Why doesn't the President tell the truth about the economy?

[kentuck]

And stop trying to sugarcoat it?

I understand the importance of being optimistic but it is also important that we be honest.

The truth is that the Republicans and Wall Street and the Big Bankers with the assistance from many in Congress has put us in a deep economic hole. It may take several years for us to recover? We are not going to recover the next quarter or the next year. We must be ready to sacrifice and get our economy going again. The most important thing people need are jobs. If the private sector cannot or is incapable of producing those jobs, then it is up to the government to help these people.

Good night and God help America...

[WinkyDink]

1. Voters don't re-elect such men.

[TheMuse]

3. +1 to this

We have all become used to the sugarcoating of our situation. If someone tells it like it is, they will be voted out, because America wants someone to paint them a rosy picture so they can continue to live how they have been living without any necessary adjustments or hardships.

Unfortunately, someone to tell us exactly like it is is what we as a country needs. We just won't listen.

[doc03]

15. Look what honesty got George McGovern n/t

[Golden Raisin]

16. Jimmy Carter was living proof.

Obviously there were other very significant reasons (Reagan/Iran hostages) but Carter's lack of sugarcoating was intolerable to too many Americans.

[Tippy]

5. You must know that what you say is not true....

How many Republicans who have caused this mess have been re-elected?

[WinkyDink]

9. Ahem. The topic was "telling the truth" about the economy. Show me such a Republican.

[Tesha]

29. Jimmy Carter was a truth-teller; look how it ended up for him!

People will *ALWAYS* buy pretty lies over ugly truths.

Tesha

[conspirator]

65. An honest speech would start like this: "Ladies and Gentlemen, you are all a bunch of slaves ..." nt

[MannyGoldstein]

77. FDR was honest about what the nation faced

And he was re-elected three times, and Democrats gained many, many seats in Congress.

FDR was also an unabashed Democrat, owned by nobody, and was a tireless advocate for working Americans.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. It would imply he had lost the mandate of Heaven

[potassiumnitrate]

4. The truth is the economy is recovering

It's happening very, very slowly. But it's still happening.

[area51]

6. I wish it were.

It's going to take making the rich pay their fair share of taxes, and stopping offshoring and inshoring, for starters.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. None of that will happen any time soon, if ever.

[kentuck]

7. The truth is that the stimulus helped some...

but it has run its course.

[guardian]

13. In what way?

Can you cite some specifics?

[doc03]

18. Are you questioning if the Stimulus helped some? I can give an

example easy my neighbor owns an asphalt paving company and last summer he had absolutely zero job orders. The Stimulus payed for a big project on a state highway and it keep his whole workforce employed for the entire season. That was just one project out of hundreds in Ohio.

[guardian]

32. I think stimulus helped keep things from getting worse

than they could have been. But I still am not seeing/feeling a 'recovery' yet. Maybe it needs more time to work? Or another stimulus package? I don't know. But "recovery summer" it is not.

[maxsolomon]

74. and that was just what the oil-less future needs - more roads.

Iraq, road projects, exurban production houses - money down the sustainability drain.

[crazyjoe]

30. ya, i'd love to hear this one.

[potassiumnitrate]

33. GDP. Jobs. Stock market. Consumer spending. Corporate profits. Take your pick.

GDP has been positive. Jobs are being created (as opposed to being lost). Consumer spending is up. The DOW is over 10,000. Corporations are beating profit expectations.

The economy has been in recovery since early last year.

It's not happening overnight like everybody wants it to, but that's because people these days expect instant results for everything. Shit, people can't even take waiting over a few seconds for a webpage to load these days.

It took conservatives 30 years to ruin the economy. Obama has been in charge for not even 2 and he already averted a disaster.

[Donnachaidh]

44. stock market and corporate profits mean diddley shit to the foreclosed homeowner

And the job losses far overwhelm the piddly statistics being touted as *recovery*. and the media is already dropping hints that the job numbers to be released on friday will AGAIN show LOSSES.

So all the rah rah you can shriel doesn't mean shit when even blind people can tell it's all SPIN.

[NickB79]

45. All of those can be positive or negative depending on your starting point

If you draw a straight line from the the economy 2 years ago to today, it all looks positive. But, if you look at what's happened in the past 3-6 months, it's more of a downhill slope as the economic recovery has stalled out.

