What are the Great Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President
Annegray: You are fighting the good fight. Hang in there as long as you can. Many of us are just too tired to put up the fight any more.
US economy blows past expectations: Three quick takeaways
Gross domestic production (GDP) came in hot in the second quarter, growing at a 2.4 percent rate that marked the fourth straight quarter of positive growth and underlining the resilience of the U.S. economy.
Economists polled by Bloomberg had been expecting GDP growth of around 1.8 percent, meaning the 2.4 percent growth was a pleasant surprise — especially with other recent data indicating slowing inflation.
The numbers from the Commerce Department are the latest sign of strength in the U.S. economy and come a day after the Federal Reserve reversed its March prediction of a “mild recession” to hit later this year.
Here are three takeaways on the numbers.
Core inflation falls again
Inflation has been tumbling as the Fed has been raising interest rates, and Thursday’s figures show this trend continuing.
The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index advanced 2.6 percent in the second quarter, down from 4.1 percent in the first.
Workers are getting more productive
Even as the Fed has raised interest rates to try to take the wind out of a growing labor market to tame inflation, the latest numbers imply that workers are actually getting more productive.
Investment is picking up
Strong GDP is being bolstered by a boom in factory construction and investment stemming from huge pieces of subsidy- and tax-credit heavy legislation passed during the first half of the Biden administration, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
https://thehill.com/homenews/4122704-us … takeaways/Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the central bank's staff no longer forecasts a U.S. recession.
Statistics Show Lowest Southwest Border Encounters Since February 2021.
statistics for June 2023, which show a significant and continuing decline in migrant encounters along the Southwest border as well as successful drug interdiction efforts resulting from new enforcement initiatives. CBP’s total encounters along the Southwest border in June were the lowest in over two years, dropping nearly a third from May.
“Our sustained efforts to enforce consequences under our longstanding Title 8 authorities, combined with expanding access to lawful pathways and processes, have driven the number of migrant encounters along the Southwest border to their lowest levels in more than two years. We will remain vigilant,” said Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-m … hly-updateThis is wonderful. Long overdue and desperately needed.
"President Biden announces new landmark rule to strengthen mental and physical health parity requirements and improve mental health care access for more than 150 million Americans"
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … ance%20useSo, it appears that "the Biden Bash" is no longer the latest smash....
Absolutely. This man is getting things done for the country after coming out of the chaos of the pandemic.
One more piece of good news,
Morgan Stanley credits Bidenomics for 'much stronger' than expected GDP growth.
Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is "driving a boom in large-scale infrastructure," wrote Ellen Zentner, chief U.S. economist for Morgan Stanley, in a research note released Thursday. In addition to infrastructure, "manufacturing construction has shown broad strength"
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/21/bidenom … anley.html
But there's always weaponization committees for those who aren't interested in this kind of stuff.
The Markets recognize a good economy when they see one even though it may not reflect in Biden's poll numbers.
Stocks blasted higher in afternoon trading Friday, even after Federal Reserve Chair Powell warned in comments in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that central bank officials were "prepared to raise rates further."
Traders appeared to shake off fears of future rate hikes, and instead focused on the positive parts of Powell's speech where he applauded strong economic growth.
"The market may have been comforted by Powell acknowledging that recent inflationary data has been encouraging and thus, interest rates are unlikely to move much higher from here," said Brian Price, head of investment management for Commonwealth Financial Network.Yep! The Dow was up 247 today! A great day...that would be better if it wasn't still down 200 for the week. (And down 1090 for the month, too.)
Did that little thing slip your notice?Good one! All would really be well if our energy, food, and interest rates on homes would come down. Oh, forgot Powell is talking about raising interest rates again. Oh and then there is the latest problem emerging people are living on credit cards....And many are not capable of paying what they have accumulated.
"Are people living off of credit cards?
The Inside 1031 survey found that 49% of Americans depend on credit cards to cover essential living expenses.Jul 25, 2023"
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jaw-drop … 22967.html
"How bad is credit card debt right now?
The total U.S. consumer credit card debt has risen to an all-time high of $1.03 trillion in Q2 2023, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data.Aug 9, 2023"
https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit … ic%20Data.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/08/economy/ … index.html
Looks like 2007 is happening all over again.
But all is good --- don't Ya know...I say again - "... Powell's speech where he applauded strong economic growth." - I guess you and he see things differently.
What did slip your notice is that Biden's Dow is 5,000+ points higher than Trump's highest Dow.
OH, then there is this - "Traders appeared to shake off fears of future rate hikes,"
What does credit card debt tell me? Consumer spending is strong because the economy is strong. (also that people do what they normally do, spend beyond their means. I guess that is Biden's fault as well.)
Give me a historical trend, say from 1960 to see if that 49% has any meaning. Wanna bet it was higher in 2020?For middle class America or to put it more succinctly, the middling class are struggling. Everything is increasing. There is no economic growth. In fact, it is the direct opposite. There is downsizing, even elimination of jobs. I see the REALITY of the situation, Sharlee.
I agree... And the economic stats being celebrated in no respect show the truth of Bidinomics on Americans pocketbooks.
There is no economic growth.
Economic growth is booming thanks to the strong labor market and resilient consumer spending. The unofficial GDPNow forecast from the Atlanta Federal Reserve expects economic growth in the third quarter to rise 5.8% on an annualized basis, double the rate of GDP growth from the same period last year and on pace for the biggest quarterly increase since the end of the post-pandemic boom in the last quarter of 2021.
Foreign direct investment inflows since 2000 are way up.
Spending on manufacturing in the US has seen a sharp uptick since the Infrastructure Law of 2021, the IRA and the Chips Act came into law in 2022. Looking further back, this figure has more than doubled over the past decade.
Even before those three acts nudged their way through Congress, US manufacturing expanded between 2020 and April 2022.
US unemployment rate is as low as it has been in years and that the increase in manufacturing spending is creating jobs across the country.
There's no doubt thatBiden’s legislative wins have given aspects of the economy a boost and created jobs.
Morgan Stanley, among others, credits Bidenomics for 'much stronger' than expected GDP growth.
The economic growth under Biden has really defied forecasts. So in reality, we really do have economic growth.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/2 … r-00108460Everything always increases, except during a recession or depression.
"There is no economic growth", you say. I say that in:
2019 there was a 2.29% inflation adjusted growth
2020 there was a negative 2.77% growth
move on to Biden
2021 there was a 5.95% annual growth rate.
2022 there was a 2.09% growth rate.
1st Q 2023 the economy has grown at a 2% inflation adjusted annual growth
2nd Q 2023 the economy has grown at a sustainable 2.4% inflation adjusted annual growth rate.
It seems to me the only time the economy hasn't grown is under Trump in 2020. Let's see your data to support your "no growth" claim.
The REALITY of the situation is NOT the direct opposite (no data provided), The REALITY of the situation is that jobs are growing at a rapid rate.
Employment is expected to increase 9.3 million jobs between 2021 and 2031 - https://www.bls.gov/emp/
2021 - 6.4 million jobs were added
2022 - 4.5 million jobs were added
2023 so far - about 1.7 million more were added. We are well above pre-pandemic levels.
Also, average wage increases have been outpacing inflation for a while now. Especially now that inflation has dropped to 3.2% which is lower than the long-term average of 3.3%.
Unemployment is the lowest it has been since 1969.
That is what data-based REALITY looks like."Also, average wage increases have been outpacing inflation for a while now."
This is flat untrue. The only way to make it sound true is to use "core" CPI, and "chained" CPI at the same time. Any actual measure of actual inflation will tell us that inflation is well above that mythical 3.2%.I'm sorry, I can't use your made up definitions of inflation. Show me the data, just don't claim it.
Here, argue with this, not me.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/135 … lation-us/I didn't see anything in there about what formula's were used to calculate inflation. Did you?
Because the "norm" for several years now is to use only "core" inflation, with calculations based on the concept of "chained" CPI...meaning as things become too expensive they are simply discarded from the "shopping cart" used for calculations and cheaper ones added. It is quite true that the result is a lower CPI, as people shift their buying to cheaper items and thus spend the same. But that is hardly an honest way to decide what the CPI actually is.
But you know that, we've discussed it before. If you think that is a reasonable method of calculating CPI (inflation) then more power to you - you fit right in with the rest of the lies we're getting from Congress.
If, on the other hand, you think it results in a false-to-fact figure for inflation then what is your beef?And where do you get your claim about the "norm" from. I must use the official inflation index. You will need to provide proof any other method is objectively better.
BTW, when you talk about "core" and "chained" you are, I believe, talking about apples and oranges. A "chained" CPI can be made of only "core" components or a more robust set goods in the market basket.
As to your description of "chained". I think it is wrong. They don't willy-nillie discard and add things to the "shopping cart" as you suggest. Chained means they "chain" to periods (month over month or year over year) together and use a geometric average instead of an arithmetic one. The result is that a chained CPI-U is often lower than a traditional CPI.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/44088That's what I said; a chained CPI is lower than an "unchained" one.
But your are mistaken on just what it means. We used to use the same "market basket" to calculate for several years with little change. Now, when purchases fall (because it is too expensive) those items are removed on a monthly basis and replaced with something cheaper. The result is obvious; the Consumer Price Index remains unchanged...but it is because the total spending is for cheaper, less desirable, items. The cost of the "market basket" rises only a small amount rather than the large amount it would if the now too-expensive items were still there. And so we see exactly what you said; the chained CPI is lower. Inflation prohibits buying the more expensive item (now removed) but allows the purchase of a cheaper substitute (now substituted for the expensive one) and the total price remains unchanged.
"For example, when the price of ground beef relative to chicken rises, consumers are likely to buy more chicken and less beef. This is known as the substitution effect. Because consumers substitute, the actual cost of their total purchases, will tend to be more stable than a price index of a fixed basket of goods with fixed weight would imply."
"Additionally, though chained CPI may be a better indicator of the cost of living, these same adjustments also make it a poorer indicator of inflation. Inflation is the decline in the purchasing power of a monetary unit over time, which is a distinct concept from the cost of living. Changing the composition and weighting of the basket of goods used to measure a price index to reflect actual changes in consumer behavior sabotages the index's usefulness for measuring the decline in purchasing power because many changes to consumer purchasing decisions may in whole or in part be themselves driven by changes in purchasing power or consumer expectations thereof. Despite this, chain-weighted CPI is often claimed to be a measure of inflation."
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/ch … ed-cpi.asp
But you know this, as we discussed it before. Perhaps you should look up just what "chained" CPI means, and when it was instituted (I believe 2018), and get a good idea of exactly what it does to those lying CPI figures we are being given. I'll even add one more thing; chained CPI is used to calculate tax brackets, and as a result taxes will rise beyond what it would with true figures. One suggestion to start is the link above.
But you go ahead and use the official numbers, for that is all we're going to see. And you can believe them even as you, too, cut out the luxuries and high quality items in order to maintain a budget that has gone up slightly while prices went up considerably. You will spend just a little more (that 3.2%) but you won't get what you used to buy and enjoy. We're all doing that, or at least those not in the upper income echelons are. And that lying "chained" CPI is the reason why. Coupled, of course, with the concept of "core" CPI as it removes those things most volatile...and that we MUST have such as groceries and energy."Now, when purchases fall (because it is too expensive) those items are removed on a monthly basis and replaced with something cheaper. " - if you are implying that the BLS is switching items in and out of the market basket on a regular basis to calculate CPI, I believe that is wrong. What that statement is referring to is the consumer doing that.
What is happening is the market basket remains relatively unchanged from from period to period, It is the percentage of what is purchased from that market basket that changes. That is entirely different.
"...the actual cost of their total purchases, will tend to be more stable than a price index of a fixed basket of goods with fixed weight would imply." - Now that quote is correct. The fixed basket of goods is unchanged (or changed very little) but the weight as determined by consumer purchases changes via substitution. The bottom line, the government is not playing with the numbers as you suggest (lying is what I think you used), it is the consumer making different choices.
Now the lower CPI that generates is independent from the method used to calculate it. It is just that he "chained" CPI-U will produce a more accurate and still lower CPI.
"But you know this, as we discussed it before. Perhaps you should look up just what "chained" CPI means, " - I DID, and provided you the link.
And yes, I will continue to use the official numbers which are tried and true and found to be the best representation possible rather than some other method that reflects someone else's agenda.
Read the link I provided - it is quite comprehensive but does disagree with your view of the world."if you are implying that the BLS is switching items in and out of the market basket on a regular basis to calculate CPI, I believe that is wrong."
You may believe it wrong, but it is true. That's exactly what makes chained CPI so false and at the same time so useful. The "market basket" is changed on a monthly basis, where it used to be yearly or even more.
"The bottom line, the government is not playing with the numbers as you suggest (lying is what I think you used), it is the consumer making different choices."
Yes, the consumer is making different choices. What you're overlooking is that those choices are being forced on them by inflation making some things more expensive. The result is that the consumer spends just a little more (that 3.2%)...but doesn't get the same desired items, instead substituting cheaper ones.What is your preferred metric rather than what the gov't claims is the most accurate of them all?
Personally I like the old method, keeping the market basket stable for several (I believe it was 2 but might have been considerably more) years. It is so false to remove things inflation has priced out of the reach of people and then claim inflation is low because they no longer buy it.
