Obama: "The private sector is doing fine."

[GannonFan]

Eh, Gannon tells me our standard of living has never been higher. The conks tell me we have the wealthiest poor in history.

Is our standard of living not high? Granted, it could in the future really go downhill, but we don't really seem all that screwed right now. Give it time though, we may end up that way.

[GannonFan]

This whole thread kinda sums up my political position fairly succinctly (so thanks you guys)

Bush was a liberal in disguise - hidden by his war mongering and oil dreams
Obama is The Ultimate Politician and has Changed absolutely NOTHING
Far more concerned with status Quo and getting re-elected than anything even resembling addressing the issues

Romney is a complete JOKE
Magic Underwear troglodyte retarded faith / Self aggrandizing blow-hard and out of touch wouldn't even begin to explain how FAR out of touch = he's in a different galaxy both figuratively and literally if you read his Bible

Jeezus...
Why vote - neither of these clowns come close to representing anything other than MONEY and The System

So pretty much what you're saying is that you aren't voting for Romney because he's Mormon? I mean, why sugarcoat it and dance around it?

[Chizzang]

The dude is out of touch and getting more and more like Dubya every day.

Bullshit. He's been like W and every other politician before him since day one... you are just realizing it more every day.

It's hard to argue against this...

[Chizzang]

This whole thread kinda sums up my political position fairly succinctly (so thanks you guys)

Bush was a liberal in disguise - hidden by his war mongering and oil dreams
Obama is The Ultimate Politician and has Changed absolutely NOTHING
Far more concerned with status Quo and getting re-elected than anything even resembling addressing the issues

Romney is a complete JOKE
Magic Underwear troglodyte retarded faith / Self aggrandizing blow-hard and out of touch wouldn't even begin to explain how FAR out of touch = he's in a different galaxy both figuratively and literally if you read his Bible

Jeezus...
Why vote - neither of these clowns come close to representing anything other than MONEY and The System

So pretty much what you're saying is that you aren't voting for Romney because he's Mormon? I mean, why sugarcoat it and dance around it?

If you think my post is sugar coating it you're not too bright...

[GannonFan]

So pretty much what you're saying is that you aren't voting for Romney because he's Mormon? I mean, why sugarcoat it and dance around it?

If you think my post is sugar coating it you're not too bright...

I think people that can't appreciate sarcasm aren't too bright either...

[Chizzang]

If you think my post is sugar coating it you're not too bright...

I think people that can't appreciate sarcasm aren't too bright either...

But my sarcasm cancels out your sarcasm making the whole thing completely sincere
The old adage: Two sarcasms equal one sincere is at play here

then we are left to ponder if the above was sarcasm - and to what effect..?

[Ivytalk]

Here's some neat charts showing how public sector layoffs and spending on a state and local level have affected the economy and how corporate profits and and investment have rarely if ever been better. Admittedly, it kind of supports what Obama said so please feel free to spin.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-priv ... ama-2012-6#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

kalm, take a look at today's lead WSJ editorial. I think you'll agree with it. I know I do!

[CID1990]

Here's some neat charts showing how public sector layoffs and spending on a state and local level have affected the economy and how corporate profits and and investment have rarely if ever been better. Admittedly, it kind of supports what Obama said so please feel free to spin.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-priv ... ama-2012-6#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kalm, everyone knows that corporations are holding onto their money these days. Investment is way down. Think about it.... the same forces that are acting on the banks and the corporations are also acting on the individual. Personally I would not dump any money into those sectors that have been the traditional money makers, like start up tech companies. Why? Because right now they are not a safe bet because there is very little market confidence in a number of factors, primarily the Eurozone and the FACT that we have a regulation happy president in the White House.

There is nothing to spin here. These are natural occurrences that happen in uncertain times. Corporations do not reinvest their profits and they do not spend those profits on expansion, i.e.: increasing capacity and hiring additional workers.

Obama is right in saying that corporation are cash flush right now, but he's completely off the reservation thinking that things are somehow OK with the private sector. And... the last thing we need is more deficit spending to create more public sector jobs which are not needed. There are still cops answering calls, teachers in the classrooms, and fires are still being put out.

[Ivytalk]

Hey, kalm, did you laugh as hard as I did after reading the Goldman Sachs press release that came out after the Gupta insider trading verdict? Something about how the former Goldman director had abused his fiduciary duties? Isn't that the bailout pot calling the kettle black?

