Originally Posted By ecdc Or the Clean Air Act. Or the 14th Amendment. Or the Department of Education. Yeah, we get it. The economy is going to crash and burn so badly that we'll be lucky if America looks like "The Road" in a few years. (Even though most economists agree this is no longer likely, but a sustained period of high-unemployment and slow, almost unnoticeable recovery.) But other stuff matters along with the economy. Me, I'd rather live in the recession where government still protects the rights of everyone than live in a boom society where the Rand Pauls of the world rule the roost.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Here's some people who don't think Rand Paul is all that right on economic issues.<< Yeah - they're wrong too. They and many other people who really ought to know better are still clinging to the hope that this is just a typical (albeit really bad) business cycle, and that a recovery will somehow magically materialize out of the current scenario. There's no mechanism under which it can. And the longer we wait to take our medicine and get it over with, the worse it's going to get. >>Yeah, it doesn't matter if racist shopowners kick out all the negroes.<< It won't for much longer at this rate. I'd much rather vote for a more progressive candidate (a MUCH more progressive candidate) who understands the economic catastrophe that's looming over our heads. But if there's not one, Rand Paul will have to do. Doesn't matter though. I don't have such a candidate to vote for.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Yeah - they're wrong too.<< Hey, I'm convinced! Look, we've been hearing these authoritarian pronouncements of doom and gloom for two years. And hey, maybe it'll actually happen. But to be dismissive of hundreds of economists who disagree with you doesn't exactly win any arguments. Just like two years ago when we heard the same doom and gloom, there's different voices and perspectives on where this is headed.
Originally Posted By ecdc And BTW, don't take my response as one of roses and sunshine. I think we're probably in for a long period of high unemployment and next-to-zero growth. It's as so many around here have said, "the new normal." It sucks and I hope steps are taken that can alleviate it somewhat, but I don't think it will abate completely for the next several years. Hopefully it won't be an entire decade.
Originally Posted By Mr X I predicted gloom and doom before and during the crash of 07, and nobody (or almost nobody) believed me. Now, I see no such thing. As EC says, and I agree with him, what we're looking at now appears to be simple stagnation. However, NOW we have tons of gloom and doomers. Where were you back when the crash WAS happening before our eyes and everyone was just blowing sunshine up our collective behinds!? A day late and a dollar short, I say. However, a period of stagnation ain't a bed of roses and sunshine either...like ec said (see, I'm agreeing with EC a lot in the hopes he'll stick around even though idiot DAR seems to be back (again).
Originally Posted By hopemax On one side of his mouth, Rand Paul shouts about the deficit. On the other hand, he supports a plan that would add $4 trillion to the deficit. How good on economic issues can he be?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If you have the term "Incumbent" next to your name I think you need to be concerned this year...no matter if you are a (R) or a (D).
Originally Posted By fkurucz "But to be dismissive of hundreds of economists who disagree with you doesn't exactly win any arguments." FWIW those "hundreds of economists" have a lousy track record. They insisted there wasn't going to be a recession before the Great Recession hit. They said that there was no housing bubble. They said that the house puchase tax credit would get the housing market going again. If there is a phrase I associate with them its "worse than expected" and they seem to use it a lot. Disclaimer: I don't support Rand Paul. I just have a very hard time trusting economists who keep predicting recoveries that don't happen.
Originally Posted By DAR <<If you have the term "Incumbent" next to your name I think you need to be concerned this year...no matter if you are a (R) or a (D).>> True very true
Originally Posted By DAR <<(see, I'm agreeing with EC a lot in the hopes he'll stick around even though idiot DAR seems to be back (again). >> Hey good luck with your surgery.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>On one side of his mouth, Rand Paul shouts about the deficit. On the other hand, he supports a plan that would add $4 trillion to the deficit. How good on economic issues can he be? << True dat. He's more opposed to taxes than he is in favor of fiscal responsibility. Oh well, he's a Republican. But he's still not just throwing money at the problem on the basis that "oh it's just a business cycle and it'll correct itself because business ... cycles. It's just what business does. It's like magic or something." That seems to be the argument of those 300 economists. It's a fantasy right up there with "real estate never goes down" and "you shouldn't tax the rich because they create jobs."
Originally Posted By Labuda "Well, compared to this current crop of wingnuts George W seems downright moderate and reasonable!" ...and it *terrifies* me to know that you're right in saying that.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Bill Maher mentioned this during his season opener last night, that W was relatively sane compared to the tea baggers. And he's right!
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Originally Posted By mele Dang, what did I miss? I had the thought this morning, remembering when Douglas would repeatedly say that history would judge George W. in a much different light, more positive light, than we do now. I now think he was correct. But not in the way he meant it. I don't think his choices will be any more respected. It's just that the wingnuts are gaining power in this country and it's quite possible that history will look back on Bush far more kindly because of the disasterous Teabagger movement that might be running our country someday soon. How's that for a scary thought?
