We are standing on the verge of economic disaster, and they want us to think it's getting better?

[Hugabear]

I'm sick of people trying to tell me that the economy is starting to recover, that things are beginning to look better.

Sorry, that's nothing but a load of BULLSHIT.

Most of the jobs that were lost are not coming back. We have to remember why we lost them in the first place, because it's far cheaper to produce goods overseas where you can take advantage of cheap labor and lax government regulations. The few jobs that are being created in this country sure as hell don't pay as much as they used to. How many of you have been looking for a job lately, and noticed that the jobs that you used to do are now paying quite a bit less? At the same time that wages are going down, prices are going up all around us. And what we're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg, many reports are saying that inflation is really going to take off very soon, with hyperinflation a very real possibility within a few years.

So yeah, the economy might be looking better if you're a Wall Street fatcat, if you use the Down Jones as your barometer of economic growth. But for the rest of us, this economy not only sucks, but we're looking at an economic nightmare. The sort of economic shift that defines a generation or even century.

[msongs]

1. well Obama's corporate best friends on Wall Street & at GE are making loads. it must be true nt

[midnight]

2. K&R

[snappyturtle]

3. If they keep saying it, it will come true....won't it?

:sarcasm: (just in case)

[Marblehead]

4. I agree

and there are an awful lot of delusional people out there. They think if wall street is heading up all is well. It is very frustrating at times. When you try to educate them they get an empty look in their eyes and think you are nuts.:eyes:

[Newest Reality]

5. We are just getting started

When you put it all together nothing seems to stand in the way of some form of major collapse, be it gradual or sudden.

That's why I tend to think of this Republican blitzkrieg as ushering in the final phases of what is going to make where we are now look like a trip to Disneyland comparatively. There is nothing that can stop this and our only hope is that we can create something survivable on the other side of it.

Of course, this has to be managed, as it was in Russia. Boondoggles everywhere and propaganda that suggests we are somehow going back to better times. Russia, at least, had a social system in place that made the collapse a bit easier for the people. We have nothing even close to that.

[CrispyQ]

15. Maybe Americans will finally re-learn the value of community,

instead of our glorified rugged individualist mentality.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Thay'd have you believe that the steep oil prices won't have any effect

After watching this happen over the last 35 years or so I'd say it will have a really shitty effect on the economy a few months from now, it always does without fail.

[Initech]

7. Reading this today really got my blood boiling:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x758786

They want an extra 3 FUCKING BILLION DOLLARS, yet we're the ones that are supposed to make sacrifices? What the fuck? When are we going to say enough is enough? Stop taking our money?

[Kablooie]

8. Economic recovery means corporate profits are up.Nothing to do with jobs .

[upi402]

9. It's so insulting

All hail the uniparty. Resistance is futile. Kool Aid tastes great. Don't worry be happy.

America will change, and some deserve what's coming.

[KG]

10. the financial/parasite class is doing better, the rest of us are taking it up the ying/yang

[Hannah Bell]

11. the second wave is going to be govt sector layoffs; housing is still sinking

where i live. just noticed two more big empty buildings in the business district & the mall is getting to look like every other storefront is empty.

[Vinee]

12. regarding the remaining jobs, the competition for them is unsustainably high.

This can only lead to "sector saturation". That shouldn't lead to optimism IMO.

[w8liftinglady]

13. and they are relocating to "right-to-work" states,like mine!

[Vinee]

14. I held numerous jobs in your state actually.

Now I work in Ohio. I miss the short Texas winter, long summer, and lack of state income tax more than anything. I can understand why a potential employer would rather open up shop in Texas.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. How did we lose the tarriff debate?

Why aren't we having those debates now? If we offset the cheap labor with high tarrifs, we might make headway in this global economy.

[Juche]

17. We aren't losing tons of jobs per month, that is about it

The 'high' job growth that people are excited about, about 200k a month, is only slightly more than you need to maintain the U3 and U6.

Not only that but the jobs that are being created are part time temp jobs that pay about 20k a year. You can't raise a family, own a home or have decent health care on those kinds of wages. Even if we do get jobs back, they are crap jobs that pay half what the jobs we lost paid.

Corporate america is just sucking money out of this country via profits (1.6 trillion a year, over 11% of the economy), and reinvesting those profits in China and India. By the time the US is a hollowed out empire in 10-20 years, Chinese supply and demand will be big enough that multi-nationals won't even need us anymore (they won't need us to produce or consume anything). That will be an interesting period in the US. It'll be good for China & India, and good for them. But here at home we will continue our decline.