Do we really have a strong economy?
362773
America's economy is a house of cards waiting to fall. if HALF the foreign investers cashed in their Treasury notes, the country would  go belly up. We are the largest debtor nation in the world, and lately foreigners have begun curtailing their buying of more Treasury notes as a result.\nI'll believe this current administration about their claims of a robust economy the day AFTER weapons of mass destruction are found in Iraq! (in Saddam's pocket, perhaps?)
554753
A good economy supports business, and make transactions faster as they go faster we all win!\n\nBanks are willing to loan money more easily, so that new businesses will develop.\n\nAs more businesses develop, more people will be employed, as more people are employed, more will have money for discretionary spending, which means more business.\n\nWhich means more money available to purchase more goods, which means that everyone wins.\n\nAs more people have money, due to an improved economy people will feel better...\n\nIt is when things like high gas prices, hurt business, or high interest rates.  Then the cost of business is higher, and people will hold on to their money longer.  Banks charge more for loans because they are being charged more.\n\nSpending slows down...people are laid-off.  Unemployment becomes a problem.  People cannot make house payments, so banks foreclose on them.\n\nInventories are stagnant because nobody can afford anything.
1030264
The economy is booming all over, despite the war, and the current interest rate hikes. \nThis is due to Bush's policies on tax cuts, THEY WORK!!!!!!!!\nIf we keep more money, we spend more money.\nif we spend more money, we stimulate the economy\nLiberals who are morons, and smoked to much weed during economics can't understand this. \n\nBut it's more than that, Bush is doing a fine Job and the libs know this, they are scared. And so there answer is to smear all he does, everything he says and does bad and good will get major spin from the libs, they are only capable of hate. The dark side as it were.
351488
we certainly arent beating the world in things that count ,, like education /health,, including Mental health\n we do have more food and more cars,and more pounds of fat ,and more debt. ever think how many people died so you can drive a hummer or fly to grannys for xmass?
344225
Yes this is true. We could have billions of money and still want more. People always want, want, want . They never think of the third world and be grateful for what you have even if it mightn't be alot compared to what others have
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.
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.
119759
The United States is still the hardest working population of all time. As long as we work as hard as we do, we have nothing to fear from competing economies.
48499
Americans can make things very well.  In fact, too well.  We can make things so well, that for us to demand higher pay is totally justifiable.  However, many companies are not willing to pay these higher labor costs, and so go to places like China.  However, the United States is still a major hub of technological innovation and economic efficiency, something the Chinese are still trying to master.  A purely text-book answer to your question is that the Chinese have a comparative economic advantage over the United States for the goods that you're talking about (in a very watered-down definition, they can make it 'cheaper').  However, it is important to keep a global perspective on such a macroeconomic problem.  Many European countries (whom rarely are targeted in popular 'Buy American' campaigns) equally blame the United States for 'dumping' electronics, the Canadians are up-in-arms over our lumber tarrifs and the Austrialians are less than pleased with our iron-fisted grip over the governing body of the Internet.  I would HIGHLY suggest you peruse an upper-level economics text (at least a college-level introductory macroeconomics book).  There is also a collection of thought-provoking essasys on this issue in the book 'Second Thoughts' from a variety of authors and view points.
502989
Good question if worded correctly. Industry's value works twofold.  First, technology reduces unit cost which allows for a lower market price resulting in increased demand.  Second, the value added by the worker results in higher wages.  The money multiplier in a free market economy has to be higher than command economies (because of efficiency) so wealth creation is enhanced greatly.  \n\nBut that doesn't explain everything going on.  Industry tends to bureaucracy because of the size of operation.   Economies of scale also end up in diseconomies of scale.  Demand changes which can have negative long term impact.  (Domestic car producers today)  Too much labor of the labor market in industry results in boom bust cycles that result in large economic swings.   (Recently, the US has seen good growth without corresponding serious downturns.  Is it higher percentage of labor market in service sector, Fed policy, low tax rates, budget deficits?\n\nUltimately, free markets determine the real answer to your question.  But, increased efficiencies and outsourcing industry sector jobs have not harmed the economy here if you measure that by the aggregate and macro numbers.
412341
i'm pretty sure the economy will go up in 2006\n\nunless of couse it doesn't, in which case it will either go down or possibly remain stable.
1141234
When you hear the economy is doing good, is not the whole truth.\nYes, the economy is doing good for those in the stock market which is mostly the top 5% of people.Sometimes you will hear that job growth went up but look at the kind of jobs created, low paying service jobs. Inflation is not all its cracked up to be, they don`t figure energy cost like gas for cars and homes or food cost. Last year the world for the first time ever consumed more grain then we produced so look for food cost to rise. The American dollars worth has dropped 12% from 2002. If China wanted to invade a country by them all they would have to do to stop the U.S. is to call up the notes we owe them. I never seen a republican president spend so much money or expand that much government
50699
Roads are the basis of most economies if not all. Transport of goods is easier if roads are good.
918631
This is a little off subject but reminds me of a conversation I had a few days ago. In that conversation, I was saying that I truly believe ppl alive today are living in the 'best of times'.\n\nWhy do I believe this? Because we have all the commodities of oil products such as plastic etc... making for a lot of luxury and the fact that we are not quite yet completely controlled by big brother. That day is coming sooner than ppl realize.
889415
All I know is that our economy is better than ever and we have not had any attacks on the US since 9/11.  The NASDAQ is at an ALL TIME record high, mortgage rates are still low, unemployment is down and there are more homeowners than ever before in our history.  However, Bush never gets any recognition for his achievements, only his failures.
1012271
Thats BS.\n If what you say is indeed true than they are very smart for contributing to their OWN economy. We could learn  alot from them\nContributing to the global economy has contributed 1000s of Americans out of jobs duh. What about our own economy?\n\nOh btw define what is expected? That is the problem you see. Too many countries expect .
969457
I would expect the economy will be significantly stronger than what we have.\nThe housing market would be cheaper and more affordable. \nThe interest rate will be higher than what we have right now.\nOur national debt will be much much lower.\nInflation will be higher than what we have today.\n\n911 has definitely speed up the recession and cause dipping.  If you remember months after 911, many companies complains the sales dropped significantly and causing massive layoffs.\nThe interest rates dropped to the lowest ever so to stimulate the economy.  At the same time, people pull money out of the stock market and put them into their mortage and properties.    Because of the interest rate was lower,  real estates becomes a good investment.    And people are buying more homes and sky rocketing the housing prices, even though the eonomy was bad.\n\nNow with the housing is so expensive, people has to put more money into the mortage than before So they don't have much more money to spend on other luxury items.    That causes some big high-end stores to dropped in sales.\n\nAlso, because of the 911, we spent much more money on securities and defenses.     That raise the cost for travel and transportations and overall government budgets.    That cuts down on programs that help low income and government programs.\n\nAlso 911 has cause the stock market to dropped significantly and many people lost their money big time on their retirement plans and their net worth in the brokerage accounts.     \n\nIf we had not had the 911, the median net worth for people will be higher.   And the median debt per person will be lower.\n\nJust my opinion.