General Discussion

bucolic_frolic

(55,605 posts)

3. Replenishing armaments from Ukraine War, and now Iran War

Reply to LymphocyteLover (Original post)

Fri Apr 17, 2026, 09:05 AM

Apr 17

We are the Arsenal of Democracy and our own Fascism.

We use a lot of energy.

We sell a lot of $50,000++ vehicles.

Retail continues apace.

Americans spend their paychecks because they have to, and the government borrows and spends. What's the current year fiscal deficit? $2 trillion?

Almost billionaire tax cuts allow for luxury items to be sold.

Companies are panicked over AI. Fear of being left behind so they don't fire useless employees. They train them. But that chicken will come home to roost at some point.

On edit, to add ... I see some retailers adding hours, opening earlier, but also some running with skeleton crews. I heard a manager complaining this week about running the store on 3 or 4 employees, so much merchandise not being processed and put on shelves, the backroom overloaded, and having to sweep the floors herself. It wasn't she was unable to hire someone, it is being told to run on fewer headcount.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

misanthrope LymphocyteLover

23 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I don't understand how we are not in a recession right now. [View all] LymphocyteLover Apr 17 OP

Massive tax cuts means companies buying back Johonny Apr 17 #1

If we don't do Covid testing, NameAlreadyTaken Apr 17 #2

Exactly. A "good economy" is no longer measured by how well middle and working classes are doing, only sop Apr 17 #9

I think that's been the only measure they use, NameAlreadyTaken Apr 17 #22

Replenishing armaments from Ukraine War, and now Iran War bucolic_frolic Apr 17 #3

Bubble Time AfternoonJoe Apr 17 #4

Credit bubble too. Car loans are increasingly in default, food is on the cuff, health insurance cancelled. bucolic_frolic Apr 17 #6

I believe one main reason is that the oil markets are being manipulated gab13by13 Apr 17 #5

States could raise their gas taxes a few dollars a gallon if $8 per gallon is a desired price point MichMan Apr 17 #12

We may be in a recession Johnny2X2X Apr 17 #7

They are too busy ripping us off by stock market manipulation. boston bean Apr 17 #8

It has taken a lot of work to dismantle Biden's dynamo economy Fiendish Thingy Apr 17 #10

I think there is an obvious explanation maxrandb Apr 17 #11

Thank you, gab13by13 Apr 17 #13

Yes, it's so exhausting LymphocyteLover Apr 17 #20

IMO, the stock market doesn't reflect the real life economy. The stock market can look good while the average American raccoon Apr 17 #14

Right Rebl2 Apr 17 #15

hopes and prayers LymphocyteLover Apr 17 #19

We probably are, but Trump fired all the experts who no_hypocrisy Apr 17 #16

We are but we are not supposed to say it because Republicans are supposed to be double-plus-good-always for the economy ck4829 Apr 17 #17

sounds about right! LymphocyteLover Apr 17 #18

Layoffs have not been "massive" Happy Hoosier Apr 17 #21

Yeah, I suppose. The tech sector and biotech fields have shed a lot of workers but maybe in the grand scheme of things LymphocyteLover Apr 17 #23