Obama Says Economy 'in a much better place'

reply to post by skunknuts


His first source is dated 20th April,2010.
Half a year ago?
Yours in contrast had a lot of the good results listed as "forecasts"
Get it right Skunk

Originally posted by virgom129
reply to post by skunknuts

 

Firstly I'm not in the US but yes. I think a healthy US leads to a healthy world.
Secondly, a lot of your so called Obama haters are part of that 63 million that voted for change and are bow seeing what he meant.
I , like a lot of others, do not intend to "bash" Obama.
I just call it as I see it. Wouldn't matter who was in charge.

Well, I think Obama has been rather centrist and pragmatic if one looks at things objectively. The things I wish obama would do more of, would make the conservatives even more pissed and insane. I wish the US had some of the safety nets and social programs you guys down in OZ enjoy. I've said it before, I'd consider moving to OZ, it seems very nice....

Best,
SN

Originally posted by virgom129
reply to post by skunknuts

 

His first source is dated 20th April,2010.
Half a year ago?
Yours in contrast had a lot of the good results listed as "forecasts"
Get it right Skunk

Sorry, I meant the Slate article:

When Did Your County's Jobs Disappear

Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at 1:05 PM ET

The fact is that the economy has now grown for 3 straight quarters, and the job situation is slowly improving:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/feda152ac20a.gif[/atsimg]

Job numbers from Bush through Obama:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/18b562c6a1e2.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by skunknuts


OK Skunk. A simple qustion for someone with all the stats...
Not counting "goverment employees", how many people are in "fulltime" employment in the US now as opposed to when Obama was first elected. Just to the nearest 100000 would be fine.

See that is what really matters to the economy. Not how big the Goverment has grown or how many still do 10 hours a week.

reply to post by virgom129


It's pretty wonkish, but if you really want to read the raw data and analysis:

www.bls.gov...

Here's a good article:

www.nytimes.com...

I know the job numbers are still very anemic. All I'm saying is that it appears that the ship is being righted. It is also common economic knowledge that job creation is a LAGGING indicator.

financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com...

This means that based on the GDP (gross economic expansion) the jobs should be really coming in the next quarter. I hope for my country and neighbors that is the case.

As for the government job thing--Most gov. jobs like teachers, police, postal workers, etc., etc work very hard and provide vital services. I don't want to drive around w/ a shovel and asphalt to fill potholes, right?!

Best,
SN

[edit on 5/1/2010 by skunknuts]

reply to post by skunknuts


Although you didn't answer what I thought was a simple question, heres an sample of what you just posted a link to and it DOESN'T reflect an improving economy as you suggest. In fact it all looks bad..



The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) in-
creased by 414,000 over the month to 6.5 million. In March, 44.1 percent of
unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or more. (See table A-12.)

The civilian labor force participation rate (64.9 percent) and the employment-
population ratio (58.6 percent) continued to edge up in March. (See table A-1.)

The number of persons working part time for economic reasons (sometimes re-
ferred to as involuntary part-time workers) increased to 9.1 million in March.
These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back
or because they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-8.)

About 2.3 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in March,
compared with 2.1 million a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.)
These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for
work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not
counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks pre-
ceding the survey. (See table A-16.)

Among the marginally attached, there were 1.0 million discouraged workers in
March, up by 309,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.)
Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they be-
lieve no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.3 million persons margin-
ally attached to the labor force had not searched for work in the 4 weeks pre-
ceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibili-
ties. (See table A-16.)

reply to post by virgom129



Like i said, I'm only trying to bring balance to the OP.

I agree that the job situation and the middle class' predicament is PATHETIC for a country as rich and powerful as the US. The last decade has been just disgusting--income is down, the disparity between the rich and the average is approaching third-world statistics.

That all said, people and programs aimed at remedying the situation are labeled 'socialist,' and called unamerican by those that would be HELPED by some economic justice. How the 'powers that be' got the tea-party movement to misdirect their rightful justified anger towards issues that help support the policies of the elite will be remembered as incredibly pathetic and sad. Such a wasted opportunity, that has allowed the rich to, once again, laugh all the way to the bank.

Best,
SN

Originally posted by skunknuts
Originally posted by Agent_USA_Supporter
reply to post by skunknuts

Where I live most people have jobs who want them. I've said this before, but I invested a chunk of money I inherited in Ford Stock about a year ago, and I'm living better than I could have ever imagined. I'm not even 31, and I could basically retire. American Dream Baby!!

