6-8 years for Economy

[radfringe]

I told my partner last night that I would be looking for a second job (part-time). Most likely it end up being a 2nd job that pays minimum wage or slightly better, after taxes it would amount to $80-90/wk extra.

The reasons: The "bush economy" isn't trickling down.

What is "trickling down" are higher:
- gas prices
- heating oil
- utilities
- local property/school taxes
- grocery/general living expenses
- health insurance
- interest rates

more often than not - any raise I receive at my full time job is quickly wiped out by higher prices/costs elsewhere and I actually end up having less in my pocket after the raise than before it...

In my estimation - we have another 2 years of a "bush economy" (even if bush is impeached or otherwise is removed) and another 4 after that before we can hope for some competent handling of economic policy - this assumes we get someone competent in 2008

In 1992 - Clinton was elected. We were still in the grips of the reagan/bush-1 trickle-down economic recession. It took about 4 years before us peons began to see any real benefits.

How long do you think it will take? How well is the bush economy working for you? other comments?

[Random_Australian]

1. Recover? I am not sure that your economy will. Even a very competent

person with a great team behind them would find it difficult to make America not fall down IMO.

That is how it looks from here.

[radfringe]

2. Maybe we will fall down

before we can get back up again...

I just hope the fall isn't into too big of a hole

[mwb970]

7. A competent president would be thwarted by the Republicans.

We've seen this movie before.

[wakeme2008]

3. Right now doing great.....

I am a contract programmer and was out of work for 3 years. Offshoring and H1Bs killed the work I had done for years. But it took a while before the companies wised up that India was not the place to get their work done.

But I am planning on 4 more lean years. Housing in Florida is going crazy and my 40 yo apartment is going condo. This month I am moving into storage my apartment things and I am planning to move to mid state California when the current contract is over.

I have worked out of state for 15+ years, because Florida does not pay. And it is going down on pay every year. I want a contract I can go home on the weekends and I can do that in California. Plus it is a Blue State :)

[liberal N proud]

4. I am just waiting for the trickle down effect to regurgitate

And all those who think they are OK now will be in deep shit.

My wife and I were looking at a real estate web site for houses in our area that are for sale. We do this from time to time just to judge what our house is worth. There is a neighborhood about 3 miles from our house where there are over 70 houses for sale, all of them are $700K or higher. This is one of those neighborhood where everyone has an SUV and a Mercedes in their garage.

[fasttense]

5. You probably are correct about another

2 years of economic hell under the bushes regime. I think things in 2007 are going to get even worse than they are now. I live in rural TN and I have noticed housing prices have dropped, industrial parks are closing, factories have moved out, unemployment rates have gone up and many businesses have turned into vacant buildings. Four years ago when we moved here, industrial parks were opening up everywhere, factories were about an hours drive away and new businesses were opening up but no longer. My husband has been able to find jobs but nothing with any decent pay. We couldn't make it if it weren't for my retirement pay. But I think all of that is just the tip and I expect this country is in for some really bad times in 2007.

As for recovery? Well if the Democrats get another FDR we could see some relief quickly but it all depends on who the President will be in 2008.

[acmejack]

6. There will be no recovery.

With peak oil, peak grain, peak water all striking us coincidental with the huge debt, the exporting of our industrial base, and all the "Free Trade" agreements, there shall be no recovery. Put away your hopeless optimism and get a grip on reality.

[lectrobyte]

10. There could be a rebirth. Spend some of that peace dividend on

alternative energy development etc. I'm not quite as pessimistic, compared to a lot of the world, we have a lot of advantages and resources here. I'm afraid, though, it will take something like a great depression to turn us around though, but my grandparents survived that, so will we.

[Deja Q]

8. I have a well paying, if not highly stressful job right now...

Trouble is, I have no partner and too many people find me a freak (trust me) to get past a first date.

And I'm worried my job will be going bye-bye in a matter of weeks or months. In favor of people who treat theirs as just a job, and don't have the experience or skills I have.

But then, who said life was fair?

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Economies NEVER Trickle Down

That is a provably ridiculous theory that not only doesn't work in practice, but doesn't work in theory unless everything operates in 2 dimensions.

Economies only percolate upward, which is why every policy, in every developed capitalist country, that ever positively improved standard of living and macroeconomic health has involved the reduction of poverty and the expansion of the middle class. That's it. There has never been any such successes that involved top-down economic expansion, and don't let any of the St. Ronnie fanatics argue otherwise. Make them prove it!
The Professor