Take a look at a graph of US economic growth during the Great Depression. There were numerous false recoveries, where GDP went up, unemployment went down, and the stock market recovered, right before everything crashed again.

We will have to wait a few more years before we can truly say Obama averted a disaster. Considering the depths of the economic hole the world has worked it's way into, he may have simply bought us some time, unfortunately.

[onpatrol98]

Stimulus has helped...

The stimulus has helped. There have been many construction jobs completed. Now, I imagine when they work ends, we'll be back at square one. But, people did get jobs.

[defendandprotect]

63. Too little stimulus . . . and Obama caved on that, as well --

[Joe Fields]

23. There can be no recovery without jobs.

Just ask Paul Krugman.

[potassiumnitrate]

35. There ARE jobs being created

Jobs have been being created for a year now. Why does nobody believe the numbers?

[KillCapitalism]

39. It depends on where you live.

A few jobs are being created in places like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Texas. However, if you're stuck in a city like Detroit, Cleveland, or St. Louis and you're unemployed, you really have no prospects.

[Joe Fields]

42. There aren't a quarter of a million jobs a month being created, and

That is what is needed,and sustained for a long time, in order to be called true job growth.

[txlibdem]

66. He needs to start thinking Trickle Up and quit trying for Trickle Down tactics

Trickle down has never worked. When the economy is booming the rich put their money to work and invest, when it's in the tank they pull back and do nothing till the cycle turns positive. That's what they did during the Great Depression and that's what they are doing now. Giving more money to the wealthy will do absolutely NOTHING to get the economy going again.

Obama needs to recreate the WPA, the Works Progress Administration, to directly hire American citizens to rebuild roads, repair bridges, fix up our national parks, and whatever other infrastructure projects need doing. Even if each WPA worker makes $50,000 a year an amount equal to the bank bailout, $700 Billion would be enough to employ 9.3 million American citizens (because when you factor in taxes and other expenses each $50,000 worker actually costs $75k annually).

These 9.3 million workers would put that money to work back into the economy and the economy would recover in record speed.

[NickB79]

46. If I eat 500 calories a day, but need 1000 to survive, am I starving to death?

After all, I am eating every day. How could I starve to death if I eat every day?

The point of that analogy is this: the US is adding jobs, that is true. Unfortunately, the US population is growing FASTER than the US economy is adding jobs. Therefore, net job creation becomes negative.

[guardian]

72. I seem to remember some economist type

on TV say recently that we need about +160,000 jobs per month just to hold even with population gains. Anything less than +160,000 new jobs per month is a net loss.

[defendandprotect]

61. INSUFFICIENT jobs are being created ... and by giving $$ to corporations, btw ....

We need direct stimulation of jobs -- green jobs -- preferably!

We also need to overturn the trade agreeements which are sucking tens of thousands

of jobs every month out of the US!!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

38. This is incorrect

The economy is, by any reasonable measure, weaker than it was six months ago.

The economy is insufficient to create employment above the rate new workers enter the force

The economy is insufficient to raise real estate prices enough to repair the ongoing foreclosure/default picture

The economy is not strong enough to reduce the inventory of new and existing homes

We are losing ground. That is not a recovery.

[defendandprotect]

62. +1000% -- all of which Obama/Dems know, of course . . .

[Donnachaidh]

41. only for the wealthy

Everyone else is slowly strangling.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Steely_Dan]

12. Hold On Bucko...

We have room for everyone under this tent.

[SoxFan]

22. HA!

Coming from the same crowd that routinely throws terms like "Republicrat" and "DINO" around", this is less than convincing.

Does your generosity extend to pro-life Democrats? To Dems who support an aggressive stance against the Taliban and al-Quaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan? What about Dems who are Mormons, Catholics, Evangelical Christians, or Orthodox Jews?

[Steely_Dan]

37. I Don't Pretend To Know Where To...

...draw the line for anyone but myself. However, if I were to error, I would error on the side of inclusiveness.

-P

[kentuck]

34. Can't handle the truth?

You wouold prefer political pablum?

[whistler162]

10. One problem.....

Why do you ASSume he isn't?

[whistler162]

11. One problem.....

Why do you ASSume he isn't?