While it is true that chained CPI gives a better figure for the Consumer Price Index, or what it costs to live, when that false "equivalency" is introduced into the equation for inflation it becomes a lie; a lie that most people in the country can now experience, and see, for themselves. The "cost of living" and inflation are two very different things; we could all live as hermits in a cave, leaving the CPI very low...but if it is due to inflation then that figure becomes a lie, for the "cost of living" is only true if we reduce the standard of living at the same time.You have yet to give your preferred alternative to the standard CPI, witch is the one most commonly reported.
I read your Investopedia link and it reflects what the link I provided said:
1. The CPI-U is more accurate
2. The CPI-U results in a lower inflation rate
3. The CPI-U is reported along with the traditional CPI as well as the more stable "core" CPI.
I do agree that has inflation rises A LOT, the so-called "standard of living" goes down. I could also argue that the "qualify of life" gets better as people substitute more healthy choices (chicken) for more harmful ones (beef).
For those who can afford "luxuries" I doubt people cut back on those. "High quality" is debatable to some extent. Is chicken of lower quality that beef. Is cheaper popcorn of lower quality than the expensive candy it replaces?
BTW, the standard CPI used by Statistica and others is the full CPI, not the "core".Yes, the chained CPI is a more accurate representation of the cost of living. It is a far inferior tool used to give inflation amounts, though, as that market basket changes so often in response to inflation and the calculation does not take that into account.
I will add that when true inflation is low, that chained CPI is a far more accurate representation of what the consumer is seeing. But when it rises the gap between the two rises as well. I can't support that, but it makes sense; when inflation is high the substitution by consumers (and the CPI calculation) is more frequent and thus the error between actual inflation and CPI figures grows.
"For those who can afford "luxuries" I doubt people cut back on those. "High quality" is debatable to some extent. Is chicken of lower quality that beef. Is cheaper popcorn of lower quality than the expensive candy it replaces?"
Yeah, I get it. We can argue semantics all day long, but you fully understand what I am saying and just trying to make excuses.
You have made a couple of references to raising credit card debt and someplace else at how fast it was rising while, at the same time, implying this was something unusual and that Biden is somehow responsible for.
Since I didn't know the answer to that, I went looking for data to back up what you claimed.
I found a table of Consumer Debt (1943 - 2023), of which credit card debt (revolving) is a subset. Then I normalized it by dividing by population. This is required because the population keeps growing over time. Then I put it into constant 2017 dollars so that one year can be compared to the next. After that, I took the natural logarithm3 of the result in order to easily calculate percent growth.
Here is what I found:
1. To your claim that credit card debt is at an all time high. If you are talking about so far in 2023, that is NOT true. But it was true if you had made the claim in each year from 1943 - 1945; 1947 - 1949; 1950 - 1953; 1955; 1956; 1959 - 1969; 1970 - 1973; 1976 - 1979; 1983 - 1989; 1993 - 2007; 2010; 2012 - 2019; 2021; 2022 (but NOT 2023). What is the point in all that data? The point is making that claim has very little meaning, good or bad, in the context of history.
2. Elsewhere I think you made the claim the increase in credit card debt is very fast. While it is increasing, historically the current rate (at the end of 2022) of 3.85% per year from 2020 - 2023. Compare that to the following:
1943 - 2022 - 3.99% (in other words the growth under Biden is less than the historic average)
How about after other recessions?
1975 - 1979: 4.83% Nixon
1982 - 1989: 5.69% Reagan
1992 - 2007: 4.15% Clinton - Bush II
Seems to me, Biden is doing pretty good relative to the increase in consumer debt.Biden in a 'lot of trouble' as economic trends turn 'frightening,' warns Charles Payne
'Hannity' panel discusses some media outlets and Democrats turning on Biden
"FOX Business Network host Charles Payne sounded the alarm that the economic indicators in the United States are becoming "frightening." Payne said on "Hannity" that he fears $4-per-gallon gasoline could look cheap in the next few months, and "Americans just aren't prepared" for what is coming.
'IT'S HURT US BAD': AMERICANS GRADE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY AS HE TOUTS 'BIDENOMICS'
CHARLES PAYNE: He's [Biden] in a lot of trouble, but it's going to get a lot worse. The trends on the economic data are frightening… frightening. We see the smallest banks right now, their delinquency rates are 7.5%, it's off the rails, but the large banks are turning up. Credit card interest rates just cracked 22% as defaults are going through the roof. All the economic indicators point to extreme pain, and it's going to be exponential. … It's gradual, and then it's going to feel like a rocket ship and Americans just aren't prepared for it. You know, all of the free, steady money is gone. We're still dealing with inflation. People are trying to batten down the hatches. Our gasoline inventories are at a five-year low. Obviously, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at its lowest levels since 1983. Four dollars may look cheap three months from now, and $4 may look cheap for what looked like the good old days three or four months from now. The trajectory, right no that we're on, all the indicators point to what we're feeling right now is just the very tip of the iceberg. It's going to get a whole lot worse.
US RECESSION REMAINS 'MORE LIKELY THAN NOT,' DEUTSCHE BANK WARNS
The U.S. economy has a better chance than not of tumbling into a recession within the next year as inflation remains uncomfortably high, according to Deutsche Bank strategists.
In an analyst note Wednesday, the strategists warned a recession remains the more likely outcome than a "soft landing" as a result of the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hike campaign.
"Given that inflation peaked significantly above target, the Fed should err on the side of tightening too much, rather than too little," they wrote. "A U.S. recession remains more likely than not."
While a soft landing is still possible to achieve, the Fed needs to "depress demand below potential" to bring inflation down to its 2% target, Deutsche Bank said. "
https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-lot … rles-payne"'Hannity' panel " - That says they are lying.
It is a shame so many Americans don't use their head when answering poll questions about the economy. No economist worth their salt would agree with what the polls say.
"Given that inflation peaked significantly above target, the Fed should err on the side of tightening too much, rather than too little,"" - SO, do you agree with them that the Fed should throw the economy into a recession? A simple yes or no will do.
Also, their ignorance is showing since inflation is now below historical averages.
Very few, if any, banks are predicting a recession now.
JPMorgan's chief economist said on Friday the bank is no longer forecasting a U.S. recession this year and has raised its economic growth estimate as the economy expands at a "healthy pace."
Your sources appear to be dummies and bomb-throwers.
Earlier this week, strategists at Bank of America said they no longer forecast a 2024 recession for the U.S. and increased their 2023 economic growth outlook for the country.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/jpmo … 20country."Biden in a 'lot of trouble' as economic trends turn 'frightening,' warns Charles Payne"
And Charles Payne speaks Fox, not the truth. You may not, but I believe BoA and J.P. Morgan economists over anything Payne puts out. So, to remind you:
JPMorgan's chief economist said on Friday the bank is no longer forecasting a U.S. recession this year and has raised its economic growth estimate as the economy expands at a "healthy pace."
and
Earlier this week, strategists at Bank of America said they no longer forecast a 2024 recession for the U.S. and increased their 2023 economic growth outlook for the country.
I just don't understand why you can't accept the fact the economy is objectively good when all the data says so.The article you quoted was old -- Aug 7, 2023, the coming week will bring new projections.
3 days ago -- "The U.S. economy has a better chance than not of tumbling into a recession within the next year as inflation remains uncomfortably high, according to Deutsche Bank strategists.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/poss … 023-09-06/https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/with … ughout.%22
“The positive data we’ve seen so far this year seems to be striking down the “wall of worry” over the potential of a recession in the near term,” says Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management.
https://www.usbank.com/investing/financ … tatus.html
Duetche Bank, headliner for Donald Trump and the oligarchs, has been trumped by many others.
"... Powell's speech where he applauded strong economic growth." - I guess you and he see things differently.
What did slip your notice is that Biden's Dow is 5,000+ points higher than Trump's highest Dow.Yeah. It's up around 18% in 4 years. Personally I do not see that as a stellar achievement, well under the average.
But more to the point, touting what it has done in one day doesn't say a thing about what it has done recently.
Biden just keeps giving good economic news. Soon, the American people will shake off all of the conservative media lies and understand the economy is good. They have jobs and they have paychecks rising faster than inflation.
https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/ … index.htmlYes, always wonderful to see the unemployment rate rise... Maybe next month we can see a steeper rise.OMG
Yes, true... But I deal with what is in front of me... My utility bills, food prices, citizens unable to afford to buy homes, many citizens unable to pay their credit cards. The here and now is ugly enough. Maybe we should not dwell on next month --- could be far worse.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/a-troubl … 09041.htmlSo do I. Did your food prices go up 1% last month or the month before or the month before that or five months before that? I don't think so.
I have watched, over the last 12 months, gas prices go up and down between $2.89 early this year to $3.89 a couple of weeks ago. They have now fallen back to $3.68.
Many citizens have always been unable to pay their credit cards, there is nothing new about that. That happened a lot under Trump's last years.
Here and now is actually pretty good.Prices unfortunately keep increasing at an astronomical rate. Only the upper echelons of the upper middle class & the upper class are comfortable these days. These classes are the ones who can easily afford housing & food plus luxuries. They are AT LEAST 5-7 paychecks away from homelessness & destitution. The middle class(I mean the solidly middle class) is slowly sinking. They feel the pinch of raising housing & food prices, not to mention increasing cost of medical insurance. The lower middle class is in KNEE DEEP so to speak.
Are you saying the current inflation rate of 3%, which is Below the historical average is "astronomical"? LOL
It isn't inflation that is causing what you describe - it is income inequality as the rich keep getting richer and everybody else keeps getting poorer. It won't be long before we are back to the 1920s when there were only two classes, the very rich and everybody else.
The rich need to pay their fair share of taxes to pay for the privileges they get for simply being rich.LOLOLOLOL Inflation is 3%!
For sure, as my grocery bill has gone up 25% in a year. The electric company got an 8% raise and has applied for another 10%. Gasoline has gone up 20% and rent about 15%. Even the car wash I frequented has gone up 25%.
But lying Biden tells you it is only 3%, so it must be. Right!
And that some people are making more than I do means that those prices didn't actually rise; it is just that they make more so that my income doesn't cover what it did a year ago. Right!
And finally, some people should pay ten thousand times what you do in taxes, for the same privilege of living in the US, because that is "fair". Just as they pay ten thousand times what you do for a loaf of bread or a new Chevrolet. Right!https://ycharts.com/indicators/us_infla … st%20year.
I rest my case. Your alternate reality just doesn't jive with the facts. It is interesting to see that you think you have the same opportunities to earn money as a billionaire does; that the billionaire doesn't have any advantages that you don't have."It is interesting to see that you think you have the same opportunities to earn money as a billionaire does; that the billionaire doesn't have any advantages that you don't have."
Please: copy/paste where I said that. Or acknowledge that you are once more putting words in my mouth that were never there. Your choice.
(Or produce the crystal ball that allows you to read minds: personally I do not believe it is real. Just more of your imagination.)
While partisans may prefer to ignore this reality, Basic economic principles apply regardless of who is in the White House.
Inflation has historically had an inverse relationship with unemployment. This means that when inflation rises, unemployment drops. Higher unemployment, on the other hand, equates to lower inflation. When more people are working, they have the power to spend, which leads to an increase in demand. And prices (inflation) soon follow. The opposite is true when unemployment rises.
It's always been a balancing act. Most economists are predicting a higher level of unemployment to balance inflation.
For example George W Bush had an unemployment rate of just over 7% with an inflation rate of virtually zero.
Obama had more of a balance at 4.7 unemployment and inflation around 2.5.
Trump, 6.4 unemployment and 1.4 inflation at the end of his term.
Basic economic principles will always prevail.
Bottom line,
over nearly 80 years, inflation averaged 3.69% when Democrats were in command vs. 3.59% for Republicans.
Question for everyone, does anyone know which president simultaneously held inflation and unemployment at their lowest?I have not in any respect denied stats, or figures... simply gave a personal view of the problems that are hurting Americans' pocketbooks. The bottom line --- Americans are paying more for food, utilities, housing, cars, gas --- and more. My comment did not dispute stats just that we are paying more for just about everything.
I actually don't look at stats for Trump's last year in office we had a pandemic that affected the entire world... I only consider stats before the pandemic hit...
I prefer a good chart, it just gives a good solid picture of what occurred under Biden.
https://policyadvice.net/money/guides/u … tatistics/"I prefer a good chart, it just gives a good solid picture of what occurred under Biden.
For me, The chart lacks a lot of context. Particularly the factors that affected the uptick in inflation at that time on history.
Currently under Biden, we have record low unemployment and inflation that is coming down. It is going to take time. Currently wages are outpacing inflation. From July 2022 to July 2023, real average hourly earnings increased Let's hope the FED leaves well enough alone.
Your initial comment that I responded to was in terms of unemployment rising.
Question, were you satisfied with the 6.4% unemployment rate when Trump left office?"In light of the unprecedented circumstances, how did you feel about the 6.4% unemployment rate at the end of Trump's tenure?"
Given the near shutdown of our country due to the pandemic, I wasn't surprised by the figure. To me, it seemed like a reflection of the significant challenges people faced in finding work and the necessity of unemployment assistance for many to make ends meet.
I also admired Trump's ability to keep inflation in check during his final year in office amid the pandemic. While many were struggling financially, he managed to maintain price stability.
In my view, Trump tackled issues as they arose and did an impressive job overall."
Back to the subject of my comment, in regard to inflation and the problems it is causing Americans --- I have not in any respect denied stats, or figures... simply gave a personal view of the problems that are hurting Americans' pocketbooks. The bottom line --- Americans are paying more for food, utilities, housing, cars, gas --- and more. My comment did not dispute stats just that we are paying more for just about everything.
Core inflation is the change in the costs of goods and services but does NOT include those from the food and energy sectors. Food and energy prices are exempt from this calculation because their prices can be too volatile or fluctuate wildly.
Under Trump, we had affordable food and energy prices.I also admired Trump's ability to keep inflation in check during his final year in office amid the pandemic
I see his last year in office a bit differently. He was preoccupied with re-election, doing rallies and cultivating the idea that the election would be stolen from him. He did not seem very present for the most part of his last year. I certainly don't see any legislation that happened during that time that would have impacted inflation.
Did the pandemic have an effect on inflation seen under Biden?
Inflation typically increases coming out of downturns as demand outpaces supply early in the recovery, such as during the pandemic. Back to simple economics, demand outpacing supply due to broken supply chains.
In terms of Trump's high unemployment number, you're able to see the numbers in context to the circumstances at the time. I almost never see the same extension of circumstances from Trump supporters discussing Biden's numbers. It's almost as if the effects of the pandemic extended to Trump but cannot be applied in any way to Biden.
Trump's unemployment numbers were very high due to the pandemic yet if I use the rationale of many of his supporters I could turn around and ask "why wasn't he able to address this more effectively?". I could say he had poor problem solving skills. Yeah I can reasonably see and understand the effects of the pandemic on employment.
"I also admired Trump's ability to keep inflation in check during his final year in office amid the pandemic. While many were struggling financially, he managed to maintain price stability."
Again, how did he keep inflation in check? Specific policy or legislation? Basic economic principles tell us that inflation generally stays low when unemployment is higher. People were not out spending during the pandemic. Not a lot of demand for goods, keeping prices in check. No demand keeps prices low. It's tough to give him credit for that one. Those were simply the circumstances of the times.
Ultimately, both Trump and Biden were and have been impacted by the pandemic. Trump had high unemployment numbers due to the pandemic but as a result was able to show low inflation because they go hand in hand one is a result of the other. These very economic patterns are so prevalent in our history with only a handful of times that we have both high inflation and high unemployment (recession inflation)
Biden experienced the exact opposite. With more people back to work he has shown historic employment numbers. But with people able to go out and spend without corresponding supply equals inflation.
That's my take."Again, how did he keep inflation in check? Specific policy or legislation?"
The pandemic led to a significant decrease in consumer spending as you shared, lockdowns and restrictions were put in place to curb the spread of the virus. This decrease in demand for goods and services puts downward pressure on prices.
Oil prices plummeted in the early months of the pandemic due to a combination of reduced demand and a price war between major oil-producing countries. Lower energy prices contributed to lower overall inflation in 2020
The government implemented a series of economic stimulus measures, including direct payments to individuals and enhanced unemployment benefits, which helped support consumer spending and prevent a more severe economic downturn. In my view, These measures helped stabilize the economy and maintain some level of demand.
The Federal Reserve implemented a range of monetary policy measures to support the economy during the pandemic. This included lowering interest rates to near-zero levels and implementing quantitative easing, which involved purchasing assets to inject liquidity into financial markets. These actions were aimed at ensuring that financial markets remained stable and that borrowing costs were low.
Trump's administration played a role in advocating for and implementing some of these economic measures, inflation is primarily the responsibility of the Federal Reserve. The Fed uses its tools, such as setting interest rates and conducting open market operations, to manage inflation and ensure economic stability.
What, specifically, did Trump do to keep inflation down? I can't think of a thing. He just benefitted from timing.
Under Obama, Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy, we had affordable food and energy prices to (save for Carter who suffered from the Nixon-Ford oil problems. Trump just went along for the ride and did nothing whatsoever to help or hurt the situation (save for farmers - he bankrupted them didn't he?)
The fact is, BLS reports regular inflation most often, Then they add the "core" numbers and CPI-U for completeness.
What your truncated chart reflected was traditional CPI"What, specifically, did Trump do to keep inflation down? I can't think of a thing. He just benefitted from timing."
In my view, It is important to consider that economic policies and outcomes, including inflation rates, are influenced by a complex interplay of factors, attributing low inflation solely to one individual, in this case
.
Trump, oversimplifies the situation. Furthermore, I have learned the state of the economy is influenced by the actions and policies of multiple actors, including the Federal Reserve, Congress, and global economic forces.
During Trump's presidency, the United States did experienced low inflation compared to historical norms. Inflation rates varied during this period and were influenced by a range of factors. There were in my view, some of the factors that played a role in shaping inflation during the Trump administration:
Trump inherited an economy that was already on the path to recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2009. The recovery had been ongoing for several years before he took office, under Obama.
The Federal Reserve plays a significant role in controlling inflation through its monetary policy. During Trump's presidency, the Federal Reserve gradually raised interest rates in an effort to manage inflation and maintain economic stability. Trump nominated Powell to serve as the chair of the Federal Reserve. I respect Powell and feel he was greatly responsible for the low inflation during Trump's years in the WH.
Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law in 2017, which reduced corporate and individual tax rates. I feel the tax cut may have stimulated economic growth., and contributed to a good inflation rate.
Trump's administration pursued a more protectionist trade policy, including tariffs on imports from certain countries. These trade policies had the potential to disrupt global supply chains and could affect prices of imported goods, which, in turn, could have an impact on inflation.
Oil and energy prices, in my view, always have a significant influence on inflation. During Trump's presidency, there were fluctuations in oil prices due to various factors, including global supply and demand dynamics. These factors worked in Trump's favor.
It is also essential to recognize that inflation trends are not solely determined by the actions of a single individual or administration. They are the result of complex economic forces and policies implemented by various branches of government, central banks, and external global factors.
Low inflation, as experienced during some periods of Trump's presidency, can be seen as the result of a combination of all these factors, rather than a single policy or action.I only attribute low inflation to Biden because you insist on blaming him for high inflation. In fact, neither are true.
I beg to differ. Trump inherited an economy that had already (not on the path) recovered. It was a strong and sustainable economy and in spite of the Trump policies, such as those of economic isolation that bankrupted our farmers, it remained strong and sustainable - until the pandemic.
I agree with all else you wrote.
In addition, as Willowarbor (and even Wilderness) correctly pointed out, inflation is fundamentally caused by increasing demand tied with stagnant or decreasing supply. (The other principal reason which gov't policy has direct control over, is printing excess dollars at the wrong time.)
As I tried to point out earlier, this round of inflation was predictable and should have been expected even though a lot of smart people talked themselves out of the obvious.
The fuse was lit decades ago when business decided is was a good thing to move to "just-in-time" logistics. That worked to increase profits for a very long time but had a fundamental flaw that we say on occasion during major strikes.
The flaw was Just-in-Time logistics cannot sustain itself during major, world-wide supply disruptions which we saw resulting from the pandemic (and not Biden as the Right insists is true). Under the old paradigm, large inventories acted as a buffer to major supply disruptions. But even that wouldn't have stopped inflation from happening in 2021; it just would have delayed it some and mitigated its size.
When Trump began, and Biden finished opening up the economy as the pandemic receded, people should have known demand would have exploded. They also should have known, especially with China's Covid policies and the world's reliance on their output, that supply was simply NOT going to keep up. As a consequence, we had the spike in inflation was saw in 2021 - 2022.
Today, supply has more or less caught up with demand which is why inflation as all but disappeared.
Current inflation is 3.18%, which is left off the chart for some reason. It is now below the historical average. Consequently, one can say Biden beat the inflation he was not responsible for.
I notice you cut your chart off just after inflation peaked. Why did you do that?
I did not cut off the chart. I just saved and posted the chart. Please visit the link.
You didn't post the charts that extend to 2023 and you could have. That is my point. For example,
You must admit this chart leaves an entirely different impression than the one you posted. Especially, when you consider the fact that average inflation is higher than the last point on the chart.I think the chart suited the conversation I was having with Willow when I posted the chart. I made sure in my first sentence that I did in no respect argue or deny the promising stats she offered. Here is the comment where I posted the chart. I only used it to prove my point in regard to my thoughts on Trump's inflation rate. I am fully aware of the current inflation rate and do not dispute it. My point --- although the inflation rate is decreasing many things such as food, utilities, and borrowing rates, remain a true problem for many in America. Willow provides a multitude of stats, all accurate, and positive. I stressed another subject --- Americans do not feel the stats, due to the costs of making ends meet. I really was not trying to be unfair to the "Biden stats" --- just making a point that we are not feeling any difference in our pocketbooks.
I also need to point out that food and energy prices do not go into calculating the inflation rate. Yes, the full chart does speak for itself and shows a good dip in inflation. But the people are not feeling the lower inflation number.
https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4305479But as Willowarbor said, the chart was missing a lot of context.
I beg to differ - food and energy ARE NOT excluded from the traditional CPI.
"The CPI represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. User fees (such as water and sewer service) and sales and excise taxes paid by the consumer are also included. Income taxes and investment items (like stocks, bonds, and life insurance) are not included."
https://www.bls.gov/cpi/overview.htm#:~ … 0insurance)%20are%20not%20included.
Do they ALSO report the "core" CPI without food and energy? Yes they do, but only as a supplemental piece of information. Do they also report the chained CPI (CPI-U)? Yes they do, but only as a supplemental piece of information.
One of the best things that could happen for the Democrats is for the MAGA Republicans to open an impeachment investigation or actually impeach President Biden on trumped up charges (which is all they have).
Should that happen, it all but guarantees another Democratic sweep in 2024 (and in Virginia in 2023 should it happen before November).Sounds like exactly what was done to Trump: a trumped up impeachment attempt (twice!) that had no merit. And he lost.
Why would you expect any different from one on Biden? Democrats have turned the impeachment process into a political tool to eliminate competition - expect it to continue for years.There was nothing "trumped" up about the charges brought against Trump. The ONLY reason he was not convicted in either case is pure politics and partisanship.
You keep forgetting, a MARORITY of senators voted to convict Trump twice. In the second insurrection case, they fell just three Republicans short of an actual conviction. But that is OK, Trump has now been indicted twice for what he was impeached for the second time.
"trumped up", my behind.
The Democrats used impeachment properly because the evidence against Trump was overwhelming in each case. Show me ANY HARD evidence (not innuendo) the Republicans have against Biden.
In fact, those two impeachments were the only non-political impeachments in our history. The ones against Johnson and Clinton were pure politics."The ONLY reason he was not convicted in either case is pure politics and partisanship."
Just as the ONLY reason he was impeached in either case is pure politics and partisanship, and all your whining and complaining does not change that.You can make-believe all you want, but it doesn't change the FACT that there was plenty of HARD EVIDENCE to back up the charges. No politics was needed although I will admit the Democrats aren't above that as well. They just didn't need to in this case.
But, just as important, a majority of senators thought so to, especially in the second impeachment where only three more Republicans needed to find their patriotism and put the vote over the TECHNICAL 60 vote threshold.
Didn't you once say that the majority should rule?So that the required number of "guilty" votes was not forthcoming means he was actually guilty, is that what you're trying to say? It was only a TECHNICAL thing, so we can declare guilt without it, right?
No, the majority does not always rule. Sometimes it does, sometimes not (how many juror votes does it take to convict in a criminal case?).That is exactly what I am saying. The 60 votes needed is a technical number to remove him from office. The fact that a majority of the senators found him guilty is enough for me. As they say, he got off on a technicality.
You are correct, the majority does not always rule. But it does tell you what most people are thinking. And most senators (along with the rest of America) thought Trump was guilty in both instances.
Remember, in a jury vote they are NOT determining innocence. They are determining guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Remember also, that in a civil trial, you don't need 100% to agree PLUS guilt is determined by the preponderance of the evidence. Had the Trump impeachment trials followed Civil rules, he would have been found guilty.
Here are my thoughts on why an impeachment trial could serve "We The People" -- It could work as a means to unveil and assess the numerous pieces of evidence concerning President Biden and his son. This process could ultimately determine their innocence or guilt conclusively. Over the past few years, Americans have witnessed multiple investigations involving both Trump and now Biden. Therefore, it might be more efficient to promptly initiate an impeachment trial and transparently present to the public the body of evidence that Congress has gathered. This would enable citizens to better understand any POTENTIAL wrongdoing by the Biden family or clear their name. It is crucial for us, as citizens, to access all relevant information before making an informed decision regarding our next president.
But isn't that what the three committee's investigations are all about? Trying to find something on Joe Biden that will stick? So far they have come up empty handed. Why would an impeachment inquiry do any better?
BTW - weren't you one of the ones claiming the Jan 6th investigation was an investigation in search of a crime (even though the evidence of that crime was right in front of your nose on video and in texts and in social media posts?
In this case neither Jordan, Comer, nor Steil have produced a shred of hard evidence to suggest Biden did anything wrong (and neither did another Republican attempt to smear Biden years ago). This is a TRUE witch hunt.We find ourselves at a standstill, a situation where progress seems unattainable, as our perspectives on various documents, bank records, FBI reports, emails, and sworn whistleblower testimonies differ significantly.
In my opinion, during an impeachment, it is crucial to thoroughly illuminate the uncovered evidence. Conducting a trial provides Congress with a platform to request and likely obtain the elusive documents they've been pursuing, and to subpoena witnesses for sworn testimony. I believe that this process can serve to establish guilt or innocence.
