Public skeptical of GOP handling of economy

[Radio_Guy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060421/ts_csm/apitch

Duh!

WASHINGTON - Of all the problems Republicans face heading into the fall political season, one of the most exasperating is the economy.

In many ways, they say, these are the best of times: Unemployment is at 4.7 percent, lower than the averages of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. The economy is showing strong, consistent growth, without significant inflation. And the stock market is roaring along.

Yet many Americans just aren't impressed. A majority tell pollsters they trust the Democrats more than the GOP to handle the economy. When asked in an open-ended question which is the most important problem facing the country today, respondents to a recent CBS News poll named "economy/jobs" second after the Iraq war - and ahead of immigration, terrorism, and healthcare.

"First, there's general concern about globalization and its effect on American manufacturing jobs," says GOP pollster Whit Ayres. "We see low unemployment, but the headlines are dominated by the thousands being laid off by General Motors and Ford."

Underlying that, he adds, is concern about healthcare and being able to afford and keep health insurance if something happens to one's job. The latest run-up in gasoline prices also doesn't help the Republican-led government in Washington.

[fasttense]

1. Well, consider the source

By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor? What a true nitwit she is. This faith based economy is like creationism, a pack of lies.

Unemployment at 4.7%? Think again. If we took out all the numbers fixing the unemployment rate would be around 12 to 17%.

The economy is showing growth? Where? In manufacturing jobs? Nope. How about infrastructure? Nope. Lets try factory starts, wrong again. If we look at minimum wage jobs and low paying service industry jobs you would be seeing some growth. But I guess when the Christian Science monitor means growth in the economy they don't include the middle class. They mean growth in returns for the super rich.

Without significant inflation? Yeah if you don't eat or move there is no inflation but if you included eating food and using energy, people on SS would be getting a 75% increase. But of course the Christian Science Monitor is all for passing on the lies of this administration.

The stock market roaring along? Is that a freudian slip? Roaring, like in Roaring Twenties, right before the Great Depression.

[Radio_Guy]

2. The story isn't the numbers

Feldmann is actually getting the story right. The story isn't the unemployment numbers. The story is the mood of the people. Feldmann is absolutely right when she writes:

"A majority tell pollsters they trust the Democrats more than the GOP to handle the economy. When asked in an open-ended question which is the most important problem facing the country today, respondents to a recent CBS News poll named "economy/jobs" second after the Iraq war - and ahead of immigration, terrorism, and healthcare.

"First, there's general concern about globalization and its effect on American manufacturing jobs," says GOP pollster Whit Ayres. "We see low unemployment, but the headlines are dominated by the thousands being laid off by General Motors and Ford."

In other words, people aren't believing the tripe the Bushes are throwing out there. They are believing their own eyes. I'm shocked Feldmann is reporting that, but she is.

[Crankie Avalon]

3. With an ever shrinking manufacturing sector...

...and an ever expanding national debt, any citizen who takes a long view of things shouldn't be comfortable with America's economic position, regardless of whether or not "the stock market is rolling along."