[kalm]

Hey, kalm, did you laugh as hard as I did after reading the Goldman Sachs press release that came out after the Gupta insider trading verdict? Something about how the former Goldman director had abused his fiduciary duties? Isn't that the bailout pot calling the kettle black?

Seriously, all you can do is laugh. They are damn good thieves and I'm guessing they actually believe their own bullshit. Nothing is illegal unless you get caught.

[kalm]

Here's some neat charts showing how public sector layoffs and spending on a state and local level have affected the economy and how corporate profits and and investment have rarely if ever been better. Admittedly, it kind of supports what Obama said so please feel free to spin.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-priv ... ama-2012-6#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kalm, everyone knows that corporations are holding onto their money these days. Investment is way down. Think about it.... the same forces that are acting on the banks and the corporations are also acting on the individual. Personally I would not dump any money into those sectors that have been the traditional money makers, like start up tech companies. Why? Because right now they are not a safe bet because there is very little market confidence in a number of factors, primarily the Eurozone and the FACT that we have a regulation happy president in the White House.

There is nothing to spin here. These are natural occurrences that happen in uncertain times. Corporations do not reinvest their profits and they do not spend those profits on expansion, i.e.: increasing capacity and hiring additional workers.

Obama is right in saying that corporation are cash flush right now, but he's completely off the reservation thinking that things are somehow OK with the private sector. And... the last thing we need is more deficit spending to create more public sector jobs which are not needed. There are still cops answering calls, teachers in the classrooms, and fires are still being put out.

You're painting with a broad brush here.

Private sector money is being reinvested, jobs are being created businesses are being expanded. There are a number of large companies that are doing really well. Is the growth where it needs to be? Obviously not, but one of the major things slowing growth is a lack of public sector spending. It's undeniable. Whether or not that's a good thing during a recession is a matter of opinion.

And as for a "regulation happy president" , at the worst he's slightly better than Bush on the numbers and costs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CID1990]

Kalm, everyone knows that corporations are holding onto their money these days. Investment is way down. Think about it.... the same forces that are acting on the banks and the corporations are also acting on the individual. Personally I would not dump any money into those sectors that have been the traditional money makers, like start up tech companies. Why? Because right now they are not a safe bet because there is very little market confidence in a number of factors, primarily the Eurozone and the FACT that we have a regulation happy president in the White House.

There is nothing to spin here. These are natural occurrences that happen in uncertain times. Corporations do not reinvest their profits and they do not spend those profits on expansion, i.e.: increasing capacity and hiring additional workers.

Obama is right in saying that corporation are cash flush right now, but he's completely off the reservation thinking that things are somehow OK with the private sector. And... the last thing we need is more deficit spending to create more public sector jobs which are not needed. There are still cops answering calls, teachers in the classrooms, and fires are still being put out.

You're painting with a broad brush here.

Private sector money is being reinvested, jobs are being created businesses are being expanded. There are a number of large companies that are doing really well. Is the growth where it needs to be? Obviously not, but one of the major things slowing growth is a lack of public sector spending. It's undeniable. Whether or not that's a good thing during a recession is a matter of opinion.

And as for a "regulation happy president" , at the worst he's slightly better than Bush on the numbers and costs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kalm, I respect that you have bought into this public sector stuff, but seriously... take it from a guy who has seen the public sector inside and out at all three levels: we could shed half of all the public sector jobs in this country and you would never notice.

First, comparatively speaking, the public sector is a very small drop in the bucket in terms of overall employment numbers in the US. In the most densely populated cities in the entire country, there are less than 3 police officers on the streets answering calls per 1000 citizens. The recommended number per 1000 is around 2.7 last time I checked. There are even less firefighters per capita. The other group that gets demagogued is the teachers, so throw them in there also. Now, if every single police officer, firefighter and teacher in this country suddenly became unemployed, what total percentage of our working population would that be? Go look it up, and you will see that there is no way that the lack of public sector jobs is somehow the problem here.

Cops, firefighters and teachers ALWAYS get demagogued by Democrats for a number of reasons. First, they are all highly unionized. Second, when you are looking to create an artificial employment bump, it is the most unimaginative and easy way to show you are "doing something" and if your opponents criticize you, you can turn on the old anti-education/anti public safety rhetoric.