But seriously, considering that Bush drove the economy into a tree at 80MPH, I think it is VERY reasonable to give Obama (and all Americans) some credit for the green shoots of recovery that almost all trained economists see.

What are your credentials concerning your pontifications on the economy at large?

Best,
SN

Trained economists or trained monkeys? Tell it to the hundreds of thousands who continue to loose thier jobs monthly. inflation now raring its ugly head. And by the way none of those trained monkeys were able to predict the economic crash they were all predicting sugar plums and lolly pops just like they are now.

The guys who predicted things accurately and have for decades like Ron Paul, Peter Schiff, Gerald Celente, and Jim Rodgers along with a few others all of whom the trained monkeys laughed at and ridiculed, are also predicting further meltdown. Sorry but I'll stick with the facts and the guys with proven track records not the paid shills who lie to the people to try and make politicians look good.

You really should stop relying on your emotional attachment to your boy face facts and realize Obama is really just Bush 2.0

[edit on 1-5-2010 by hawkiye]

reply to post by skunknuts


Sorry Skunk. The rich are laughing all the way to the bank because Obama and the WH, with the aid of the bankers he hired, bailed out the select few the rich deal with.
No such luck for main street or the banks they also use.
Its a scam and anyone that doesn't see it is blind or profiting by it.

How much good could all of that "tax payer funded" bailout have done in the right hands, the people? And I will not touch on the Fed Reserve BS.

Originally posted by virgom129
reply to post by skunknuts

 

Sorry Skunk. The rich are laughing all the way to the bank because Obama and the WH, with the aid of the bankers he hired, bailed out the select few the rich deal with.
No such luck for main street or the banks they also use.
Its a scam and anyone that doesn't see it is blind or profiting by it.

How much good could all of that "tax payer funded" bailout have done in the right hands, the people? And I will not touch on the Fed Reserve BS.

The bailout and tarp happened under Bush.

Obama gets lambasted for throwing a few billion dollars to GM that saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, and has now been paid back.

I'm not sure what you are advocating. Socialism? True enough that Obama has had to work within the system. The only thing that will change that paradigm is if people demand it, yet the teabaggers are sadly fighting to maintain the status quo and are drawn to authoritarianism (albeit a small number of tea-partiers were or are true libertarian patriots).

Best,
SN

reply to post by skunknuts


Yes started under Bush but continued and increased under Obama.
GM bailout of a few billion saved hundreds of thousands of jobs? Care to show me a source for that statement???
Last I heard Obama job creations cost around $500000 per job.(Dont quote that figure but I remember it was very high)

BTW thats pretty much the same in OZ..Overpriced jobs for the boys.
And just yesterday our PM increased the price of cigarettes with an increase in tax of 25% (thats $2 per pack) to help people give up..
As usual that affects the normal family because do you think the guys on $100k+ care about an extra $14/week? Hell they probably claim it as a tax deduction due to stress from counting their money.

skunknuts why are you on ATS then? if your so rich why bother coming here? talking pro government pro obama garbage.

Sometimes you got think outside the tv or the way pro government news networks thinks like NY times etc..

Originally posted by Agent_USA_Supporter
skunknuts why are you on ATS then? if your so rich why bother coming here? talking pro government pro obama garbage.

Sometimes you got think outside the tv or the way pro government news networks thinks like NY times etc..

With all due respect Agent, I feel like I am talking to a middle schooler.

What does my having money have to do whether or not I choose to spend time on ATS? I shared that I got lucky that my faith in an improving stock market paid off and has allowed me financial security and freedom.

Yeah, I probably have enough money that it might actually make sense for me to bash Obama and vote republican, but I try not to be a greedy overly self-interested jerk. The better question is that since you aren't rich, why the hell would you promote the republican agenda???

I said I could probably retire, but I'm not. I didn't go to college and graduate school for 8+ years just to make money. I am, again, lucky to enjoy my field of work (psychology), and thus it isn't really 'work' at all, if that registers. The health care system is something I experience everyday, so I feel I had the right to express my informed opinions on the matter.

I also enjoy politics immensely, and have since a young age. I remember sending money earned by shoveling snow to Jerry Brown's campaign in 1992 when I was in 7th grade. I still enjoy discussing politics, and feel that Aristotle was correct in saying that humans are an innately political animal.

