Is our economy in the tank?
346633
Is our economy in the tank?  No.  Despite the lack of investment in our economic infrastructure during the last six years, the U.S. still possesses the most robust and innovative private sector in the world.
212278
The Budget Deficit is only one tiny little part of the whole debt problem the USA, and by extension the rest of the world, faces in the very near future. Yes, I realize I am saying a lot when I refer to our colossal deficit as tiny.\n\nThere is a monstrous deficit in the amount of repairs and improvements to our infrastructure that has been tossed about since the 1984 election that no one has really taken care of. Our local water systems are collapsing, and privatization has only made the problem worse. We are not working on improving our ability to complete interstate commerce upon which our economy depends. The multi-state black-out caused by a lightning strike should have been a wake up call, but if people don't care that you can't drink the water out of the kitchen sink I guess we have a ways to go.\n\nWhile we have the highest number of homeowners in our history, far too many of them are using the equity to extend the self-delusion that they are still in the middle class. This is why you see so many commercials of how neat it would be to mortgage your home to 125% of the value and take that vacation, just like the rich folks do!\n\nUnsecured debt and the resultant explosion of bankruptcy is going to plunge a large part of the population into a situation where eventually they will never be able to buy a car outside of the Trading Times and never have a chance of opening a business except a MLM nightmare.\n\nWe are allowing our growing need for energy to outstrip our ability to supply it even with foreign and unreliable sources. We are allowing a future without adequate education and job skills because of apathy on the part of parents and short sightedness of multinational employers. The list goes on and on.\n\nLets face it, the future is going to be a cold, dark and nasty place. Let's hope we're dead and buried long before it gets here.
156571
Not really, services only go so far.  Manufacturing must be part of the mix to have a healthy economy.
925641
Yes it was. The US economy is built around oil but more importantly the US economy operates using the so called petro dollar. The Oil industry is the only thing that gives any strength to what in reality is a weak dollar. Now Iraq has one of the top five oil reserves in the world. Everything was going fine until Saddam began to sell his oil in Euros and not dollars. This was a huge threat to the US economy. This was the tipping point on whether Iraq would be invaded or not. When oil was being sold in Euros that essentially made it more expensive for the US to buy and thus threatened the economy. Britain was OK because it gets more Euros for the pound but as 1 dollar is worth less than 1 Euro oil became more expensive for America.\n\nThe excuse was then formulated that there was a threat from Saddam. Yes there was a threat... to the US economy but no physical threat. The threat was economic but in a capitalist world you simply have to live with that. Unfortunately the US backed by Britain (because the UK economy is reliant to an extent on the US economy) changed the rules and married war with capitalism.\n\nIf the war wasn't about oil why have the US not invaded N. Korea when they actually do possess and have tested the WMDs that Saddam supposedly possessed... the amswer is simple. There is no oil there.
965674
The global economy is heading into a period called PEAK OIL. This means that we've reached the halfway point in terms of oil production. While there is still roughly 1 trillion barrels of oil left we will enter a period of declining returns. This means that once we reach the peak (nowish, 2010 at the longest) the world will pump out steadily less and less oil every year. This is catastrophic and will shake the foundations of our economy. We need approx 86million B of oil per day. This number gets higher and higher every year as the global economy expands, particularly with the white hot growth and demand from China and India. Pruduction will fall and demand will go up. Prices will skyrocket and there will be shortfalls as the gap widens between the oil available and demand for it. We have already seen the price of oil skyrocket from the low teens a few years back to close to 80. Its happening.\n\nWho will get the oil? The US reached their peak way back in 1970 and have steadily declined since. Now they are importing oil at increasing rates. They are aware of peak oil and need to secure sources for the future. They've done this by force. They are currently building massive military bases in the 2 best areas for oil reserves. (Approx 14 permanent massive bases in Iraq)The middle east, and Afghanistan which is on the doorstep of central asia where massive reserves are located. \n\nThis is why Iraq and Afghanistan were invaded. The US will be able to determine who gets whats left of the most valuable resource on the planet as oil reserves hit a steady decline. The rest is smoke and mirrors.\n\n-could the person that gave me a thumb down. Please post an intelligent rebuttal rather than a thumb down. I'm am shocked at how any educated person could have read what I wrote, then briefly pause in thought before clicking on 'thumb down?!?'
577477
The economy is in great shape despite the media, and much of that is attributed to his defiance of congress and the democrats on tax cuts.  Seriously we have record low unemployment, stock market near all time highs, interest rates at all time lows and inflation is in check even with the highest gasoline prices ever....not too mention we have domestic GNP growth exceeding 4% which is a really robust economy.\n\nNow you can fall into the "he lied" garbage presented by the far left.  Its funny how they ignore the fact BJ Clinton, Hillary, and Kerry all said Saddam had WMD's but now supposedly Bush lied?  That is BS; and the truth is al queda is on the run and has very few places to hide where they can accomplish anything (like another 9/11).  I think those are the two most critical issues of our time:  The economy and keeping terrorist occupied and hopefully catching and or killing them.
117431
If you had a nickel for every time someone suggested that the market was close to collapse, you would have already retired -- there are a number of market pundits that suggest we're close to collapse for a variety of reasons - be it the size of the US deficit, a slowing China, debt to GDP levels - but just like the tech bubble seemed ripe for a fall -- back in 1998! -- it carried on for some time. Simply read as much as you can on the economy, get a feel for the cycle (ie. when things are good versus when things are bad) and get a sense for when it makes sense to take some money out of your investments. I personally suggest watching employment figures. When unemployment ticks up, it's a bad sign. The consumer is a key component to the strength of the economy as a whole. When jobs fail to be created - or worse - when jobs are net-net disappearing, this is a worry. A  very simple tenet, but one to focus on. Good luck.
