Is The USA Economy Improving?

[Voyager]

Apparently so:



GoBama! Yes we can!!!

[Everett]

Nope

[Since 78]

Not from anything Ive seen.

[portland]

No.

I still have my job...but my health insurance is going up significantly next year and no raises.

[Rockindeano]

Nope

How would you know gas pumper? You commenting on the economy is akin to Dan speaking to the NAACP in Birmingham.

[Ratgirl]

No.

I still have my job...but my health insurance is going up significantly next year and no raises.

Ditto.. Our employer says to expect at least 2 more years with no raises too.
Everything else around us goes up but our paycheck.

[RocknRoll]

That graph might be a bit more realistic if it included June/July where unemployment numbers are terrible; since those are obviously census workers in March/April.

Have you heard the expression "double dip?" Right now, I am more scared than I have ever been in my life. I just don't see this getting any better. Home sales are now at the lowest they have been in 15 years. Which means the value of your house is still going down and more people will have their homes foreclosed or walk away. This will continue to cascade throughout the rest of the economy. It just keeps getting worse.

All I know is I'd vote for anyone who takes this nightmare seriously (since our current administration has totally screwed up priorities)and has a realistic plan to get us out of it.

[Saint John]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. But our board of directors, the same people who forecasted this calamity well before it happened, seem to think that the outlook is extremely grim.

[Everett]

Nope

How would you know gas pumper? You commenting on the economy is akin to Dan speaking to the NAACP in Birmingham.

It's general laborer now deano. Just started part time overnight construction work last weekend. And do you have to comment on every post i make? I know you hate me big freakin whoop.

[S2M]

In a word: Nope

People in Africa are sending money to the U.S.... Mothers in ethiopia are telling their kids, "finish your plate, do you know how many children are starving in America?"

[stevew2]

Its up and down from week to week with me.Summer is a slow time ,I doubt it will get worse

[Melissa]

No way it's improving. People are losing jobs left and right and MANY others are getting their hours cut, benefits cut, and no raises or over-time or anything like that, and the outlook for any of that to come back anytime soon is very, very slim. Anyone who thinks it's improved since Obama took office is high as a kite.

[WalkInMyShoes]

There is no improvement that I can see. People are not willing to put out any money for elective health care which is going to be a huge problem when they get really sick from not taking care of themselves, but who can blame them? We took a 10% pay cut, no pension contribution for 2 years, no 401K match, hundreds of layoffs, higher insurance premiums with no coverage for spouses if they have coverage available at their jobs, higher deductible ($1500) on medical expenses. All nonunion staff are required to take 2 weeks nonpaid leave per year. There is no way I'm leaving however, because the alternative is worse.

We are getting nickeled and dimed on everything, from shipping costs, fees at the bank, grocery, and all services. I know that I have put off getting things repaired at my house because I hate to spend the money.

[squirt1]

Simple- When politicians make gov bigger, to buy votes with their giveaways, and tax / burden individuals who start small business the jobs disappear .People stop spending and risking going into business(jobs) just to see what assinine thing congress will think up next. This congress is a special kind of stupid. Even Jimmy Carter was smarter than what we are witnessing.

[Everett]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. But our board of directors, the same people who forecasted this calamity well before it happened, seem to think that the outlook is extremely grim.

Think you'd be able to get me a job at your place?

[portland]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. But our board of directors, the same people who forecasted this calamity well before it happened, seem to think that the outlook is extremely grim.

Think you'd be able to get me a job at your place?

Well....oh nevermind!!!

[stevew2]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. But our board of directors, the same people who forecasted this calamity well before it happened, seem to think that the outlook is extremely grim.

Think you'd be able to get me a job at your place?

You ll need Deano as a referance,good luck

[Everett]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. But our board of directors, the same people who forecasted this calamity well before it happened, seem to think that the outlook is extremely grim.

Think you'd be able to get me a job at your place?

