Is The U.S. Economy Turning Around?

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

Is The U.S. Economy Turning Around?
posted with permission from: http://sane-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/12/us-economy-is-on-life-support.html

Currently, it is on life support. Without the massive government spending the U.S. might be in a Depression. But with that spending is the economy turning around?

Spending on stimulus and bailouts, weapons and wars has flooded America with cheap dollars. But as a result, U.S. Gross Domestic Product rose last quarter 2.8%,* and is expected to rise to as much as 4% this quarter.

In addition, many companies have sold off their inventories and have begun limited production, most of them using temporary workers. But there is little confidence of a turnaround and temporary workers are quick and easy to layoff.

Housing prices have also risen recently among the lower priced homes. But eliminate the government provided lowest interest rates in 50 years, easy qualifier, low down payment loans and tax breaks to many buyers and that market will sink fast.

If you want the truth of the economy, look around you. Many people can't find jobs, home foreclosures are rising, vacant stores and offices are common, as restaurants, hotels and other businesses offer big discounts and stores slash prices trying to lure shoppers. The stimulus isn't working.

And to stimulate this economy, the government is borrowing huge sums of money and has no idea how it will ever pay it back. And when interest rates rise, as they ultimately will, even the payments on the debt will be staggering.

This is a time not only to save your money but to help others in need. Whatever you can spare, please contribute it. Together we will confront this horrific economy and work our way through it, much as people did in the Great Depression.

Dick

*This week the U.S. government revised that number down to 2.2%. Originally it had claimed the economy had risen 3.5% in the 3rd quarter.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. It is slowly turning around, however, we need to bring back the jobs the Repukes sent to China

Until we become a manufacturing hub again, and supply our own products, instead of only buying foreign, we're screwed. We need jobs for ourselves, and we need to circulate our money here, not abroad.

[phasma ex machina]

2. +1 America's rust belt needs a tuneup. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. I've never heard that term, 'rust belt' nt

[phasma ex machina]

10. "The Rust Belt, also known as the Manufacturing Belt,

is an area in parts of the Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic States, and portions of the Upper Midwest."

Rust Belt



It better days, dozens of automobile manufacturers used to inhabit America's Rust Belt.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

12. Interesting, thanks.

I remember how we Americans got sold the idea of removing manufacturing from here. The corporates told us all we'd be even better off.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

3. That's the truth...

...but I'm afraid it is easier said than done.

Happy Holiday!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. Yes, but where there's a will, there's a way nt

[pokercat999]

11. Clinton=NAFTA

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. Yep, the DLC...

I recall how shocked I was to find out how the DLC developed. For the longest time (from Raygun's time on), Americans (stupid as they can sometimes be), voted only right wing and became madly in love with the right wing. Churches got in bed with the right wing, and selling right wing everything to their congregations, and the country had "turned right."

Democrats could barely ever get elected, and if they did it was only by kowtowing to the right wing, Dems couldn't get a bill passed, and were ridiculed incessantly by the right wing. Some lefties became afraid to speak up. All thanks to Americans having fallen in love with right wing ideology and that piece of garbage, Raygun.

To get elected, the Dems had to comply with what the majority of America wanted. America can be QUITE STUPID. The DLC arose out of that, a branch of the Dems which was somewhat right wing and could appeal to how stupid America had become.

[rwheeler31]

4. Unfortunately most business owners are republicans.

They will not help they will whine.

[Demeter]

5. Yup Like a Fighter Plane in a Death Spiral With Both Engines on Fire

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

9. Doesn't sound like you expect a soft landing?

I always use the car off a cliff analogy, but your's works better, because it paints a clear picture in one's mind.

[Motown_Johnny]

8. Yes, but the long term problems still exist.

All the trade deals that have sent manufacturing jobs overseas need to be renegotiated.

Shrub's idea of an America who's jobs are mostly in the service sector is insane. If America isn't an industrial power it isn't America.

[tammywammy]

14. +1 n/t

[blues90]

15. How the hell is it going to turn around

This is the end of what this country once was. The end!

All we had to do was stick together and when the box stores crept in we should have avoided them at all costs because to buy into them was certain death to the american business, all we had to do was look at it.

Certainly it was well known that american industry was polluting the air and water and land but instead of looking at this we allowed it to go off shore and pollute other slave labor countries and now look where we are.

Now that we out sourced jobs we are still polluting , we have not learned a damn thing. We are told there is such a thing as clean coal , just think about that, clean coal.

The cold truth is, we blew it because of greed and convinence.

We make everything out of steel or plastic both are a threat so why did we not long ago find better material that did not destroy the environment , we could have but it would have been a change and we just took it for granted and never thought about the population increase or anything else until it was too late.

You are either conscience of what is going on or not , there is no other way to look at this.

Just think , car , gas exhaust pipe what does this stir in your mind? Just think , chemicals poured down a drain let alone what it is and where it was made and what is it made out of.

See the giant smoke stacks what did people think was billowing out of them way back in the 50's , did this look good to you?

It has always bothered me even as a child in the 50's.

People were sold on an endless stream with the idea our product can make life easier yet no one ever thought of the after affect of easier.

We are still being sold this idea today and still but into it.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

16. A very thoughtful post.

Thank you!