[doc03]

14. Go figure? Shortly after GWB came to office there was a

recession and GWB never missed the opportunity to label it the "Clinton Recession". To this day it has become common knowledge that GWB "inherited" a recession. When Obama came to Washington he didn't do that he had to play nice and be by-partisan. Now long after it would have meant something Obama and Biden have tried to do that. It's too late nearly half of the public thinks TARP was Obama's and his big spending caused the recession.

[Barack2theFuture]

19. It's mid-term election season

If the "D" team is going to "win," the rabble must believe things are good.

[MadMaddie]

20. He has often said that the times would be tough and

that recovery would not be easy.

If he came out with nothing but doom and gloom then he would be attacked for not being positive and encouraging the nation to recovery.

There is no winning for him with some Americans.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. In fact, I actually heard RW hack Monica Crowley complain about him

because she didn't feel he was being optimistic enough about this country- like Ronald Reagan was. :eyes: :puke:

[Cha]

68. Yes, you really have to pay attention

to everything that's been said..not just cherry pick so you can say that President Obama is "lying".

[jaxx]

21. What's he lying about?

The numbers speak and they say there is recovery. Jobs are the last thing to recover.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

40. Oy...

"The numbers speak and they say there is recovery."

Did *he* tell you that? It's certainly not true.

[jaxx]

49. No, the economists told me that.

And yes, it is true.

[Subdivisions]

50. Please make your case in detail. Thanks. n/t

[jaxx]

53. I don't mind doing some of the work for you:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38845701/US_Stimulus_Boosted_Growth_by_Up_to_4_5

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38555037/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/07/20/most-states-post-drop-in-jobless-rates/

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e99a3cfc-afcf-11df-b45b-00144feabdc0.html

[NJmaverick]

25. Unrec for a factually incorrect post

[Subdivisions]

51. How about providing the OP with the facts? Can you do that? n/t

[TheWatcher]

59. He only deals in Propaganda, Spin, and Support for endless War.

Facts aren't really his strong suit.

[sandnsea]

26. Maybe you can create a new post since he's done that

You can reply with the link so I can recommend it.

[leeroysphitz]

27. Maybe what he says is true. From a certain point of view...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. He shouldn't "lie", of course

However, what exactly do you want him to say, we're screwed (or whatever vernacular term you might want to use)? :shrug:

Unless he's out there saying something totally delusional- like the economy is growing like "gangbusters" or something like that, I think that he is being honest about the current situation- some signs of improvement- largely due to the stimulus but we're not "out of the woods" yet.

[stray cat]

31. what isn't true? The economy is better than it was but still stinks

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

43. Better than it was when?

In 1992 the economy was a lot better than it was in 1935 but it was bad enough to get GHW Bush out of office.

The economy is WORSE than it was six months ago.

A lot worse.

[Subdivisions]

52. Please demonstrate your statement with a detailed analysis of how you

arrived at it.

Thanks.

[Codeine]

36. And the economy will benefit from the Chief Executive talking it down? nt

[defendandprotect]

64. You mean if Obama called this a "depression" ... which, btw, he did about 5 weeks ago...

that there wouldn't be an even stronger response from the public for action?

Of course there would --

Evidently, Obama tried to tell the truth and evidently those who are actually

in control don't want it told --

Btw, Paulson/FED the other day assured us they are in control and will act as necessary!!!

Meanwhile, the public expects Obama/Dems to control and manage economy and all economic

questions -- not a private bank!!

[beforeyoureyes]

47. Might as well fess up...so many of us living the nightmare...

It is right before our eyes.

Honesty is a much better way to earn trust then false platitudes. I think people would be relieved to hear the President articulate the truth, it would inspire confidence. The first step to solving a problem is admitting the depth to which it exists. People want leadership, they want to engage in creating solutions. But, there is such a dearth of honesty and leadership, no wonder people throw their hands in the air and disengage.

Truth motivates.

[blindpig]

48. Because then he might have to do something for the people.

Something like a government jobs program. But Wall St wouldn't like that, and here we are.

[TheKentuckian]

55. That is correct! Rod tell him what he has won.

blindpig, you get more bullshit and spin while the foreclosures continue at a disturbing clip, insufficient job creation to outpace the population much less even think about filling the massive hole, declining wages, and austerity!

Thanks for playing and everyone gets the home edition of the game.

[blindpig]

56. That's great...

what do the losers get?

[TheKentuckian]

73. They also get the home edition but get to pretend that it is okay

[Silent3]

54. A lot of economics is psychological

There's a fine line between delivering bad news and actually causing it.

