Thanks to Bush and the Republicans: A lost decade for U.S. economy, workers

[AndyA]

And the Democrats want something to talk about going into this year's elections? I think this is the story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34664092/ns/business-washington_post/

The past decade was the worst for the U.S. economy in modern times, a sharp reversal from a long period of prosperity that is leading economists and policymakers to fundamentally rethink the underpinnings of the nation's growth.

It was, according to a wide range of data, a lost decade for American workers. The decade began in a moment of triumphalism — there was a current of thought among economists in 1999 that recessions were a thing of the past. By the end, there were two, bookends to a debt-driven expansion that was neither robust nor sustainable.

There has been zero net job creation since December 1999. No previous decade going back to the 1940s had job growth of less than 20 percent. Economic output rose at its slowest rate of any decade since the 1930s as well.

Middle-income households made less in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, than they did in 1999 — and the number is sure to have declined further during a difficult 2009. The Aughts were the first decade of falling median incomes since figures were first compiled in the 1960s.

Are the Democrats really going to let people be so stupid as to think the GOP can deliver us from the problems THEY CREATED? If the Democrats, including Barack Obama, aren't able to frame this properly and get the message across to the masses, they don't deserve to hold office!

It's understandable that people are upset. But why add more foolishness on top of an already disgraceful situation by allowing those responsible for this mess to pass it off on Democrats? It's time the Democrats started CONTROLLING THE MESSAGE!

[mmonk]

1. America's strength came from its middle class.

I hope we can revive it and turn it around.

[Sherman A1]

2. It's more than a lost decade

30 years of stagnate wages and increasing prices, doing more with less... Workers have been getting screwed since Ronald Reagan was in office.

[mmonk]

4. That's when the systemic attack began and the policies that unraveled it

[samplegirl]

3. slip sliding away

K&R

[4dsc]

5. Ask every GOP candidate running this year how many did they vote for Bush.

I plan on asking every GOP candidate running this year on the conservative ideals of smaller government, how many times they voted for GW Bush.. People need to be reminded of GW Bush on a daily basis.

[OHdem10]

6. Or has Obama and Most Democrats on the Hill bought the Rw

Free Market Fundamentalism themselves and are in no position
to criticize it?? DLC, Third Way, New Democrats certainly
have.

Is it not a possibility the reason we are in such a critical
condition in this country--Conservative Democrats have
reinforced the GOP as we drove to the cliff???

Perhaps our own party needs to do some serious soul searching
get out there and prove the fallacy of Free Market Fundamentalism
and the need for real change.

We will only see real change when we change our Economic Policies.

[SpiralHawk]

7. "Shock & Awe, baby. Smirk." - xCommander AWOL (R)

[waronbanks]

8. This is the worst part...

"If the Democrats, including Barack Obama, aren't able to frame this properly and get the message across to the masses, they don't deserve to hold office!"

They wont and they dont.

They are, apparently from their actions...running cover for the criminals that brought this upon hard working Americans. I have no reason to believe the democrats will EVER call the republicans to account. They are all part of the same corrupt system. All profiting from the same cash cow. With a few exceptions the democratic party is just as corrupt and criminal as the republicans. To refuse to see this is to keep enabling their corporate crime spree.