I'm concerned that the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is giving way to a prevailing sentiment of "guilty until proven innocent." Reversing this trend seems increasingly improbable.
It saddens me that we've arrived at this juncture. Nonetheless, I believe that President Biden should be subject to this form of justice, as Trump was. I'm not inclined to ignore any potentially damaging information solely because we are now applying the "guilty until proven innocent" approach to a Democrat. What was deemed appropriate for President Trump should also apply to President Biden.
I don't feel Biden needs to be treated differently. Are the GOP pulling a Dems politically? Maybe
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, If someone treats other people badly he or she will eventually be treated badly by someone."Conducting a trial provides Congress with a platform to request and likely obtain the elusive documents they've been pursuing, and to subpoena witnesses for sworn testimony." - Except they rarely do that in an impeachment trial. I think it happened once.
"bank records, FBI reports, emails, and sworn whistleblower testimonies" - A lot has been produced but not one, not one has drawn a line to President Biden, including the stuff you posted. It is not perspective when there is nothing to be perspective about - there was nothing factual there to disagree or agree about.
"I believe that President Biden should be subject to this form of justice" - What, exactly, do you think Biden has done? When you are talking about Trump, there was tons of stuff to point to. With Biden, I haven't seen anything other than Republican wishful thinking.
If the Republicans are allowed to get away with this, then every president will be impeached from here on out.
There was little to impeach Johnson about other than firing a cabinet secretary (I think)
There was a lot to impeach Nixon about, but he resigned before they could impeach him. Why, because he saw there were enough honest Republicans in the Senate to convict him.
There was nothing federal about what Clinton did, that was just a Republican hit job. Even many Senate Republicans couldn't stomach what the House Republicans did.
With Trump's first impeachment, there was tons of evidence, including audio, that screamed abuse of power. A majority[b] of senators voted to convict. That means most senators thought Trump was guilty.
With Trump's second impeachment (what he is now indicted for) the crime was even more clear cut. An even [b]larger majority of senators found him guilty. It was just three Republicans shy of the 60 vote threshold - three! While it didn't meet the constructional requirement for conviction, most clearly thought he was guilty. Thankfully, we will have a truly impartial jury in Washington and Atlanta to judge is guilt or innocence.
With Biden, there is simply nothing, not even a fired cabinet official.
The DEMS didn't play politics, they didn't need to. They just followed the evidence.
CNN published a devastating poll for President Biden. While it contained few bright spots, it did point out a couple of things his campaign needs to do.
1, Start advertising showing Biden's vigor and mental acuity. His doctor said he is quite physically and mentally fit to hold office. Start showing videos of him jogging and the grueling work schedule he keeps up - a schedule many here on this forum couldn't match. Ditto with his mental faculties, he has shown himself to be as sharp, if not sharper than anyone in this forum. I will grant that he sometimes doesn't "look" the part. In fact, I have to keep reminding myself that what I see on television sometimes is not a realistic picture of how Biden really is. Don't judge a book by its cover is how I believe the saying goes OR by the propaganda put out by Biden-Haters.
2. The Economy - The economy is strong, all the experts without an agenda say so. And a reading of the numbers by laymen who understand them gives the same picture. While people apparently don't "think" so, Biden has done a lot to bring back the economy from the position it was in at the end of Trump's term. So long as the economy stays strong, people will come to realize things like inflation is over, that their paychecks are growing faster than inflation, etc. The campaign needs to do a full-court press to drive that point home and to counteract the right-wing propaganda machine.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/07/opinions … index.htmlJogging? Please provide some evidence that he jogs. I have seen him try to copy the bit of jogging to a podium as Obam was known for, He seems to be very much compromised with stiff leg syndrome. I have never seen any flicks of him jogging.
Ecconoy --- only going to get worse.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl … s-age.html
Biden sticks to a morning workout routine of strength training and cardio and incorporates exercise into his daily routine. His small habits, such as lifting dumbbells during phone calls, go a long way.
https://medium.com/in-fitness-and-in-he … d8fbf15125
The report revealed that Biden, a father of four (two of whom have died) and grandfather of seven, doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke, and he exercises at least five days a week.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health … 5d4jb.html
You didn't comment on his grueling work schedule. Think you could keep up?Biden's work schedule appears less strenuous than what we have come to expect from a president, and there's a lack of transparency about his daily activities. If you've seen the video, you might have noticed President Biden's occasional lighthearted three-step jog, which he does quite often. Some citizens today express concerns about his overall stamina as he seems to be showing signs of aging poorly, and has occasional lapses in coherency. There have been instances of him nodding off in less suitable settings. He is by no means, in my view, a man who should be president of the United States.
And Some Citizens believe in leprechauns to. Doesn't mean much to me. His doctor says he is aging just fine and those articles I gave you back that up.
And, of course, in my view, he is the man America needs to be president.I think we will need to agree to disagree.
Weren't you one of those that said Trump's psych doctor was full of crap? Because, you know, you detected mental illness?
But this time is different - it is a Democrat politician the Dr. is saying is fine (or at least a modicum of "fine" considering the age of the man). A well though out argument.Actually, it is pretty shocking how many Americans feel Biden is not fit Mentally or physically to serve as President.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4 … th-survey/
"A new poll found that just more than two of three respondents are concerned about President Biden’s mental and physical health.
The NBC News poll found that 68 percent are concerned that Biden, 80, does not possess the “necessary” mental and physical health to serve as president, with 55 percent saying they have “major” concerns. By comparison, 32 percent said that they have minor or no concerns with Biden’s health.
When asked about whether they are concerned about former President Trump’s mental and physical health, 55 percent said they are concerned, including 44 percent who have “major concerns. Forty-four percent said they have minor or no concerns that Trump, 77, has the mental and physical health needed to serve as president.
Sixty percent of respondents also said they are concerned about Biden being reelected to serve another four years in the White House, including 46 percent who reported having “major” concerns. Fifty-eight percent answered the same way for Trump, including 51 percent saying they have “major” concerns.
The poll, which was taken after Trump was indicted by the Justice Department on charges related to his handling of classified materials, also found that the former has a comfortable lead over his opponents in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, and that his lead has grown since April. The poll also found that nearly half of Republicans want Trump to continue as the leader of their party.
The poll was conducted June 16 to 20 among 1,000 registered voters and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points."
It is clear a small minority feel he is...I must agree with you, it is shocking all many Americans feel that way. It is sad to see how badly mistaken they are when you look at it objectively rather than how they are - subjectively (and under the influence of the right-wing propaganda machine).
I think I pointed that out when I posted the CNN poll.
But remember, you used the key word "FEEL". That is a far cry from "knowing" or "being True", isn't it.
You also point out that half the Republican party have had their neural pathways damaged as a result of Trump and his right-wing propaganda machine's rhetoric. (That is OBJECTIVE rather than SUBJECTIVE, based upon numerous studies which I have posted.)
Nope, don't believe I ever said Trump's psyche doctors were full of crap. I didn't even know he had a "psyche doctor".
What I did say, however, is that 20+ mental health professionals said - in layman's terms - that Trump is dangerously mentally ill. And history has proven them correct.
Even though you attempt to minimize it, Biden's physician was much more forceful than "a modicum of fine". In fact he said - President Biden is a “healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old,” I'll just chalk your hyperbole up to partisan Biden hating.Chalk it up to whatever you want. And I'm sure you knew Trump had a psych evaluation, passing it according to the doctor. But you would rather believe a bunch of quacks who give a diagnosis without ever having an examination; it fits with the TDS litany of "Trump Bad Man".
Yeah, Biden is healthy and vigorous...for an 80 year old man. Unfortunately, the average 80 year old man is not physically or mentally fit to fill Biden's job, but that's all right; anything but Trump. A catfish maybe, or a frog. Anything but Trump.Wilderness,
So, how old is Trump? 77.... not exactly a spring chicken who is well beyond dementia, more like being demented already, and deliberate malevolence trumps dementia.
The Republicans has a octogenarian as Senate Majority leader that is even older than Biden, who is showing cognitive deficits already. Is it being too old or is it being a Democrat?
Yes, a catfish or frog may well be preferable to a man with more than a couple of indictments and charges against him, running for the top office.Twisting and turning.
"In 1999, Payne settled with the SEC over a complaint alleging that on at least eight occasions, Wall Street Strategies recommended that its clients purchase members stock through recorded messages on its telephonic stock recommendation service. The complaint also alleged that Payne failed to disclose that he received payments from members to promote members stock. Without admitting or denying the alleged violations, Payne consented to the entry of a permanent injunction against violations of Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, Payne agreed to pay a civil penalty of $25,000.[7]"
Let's see what this, as the right-wing media and Biden-haters on this forum describe him, one-foot-in-the-grave, low energy, dementia-riddled president has been up to the last few days.
He flew to India to attend the G-20 summit and went to work trying to draw friends of China closer to the US, his main goal of the trip. He got agreements with India, Brazil, and South Africa.
The animating theme of Biden’s foreign policy is that democracies can deliver while autocracies, despite bursts of strength and activity, eventually fade away. The American leader aimed to prove his theory true in the Indian capital, with a series of appearances, meetings and initiatives aimed at cementing the United States as the world’s undeniable power.[/b] AND the Right-Wing says he isn't capable of that, lol.
[i]The broader initiative, branded as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, is Biden’s answer to the “Belt and Road Initiative” that China has used to expand its influence with smaller nations that need investment dollars. By raising public and private capital, Biden and U.S. allies are looking to peel away some weaker countries from China, giving them a source of funding that doesn’t make them beholden to Beijing. - NON-STOP MEETINGS.
To cap off the flurry of diplomatic activity, Biden and his colleagues announced a new economic corridor from India through the Middle East to Europe. A new railway will help link the countries and regions as new sea cables will improve connectivity and promote clean technology development, they asserted in the cavernous Bharat Mandapam convention center, with an eye toward tying all the players economically and politically.
THEN off to Vietnam to cement better relations with them. Where does he get the energy?
Seems to me all the right-wing talk about Biden's incompetence is just a bunch of partisan hot-air that smells.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/0 … 0-00114870
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/10/politics … index.html"Let's see what this, as the right-wing media and Biden-haters on this forum describe him, one-foot-in-the-grave, low energy, dementia-riddled president has been up to the last few days."
I haven't come across any negative descriptions like the ones you mentioned. I genuinely believe you might be attributing those descriptions unfairly. In my experience, I haven't observed any right-leaning individuals on this platform using such language. However, I have noticed some people here using derogatory labels when discussing Trump.
However, "When they go low, we go high".
"He flew to India to attend the G-20 summit and went to work trying to draw friends of China closer to the US, his main goal of the trip. He got agreements with India, Brazil, and South Africa."
So pleased you brought this up, because I am sure many are not aware of what Biden has promised India and Africa. Note I use the word promised... None of his handouts will come to fruition. Congress will never provide the money to aid in building these proposed railways to cross Europe or the African railway, that he has proposed to go across that continent.
I truely hope anyone that reads this comment will do some research on his proposal, and listen to the speech he gave at the G20. (Guess pouring our tax money into other nations makes more sense than fixing our own broken rail systems.). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhmsfEsGJiQ
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ … -and-india
I'm curious if Joe will find the time to address America's pressing issues. I'm particularly interested in his plans for managing the influx of migrants due to the open borders policy. Will he also tackle the homelessness problem, revitalize the economy, and address the contamination of our lakes with forever chemicals? Furthermore, I'm wondering if he will prioritize improving the quality of education for our children and reduce spending on ongoing military conflicts.
Additionally, I'm eager to see if he can mend relations with the 13 Goldstar families he offended. Will he engage in debates with opposing candidates, work on enhancing his truthfulness, and refine his communication skills during speeches?
Most of all, I wonder when the few who support him will ever wake up to the fact he does not have what it takes to solve problems only creates them.
From my perspective, it appears that his actions at the G20 summit mainly involve making promises that may be difficult to fulfill. As far as I understand, Congress holds the authority to allocate spending, and there seems to be growing dissatisfaction within this Congress regarding Joe's spending habits. I find myself pondering whether he is fully aware of the domestic situation. It's noteworthy that some members of Congress are reluctant to pass the budget and are even discussing the possibility of another government shutdown promise. Moreover, according to the polls, there's a narrative suggesting that Biden may face defeat in the 2024 election. It raises questions about whether any future Republican president would fully endorse all of Joe's unpredictable decisions.
I might argue that supporting a communist regime contradicts American values and that the U.S. should focus on other foreign policy priorities. It's crucial to assess the potential risks and costs associated with building a more prosperous Vietnam.
"THEN off to Vietnam to cement better relations with them. Where does he get the energy?"
To name a few concerns -- Vietnam's communist government has been criticized for human rights violations, and supporting its economic growth may raise ethical and moral questions.
One needs to consider, that supporting a communist regime may not align with U.S. foreign policy objectives, which often prioritize democracy and capitalism. Lastly, there is no guarantee that efforts to make Vietnam wealthier will result in political or ideological changes that benefit the U.S. Again, Biden does not clearly consider the problems that could occur due to his alliances with communist countries.
In the end, the choice to interact with Vietnam and bolster its economic development should hinge on a meticulous evaluation of American national interests, principles, and enduring foreign policy objectives. This is a multifaceted matter necessitating the contemplation of prospective advantages as well as possible disadvantages. His inability to foresee the repercussions of his actions is exemplified by his ill-fated withdrawal from Afghanistan.