What I wish Obama would do would be to stop worrying about the pipe dream of bipartisanship and get a little FDR-style fire going, stop playing up to the deficit hawks, and not be afraid to say that some short-term debt for the purpose of economic stimulus is a good idea, short-term deficits be damned, with long-term deficits addressed by letting the tax cuts for the rich expire.

[mkultra]

57. if you really did understand the import of being optimistic

you wouldn't be asking this question.

[laughingliberal]

58. Here's what I would say:

In February of 2009, I signed into law "America's Recovery and Reinvestment Act." Although it stemmed the tide of the worst effects of the economic crisis by saving and creating over 3 million jobs, it was far less than most economists felt was needed. Due to the Republican's political strategy of 'no' and obstructionism, we passed a bill just over half the amount needed to make rapid progress on the economy. 40% was diverted to middle class tax cuts which should have been passed but in a seperate bill leaving the full $1.2 trillion to be used for projects with the most stimulative and job creating effect on our economy.

Right now, we have a jobs' bill stalled in the Senate, again due to the party of 'no,' who are dragging out the misery of the American people for cheap political gains. At the same time, they seek to add another $700 billion o the deficit by extending the Bush tax cuts for Americans whose incomes are over a quarter million dollars a year. The American people need to send a clear message to the Republicans in November that they are tired of government taking care of the fat cats while hard working Americans languish unable to find jobs, losing their homes and worrying about feeding and clothing their children. It is time to pass the jobs' bill and it's time to throw the party of 'no' out of Washington.

[ipaint]

69. +1

Unfortunately that statement doesn't kiss up to republicans in a "bipartisan" way so I don't think we will hear anything close to the truth.

If he had been smart enough to harness the people's support from day one, bypass the congress and appeal directly to the people with the truth, and let us work on congress we would probably have a strong public option, real financial reform and adequate stimulus.

And if we didn't achieve all those goals everyone would know exactly why, who blocked it and who needs to be removed from office.

Instead we get back door secret negotiations with corporations and banksters and an authoritarian take your medicine and shut up approach with supporters. And now we are watching the set up for the heist of our social security.

What a nightmare.

[defendandprotect]

60. About five weeks or so ago, there was a yahoo article where Obama called this "depression"---

Before I could post it here, the word was scrubbed and replaced with "recession."

Presumably, people in the administration do not want to face the demands the public

would make on the nation if DEPRESSION were acknowledged!!

Also, presumably, Obama either slipped -- which I think unlikely -- or wanted to tell

the public the truth of where we are!!

[Bluerthanblue]

67. he has told us the "truth"- he really hasn't said anything

different than what your op says.

Would you rather he dwell on the aspects of 'truth' that lead to hopelessness and despair?

He's said repeatedly that we need more jobs- That the recovery is going to take years - that we are going to have to be ready to sacrifice-

What kind of message do you think would be better?

"THEY" f--ked it up. We're all going to suffer for years." ????

What does that inspire other than thoughts of suicide and depression?

[elleng]

70. I think he's said

'The truth is that the Republicans and Wall Street and the Big Bankers with the assistance from many in Congress has put us in a deep economic hole,' maybe not in those words exactly.

[JuniperLea]

75. And that would be the truth...

So I guess he has told the truth. This thread must be moot.

[earth mom]

71. I see the unrec crew has been busy on this thread. Can't hide the truth forever.

I don't think this country will ever "recover".

We are on our own people.

Just like the people in NOLA were after Katrina.

Just like the people in the Gulf are now.

Everyone needs to learn to garden, horde stuff that could be in short supply, and basically figure out how to survive when the shit hits the fan.

Many will make it through, survive and thrive even.

It's the one's that can't help themselves that I fear for, the elderly, the sick, the disabled. :cry:

[JuniperLea]

76. That sounds pretty greedy to me...

Very Republican... make sure you have your own and screw everyone else.

Feeling sorry for them doesn't help the elderly, sick, and disabled. Hording for yourself and giving up doesn't either.

[earth mom]

78. Nothing republican about stocking up and making sure you have enough to eat.

Yeah, I should have used the word stockpile instead of the word hoard but you knew that.

You just want to rake me over the coals for sport because you have nothing better to do.

Why don't you go and drink some more of that kool aid you love so much?

I'm sure you are hoarding a stockpile of it yourself. :crazy: