Obama destroying the economy

[_truth dancer]

Perhaps. But perhaps we need to go through some pain to move the a stronger economy as well.

Or course we do and of course we are. The question is, how much pain before the government steps in?

Most people that I know don't want to see children starving on the streets or the elderly frozen to death (as recently happened in Michigan) because they can't pay their bills.

How many people can be on government assistance before we run out of money? How many families can be homeless before we decide to help the children on the streets? How many people are we going to let be without homes, food, clothing, a source of money before we help? Allowing it all to play out without intervening is asking for a crisis we have never before seen... I'm all about people reassessing their financial situation but I am NOT OK with children on the streets or without food, or elderly being left with nothing.

We were on a pretty steep downward spiral. It is slowing down and by the end of the year we should see it turn around.

I don't like having to bail out those who have created this crisis, I really don't. I don't like losing so much money, trust me. I don't like what is happening but as much as I dislike this, it is better than seeing things get much, MUCH worse.

[_Who Knows]

meh. I voted for obama. i think what he's doing sucks. but i just have to remind myself of the alternative (mccain) and I feel better about my decision.

[_Jason Bourne]

Or course we do and of course we are. The question is, how much pain before the government steps in?

Or will some of the government action prolong or even create more pain? Thing is TD there is no evidence government tampering helps and plenty to show that it hurts. Many economists argue Roosevelt's action prolonged the depression and it took a war to get us out of it.

Most people that I know don't want to see children starving on the streets or the elderly frozen to death (as recently happened in Michigan) because they can't pay their bills

I agree. I think we are far from that.

How many people can be on government assistance before we run out of money?

I do not know. Do you>

How many families can be homeless before we decide to help the children on the streets?

Are there a lot of children in the streets?

How many people are we going to let be without homes, food, clothing, a source of money before we help?

]

I am all for a safety net. I am not for helping people who bought homes beyond their means and used risky mortgages to do so.

Allowing it all to play out without intervening is asking for a crisis we have never before seen...

You keep saying this. You may be right. You may be wrong. Nobody knows. So hey we use rhetoric like you use to convince ourselves SOMETHING, ANYTHING has to be done and we don't think about the repercussions of what we do. I think something should be done as well. Don't use the government to decide how and where the money is spent. Cut taxes. Both personal and corporate taxes and let people and businesses decide what to do with the money. It worked in the 80s and it got us at of a recession that was much worse than where we are currently.

I'm all about people reassessing their financial situation but I am NOT OK with children on the streets or without food, or elderly being left with nothing.

If this is a an current excessive problem I am with you. I do not think it is at the moment.

We were on a pretty steep downward spiral. It is slowing down and by the end of the year we should see it turn around.

I don't like having to bail out those who have created this crisis, I really don't. I don't like losing so much money, trust me. I don't like what is happening but as much as I dislike this, it is better than seeing things get much, MUCH worse.

Still might get worse is spite of this historic government intervention.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Jason,

I think the problem is much more complicated that some seem to think. This is a multifaceted problem and would have definitely gotten much worse if nothing was done. I don't think anyone debates this, (OK with the exception of Rush and Glen... smile).

I don't know the specifics of every County and State in the Country but I do know that there are limits and without the stimulus plan there would be some serious shortages, not to mention many, many more jobs lost. (And isn't helping people keep their jobs better than giving handouts)?

What do you think will happen to families who lose their homes and jobs? What do you think will happen to the children? What do you think will happen to the disabled in our Country who need help with food and shelter when there are no government resources to help?

Again, I am not a fan of bailing everyone out but the reality is, when parents lose their jobs and lose their homes and can't find work, and have no money... children suffer. Where do you think all these people will live? What do you think is going to happen to all the children who have no homes, no food, no government resources to help?

I'm asking this with all seriousness. Rush and Beck seem to think they should all just suffer and deal with it... or something. I totally get (not that I agree) the unwillingness to help families who have made poor decisions but my gosh, do you let children suffer?

I don't get this mindset.

And, again, just giving people tax cuts will not cut it. I have seen the research first hand. People are not going to spend the money. They are going to save it and pay down debt which is fine but it will do NOTHING to help our current situation, or, going back to econ 101, help balance supply and demand.

And, evidently you are unaware of all the tent cities that are sprouting up. Yes, we see scenes right out of the depression. Of course we do. Again, what are people supposed to do without a home, job, and money?

Another little point, an example of how the stimulus plan has helped in my community... last week our school district was able to save 250 jobs. YAY! Things are not going to turn around right away but I do believe it is much better than doing nothing, or giving tax.

Again, I am not a fan of every little thing that is going on. I don't like it. I would do things differently. But Obama inherited a situation and is attempting to pick up the pieces of Bush's mistakes. It is going to take some time and some creativity and a lot of pain.

~td~

[_asbestosman]

I for one see government intervention as tending to prolong the recession (which sucks), but at the same time my hope is that it will spread out the blow instead of making us get through it all quickly.

Blaming W. may seem logical, but the truth is that he's only one of many who is fault. He makes an excellent whipping boy though because he refused to effectively communicate with the rest of the world during his 8 years. So who else is at fault? Well, I think if we can blame Bush, we can also blame Clinton. We might further include all politicians over the past 20 years who did nothing to stop this, and maybe include every person in the world who did nothing to stop it. But again, Bush makes a very convenient target since he's already despised (and I surely dislike his lack of effective, cooperative communication).