You ll need Deano as a referance,good luck

Crap! Well it was worth a shot

[Monker]

There should be a third option for 'stagnant', which is where I think it is...and where I think it will remain until after the elections this November.

[Babyblue]

No way it's improving. People are losing jobs left and right and MANY others are getting their hours cut, benefits cut, and no raises or over-time or anything like that, and the outlook for any of that to come back anytime soon is very, very slim. Anyone who thinks it's improved since Obama took office is high as a kite.

I agree!

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

I run an international interim managment divsion that employs people in both the US and UK. The economy stinks in both places, big time .

[Ehwmatt]

I see glimmers of hope here in Cleveland, which is probably a good barometer given the downtrodden nature of the city in the last several years. There is more real estate being built/renovated, more activity and traffic on the commute etc. Even professional markets, like legal and financial firms, are beginning to hire again here and there. But, make no mistake, it's a cautious hope.

[Rip Rokken]

The economy is sucking balls and if the Dems let these tax cuts expire you can expect even worse economic times in 2011. Why? Because they're gonna take more of your money.

I agree, but the 2nd Bush administration had the chance to make them permanent (though nothing's ever permanent in Washington) and did nothing. On anything, really. Do you think the Republicans learned this time? I think we'll never have more than the ability to vote for the lesser of two evils, and unfortunately sometimes you have to vote for the worst to hopefully reverse the downhill spiral of the others. We need some serious conservative leadership and I don't think that's coming.

[S2M]

I look at it this way...the Presidency is a tough job, and I don't care what anybody says to the contrary. Whatever party a President is you have members of the opposing party hoping for, and scheming for his failure. The common folk sees him taking 12 vacations to Camp David...playing golf, making identifiable stains on interns' dresses and thinks its all fun and games...seriously though, I believe 99% of presidential candidates - minus incumbents, have disillusions about just what CAN be accomplished in the office. The public are blind too...candidates promise all sorts of foolish stuff in their platforms...anything to get elected - without a thought if it really can be done...so when you are discussing a topic like the economy, and asking if it will get better...just remember that this problem was an inherited one from a former administration. And promising that we will come out it quickly was one of those foolish, disillusioned promises....

[kgdjpubs]

I look at it this way...the Presidency is a tough job, and I don't care what anybody says to the contrary. Whatever party a President is you have members of the opposing party hoping for, and scheming for his failure. The common folk sees him taking 12 vacations to Camp David...playing golf, making identifiable stains on interns' dresses and thinks its all fun and games...seriously though, I believe 99% of presidential candidates - minus incumbents, have disillusions about just what CAN be accomplished in the office. The public are blind too...candidates promise all sorts of foolish stuff in their platforms...anything to get elected - without a thought if it really can be done...so when you are discussing a topic like the economy, and asking if it will get better...just remember that this problem was an inherited one from a former administration. And promising that we will come out it quickly was one of those foolish, disillusioned promises....

stop making sense....it's embarrassing to the rest of us. Making any substantial changes in the first 4 years is not very likely, especially in today's climate where we are one small push from a MAJOR depression. We're teetering on the brink, and have been since 2001. It wouldn't take much for the whole economy to go into a massive tailspin, and I'm not so convinced it won't go there anyway before all is said and done. Let gas prices hit $3+ again for a few months, and we'll be right back where we were.

[Duncan]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. .

Yes, but you must concede that being tall also helped your application.

[Saint John]

Luckily, my company is thriving and I just got a significant promotion. .

Yes, but you must concede that being tall also helped your application.

