In the words of dfwMUstangs, why is our economy in the toilet?

[Denny]

Overprinting to compensate for our government's overspending. Then they give incentives and push the "American Dream" on citizens so they go in debt for them to create more money to offset their overspending, but they just took that extra money and overspent more- maintianing a deficit. So now most everyone is severely in debt along with the government.

Now during all of this, our overspending went into unnecessary purchases and also inflated the prices of just about everything all while the purchasing power of the dollar deminished. There has not been one time where the dollar gained purchasing power since 1971 (maybe even earlier). This does not count the dollar index, I'm just talking about the dollar's purchasing power.

Now, to offset the weakened dollar, we all resort to buying things that are cheaper (because we still have the urge to buy worthless crap). It is now a set characterisitc of an American that has been instilled in us over the last few decades.

Third-world counties see our need for the cheaper shit and flood our markets with the crap... from cars to rubber dog shit. We scoop all of it up on the cheap and put our own industries out of business. Now our biggest industry is the service sector and we are slaves to our suppliers, who in turn lend us the money we spend in order to go into more debt to buy from them again.

UNFIXABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[talisman]

You forgot the MU.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

Were we running a surplus back in 2000-04? IMO, both sides of the isle are equally the problem.

I'd agree. The repubs are responsible for a lot of it, but then the dems took power and just ran it off a cliff. Now its so much worse.

[DON SVO]

You forgot the MU.

I didn't!

[sig239]

Were we running a surplus back in 2000-04? IMO, both sides of the isle are equally the problem.

Govt is too big and is too busy either scamming money with programs or trying to give it away. Boils down to pure greed.

And the military was rationing bullets for training, driving jeeps that where 50 years old. Clinton cut the shit out of there budget.
Was listening to radio today and they was talking about how where sending money to china to educate them on aids, while where begging them to barrow the money.

[talisman]

I didn't!

Bravo, my good man!

[Forever_frost]

And the military was rationing bullets for training, driving jeeps that where 50 years old. Clinton cut the shit out of there budget.
Was listening to radio today and they was talking about how where sending money to china to educate them on aids, while where begging them to barrow the money.

I remember during training having to yell "bang bang." No shit. 11B and we're in the field with OTV's and automatic weapons yelling bang. Fucking Clinton

[Captain Crawfish]

high energy costs are putting a hurting on the US. 4 dollar gas will never allow this economy to grow.

[Denny]

That isn't the reason why we are where we are, though.

[DON SVO]

high energy costs are putting a hurting on the US. 4 dollar gas will never allow this economy to grow.

??? I don't make $100,000 a year, and I assure you the extra $80 a month I pay in fuel going from $2.50/gal to $3.50/gal isn't SHIT compared to my low savings interest rate/mediocre IRA return/slow business sales at work.

[Captain Crawfish]

??? I don't make $100,000 a year, and I assure you the extra $80 a month I pay in fuel going from $2.50/gal to $3.50/gal isn't SHIT compared to my low savings interest rate/mediocre IRA return/slow business sales at work.

Its probably more than 80 a month. Its not just at the gas pump that you will pay more. Crappy energy policy isnt the only reason we are in trouble but it is part of the problem.

[Denny]

Its probably more than 80 a month. Its not just at the gas pump that you will pay more. Crappy energy policy isnt the only reason we are in trouble but it is part of the problem.

LOL... contributing factor vs. root cause FTL.

[jayjohnson600]

Why do YOU think our economy is performing poorly?

and, If you don't like the economy now, just wait until the Fed is compelled to
tighten and try to fade THAT economy, and do that while being saddled with
higher taxes(formal and hidden) that are about to be put on the books in short
order.

This budget will not make anyone truly happy. It's damage control, and as such
it will have to be drawn out as close to "armageddon" as politicians can(and
still keep their political seats).
The last saving grace is that the US can still market its "full faith and credit".
When that shows the some erosion, then the FED is compelled to
tighten(otherwise it'll be when employment gets down to a decent 8.x% and
the momentum is in stride). Only problem is, there's no catalyst for small
companies to hire, and big corps are getting what they need by squeezing
their current employees.
So, don't bet on meaningful change in unemployment anytime soon.

I don't think the US citizens understand what they are facing here, big picture.
We're not even at the halfway point. But you might say the market is back up,
it's propped up by the Govt(meaning your tax dollars and the next generation's
tax dollars and ...).
If this market was real, the metals wouldn't be ~3x from 2008 levels, employment
would be in a meaningful and sustained DEcline, and the US would be looking
at the surmountable pain of getting the gov't debt going in the right direction.
(and the slow, steady, erosion of entitlements too)

Jay Johnson

[03mustangdude]

gold topped 1600

[FastFox]

There is one simple statement that says it all. "THERE AIN'T NO FREE LUNCH" But, everybody wants one. Almost everybody wants his own "Private Tit"