One can only discern his energy from viewing him at the G20. The video I offered shows he appears tired and stumbles through a speech that is barely coherent.
Souce --- "US President Joe Biden continued his blunder streak during his short trip to India's capital city over the weekend. The 80-year-old president's latest gaffe came at a meeting of the 18th G20 Summit attended by leaders of the forum on Saturday, in New Delhi, India.
Reading from a sheet of paper placed in front of him, Biden referred to Mohammed bin Salman as "Salam", and then proceeded to mumble the rest of the words mentioned in the document. "The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salam, excuse me, Mohammed bin Salman ... and since he’s not speaking today, I wanted to — well he is speaking today. I had a note he wasn’t speaking."
After realising the goof-up, Biden decided to end his short speech altogether, concluding it with " Anyway, I’m gonna stop there." His mispronunciation went viral on social media and turned into a field day for handles of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
"Biden is not competent to be President, Commander in Chief or even a greeter at Walmart," wrote one on the platform X. "Every overseas trip is a dementia shtshow," remarked another. A third user added, "Why the hell do we have to be subjected to this embarrassment on the world stage?!? Why?!?" https://www.republicworld.com/world-new … 20-article
He well appears to be very fatigued..Biden Unchained AT G20 - Make Our Neighbors Great Again! "MONGA"
How do you like the slogan I created?
Maybe Joe will use it on a hat.
"What are the Great Things President Joe Biden Has Done While President"
But Biden Did Not
Today, Biden is in Alaska, seemingly more concerned with appeasing climate control advocates than honoring the memory of the thousands of Americans tragically lost to terrorists on 9/11.
His failure to commemorate this solemn occasion is both reprehensible and indefensible in my eyes. It's become painfully evident that he has little regard for those who've perished at the hands of terrorists.
The 13 Gold Star families painfully witnessed his lack of empathy as he focused on self-promotion, in regard to telling the lie that his son was killed in the war... Even checked his watch as the coffins were carried off an aircraft carrier. Their grief was overshadowed by his selfishness.
It's crystal clear that he prioritizes his political agenda in Alaska over paying respects to the fallen. I can't adequately express the depth of my disgust for this man's behavior.
Once again, I implore fellow Americans to take note of his disrespect.And if he had gone to the ceremony (Harris went) you would have complained that he is playing nice with Saudi Arabia. (I bet you had that waiting in the wings, didn't you?)
In any case:
* President Joe Biden is scheduled to be on the ground in Alaska for less than two hours as he marks the 9/11 anniversary from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
* Biden has a full day's schedule in Vietnam on Monday before crossing the International Date Line to memorialize 9/11 at his refueling stop
* The White House said Monday morning from Vietnam that a [u]9/11 Memorial would be installed on the North Portico[/i] at 6:30 a.m. EDT
That is the real news rather than the rant above.
Once again I implore fellow Americans to ignore the Russia-inspried Right-Wing propaganda designed to rip America apart. I would be surprised if the above wasn't generated by a Russian or Chinese AI program."And if he had gone to the ceremony (Harris went) you would have complained that he is playing nice with Saudi Arabia. (I bet you had that waiting in the wings, didn't you?)"
not sure what you mean. Being nice to Saudi Arabia. Makes no sense.
Actually, in my view, the Saudis want old Joe gone... I mean the Saudis can't wait to have Biden back in his basement. He is a true threat to them. I am pleased to see they are putting it to him in regards to not pumping.
"* President Joe Biden is scheduled to be on the ground in Alaska for less than two hours as he marks the 9/11 anniversary from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson"
Hopefully, he does not speak live... He was embarrassing enough at the G20. Promising to build a rail through Europe, President Joe Biden outlined plans to create a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East. I wonder if he remembers Congress holding the purse?
And they are in no way going to give Big Bucks Joe any cash to build a rail on another continent. I mean our own rail system is so bad we have witnessed derailments at a historic pace. But, I say "Thanks Joe" Americans will love to hear you want to build a rail system in Africa, and now Europe to reach India and the Middle East.
Hopefully, he keeps up all his crazy.If you care about National Security it does. I don't like it either and I doubt Biden does, but you have to do what is best for the country regardless of you personal beliefs. That is a lesson Trump never learned.
"Historic pace" More untrue hyperbole from the right, I see.
According to federal records, trains derailed 1,164 times last year, and 1,095 times in 2021. But in 1979 railroads reported 7,482 derailments, and reported 6,442 in 1980. - You must admit that by that measure, Biden is doing a GREAT job regarding train derailments.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat … 479655002/
BTW - are you falsely claiming America was going to build that railroad all by our lonesome?
Fueled by a resurgent stock market and rising home values, US household wealth hit a record $154.3 trillion during the second quarter of this year, according to federal data.
Consumer wealth has now completely recovered from the recent inflation-driven drop in stock prices and real estate holdings.US existing home sales slide again, but prices up from a ...
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com › markets › us-existing-home-sa...
Aug 23, 2023 — The NAR predicted that total resales in 2023 will fall 12.9% from 2022, at the same time that total new home sales in 2023 will increase by 12.3
Unfortunately Homes are just not selling..Good, that is the idea behind the Fed raising interest rates. Means things are working as planned.
So, are things really working as planned? In my view, despite the seemingly positive economic statistics, you may want to consider many Americans find it increasingly challenging to make ends meet. It's a conundrum that deserves understanding, and not to be looked at lightly.
On the surface, economic indicators paint a positive picture. Unemployment rates are now fluctuating, yet are doing better. The stock market is doing well, and as you pointed out, GDP figures show growth. Yet, beneath this shiny picture of prosperity, the daily struggles of countless Americans persist, no matter what economic statistics indicate.
For many, the concept of a flourishing economy remains somewhat unrecognizable, distant from their immediate realities. Many find themselves living week to week, navigating a financial tightrope that requires juggling bills, debts, and daily expenses. Some are even forced to rely on credit cards to bridge the ever-widening gap between income and monthly expenditure.
One glaring issue is that you may not have considered -- widening gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population. While the stock market thrives, wage growth for the average American has been sluggish, failing to keep pace with rising living costs. The cost of living in America, including housing, healthcare, and education, continues to soar. For those whose incomes remain stagnant or have grown only marginally, these escalating expenses create an ever-mounting burden. Many Americans have had to resort to accumulating personal debt to maintain their monthly output.
A significant portion of the population lacks adequate savings to weather unexpected financial shocks. This vulnerability makes it even more challenging for individuals and families to navigate through tough times.
While economic statistics provide a broad overview, they often fail to capture the nuanced struggles that individuals and families face daily.
I disagree that things are working just fine.How many more Americans are finding it challenging than say in 2020? Or 2008, or 2001, or in the 1970s, or in the 1930s. You are simply wanting to blame Biden for something that is not his fault and how is that fair?
A significant portion of Americans have ALWAYS lacked significant savings, so why put that on Biden?
"Fail to capture individual struggles" - yes true, but what does that have to do with Biden. People struggled individually even in the best of times.
The ONLY time in American history when the general population did "well" if you want to call it that was after the WW II and before 1980. Income inequality was horrible from 1910 to 1939, peaking in 1938. Then came a period where the various quintiles did relatively will compared to each other.
t
But then Reagan upset the apple cart with his tax cuts. Inequality exploded in the 1980s and continued unabated until 2008.where it was worse than in 1938. It hit a new high in 2014 before falling back a bit again. Then in 2019, it hit that same high. Finally, in 2020 and 2021, it fell way off due to the pandemic.
In 2021, it began increasing again, and so far in 2023, it is still growing but is still lower than 2019.
We need to get back to the way it was in the 1950s - 1970s.
http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/capital … Tables.pdf
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SIPOVGINIUSA
Sept 13 2023 U.S. Inflation Accelerated in August as Gasoline Prices Jumped
Even excluding food and energy, price gains picked up, a potentially worrisome sign for the path of inflation. https://www.wsj.com/economy/august-cpi- … n-85936a0aWhy didn't you put it into context and point out that inflation declined for 13 STRAIGHT months in a row!? And why didn't you offer that inflation had to increase sooner or later. THAT is the headline and not the WSJ's hyperbolic word "jumped".
There is no way to call this economy anything but bad. No matter how one spins it.
Do people really expect that a president can enter a term at the height of a pandemic with all of the effects it had on the economy and just turn it around on a dime? I'd say that the economy never turns on a dime. Biden is making solid progress in very good time though. I suppose one could also say that Trump should have shielded or buffered our economy much better when he had the chance to. Unfortunately he had turned to election lies at that point and had lost all interest.
When Trump concluded his presidency, the economy was good. However, when Biden walked in within weeks, there was a noticeable downturn in our economic situation, which many economists attribute to what they perceive as poor decisions made by Biden. This economic decline has persisted for three years, leading to hardships for many Americans who are struggling to cope with rising prices. It's clear that there is a difference in opinion regarding the factors behind our economic challenges and why they persist.
I don't feel the failed economy can be blamed on Trump.Actually, Trump left the economy in horrendous shape. Trump ended his term with fewer jobs than when he started.
Under Trump, the economy lost 2.9 million jobs. Trump’s record on jobs is the worst in modern American history among presidents.
Manufacturing jobs also decreased under The Trump administration. We
saw the trade deficit grow under his watch to the worst in recent history.
The International Trade Deficit Increased 40.5% Under Trump. According to FactCheck.org, “The international trade deficit Trump promised to reduce went up. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services in 2020 was the highest since 2008 and increased 40.5% from 2016.”
U.S. goods and services exports to China decreased by 20 billion dollars under Trump.
Trump oversaw the largest annual drop dince 1947 According to FactCheck.org, “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy began slowing down. The real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product went up in Trump’s first two years, peaking at an estimated 2.9% in 2018 — the highest since 2005. But the economy grew only 2.3% in 2019 and the bottom fell out in 2020. The real GDP declined 3.4% in 2020 from the previous year. It was the largest drop since 1947.
Under The Trump Administration, The Poverty Rate Increased for the first time after 5 Years Of declines. According to FactCheck.org, “As incomes decreased, the official poverty rate increased about 1% from 2019. It was at 11.4% in 2020, up from 10.5% in 2019. It was the first increase in the official poverty rate after five consecutive years of declines.
During the Trump administration, The National Debt grew by 50%, Or more than $7 Trillion. According to FactCheck.org, “Rather, the amount the federal government has borrowed from the public went up by 50% during Trump’s time in office — from $14.4 trillion on the day he was inaugurated to $21.6 trillion the day his successor was sworn in.”
The price of oil rose 32% During Trump's last month In office. According to Forbes, “In the last three months of the Trump Administration, oil prices rose by 32% as demand bounced back.
It goes on and on.. as Biden walked in on all of this, how on Earth could anyone expect that he could turn this around within weeks? Acknowledging the lengthy period of time involved in any new legislation, how do you feel that a president can enter their term and even within the first year affect change?
It does feel like many will give slack to Trump due to covid but Biden was expected on day one to make everything glorious. How does that work?
https://trumpresearchbook.com/en/home/t … ts/economyIt works only in the brainwashed minds (because their neural network has been damaged by right-wing and Trump's rhetoric) of those suffering from BDS and hate Biden with a passion,
It's essential to approach discussions about the Trump economy with a realistic and truthful perspective. It's evident that during a year when the country faced nearly complete shutdowns, the Trump administration managed to contain inflation and keep the cost of living relatively stable. The job losses experienced were primarily a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing shutdowns. Before the pandemic hit, our economy was flourishing, and I can personally attest that it was one of the most robust economies I've ever seen.
I find it ridiculous to use any stats after COVID hit.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-happe … 1602713077
"The Verdict on Trump’s Economic Stewardship, Before Covid and After
By Jon Hilsenrath
The unemployment rate fell from 4.7% shortly after Trump’s election to 3.5% by the end of 2019, below Federal Reserve expectations of about 4.5%. That was partly driven by Trump’s corporate and individual income-tax cuts and a February 2018 bill that reset spending caps Republicans had demanded in the Obama era. When the coronavirus struck, the economic damage from social distancing and states’ shutdowns helped to drive the jobless rate to 14.7% in April this year. The rate fell faster than the Fed expected, reaching 7.9% in September, but the jobs recovery is far from complete. Five million more people were unemployed in September than when Trump took office.
2. The growth rate rose, but not as expected.
Trump’s first budget in 2017 projected that the growth rate under his policies would pick up to 3% by 2020 and stay there. During the expansion under Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, gross domestic product grew at an average annual rate of 2.25%. It picked up to a 2.5% rate over Trump’s first three years in office, according to Commerce Department figures. With the onset of the pandemic, growth went haywire as states shut down local economies and then reopened at different paces. A majority of private-sector economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal this month estimated the gears of the economy wouldn’t be turning fully again until late 2021 or later.
3. Gains for minority workers were reversed.
During Trump’s first three years in office, median household incomes grew, inequality diminished, and the poverty rate among Black people fell below 20% for the first time in post-World War II records. The unemployment rate among Black people went under 6% for the first time in records going back to 1972. Minorities and low-skill workers tend to do best late in expansions as the jobless rate falls, but they also tend to be hit first in downturns when some firms dismiss the most recently hired. By September, the Black unemployment rate was 12.1%, reversing all of the gains achieved since 2014. The jobless rate for high-school graduates with no college was 9%, reversing the gains since 2011.