[Rockindeano]

I love how this horrible economy is Obama's fault, lol. He inherited a huge pile of warm steaming fresh shit, and with ZERO help from the GOP side of Congress, hasn't been able to get a jobs bill done. Yes, he should have used his presidential capital on jobs instead of the health care passage so early, but didn't. He is now paying for it, but sorry folks, I find it hilarious that Obama and the Democrats have to pay for something they obviously did not create. This mess is a direct result of awful governing by Bush and the GOP. You cannot deny that, whether you hate Obama or not(and most here do), cheers to you...you are getting the House back because your party did absolutely nothing to help the president get a jobs bill done. They vote no, no and no, and congrats!, you get a new party in power in one chamber. Whatever happened to Team America? Yes, both parties are guilty of wishing doom and gloom on the president when they are not in power, but the country suffers. Anyone here thinks Obama is the blame for the economy is fucking insane and just stupid. Anyone here thinks the GOP is innocent in all of this is fucking stupid. This is all the republicans doing, they made the mess, and then they refuse to help clean it up, and boom, they get one House back. Funny how that works. So Obama haters, keep wishing doom and gloom on anything Obama and the Dems try to get accomplished, as it helps your party. But don't come in here and profess your love for America. By cheering for a party, the republican party who does absolutely nothing is pure un-American. That is the simple truth.

PS- Oh and if the roles were reversed, and the Democrats acted as the GOP is now, I would quit the party out of disgust. I would refuse to support a party who acts the way the republicans do. Absolutely pathetic.

[Melissa]

No way it's improving. People are losing jobs left and right and MANY others are getting their hours cut, benefits cut, and no raises or over-time or anything like that, and the outlook for any of that to come back anytime soon is very, very slim. Anyone who thinks it's improved since Obama took office is high as a kite.

I agree!

Thanks; and just FYI for you Obama supporters, I'm not blaming him for the economy, I was simply stating that it has surely not improved since he took office, like many of his supporters seemed to think it magically would.

[Saint John]

I love how this horrible economy is Obama's fault, lol. He inherited a huge pile of warm steaming fresh shit, and with ZERO help from the GOP side of Congress, hasn't been able to get a jobs bill done. Yes, he should have used his presidential capital on jobs instead of the health care passage so early, but didn't. He is now paying for it, but sorry folks, I find it hilarious that Obama and the Democrats have to pay for something they obviously did not create. This mess is a direct result of awful governing by Bush and the GOP. You cannot deny that, whether you hate Obama or not(and most here do), cheers to you...you are getting the House back because your party did absolutely nothing to help the president get a jobs bill done. They vote no, no and no, and congrats!, you get a new party in power in one chamber. Whatever happened to Team America? Yes, both parties are guilty of wishing doom and gloom on the president when they are not in power, but the country suffers. Anyone here thinks Obama is the blame for the economy is fucking insane and just stupid. Anyone here thinks the GOP is innocent in all of this is fucking stupid. This is all the republicans doing, they made the mess, and then they refuse to help clean it up, and boom, they get one House back. Funny how that works. So Obama haters, keep wishing doom and gloom on anything Obama and the Dems try to get accomplished, as it helps your party. But don't come in here and profess your love for America. By cheering for a party, the republican party who does absolutely nothing is pure un-American. That is the simple truth.

PS- Oh and if the roles were reversed, and the Democrats acted as the GOP is now, I would quit the party out of disgust. I would refuse to support a party who acts the way the republicans do. Absolutely pathetic.

This is the biggest piece of written shit ever. 3 and a half years ago, when the Democrats took control of Congress, YOU sat here and shoved it down everyone's throat how this country was being taken back and a whole bunch of other bullshit. Then, when the long-legged mack-daddy, Obama, was elected, you once again came out here and vomited up more bullshit. Now, when it's convenient to play armchair quarterback and use hindsight, you're trying to feed us more bullshit that this is all Bush's fault. What about the jobs Obama promised? What about the promise to keep unemployment under 8%? Where did the glee of taking over Congress go?

Say what you fucking want, but the facts are the facts, pal. There were 54 straight months of growth prior to the democratic takeover of Congress in January of 2007 (followed by 12 with them) and then a complete fucking nosedive exactly one year after they took over (about the exact amount of time it takes for policies to kick in). You be the judge.