I think Obama is toast already, but if they keep plugging the public sector it will seal the deal. The current administration is pushing the public sector because that's all they know how to do.... throw money at grant programs for community policing, niche teaching positions, you name it. They havent the first clue how to create a business atmosphere conducive to job creation in the private sector.... in fact the overregulation and tax structure virtually guarantees a lack of prosperity, and therefore creating more government jobs is all they have to hang their collective hats on. Johnsonian "Great Society" spending cannot happen, and politicians are going to have to start embracing more conservative fiscal policies to stay in office (Bill Clinton is a good example of a politician who understood this).

[CID1990]

I forgot to remind you that last time I checked, Bush wasnt all that popular, either. He didnt lose his base because of Iraq; he lost his base because of his spending habits.

[kalm]

You're painting with a broad brush here.

Private sector money is being reinvested, jobs are being created businesses are being expanded. There are a number of large companies that are doing really well. Is the growth where it needs to be? Obviously not, but one of the major things slowing growth is a lack of public sector spending. It's undeniable. Whether or not that's a good thing during a recession is a matter of opinion.

And as for a "regulation happy president" , at the worst he's slightly better than Bush on the numbers and costs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kalm, I respect that you have bought into this public sector stuff, but seriously... take it from a guy who has seen the public sector inside and out at all three levels: we could shed half of all the public sector jobs in this country and you would never notice.

First, comparatively speaking, the public sector is a very small drop in the bucket in terms of overall employment numbers in the US. In the most densely populated cities in the entire country, there are less than 3 police officers on the streets answering calls per 1000 citizens. The recommended number per 1000 is around 2.7 last time I checked. There are even less firefighters per capita. The other group that gets demagogued is the teachers, so throw them in there also. Now, if every single police officer, firefighter and teacher in this country suddenly became unemployed, what total percentage of our working population would that be? Go look it up, and you will see that there is no way that the lack of public sector jobs is somehow the problem here.

Cops, firefighters and teachers ALWAYS get demagogued by Democrats for a number of reasons. First, they are all highly unionized. Second, when you are looking to create an artificial employment bump, it is the most unimaginative and easy way to show you are "doing something" and if your opponents criticize you, you can turn on the old anti-education/anti public safety rhetoric.

I think Obama is toast already, but if they keep plugging the public sector it will seal the deal. The current administration is pushing the public sector because that's all they know how to do.... throw money at grant programs for community policing, niche teaching positions, you name it. They havent the first clue how to create a business atmosphere conducive to job creation in the private sector.... in fact the overregulation and tax structure virtually guarantees a lack of prosperity, and therefore creating more government jobs is all they have to hang their collective hats on. Johnsonian "Great Society" spending cannot happen, and politicians are going to have to start embracing more conservative fiscal policies to stay in office (Bill Clinton is a good example of a politician who understood this).

Nobody is suggesting that government hire for unnecessary jobs. I think the Obama administration has been more about touting it's private sector job growth record than anything else.

But it's not just about public sector hiring of teachers, cops, and firefighters. I'm not going to look up the numbers either but by the time you throw in public works, parks and rec departments, state DOT, and all of the hundreds of other local and state agencies from Fish and Game or, in the case of my state, the ferry system, it's more than just a drop in the bucket. One of the largest employers in my area is EWU, and that obviously goes way past just the teachers. You've got dining services, physical plant (electricians, plumbers, painters), grounds maintenance, janitorial etc. These were the agencies that were affected by the state hiring freeze and layoffs. Multiple that by numerous public universities and by 50 states and pretty soon the numbers start to add up. Now, kick in the private sector retail and support services that benefit from the public employee spending and the private sector begins to take a hit too.

But it doesn't stop there either. When local governments cut back on spending think of all the private contract engineering and architectural firms, the construction companies, and various trades that take a hit. Face it Cid, for right or wrong, 300 million people depend on government spending which in turn becomes a part of the greater economy. Government is massive and even I agree that's often a scary notion.

As for regulation, you again bring up the fears but as the link I provided suggests, it's really just a canard (although apparently an effective one). The reality is Obama is no worse and in some ways better than both Bush and Clinton in this regard. Businesses will continue to evaluate the risks and take their chances as long as their's a profit to be made.

Like I implied earlier, neo-liberalism during a recession and keynesianism during a boom seems to be backward.

[Ibanez]

The economy is doing better. My subdivision had 6 foreclosed/abandoned homes. 4 of the
Sold and 2 of the families moved in over the weekend.

So there.

*smiley face*


Ha. Good one.