4. Blue collar jobs were hit hard by Covid-19.
Trump’s trade policies, most notably tariffs on imports, were aimed at helping blue-collar towns hurt by competition from China, Mexico and other low-wage countries. After decades of declines, manufacturing employment began a modest rise in 2010 and extended those gains under Trump. But the Covid-19 crisis knocked manufacturing employment back down to levels comparable to the 1940s."
It is very important to not blame Trump for what the pandemic did to our economy. When considering Biden's economy it is important to realize his policies, and agenda have worsened our economy. His overspending, and poor decision-making have caused our economy to suffer, in my view.It is very important to not blame Trump for what the pandemic did to our economy.
Yet Biden entered office at the height of a still raging pandemic with its multitude of consequences still unfurling and he is literally criticized on day one for not turning everything on a dime. It seems as though equal standards are not being applied. We can't blame Trump for the economic effects of the pandemic but that logic doesn't even come into play when talking about Biden?. The multiple and complex effects from the pandemic are completely overlooked and ignored in Biden's case. Is the idea that somehow the impacts of the pandemic would cease to exist when Biden entered the office?
If we are going to evaluate anything we have to use the same measures.
Our economic recovery actually has been pretty historic as compared to other advanced economies around the world.The pandemic did not give away a trillion dollars, increasing demand without increasing supply. And did it after it had already been done once. Once we could (and did) weather; twice was too much and we're still paying the price for it. Of course, the actual money given out will have to be paid back by our grandchildren...
The pandemic did not shut down businesses all over the country, decreasing supply without decreasing demand.
The pandemic did not give away huge sums of "unemployment insurance" money, often more than the person was earning, encouraging people to stay home even after the pandemic was over.
The pandemic did not declare that no rent was owed by anyone, leaving landlords unable to pay their loans.
I could go on, but these things were done by a man. Want to guess who?I see you are still putting out false propaganda. Your claim has been debunked many, many times.
Once again, economists say that the ARP had a SMALL and TRANSITORY impact on inflation. What you claim is simply not true nor can you prove it to be true.
Wasn't it Trump who started the "no rent" thing?
" It's evident that during a year when the country faced nearly complete shutdowns, the Trump administration managed to contain inflation and keep the cost of living relatively stable." - You know as well as I do that that is not true. Trump did absolutely nothing to keep inflation in check. Inflation was NOT going to happen until production picked up - and that didn't happen until the Biden administration. Yes, it is essential to approach the conversation with a reliability and truthfulness.
Before the pandemic hit, our was no better than under Obama and was the same as it is now.
"The unemployment rate fell from 4.7% shortly after Trump’s election to 3.5% by the end of 2019" - [i]Is that the same as saying the unemployment rate fell from 6.3% shortly after Biden's election to 3.5% by the end of 2022 and then it fell to 3.4%, a fifty or sixty year low.?
"That was partly driven by Trump’s corporate and individual income-tax cuts " - What those cuts did was balloon the debt and deficit and others disagree with the impact on jobs
"On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a $1.9 trillion tax bill favoring corporations and wealthy Americans. At its heart is a large cut in the corporate tax rate. “Corporations are literally going wild over this,” Trump said upon signing the bill. He predicted that the corporate tax cut would cause a boom in business investment and that factories are “not going to be abandoned any longer.” His White House, meanwhile, estimated that the corporate tax cuts would trickle down to workers in the form of a $4,000 annual raise. Two years later, however, business investment is actually declining. Factory closings and mass layoffs have not ended. Wage growth is tepid, despite the continuation of the economic expansion that began 10 years ago, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth is slowing and projected to revert to its long-term trend or below. https://www.americanprogress.org/articl … g-winners/
Fortunately, Biden's policies and agenda greatly improved the economy.
"within weeks, there was a noticeable downturn in our economic situation," - An unsupported opinion not based in reality.
"which many economists attribute to what they perceive as poor decisions made by Biden" - a patently false statement since the economy had no chance to do anything in that span of time from anything Biden did. If it went down (which it did not) it would have been Trump's decision-making that would be responsible. Be logical.
"This economic decline has persisted for three years, " - AGAIN, an unsupported opinion resulting from a serious case of BDS.
" It's clear that there is a difference in opinion regarding the factors behind our economic challenges and why they persist." - While there is a difference between your unsupported opinion, it is because economists base their opinion on objective FACTS
"I don't feel the failed economy can be blamed on Trump." -I don't feel that way either - because the economy has not failed after Biden led the recovery from the pandemic.It's unfortunate so many economists do not agree with you.
Name me some that don't have a partisan agenda. I have already provided you bank economists. Apparently, you don't think they know what they are talking about.
Over the past year, I have offered many. There is no shortage of more jumping on that bandwagon.
Larry Summers slams Biden's economic agenda as ‘increasingly dangerous’ CNN Business
Wed July 26, 2023 --- https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/26/business … index.html
"Larry Summers, the former Obama and Clinton official, slammed parts of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda as “increasingly dangerous” this week, saying it could end up causing higher prices for Americans.
“I am profoundly concerned by the doctrine of manufacturing-centered economic nationalism that is increasingly put forth as a general principle to guide policy,” Summers said on Tuesday while speaking virtually at an event held by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Specifically, Summers took issue with the administration’s trade stance, efforts to prop up US manufacturing and its antitrust crackdown. The former Harvard president argued this approach could prove to be inflationary.
“It is wrong to suppose that manufacturing-based economic nationalism is a route to higher incomes or better standards of living for the middle class,” Summers said.
“Bidenomics is a fundamental break from trickle-down economics, which underinvested in the American people and our competitiveness,” White House spokesperson Michael Kikukawa told CNN in a statement in response to the Summers criticism. “The pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine made clear that supply chains and critical resources can be easily disrupted, hurting consumers, workers, and the entire economy.”
The White House spokesperson added that Biden’s investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and semiconductors “are not just creating new factories and jobs, they are making our economy more resilient.”
Sept 12 , 2023 NBC news -- Inflation ticks upward to 3.7% as the Fed's fight to tame high consumer prices rolls on
Annual inflation has risen two months in a row after 12 straight months of decline.
"Prices for U.S. consumers grew 3.7% in August compared to a year ago as gasoline prices spiked, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Inflation was about equal to expert projections, and prices rose at a faster pace than the previous month. On a month-over-month basis, the inflation rate rose by 0.6%, compared to 0.2% in July.
Economists had expected the data to show a 3.6% overall increase in inflation compared to a year ago. Annual inflation has now ticked up two months in a row after 12 consecutive months of decline.
Core inflation, a measurement of cost increases that removes energy and food prices because of their volatility, rose 4.3%. That, too, matched estimates from experts."
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/econom … rcna104655No you haven't, I would have remembered because it would be so unusual. Almost all economists agree with the bank economists I gave you that the economy is good.
Larry Summers has said nothing that I know of about the subject at hand - the state of today's economy. If he has, he probably said it was good.
At least NBC used the proper word "ticked". I ask again, are you expecting inflation to decrease month over month forever? Or do you agree that sooner or later, one of those months must be an increase. To me it is ludicrous to base anything on a "tick"
"... dime?" - obviously MAGA has those unrealistic expectations.
I give Trump a break by not blaming most of the bad effects of the pandemic on him (although he did help a lot to make it worse than it ought to have been). Too bad the MAGA Biden-haters can't do the same.
There is no way to call this economy bad, no matter how MAGA wants to spin it.
CNN poll --- Most Democratic voters wish they had an alternative to Biden
A broad 67% majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters now say it’s very or extremely likely that Biden will again be the party’s presidential nominee, up from 55% who felt that way in May. But 67% also say the party should nominate someone other than Biden – up from 54% in March, though still below the high of 75% who said they were seeking an alternative last summer.
Record low share of Americans say Biden inspires confidence
Views of Biden’s performance in office and on where the country stands are deeply negative in the new poll. His job approval rating stands at just 39%, and 58% say that his policies have made economic conditions in the US worse, up 8 points since last fall. Seventy percent say things in the country are going badly, a persistent negativity that has held for much of Biden’s time in office, and 51% say government should be doing more to solve the nation’s problems.
Hear Biden's message to Americans concerned about his age and reelection
Perceptions of Biden personally are also broadly negative, with 58% saying they have an unfavorable impression of him. Fewer than half of Americans, 45%, say that Biden cares about people like them, with only
Roughly three-quarters of Americans say they’re seriously concerned that Biden’s age might negatively affect his current level of physical and mental competence (73%), and his ability to serve out another full term if reelected (76%), with a smaller 68% majority seriously concerned about his ability to understand the next generation’s concerns (that stands at 72% among those younger than 65, but just 57% of those 65 or older feel the same).
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/07/politics … index.html
Are you in agreement with the majority in regard to Biden's Job performance, and likeability, and do you hope for an alternative as the majority of Democrats do? Or do you feel you are comfortable being in the minority?Yes, I agree that I am in the majority of Democrats who think Biden's job performance is good. I agree I am in the majority of college graduates who approve of Biden's job performance.
Here are some other telling results from that survey. (Remember, the OBJECTIVE evidence is more than overwhelming that he did.)
Q: Did Biden Legitimately Win in 2020
-- Non-College Graduates: 46% say NO (as compared to 24% of college graduates. That says a lot about how education improves one's perception of reality.)
- White Non-College Graduates: an unimaginable 51% think Biden's win was illegitimate!! Compare that to White College Graduates: 26%. See how much education helps in combating brainwashing?
Money makes a difference to. 41% of those who earn less than $50K say Biden's win is illegitimate compared to only 36% earning more than $50K.
Only 7% of Democrats and 37% of Independents say Biden didn't win, yet a whopping 71% of Republicans are that delusional. (I suspect the 7% of Ds are made of conservatives and disaffected Sanders voters while the 37% of Independents are right-leaning. Why are Republicans such outliers?perhaps you missed this in te article --- Record low share of Americans say Biden inspires confidence
Views of Biden’s performance in office and on where the country stands are deeply negative in the new poll. His job approval rating stands at just 39%, and 58% say that his policies have made economic conditions in the US worse, up 8 points since last fall.
Not sure about your line of questioning --- I never disputed that Bidens won... In no respect.
I am pleased to see that I am not alone in my thoughts that Biden should not run for president. --- Washington Post columnist David Ignatius says Biden should not run for reelection
A top Washington Post columnist has joined the fray of pundits calling on President Biden to step aside and not seek reelection.
I very much respect IgnatiusMaybe you missed my response which pointed out that those trained to analyze what they see and hear understand that the OPINION on this subject by "most" Americans is misguided.
Once more, I'd like to point out the polling data on President Biden's performance. A significant majority of the American populace disagrees with your evaluation of his job performance. Furthermore, a noteworthy majority of Democrats believe he is of advanced age and express a desire to explore alternative candidates.
Americans feel America has been on the wrong track since Jun 9, 2009 when it split 46.3 to 46.5. Since then, it has been on the wrong track to varying degrees since then.
* The worst was a 59.5 point spread on Oct 15, 2011.
* The worst Trump year was a 45.4 spread on Aug 20, 2020
* The worst Biden year so far is a 59.1 spread on July 4, 2022
* Besides Jun 9, 2009, the best Obama year was Nov 19, 2012 with an 11.8 spread.
* The best Trump year was a 13.1 spread on March 9, 2017
* The best Biden years so far is a May 9, 2021 with a 6 point spread.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll … y-902.htmlWashington Post columnist David Ignatius says Biden should not run for reelection
A top Washington Post columnist has joined the fray of pundits calling on President Biden to step aside and not seek reelection.
David Ignatius, a foreign affairs columnist for The Washington Post, wrote in a column published Tuesday that Biden has built a strong legacy of accomplishments during his first few years in office, citing America’s return to the world stage and legislative victories for Democrats. He also wrote that Biden has delivered on his pledge to govern from the center.
( OH MY) “In sum, he has been a successful and effective president,” Ignatius wrote.
“But I don’t think Biden and Vice President Harris should run for reelection. It’s painful to say that, given my admiration for much of what they have accomplished,” Ignatius continued. “But if he and Harris campaign together in 2024, I think Biden risks undoing his greatest achievement — which was stopping Trump.”
Ignatius suggested Biden’s age is a liability heading into 2024, citing recent polling that shows a majority of voters believe the president’s age is an issue when it comes to serving a second term. Biden is 80 and would be 86 at the end of a possible second term.
The columnist and occasional novelist argued that, as a result of Biden’s age, voters may focus more on Vice President Harris, who he noted carries a favorability rating around 40 percent.
He wrote that Biden “has never been good at saying no,” arguing that he should have “resisted” picking Harris as his vice president over someone like then-Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.). Ignatius also said the now-president should have stopped his son, Hunter Biden, from joining the board of a Ukrainian energy company, which has become fodder for GOP attacks and investigations.
“Biden has another chance to say no — to himself, this time — by withdrawing from the 2024 race,” Ignatius wrote. “It might not be in character for Biden, but it would be a wise choice for the country.”
Biden has already announced a reelection campaign for 2024, and he and his aides have shown no indication that he is reconsidering. The president and his team have repeatedly brushed aside questions about his age from journalists and some elected officials, arguing that the president’s record of accomplishments and his ability to do the job on a day-to-day basis speaks for itself.
