Just how great is this economy ?

[kentuck]

It's obvious that the economy is the #1 issue that the Repubs plan running on in upcoming election. They are saying there is 4% growth so far this year. Where is that growth? I don't see it but perhaps someone can enlighten us?

[unblock]

1. i think about 5% is attributable to exxonmobil, conocophillips, etc., ...

the rest of us get -1%, bring it to 4% growth overall!

[bryant69]

2. I don't know that you can observe national growth

on a local level? And at any rate, Economic Growth seems like one of the weaker measurements of how an economy is really performing.

I do think this year will be an up year for the economy, however.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[kentuck]

Why?

Do you think this will be an "up year"?

[bryant69]

12. Well partly because I'm a secret freeper and I always think the

economy is going up.

But also because I think the fed is about to cease raising ineterest rates. And some of the economic reports i've read indicate that things should start going up.

Bryant

[kentuck]

13. Oh, you're not a "secret" freeper...

:) It's public knowledge.

[bryant69]

18. I guess I'll have to start faking it better

I guess.

[Roland99]

3. Hmm...I thought Q1 growth came in at 1.7%?

And that slowdown from last year is likely due to fewer home equity loans which have been fueling the economy as trickle-down is proving that the only thing that trickles down is shit.

[BR_Parkway]

4. IIRC, energy prices would be pushing up some of those numbers

along with new factory orders for instruments of war, banks should be up with increased holdings thru mutual funds as the newly lower taxes on the investor class kick in, unemployment is lower than it would be if we didn't have hundreds of thousands of reservists and support groups in Iraq/Afganistan, and tax breaks for companies have kicked in, making them more profitable on paper.

Yup, it's a great economy.

[Sammy Pepys]

5. We need to get our ducks in order on this...

Just saying the economy is not as good as it appears isn't going to work and tempts the other side way too much. We need hard facts and figures presented in a way everyday folks can relate to.

[AllieB]

6. Most people are worse off than they were 5 years ago

Skyrocketing fuel prices, inflation, and rising housing prices. Yeah, the economy is great if you have money left at the end of the month to invest. Most of us don't.

[BiggJawn]

7. It's a big hard-on if you're in the "Investor Class"

It's still a big hard-on, only it's somebody else's up your ass if you're Working Poor.

Every year, they post inflation at between 3-4%, and my pay increases maybe 2%. So as the years go by, I fall behind, and this year and 2 years ago, when I got NOTHING, really hurts.

When Il Douche crows about how robusto the Enronomy is doing, he's talking about his "Base", the "Haves and Have MOREs"

[Arkansas Granny]

22. I've heard several economists lately state that very thing.

If you are in the upper income class, things are looking very good for you right now. However, things are not that good for middle and lower income class workers. Bush's economic policy is just a rerun of Reagan's trickle down theory, but it never seems to reach the lower end of the scale.

[Joe Fields]

8. When you re-formulate the model for growth, any "numbers" are possible!

[shain from kane]

9. Deficit spending. Keynesian economics. I know a lot of it is military, but

it has some domestic effect.

[bluestateguy]

10. The prices are up on everything at the grocery store

People have to buy gas. They have no realistic choice about it. That's why there are never sales on gas. It now costs more to truck the food in, so those costs are passed on to the consumer. People are reminded of the cost of gas every day they go to the pump.

[Joriet]

14. This capitalistic economy has always been "good"

Good for who? Not for blue and most white collar workers. Corporations and stock holders...yes. The top 10%.....yes. The global economy also favors the same groups and only continues to widen the gap of America's wealth imbalance. Blame the conservatives in the White House for this one, too.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi Joriet!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[shenmue]

11. 4% more bullshit

Production of that is thriving.

[LoKnLoD]

15. They will lose on that

I think the average American is hurting economically and do not see this "Great Economy". My electric and heating gas have almost doubled since 2001, and I'm conserving more and using less. People just have to look in their wallets and bank accounts to form an opinion of the economy.

[kentuck]

17. My heating bill was $250 last month...

I'm sure I'm not alone in these high heating bills.

[Coexist]

16. check this out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=837158&mesg_id=837158

You can see where the growth really went.

[FlaGranny]

19. Growth is in the pockets

of corporate executives and growth is in the prices I'm paying. Growth in my monthly electric and gas bills. Growth in my property taxes. Lots of growth in prices at the grocery store. BUT NO GROWTH in my monthly income. It is getting difficult to survive out here.

[kentuck]

20. Excellent response !

FlaGranny!

[FlaGranny]

21. And very true

:-)

Really got shocked at my last two trips to the grocery store.