318743
ITS IN OUR HANDS OR NOT.WELL BIG COMPANYS KNOW THAT THE SMALL BUSSINESS OWNERS WILL BE BATTELING TO STAY AFLOAT AHA WALLMART LIKES THAT,ENRON STOCKS NOT FALLING.This is pure discrimanition against the working class,ONLY THE AFLUENT GET TO BE ON THE ROADS DURING THE PEAK GAS INCREASES.WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO STRAND THE LESS DESIRABLES THAN TO PRICE THEM OUT OR OFF THE ROADS,MEAN WHILE THE DECENT FAMILYS WHO STRUGGLE TO MAKE A VISIT TO THERE LOVE ONES ARE FORCED TO STAY HOME MISSING THE HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT MAKE A FAMILY AFAMILY,BREAKING THE BONDS THAT WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROUD OF. i SAY WHO DO I CHARGE WITH DISCRIMINATION. oR ARE WE ALL LIVING IN A PRISON CAMP CONTROLLED BY THE ELITE WORLD GOVERMENT THAT HAS TAKEN ROOT SINCE bUSH SR AND SON HAVE TAKEN OVER AND 911.lETS SEE HOW HIGH OUR TAXES WILL GO UP SO THE LOCAL GOVERMENT WORKERS USE THER SUVS TO GO LUNCHING,LAUNDRYING.WHAT ARE THE INCREASES WITH THE AIRLINES?
683750
economy's up i suppose.
429954
Disapprove.\nThe economy is tanked--don't let the fed reports fool you. Try to get a decent job. The world is in chaos and we have created much of it. The war in Iraq is a total failure and Afghanistan is ridiculous. We have no idea where Bin Laden is. Gas prices are outrageous. The immigration problem is out of control. Iran has nuclear weapons and the Generals don't support Rumsfeld. Our educational system is in total disrepair--30% of our kids don't finish high school. Nearly 90% of those incarcerated are high school dropouts who have no education or training when they get released back into our society. Health care is out of sight and 37 million Americans don't have any coverage, but illegal immigrants still get help at the emergency room. One in five women are molested or abused in some way before they reach the age of 18. The internet has become a nightmare of predators and porn and there's no protection or regulation.  Our kids are fat and don't know how to work. Our senior citizens eat dog food and have no idea how to access the prescription benefit. The middle class is disappearing. Corporate heads are raping companies with windfall profits and outrageous salaries and bonuses while their businesses are making no money and hard workers are being laid off.
898036
Well, the economy isn't strong. The economics numbers have been spun-they're not good at all. The stock market-many companies are getting good profit numbers only by cost-cutting jobs and services. And tax cuts. Meanwhile, our debt is out of control. We have never had a war while giving tax cuts-especially to the upper echelons of society, who may have mansions and three brand-new leased vehicles but are deeply in debt themselves. And I have a university degree with several financial licenses and 20 years experience and have never seen things so bad. By the way, our US Treasuries are now 51% owned by foreign entities. Maybe that's why the president referred to US Treasuries backed by the full faith of the US Government as paper IOUs in a drawer.
475568
I think that most Americans have stopped buying "unnecessary" fuel, but they are making more than enough money back off of just the necessary fuel (fuel that is needed for daily life, not all of us can walk to work/carpool)... if you have to have it, you have to have it... cuting consumption further isn't an option for most...\n\nSo what happens when capitiolism fails... seems like we are reaching that point with oil... increasing costs could have a crippling effect on our economy through inflation (especially if costs continue to go up)... is it worth it?\n\nThe reserves should have been released a while back... that's just silly, but that's also a Bush...
678005
Actually, other than gas the economy is excellent right now.  Best its been in years.  The main problem with all politicians is they are former lawyers.  So are judges.  So that makes all three branches of our system run by lawyers.  Isnt that nice.  Thats why the government and America is so screwed up.  We are letting the lawyers run the show.
307170
we all should think about keeping our farmers working  here in this country and not buy ALL our food from other countries like we have been doing.\nwe should tank them TOO !!\nso if our farmers get rich..and the other countries who are trying to ruin our economy does not get any more of our money so what..so be it..god for them\nbut they never will make that kind of money..our government will stop them..because the live in the USA..and the government will make them make more so we can have more and it is supposed to be cheaper for all of us\nONLY  TIME  WILL TELL
866681
Well-- no we shouldn't.   A depression/recession is predicated on the fact that GDP falls for a given amount of time.  GDP is still growing.\n\nGold going up was mainly on speculation and the fact that for a while there all commoditees were going up (due to demand and speculation).\n\nInterest rates are controlled by the fed via setting key rates and contorlling the money supply.\n\nWhat IS going to hurt us bad is the ever growing national debt.  Not the same as the deficit-- but that continues a well.
779344
This is indeed a "booming economy".  I have heard the people of Haliburton say it a number of times.  Seriously, I am tired of people trying force feed us that the economy is doing so great.  It is not.  There are a number of problems with it.  Here are just a few.\n\n\n a one trillion dollar war\nout of control spending in government\nrecord numbers of foreclosures\ncollege tuition and health care costs doubling\n20% of Americans owning 80% of the stock\nrecord deficits in spending\nnational debt doubling\ntrade deficit every year for the past 30 years\nmillions more in poverty every year\nhalf a trillion dollars a year spent on interest this year on \nnational debt. yes, that was just the interest.\n"real income" down each of the last five years\npersonal savings at an all time low\n\n This doesn't sound like America.  Unfortunately it is.
356699
Yes.  Interest rates, taxes (on gasoline or foreign goods, for example), tax cuts, treasury buybacks, central bank dealings in foreign currency and gold, etc.  The politicians have a lot of tools.  Better to get a book on macroeconomics and read to your heart's content.