Coyote_Bandit]

10. Our economy is f*cked

Almost everything we own - both as a nation and as indiviuals - is debt financed. Prices are up and consumer purchasing power is declining. Not a good combination in an economy that is dependent upon consumer spending. There are few prospects for development or increasing wages. Now add worldwide political instability to that mix.

If the US is involved in a real war on multiple fronts with several countries it would get its arrogant butt soundly kicked. Hell, we can't even manufacture our own underwear. How do we think we can sustain a war effort?