Economy UP

“WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit soared to an all-time high of $725.8 billion in 2005, pushed upward by record imports of oil, food, cars and other consumer goods. The deficit with China hit an all-time high as did America's deficits with Japan, Europe,
OPEC, Canada, Mexico and South and Central America.
......

Last year's deficit reflected the fact that imports rose by 12.9 percent last year to an all-time high of $2 trillion, swamping a 5.7 percent increase in exports, which were up 5.7 percent to a record high of $1.27 trillion.

Full story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060210/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy”

“January Housing Starts Hit 33-Year High”

“Dose that include Louisiana?”

“Why? Are you looking for a negative spin?”

“I'm pretty certain they aren't talking about just North Dakota, what do you think?

Starts jumped across the United States, climbing 29.2 percent in the Northeast, 23.7 percent in the Midwest, 16.9 percent in the West and 8.7 percent in the South.”

“Where is Louisiana? Is that the Northeast or the Midwest?”

“In related news: Last Month was the Warmest January in 112 Years”

“The housing starts and other positive gains for the economy are good. What worries me is that the small gains being made in the economy are being financed with trade deficits and budget deficits. Given the stimulatory economic policies - big spending, government growth, low interest rates, big growth in private and public debt (including to other countries) - not to mention the war - we should be getting a bigger economic boost. We have avoided massive inflation through increasing reliance on cheap Chinese imports - but that means a huge outflow of capital to China and a gradual economic disarmament.

I also wonder are these storm clouds on the horizon:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060224/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy”

“The thing we should ALL be worried about is what Iran is up to. There are rumors they will stop trading oil in greenbacks and switch to Euros. In which case we are royally screwed.”

“That's the real reason for the impending invasion, nigal. Hadn't you heard?”

“Interesting speculation Nigal and Mutt.

Some economic figures point to a mixed picture for American families under Bush vs. huge gains in the prior years:

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060224/BUSINESS01/602240345/1066”

“I think the key here is we don't focus on the positive and try to focus on the doom and gloom outlooks as much as possible. The more we can demotivate ourselves, the better off America will be in the future. Let's remember to end every positive with at least 2 or 3 negatives.”

“The negatives I'm most interested are the ones we can do something about, for example the budget deficit and the trade deficit.

There's a thin but important line between accentuating the positive and using the positive as a call to inaction.”

“There is a thin but important line between accentuating the negative and using the negative to the point that it demotivates and divides.”

“Dividing and demotivating lies, trickery and crime from use by the government ain't on my sh-t list.”

“Dear doofus (ie, private, stupid class)

People in the USA are suffering. They are losing thier jobs. The middle class is rapidly shrinking. Thier expenses (healthcare, energy costs, education costs, etc) are going through the roof.

All of this is because of morons like you. Save your poetic nonsense, keep your head buried in the sand, and most importantly, drop dead.

Love,

The Middle Class
last edited: 3/03/06 9:34:12 PM”

“ecconomy up? for WHO? not around here. Nope. They love taking on huge property tax increses on the poor poepl round here. Coem on, my house is on a tiny lot in a poor neighboorhood. It's worth $60,000...and we have to pay $5000 in property taxes. those idiot polititions suck! I dont care what party they are in. They can kiss my ASS!!! >:( You should see all the families loosing their homes round here! >:( Oh, I almost forgot to mention all the people losing their jobs around ehre too....yeah...sure, i bet the economy looks up for someone....Its getting so bad, we have to move!!!
last edited: 3/03/06 9:48:48 PM”

“Divided!!!!”

“we fall”

“Dear Middleclass,

The word “thier” is actually spelled “their”. We apologize for your liberal influenced substandard education you received in the public school system.

With Love,

The Educated”

“Yes ,the fall is inevitable. Signs of a civilization that is too big, , top heavy and corrupt to last very much longer.”

“... he says with anxious glee ...”

“No, just very disappointed. It has nothing to do with party. The Rep. just happened to be in charge when the horrors of this country all seemed to rise to the surface instead of oil. Things are so bad, because now both the rep. and dem. have proven they're totally worthless ,yet , for years each has spent billions to keep the 3rd parties at bay.
last edited: 3/04/06 12:26:39 AM”

“sb, I totally agree!”

“Sounds like a particular party line to me: "The sky is falling...the sky is falling. Put us in charge. We can't articulate any ideas that make sense, but the other party is causing the sky to fall."