As for your attempted derision concerning my need to think outside the box, well what can I say? I marched against Bush and predicted the disaster he would be when 90% of the population loved him. Where were you when war was being declared, the patriot act enacted, the budget surplus destroyed by giveaways to billionaires? That's what I thought.

Please enlighten us on your 'outside the box' sources of information. Yeah, so I read the New York Times every morning. Do you really know what is in 'the gray lady?' It's not my only source of info., by any means, but I can say that it is much more informative than anything contained within USA Today or shown on Faux News. So again, as Katy Couric asked idiot Palin, 'What newspapers and magazines do you read?'

Best,
Skunknuts

P.S. I am hitting the sack now, but I wanted to just say thanks to virgom again for another decent discussion. I'm sure we'll see each other around ATS (as long as there isn't an income cut-off or whatever, lol).

[edit on 5/1/2010 by skunknuts]

reply to post by skunknuts


Heck, I started my own manufacturing company in 83 (at age 24) that did $1mill turnover in 87 as the "recession we had to have" was costing me 20%+ interest and ruined my company. Apart from that I have passed every mensa test except the one that cost me money. I don't need a piece of paper to tell me what I am. Sleep tight Skunk and maybe one day you may answer my questions instead of concentrating on the easy ones.

Originally posted by skunknuts
P.S. Believe and hope for what you want, but you know how many times I've heard that civil way, WWIII, aliens landing, etc., etc. is about to happen? Seems like some people just get off on the thought of potential devastation. Weird and sad.

[edit on 5/1/2010 by skunknuts]

WWIII will happen, though. Count on it.

Originally posted by skunknuts
I've said it before, I'd consider moving to OZ, it seems very nice....

Best,
SN

And their biggest industry w hich is mining is about to be taxed heavily.

reply to post by virgom129


"Do you star your own posts"........awesome star from me for that one.This thread, providing Skunk is telling the truth about his wealth, and I have no reason to doubt him, does still prove the disconnect between the haves and have nots. The Dems are good Republicans are evil......always will be so in some minds.

reply to post by Janky Red

I think the free markets you think are around are not, so you are mourning a mummy of sorts IMO.

Please note my exact wording. I said we had a 'twinkle' of a free market. The free market seems to rear its head when technological innovation advances beyond what government regulations control or can even conceive.

Considering a Free Market is just a human concept, maybe you can find or create what you are looking for online???

A market itself is a human concept, free or not. Markets are the way in which people interact with each other to gain mutual benefits. Even down to the family unit, markets are a part of everyday human life.

I don't understand what you mean by finding a free market 'online', as if I did find one, I would still have to deal with the violent system I live in, in the real world.

My position on this matter is not pro-free market, its anti-violence. Governments derive their power from the ever looming threat of violence, and collect their spoils like a mongol horde. Pay us tribute or deal with the consequences. The systematic violence then uses its power to help their friends out (Wall Street) through regulation, all the while maintaining the position that this is what is best for all of us.

-------------------------------TO THE WHOLE BACKANDFORTH on the THREAD-------------------------------

It is in Obama's interest to say we are doing better and to do things that can temporarily give the people that impression. For example, job creation. He can point to all the new jobs their are, but never points out where or why they are being created. Many of the new jobs are government jobs or are jobs subsidized with government funds. The government does not create, it takes. The newly subsidized jobs are subsidized with funds from you and me.

-Small businesses are still dying or on some kind of life support, and the FED is maintaining a position of virtually free credit. It's like they slept through the whole housing crisis and have no idea why it happened.

-The TARP has become a slush fund for all kinds of projects to keep American failures afloat until it runs out of money.

-We continue to leverage our children for even more inefficient and ineffective projects that likely do more harm then good.

I can't even believe that this is actually an official position. Its like when Greenspan repeatedly said that housing wasn't in a bubble a decade earlier when the housing market remained strong through the dotcom collapse. We pay these guys to be able to foresee the future when they can't even see 10 seconds into the past. What's more, we continue to ignore the Japanese Lost Decade in the 1990s.

Obama is going to continue what all the other presidents started and continued themselves. We are going to continue to devalue our currency until it is virtually nothing and the Gideon Gono's in the USA will only have themselves and their failed ideology to blame.