[_aussieguy55]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2rJP-u ... re=related

A silly anti-obama youtube video

U Americans really need to improve your education

[_asbestosman]

U Americans really need to improve your education

We will after the rest of the world stops sending their brightest to Harvard, MIT, and Cal-Tech.

Now granted, there are a lot of foolish Americans out there and I'm not particularly pleased with some things done with education for kids from the age of 5 to 18, but by and large Americans can get an excellent education in this country if they have parental involvement and self-motivation.

And yes, that was a stupid video.

But that's also the beauty of America. If you want to make a fool of yourself, we'll let you instead of insisting that you need to be educated until you conform.

[_Jason Bourne]

I think the problem is much more complicated that some seem to think.

Of course it is complicated. Large economies are. And it is even more complicated because of the global scope of things and the fact that emerging economies are competing with established ones for scarce resources. I do not know anyone who says it is not complicated.

This is a multifaceted problem and would have definitely gotten much worse if nothing was done. I don't think anyone debates this, (OK with the exception of Rush and Glen... smile).

I do not think you are fair to Beck or Limbaugh. You may not agree with them but they are not stupid and they do not simply think we should do nothing. But they are for limited government involvement and for free marked methods. The fact that you do not agree with that does not make them wrong. And Beck has been predicting this crisis for about 18 months before it happened and you would know that if you actually listened more then five minutes to what he has to say.

I don't know the specifics of every County and State in the Country but I do know that there are limits and without the stimulus plan there would be some serious shortages, not to mention many, many more jobs lost. (And isn't helping people keep their jobs better than giving handouts)?

What do you think will happen to families who lose their homes and jobs? What do you think will happen to the children? What do you think will happen to the disabled in our Country who need help with food and shelter when there are no government resources to help?

I am sure some bad things could happen. I want to avoid it if possible. But keep in mind it all has to be paid for. It is coming from you, or me or money is being printed or borrowed from another nation all of which have consequences some of which may end up disastrous.

Again, I am not a fan of bailing everyone out but the reality is, when parents lose their jobs and lose their homes and can't find work, and have no money... children suffer. Where do you think all these people will live? What do you think is going to happen to all the children who have no homes, no food, no government resources to help?

And where does the money come from TD? Thin air?

I'm asking this with all seriousness. Rush and Beck seem to think they should all just suffer and deal with it... or something. I totally get (not that I agree) the unwillingness to help families who have made poor decisions but my gosh, do you let children suffer?

I don't get this mindset.

Beck and Limbaugh do not think what you think. They think that free marked forces, low taxes, less regulation and so on will better kick start the economy then government tampering and spending.

And, again, just giving people tax cuts will not cut it.

Sure worked for Ronald Reagan in the early 80s when he was handed the Carter recesion which was worse than where we are at least at this point in time.

Sorry TD, you are wrong. Tax cuts work especially targeted tax cuts. Tax cuts for doing certain things like investing in equipment, plants and people.

I have seen the research first hand.

Oh please. Big deal. Give me an economic position and I can find you research from a half dozen sources to back it up.

People are not going to spend the money.

Some will and some won't.

They are going to save it and pay down debt which is fine but it will do NOTHING to help our current situation, or, going back to econ 101, help balance supply and demand.

We need savings and paying down debt. Too much spending and borrowing both by citizens and the government is why we are where we are.

But one point on the tax cuts. One of my customers had a nice 20 million dollar a year manufacturing business. He has been planning on expanding into a vertical segment. But if taxes go up will put this 3 million dollar expansion on hold, at least that was his thinking until the recent tax bill extended what is called the 50% bonus deduction for equipment purchases for 2009. Now he is considering it again because this bonus deduction will give him about a million dollar savings that he can use for the expansion. He will probably add about ten jobs as well. Don't tell me tax cuts don't make a difference. In my work I witness what tax cuts do, all the time.

And, evidently you are unaware of all the tent cities that are sprouting up

I am. Can you send my a link where I can read about this.

Another little point, an example of how the stimulus plan has helped in my community... last week our school district was able to save 250 jobs. YAY! Things are not going to turn around right away but I do believe it is much better than doing nothing, or giving tax.

Terrific.

Again, I am not a fan of every little thing that is going on. I don't like it. I would do things differently. But Obama inherited a situation and is attempting to pick up the pieces of Bush's mistakes. It is going to take some time and some creativity and a lot of pain.

There you go again blaming it all on Bush. You really seem naïve about all this. And yes it will be painful but pain is what you seem to want to avoid.

[_Calculus Crusader]

Hello.... Obama has been in office for 45 days.

He is not the one who got us in this mess.

How about we give the new administration a little time to see if they can turn things around.

I mean seriously, who in the world thinks anyone can turn this economy (that was destroyed by Bush over many years), around in a matter of weeks.

Please. Democrats like President Bill Clinton, Senator Chuck "Putzhead" Schumer, and Representative Barney Frank contributed to the economic collapse as much or more than anyone in the Bush Administration. (The removal of the safeguards started under Clinton and had the support of many Democrats.)

[_Brackite]

Sounds like Rush. :-( I guess it didn't occur to you that those who voted for him did their research and like what he believes in. Personally I am glad Obama is our President.

Hello Truth dancer,

I am glad that you did your research, and I respect your decision that you voted for Barack Obama. I Voted for Senator John McCain, and II am very glad that I did. However, Barack Obama ended up winning, and he is my President as well as yours President.
Hopefully, the Economy will be starting to improve soon.