For anybody who actually reads economic indicators, the economy looks pretty good.
All is not lost... yet.”

“Where's Violin with all his negative economic propaganda? Oh well, I thought this was amusing from Stratfor about the 2nd quarter GDP:

Annualized U.S. gross domestic product growth in the second quarter of 2006 came in at 2.5 percent, according to a July 28 Commerce Department report. Market commentators, disappointed with the figure, immediately warned that U.S. growth was tanking and the Federal Reserve was clearly finished with the growth-cooling tactic of raising interest rates.

Error.

Anytime a highly developed economy such as that of the United States exceeds a 2 percent growth rate, it should be cause for celebration. Unlike developing economies, which experience massive growth shifts in line with whatever commodity prices are doing, the U.S. economy is huge, diverse and relatively even-keeled. Assuming the Commerce Department's figures are correct, the 2.5 percent growth in the second quarter added about $80 billion -- roughly the amount of the entire Algerian economy -- to the U.S. economy. Not bad for three months' work. Claiming the growth is not good enough is like a child crying that he did not want that Nintendo for his birthday. [snip]

I think a few people here fit that description!!!”

“Dammminim....another thing they can't get GW on (LOL)....”

“w00t!”

“Bummer...for the libbies that is. I mean their ace in the hole (sorry there is a pun in there somewhere) turned out to just be a guy who likes his ace in "the hole". Now the market is UP, Gas is DOWN....”

“It's good to see my retirement account moving in the right direction for a change.”

“WHOA WHOA there moon, I thought the 42 Administration told us 5% was as low as you could get in reducing unemployment.”

“Democrats on the campaign trail are promising that if they win control of Congress on Nov. 7, they will "jump-start our economy" through such measures as raising the minimum wage and ending the Bush tax cuts.”

“ "I thought the 42 Administration told us 5% was as low as you could get in reducing unemployment."
XL400236

Then once again you thought wrong.

It got as low as 3.6% during the Clinton amdmin.”

“Guaranteed spending will be cut, Ahh?”

“How do both the rate of new jobs and unemployment go down together? Maybe some people left the country.
last edited: 10/06/06 11:25:26 AM”

“I still don't have a job:)”

“I mean:(”

“GM down 7%.”

“nimble...how many jobs have you applied for?”

“http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/06/D8KJ8R2G1.html

Budget Deficit Drops to $250 Billion

The improving deficit picture _ Bush predicted a $423 billion deficit in his February budget _ has been driven by better-than-expected tax receipts, especially from corporate profits, CBO said.”

“Such good news almost makes you forget that he took over a government with a big surplus.”

“DeadXing - Can't you ever be happy for America?”

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, DeadXing.”

“Budget is still...at least Friday....the duty of the Legislature....not Bush the morons in the Congress

Sadly moon, the great Kennedy statement meant to drive us to better service has been abused to let the libs steal more from the producers at the end of a gun barrel.
last edited: 10/07/06 9:14:27 PM”

“socialist driven surpluses are temporary - common sense 101”

“Somoe of you won't get the point to this, most of you will. This is the true state of our economy.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A man who couldn't find steady work came up with a plan to make it through the next few years until he could collect Social Security: He robbed a bank, then handed the money to a guard and waited for police.

On Wednesday, Timothy J. Bowers told a judge a three-year prison sentence would suit him, and the judge obliged.

"At my age, the jobs available to me are minimum-wage jobs. There is age discrimination out there," Bowers, who turns 63 in a few weeks, told Judge Angela White.

The judge told him: "It's unfortunate you feel this is the only way to deal with the situation."

Bowers said he had been able to find only odd jobs after the drug wholesaler he made deliveries for closed in 2003. He walked to a bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash in an envelope. The teller gave him four $20 bills and pushed a silent alarm.

Bowers handed the money to a security guard standing in the lobby and told him it was his day to be a hero.

He pleaded guilty to robbery, and a court-ordered psychological exam found him competent.

"It's a pretty sad story when someone feels that's their only alternative," said defense attorney Jeremy W. Dodgion, who described Bowers as "a charming old man."

Prosecutors had considered arguing against putting Bowers in prison at taxpayer expense, but they worried he would do something more reckless to be put behind bars.

"It's not the financial plan I would choose, but it's a financial plan," prosecutor Dan Cable said.”