The White House this week pushed back hard against what it viewed as an unfair media fixation on Biden’s age following his five-day trip to Asia, which was capped with a press conference in Vietnam at the end of a day that began with meetings in India.
Top Democrats have rallied behind Biden as the party’s candidate heading into 2024, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has backed the incumbent, effectively quelling any potential primary challenge.And that is his opinion. Biden is vigorous, sharp, and experienced and fully capable of serving another four years.
Trump, on the other hand, is a failed president who only thinks of himself and faces 91 felony charges, been twice impeached, rejected by a lot in 2020, and is a convicted rapist. He is clearly unfit for the office yet Brainwashed MAGA wants him anyway. Puzzling.You say Pres. Biden is currently vigorous and sharp . . .
Someone could have a field day posting YouTube clips disputing that statement.
GAI don't form my opinion on looks as some others do (books and covers thing) but by his actions. Only a vigorous and sharp individual could keep up the pace Biden just displayed at the G-20 and Vietnam and Alaska.
More weaponization from this administration --- This seems like a very communist thing to do...
"A multi-decade, senior-level, current Agency officer has come forward to provide information to the Committees regarding the Agency’s analysis into the origins of COVID-19,"
FIRST ON FOX: A CIA whistleblower told Congress that the agency offered officials on a team investigating COVID-19 origins "significant monetary incentive" to change their positions, from that it originated out of a leak from the Wuhan lab to "unable to determine" the origins, Fox News Digital has learned.
Fox News Digital obtained letters House Coronavirus Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner sent to the CIA and a former official.
"The Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence have received new and concerning whistleblower testimony regarding the Agency’s investigation into the origins of COVID-19," Wenstrup and Turner wrote to CIA Director William Burns Tuesday.
"A multi-decade, senior-level, current Agency officer has come forward to provide information to the Committees regarding the Agency’s analysis into the origins of COVID-19," they wrote.
The whistleblower told Congress that the CIA assigned seven officers to a COVID Discovery Team, which consisted of "multi-disciplinary and experienced officers with significant scientific expertise."
"According to the whistleblower, at the end of its review, six of the seven members of the Team believed that intelligence and science were sufficient to make a low confidence assessment that COVID-19 originated from a laboratory in Wuhan, China," Wenstrup and Turner wrote.
"The seventh member of the Team, who also happened to be the most senior, was the one officer to believe COVID-19 originated through zoonosis."
"The whistleblower further contends that to come to the eventual public determination of uncertainty, the other six members were given a significant monetary incentive to change their position," they said.
Wenstrup and Turner said the allegations come from "a seemingly credible source," and requires the committees to conduct further oversight of "how the CIA handled its internal investigation into the origins of COVID-19."
The CIA denied the charges
CIA spokesperson Tammy Kupperman Thorp said: "At CIA we are committed to the highest standards of analytic rigor, integrity, and objectivity. We do not pay analysts to reach specific conclusions. We take these allegations extremely seriously and are looking into them. We will keep our Congressional oversight committees appropriately informed."
A CIA official says analysts are often given bonuses for work already completed, not to reach certain conclusions.
The lawmakers set a deadline of Sept. 26, 2023 for the CIA to turn over all records regarding the establishment of the COVID Discovery Teams; records regarding communications from those teams; all documents and records involving CIA communications with all members of federal government agencies including the FBI, State Department, Health and Human Services, Energy Department and more.
FBI DIRECTOR SAYS COVID PANDEMIC 'MOST LIKELY' ORIGINATED FROM CHINESE LAB
The lawmakers are also asking for documents and communications regarding "the pay history, to include the awarding of any type of financial or performance-based incentive/financial bonus to members of all iterations of the COVID Discovery Teams.
Please read on https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whistl … id-originsThis is lying Fox you are referencing. Find a reliable source that says the same thing.
OK, thank you for providing reliable sources. Now, let's consider what you say about the reliability of UNNAMED informants such as this one. If I recall correctly, you don't believe a word they say. Why are you believing this one?
I am now in a wait and see mode while the "allegations" are investigated. I would also point out that no one will ever know for sure where covid originated from until the Chinese fesses up.I have never shared I do not believe in whistleblowers. I respect that they need anonymity in today's violent climate. When you make such an outward accusation you need to give a quote or it could be considered a personal insult. Hopefully, you can provide a quote, and I certainly will apologize if I am wrong.
The fact stands this person is reputable, is currently working for the CIA, and has given an interview under oath. I have no reason to think he is not being truthful... He has involved six other employees whom he claims were also involved with this issue.No, you have often said "unnamed sources are not credible" or words to that effect when the information is about Trump. Why do you find THIS unnamed source credible when it is about Biden and you don't when it is about Trump. (And yes, I will spend the time one night going back and looking for examples.)
Now, this isn't about whether I think he is telling the truth, he probably is (but without seeing the actual testimony, we don't know if the Republicans aren't twisting the facts as they have been caught doing in the past). But that is not the issue here. The issue is treating one unnamed source differently than an different unnamed source when the subject is different.
Confused or lying you tell me? In my view, confused and unfortunately showing symptoms of being delusional. It is clear this kind of untrue storytelling has become more evident. Is this really a man that should be our president? This is not the first time he claimed this, sadly he has been telling this story for a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUOlnv1fj7w
Yesterday he once again told this ridiculous story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-tWq1um__o
"President Joe Biden made a bizarre claim in a speech that he'd taught political theory at an Ivy League university - despite only serving there as a visiting fellow and honorary professor.
Biden, at 80, the nation's oldest-ever president, was speaking at Prince George Community College in Maryland Thursday for an economic address he meant to contrast what he calls 'Bidenomics' with the police of predecessor Donald Trump.
At one point, however, the president turned his speech to a common theme, that Democracy is 'under attack' when he suddenly discussed his time at the University of Pennsylvania.
'We got to fight for it,' Biden said. ''I taught at the University of Pennsylvania for four years and I used to teach political theory. And folks, you always hear, every generation has to fight for Democracy.'
However, while Biden served from 2017 to 2019 as the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Professor of the Practice, there is no record of him teaching classes.
It is his latest stretch of the truth and comes days after the White House dodged whether the president was 'making things up"
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl … r-lie.html"It is clear this kind of untrue storytelling has become more evident." - No, it is not becoming MORE clear, in my opinion, he has been telling the same stories for years. Consequently, I don't see how that shows signs of dementia. I think how he has responded to the various crises around the world and in America shows clear-eyed thinking and a sharp, analytical mind. I try very hard to not judge a book by its cover. It also amazes me how one can build a crises over something so insignificant as to whether a story is remembered correctly.
Finally, why didn't you chastise Trump in a similar fashion when he lied about things big and small? Why are you only picking on Biden?Biden in my view, is a confused man. And in regard to responding to any crisis... He made a mess of COVID vaccine delivery and testing. He Killed Americans due to not listening to his military advisors when pulling out of Afghanistan, he has us in a proxy war with Russia, he has a wide-open border, that not is causing huge problems for Democratic
sanctuary cities, and he has released Iran cash to bring home hostages, that they can possibly use for untoward purposes. He has alienated OPEC and our own oil industries. And he has unleashed more drugs into America... That's not all, but enough.
How in the world could you defend the man? He has made a mess of everything he touched.You are certainly entitled to your view, regardless of its truthfulness.
"He made a mess of COVID vaccine delivery and testing. " - That is simply not factual. In REALITY, he rolled out the vaccination program very efficiently and effectively saving countless lives. It was Trump who screwed up the delivery; Biden had to fix it. Also, vaccination and testing are two separate animals. I don't know of any decision that was improperly made based on the evidence known at the time which "screwed" up the testing program. What were the ramifications. Can you point me to the information you have that drew you to that conclusion?
Trump killed orders of magnitude more people by not listening to his military and health advisors. I disagreed with Trump's decision to pull out of Afghanistan; I really disagreed with Trump's decision to cave into the Taliban; I disagreed with Biden deciding he had to abide by the agreement Trump made; and I disagreed with Biden's decision to pull out the way he did, but he has more knowledge than I had.
How do you know the military advised him to stay? Were you in on the discussions or did they testify that they told Biden not to withdraw? I don't think you have any possible way to know that Biden was not "listening to his military advisors when pulling out of Afghanistan,"
" he has us in a proxy war with Russia" - so now you are blaming BIden for Putin invading Ukraine. Unbelievable!!!
"he has a wide-open border, " - Then Trump had a wide-open border (but you never blamed HIM for it) because Biden has essentially not changed much of what Trump did except get rid of the more inhumane Trump policies. THAT is the real world
"and he has released Iran cash to bring home hostages" - Why don't I send that comment to the families of the hostages in Iran which you want to leave there since you disagree with how Biden is bringing (hopefully) them home. Why didn't you mention that there are serious strings attached to that cash in the way it can be spent?
OPEC and our oil industries were ripping you off. I hope you enjoyed it.
"And he has unleashed more drugs into America... " - What policies, specially, did he implement that resulted in that outcome? I don't expect an answer because there are no such policies.
Analysis:
Economists think inflation will keep on cooling. It seems that last months "jump" in inflation was a bit misleading when you get to the rest of the story.
While the "headline" rate, which includes volatile products such as food and energy, did rise a bit (but still below historical averages I think), the "core" inflation, which is everything elhttps://www.cnn.com/2023/09/17/economy/stocks-week-ahead-inflation-outlook/index.htmlse we buy FELL by almost the same points.
Notice that neither of those are the "chained" index.
Apparently "shelter" inflation, rents and things, which compose a large chuck of the CPI index are finally decelerating and might actually get cheaper in the coming months. One can hope.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/17/economy/ … index.html1. Core inflation is not a measure of "everything" (if I understood your comment); it removes food and energy from the marketbasket. It was interesting to see that inflation is greater for core goods than for food and energy even as those two items (particularly energy) spiked with a huge increase.
2. How do you know the article was not using chained CPI to get the numbers? It does not specify, so how do you know, given that the "chained" figure is the one most often used today? How can you tell, from the article, how long the items have been in the basket without reviewing them?So well said ---
I think Americans can just have a look at their expenditure to realize what is occurring. I doubt that we have a majority that will buy into what the White House is dishing out -- when they are most possibly dishing up lots of hamburgers to feed their families.
Yes, there will be a small minority that can look at some lipstick-on-a-pig stats... I mean the polls tell all. The dumbing down is coming to an abrupt halt.
"is occurring" - Shouldn't the correct phrase be "has occurred", in order to not put bias into the statement? It is not occurring anymore
I shared my view, and actually, inflation has risen in regard to the latest stat.
MY COMMENT --- Please note full context note important words, "look at their expenditures " CONTEXT matters --- I think Americans can just have a look at their expenditure to realize what is occurring. I doubt that we have a majority that will buy into what the White House is dishing out -- when they are most possibly dishing up lots of hamburgers to feed their families
.
FOOD prices are still up gas prices currently rising. Yes, we are still living in a poor economy in regard to our costs of living. And my comment very clearly spoke of this problem. They are not looking at stats just costs.
"What is the August 2023 CPI?
Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was 0.6 percent in August and 3.7 percent over the past year. Both of these rates were a step up from recent inflation reports, and the main factor behind the jump was the August increase in the price of retail gasoline."
MY POINT Americans could care less about stats --- They are paying more out of pocket to live.
Please check polls on what Americans feel about the Economy.
They speak loudly, louder than you, and I am with them..
And the context of my comment is correct --- Inflation is still with us and headed in the wrong direction. The polls show what is OCCURRING is Americans' dissatisfaction with the Biden economy.
CNN --- "More than half of U.S. adults believe President Biden’s policies are making the economy worse, according to a new poll.
The CNN poll, released Thursday and conducted by SSRS, found 58 percent of U.S. adults surveyed believe Biden’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the country, in comparison to 24 percent who believe his policies improved economic conditions. Eighteen percent said the president’s policies had no effect on the country’s economic conditions."
https://thehill.com/homenews/administra … omy-worse/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 … dependents
What polls indicate shows your view is shared by a small minority.In terms of what the polls show and the disregard of stats;
I see this from a different perspective.
Can someone with an average IQ understand complex political and economic issues?
But to truly understand the web of interconnected cause and effect that can result from a seemingly simple political policy, or to truly grasp economics beyond comparing it only to one’s own individual and current condition?
No, I do not believe that the average person is truly capable of that. A little more than half of American adults have a literacy level around the 6th grade. When I see a poll regarding complex issues, I take it with the grain of salt. As a result, I'm more than happy to remain in the minority.
Probably an unpopular opinion but I own it."Is it necessary for the average person to grasp intricate political and economic matters?
From my perspective, not necessarily. Their perspective on the economy often revolves around how it impacts their daily lives. In the grand scheme of things, they might not be overly concerned with statistics or the actions of individuals. What matters most to them are the outcomes, and many Americans may not be particularly interested in the extensive discussions or promises being made.
Should every American be expected to delve into the intricacies of the economy?"
The concept of what is called "voting one's pocketbook" is an old one. And as a rule, if a president fails at keeping one's pocketbook full they lose."Should every American be expected to delve into the intricacies of the economy?"
Only if they want an accurate understanding of its principles, how it works, it's cycles, what impacts it and what doesn't. That seems to be more accurate in my opinion. More so than simply saying I'm paying more for beef this week so I'm going to blame the guy who's sitting in the White House. I suppose it's to the politicians advantage that Americans look for quick, direct, binary and simple answers rather than a comprehensive understanding. We all know full well that many of these politicians completely understand economics inside and out.
