re: U.S. unemployment rate drops to 7 year low.

No. You're dumber than I thought. I'm saying proponents of how awesome the government has made it for the economy should note that real earnings are still down 7 years later. And those people should maybe note things aren't so awesome after all.

No it doesn't, because it doesn't fit his narrative.


It's Stonehog, brah. He's a liar, a bet welcher, and a total scumbag all around. Why would you expect anything of substance from him?

They actually quit counting you as unemployed after 2 years I think.

The unemployment number is really much higher when you count everybody.

Another government fib is "1% inflation- excluding the volatile food and energy sectors", but I've not figured out how to live without those sectors.

For those who don't understand economics, the economy is doing pretty well. Economics is relative. It is also a part of a "lagged" system, meaning that an action will likely not impact fully for 2-8 years. But here are just a few things from your points.

1. Unemployment- Part Time jobs have increased, and some full-time jobs have gone down in classification to Part time. This is true, I don't think anyone is disputing that. But, a job is a job, no matter how many hours you work. This 5.4% is an excellent number. Perfection is somewhere between 2-4%. You have to have some unemployment to drive competition.

2. "Entitlements"- The way the system is now, there will be entitlements payed out. The idea of them is a safety net and economic driver. The system gets gamed, but it is such a small portion of the pie in comparison to other spending, it honestly isn't even worth mentioning.

3. GDP growth- So complicated, that it would take a year to explain it to tRant

4. Inflation- If we don't have inflation, it means something is seriously wrong. Too much, is also very wrong. Imagine fluoride for your teeth/health. A little is good. Too much can kill you. None is also bad.

To put it all in perspective, the Iraq War, combined with tax cuts, put us in a vertical nosedive. Without the bailout, we would have gone into a Great Depression. Period. While the numbers do not exactly line up, the economy is light years better than it was in 2008. While it may not be on the rise as quickly as some would hope, we did pull out of a nosedive destined for death. Relativity yo!

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But, a job is a job, no matter how many hours you work.

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This is the part that I'm surprised people are so hung up on. Folks on this board hate people on welfare and say they should go out and get a job and stop mooching off the government.

People are doing that, but they're only getting part time jobs so frick Obama. For all the people on this board that say they want what's best for the country, they sure have a hard time seeing anything positive if it's not done by a member of their own party.

Unemployment is down? Meaningless statistic because the new jobs are only part time. But you can bet your arse if unemployment was high, those same people would be blaming Obama and calling him the worst president ever for it.

I have a masters in economics. I know what I am talking about.

*Quick clarificaiton- Referring to the Iraq war in the sense that there was no "goal." "Terrorism" is an enemy that will never be defeated. Public opinion also included. Most wars are economic drivers, but too long, and they become a burden.

Case in point.

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i agree. blind "eff obama" rage gets us nowhere. i mean, you know me, we're not going to agree on anything, and i think economy is marginally better at best (if not worse) but the blame 'bama is as bad as blame bush

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But in terms of lagged economics, it is very much based upon what WBush did. The economy is absolutely, without doubt, better now than when Obama came into office. Specifics can be debated, but overall, there is no debate. Any good/major economist would echo that statement.

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But in terms of lagged economics, it is very much based upon what WBush did.

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in terms of the market and crash around 2008?

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the bigger issue in this country are the uneducated voters who vote based on this type of skewed information.

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Biggest*