People let them off the hook when they resort to simplistic explanations for the economy. If they were better educated they would understand that Presidents get a lot of the blame and take a lot of the credit for the economy. But, the president's ability to impact the economy is generally indirect and marginal. Congress sets tax rates, passes spending bills, and writes laws regulating the economy. Not to mention the impact of the FED who is totally independent.
If people understood the following,, politicians would lose a lot of their ability to use the economy as a cudgel:
https://bigthink.com/the-present/5-reas … l-economy/There is this aspect as well. Because they are making judgments based on their gut and a limited set of inputs, they are not capable of making "informed" decisions - such as who to vote for. Chances are high they will vote for some Demagogue who whispers sweet nothings in their ear - i.e. Trump.
Our founding fathers worst nightmare were Demagogues like Trump.
Washington wrote Lafayette, on June 6, 1787, explaining that his critical purpose in attending the convention was to prevent a demagogue from gaining power in the politically unstable young nation and thus destroying it. We are seeing what he meant today in MAGA.
Elbridge Gerry said “Demagogues are the great pests of our government and have occasioned most of our distresses.” Gerry further described demagogues as “pretended patriots,” unprincipled politicians who steer the people toward “baneful measures” through “false reports.” Doesn't that sound familiar with MAGA.
James Madison of Virginia twice alluded to “the danger of demagogues.”
Alexander Hamilton must have had Trump in mind when he wrote in Federalist No.1 that “History will teach us that ... of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.”
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2 … n-hamilton
Even people with above average IQs may have problems understanding political and the economic issues unless they have been trained in it.
The fact that people "believe" something to be true doesn't make it true. In the case of the economy, that is exactly what is happening. The people aren't feeling the improvement yet (as well as being deluged by right-wing propaganda) but the experts say the economy is currently healthy and doing better than expected. I prefer to listen to educated opinions rather than the opinions of uneducated (in economics) Americans about the health of the economy.
Bottom line - opinion polls about the economy may or may not reflect reality. Occasionally they line up, often they don't.What is wrong with you? I never implied ---" The fact that people "believe" something to be true doesn't make it true. "
I just offer the sentiments that are showing up in the polls. And claimed you are in a minority in that respect. Botto lone Americans are not interested in cute words "Bidenonmi's" or being told all is well. Because as far as the greater majority of Americans are feeling inflation in their everyday lives.
Listen to whomever you please. The polls tell me Americans could care very little about what economists say.
Try again after you remove the link I accidentally inserted between the "el" and "se" of ELSE. My apologies for making it so confusing.
How do I know? Because it didn't name it. You have Headline, Core, and Chained. They only talked about Headline and Core.
As to working out the way it did, just think about the dynamics and do the math.
The baseline is last year. That index is made of Core plus non-Core. The August 2022 Headline rate was 3.2%. That is an average of Core and non-Core, right? So, if Core in 2022 was 4.7, then (assuming equal weighting which I know it is not but is immaterial to this analysis) non-Core must be 1.7%, right?
OK, in 2023, Core was 4.3% while Headline was 3.7%. That must mean non-Core increased to 2.1%.
That, I believe, is how the math works.
The five American wrongfully detained in Iran are on their way to the Tehran airport. Is that a collective sound of booing and hissing coming from the MAGA right? Apparently, they are upset that President Biden arranged their release using embargoed Iranian money with strict strings on what could be bought with it attached. SAD
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics … index.htmlPaying ransom for citizens held in rough nations may seem like a tempting option, but it comes with several significant negatives: Paying ransom often ends up financing criminal or terrorist organizations, providing a terrorist Nation with the resources to carry out more kidnappings, more violence, and other illicit activities. Biden's deal may work to perpetuate the cycle of criminality and pose a long-term threat to global security.
These forms of ransom payments create an incentive for more kidnappings. Kidnappers see it as a lucrative business, leading to more abductions of innocent individuals, which, in turn, puts more lives at risk in the long run.
Paying ransom undermines the rule of law and encourages lawlessness. It sends a message that governments are willing to negotiate with criminals, which can embolden criminal groups to engage in more acts of violence and hostage-taking.
Ransom payments enrich the kidnappers, allowing them to expand their operations and become more sophisticated. This can lead to a proliferation of criminal enterprises and terrorist organizations.
Paying ransom can strain diplomatic relations between countries. Governments that pay ransoms may be seen as cooperating with criminal elements or indirectly supporting terrorism, leading to distrust and potential retaliation from other nations.
Some individuals who are released through ransom payments such as prisoner exchange, the criminal may likely return to criminal activities, and pose a danger to society in general
While the immediate goal of securing the release of hostages is understandable, paying ransom to rough nations carries serious negative consequences that can impact global security and encourage criminal and terrorist activities.
In my view, once again Biden has shown a propensity for weakness and poor decision making.Here's the rest of the deal.
"Biden agreed to help Iran gain access to $6 billion in Iranian oil assets that had been held in a restricted account in South Korea as incentive for Tehran to conduct the swap. Sources familiar with the complex diplomatic deal told CBS News that the billions in oil revenue were being transferred through European banks in the form of euros to a restricted account in Qatar. The Biden administration has repeatedly said the U.S. Treasury will continue to monitor the account in Qatar and restrict the use of funds for solely humanitarian purposes.
Senior administration officials reiterated Sunday night that the funds are "severely restricted" and are being funneled through "trusted" banks with the "full cooperation" of the Qatari government.
The money, which was paid by South Korea to Iran years ago for oil and subsequently frozen, is only to be used for humanitarian purposes and is limited to food, medicine, medical devices and agricultural products, a senior administration official said. They stressed that it is not U.S. taxpayer money and no funds will go directly to Iranian companies or entities. If Iran tries to divert the money, the U.S. will take action to "lock up" the funds, the official said."
This agreement has broader implications for U.S.-Iranian relations. It is not as simplistic as having paid a ransom. In the world of global politics, matters are seldom as simple or straightforward as they may appear. The prisoner swap will go well beyond getting imprisoned U.S. citizens out of Iran and releasing frozen Iranian oil funds for humanitarian reasons. It may well be the basis for making sure that Iran will refrain from attacking American troops, endangering international shipping lines and arming Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Most importantly, the prisoner swap might be a decisive step for the West in reaching a new informal nuclear limitation agreement with Iran. This would stabilize the entire Middle East by preventing an Israeli attack on Iran if Iran were to further develop a nuclear bomb. In my view, Biden it's quite forward thinking in this move and he is extremely adept at foreign policy. I think it's fair to say that Biden has a broader political strategy in mind.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-relea … oner-swap/I could (easily) be mistaken, but I think I saw an interview with the Iranian VIP. When asked what he would use those funds for he made it very, very clear that it was their money and would be spent as they want to.
I any case it's a forlorn hope that the funds won't go into war materials, including nuclear. All Iran would have to do is spend what they already have on weapons and then use the Korean money to "repay" themselves.Well I think we have to remember that he is speaking to his own people also.
Of course he was, but that doesn't change that he was basically truthful. They will spend the money as they wish, and without regard to what America wants.
I would, too.If you did, then you would access to that money again. A piece I think Willowarbor forgot to mention is that those funds will be spent out over years and years.
Face, your side would rather see these Americans rot in jail for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, Biden found a way to get them out without incentivizing further kidnappings.
The Iranian probably did say that, if he said something different, he would likely be shot.
Did you read the part of her comment that said something to the effect that "no money will flow to Iran or Iranian companies"? Apparently not.
Sorry to say, I have no faith that a terrorist nation can be trusted to keep any deal. Iran is quickly building a nuclear arsenal, as well as supporting terrorists and selling weapons to Russia. And to add to that -- I don't in any respect believe or trust the Boden administration.
Reread the part that if Iran tries any shenanigans that they lose access to the money again. Saying they "lose access" is actually wrong, because they really don't have actual access. They can tell whoever is overseeing the funds where they want the money spent, and the overseerers will spend it there, if it meets the agreed upon rules. If it doesn't, then the money doesn't get spent.
Rather ingenious of Biden if you ask me.
Of course you don't believe or trust Biden administration, even though he has given you no reason to feel that way,
"This agreement has broader implications for U.S.-Iranian relations. It is not as simplistic as having paid a ransom. " - In the MAGA world it is. Have you heard Pence?
I agree with your statement about Biden. It was smart and a good indicator of a quick, analytical mind.
"These forms of ransom payments create an incentive for more kidnappings. Kidnappers see it as a lucrative business, leading to more abductions of innocent individuals, which, in turn, puts more lives at risk in the long run." - And your alternative is?...
After a master class example of great negotiation by President Biden and his team in freeing 5 American hostages from inhumane conditions in Iran, he is receiving the predictable firestorm of hate from the MAGA right as they complain about the hostages being set free.
You know who won't be voting for Trump? Anyone who cared about the hostages.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics … index.html"You know who won't be voting for Trump? Anyone who cared about the hostages."
Those who care about discouraging hostage-taking will be voting for Trump... Just never a good idea to pay terrorists.
Those who care about not providing a rouge Terrorist Nation billions in cash to support their nuclear program, as well as a Nation that is supplying weapons to Russia to fight an unjust war will be voting for Trump.
Oh and, those that care about America will be voting for Trump.
My thoughts, Biden has once again made a huge mistake due to poor decision-making. Hopefully, he is removed with good speed before he completely destroys America."Those who care about not providing a rouge Terrorist Nation billions in cash to support their nuclear program,".
This is not supported in fact or reality.
The money is not Ransom and it is not American tax dollars.
Under the Biden's deal, the U.S. unfreezes US$6 billion in Iranian oil revenue so the Iranian government can purchase humanitarian goods, such as food and medicine. The money was frozen in a restricted South Korean bank account in 2018.
Iran can use the funds only under “strict oversight” of the U.S. Treasury Department.
The Central bank of Qatar will hold and administer the funds.
The following link provides a non-partisan perspective. Predictably, the American mainstream media has portrayed this issue is simply a hostage situation but this move seemingly was done for broader geopolitical considerations.
In terms of encouraging hostage taking, since the 1970s, researchers examining whether ransom payments result in more seizures of hostages have found a mixed picture with contradictory trends. However, a new report released Wednesday showed the number of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad has fallen for the first time in over 10 years.
When did we start making deals with other nations to release Americans? Let's be honest, we always did, remember Reagan's Iranian deal?
https://theconversation.com/ransom-or-r … ran-213442I am well aware that the money was money that was sanctioned by the Trump administration --- The $5.9 billion in cash released to Iran represents money South Korea owed Iran — but had not yet paid — for oil purchased before the U.S. imposed sanctions on such transactions in 2019.
So odd the cash sanctioned for very good reasons "QUOTE
We call on the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions, change its destructive behavior, respect the rights of its people, and return in good faith to the negotiating table."
I just shared my view. I in no respect agree with paying for hostages. It in the long run just promotes more being taken hostage. Plus, this money will be spent as Iran sees fit.Plus, this money will be spent as Iran sees fit.
How? With the provisions set up, with the money being held in a Qatar bank and overseen by the treasury, how will this occur?
The funds aren't going to Iran at all. These funds will be paid to vetted third-party vendors for food, medicine, medical products and agricultural products to go into Iran over a period of years.
Plus, if there is any sort of diversion in the funds the US can decide to lock up the money. The Iranians can request withdrawals or humanitarian purposes only and the US has complete oversight of those funds.
Mainstream media playing the clip of one of the Iranian president claiming they're going to do with the money whatever they want is extremely misleading. Especially when they do not give the viewer all of the terms that were negotiated. Shameful really. Does certain media really believe that I won't look for the rest of the story? Do they think I'm too limited to understand the whole story? Or are they just feeding a base that tunes in for a certain narrative? I think it's a little of each.I appreciate our ongoing dialogue, but I must respectfully stand by my personal convictions regarding the present president and his administration. I have strong reservations about the veracity of any statements made by the current administration. I find myself questioning the motivations behind the financial decisions to give Iran any cash, be it their own or ours... I feel this is a mistake. A mistake made by both Biden and, in retrospect, President Obama. Just another poor decision, that could snowball into a big problem, due to offering a financial incentive for rouge nations to take Americans hostage. It is a weak precedent that now is clearly in place due to Obama, and now Biden.
It comes down to --- I do not trust or believe anything from this White House.I find myself questioning the motivations behind the financial decisions to give Iran any cash
We literally are not giving them cash though. They will not receive any cash whatsoever. At the end of the day, they're going to basically receive food medicine, formula and diapers. I must ask the obvious question, do you believe that the Biden administration is lying about the terms of the agreement?
It is a weak precedent that now is clearly in place due to Obama, and now Biden.
Well for the sake of accuracy, it started with Reagan.
I appreciate the dialogue as well. I'm sure we will agree to disagree on this one (I'm not trying to be argumentative) but I am satisfied with the deal as it saves the lives of American citizens. For me, that takes precedence over anything.
Absolutely nothing will change the behavior of Iranian officials. If they want to take hostages they will. I think it's incumbent upon any American to understand it is not a safe place to travel. I'm appreciative of any president who acts on behalf of our citizens being wrongly held around the world."I must ask the obvious question, do you believe that the Biden administration is lying about the terms of the agreement? "
I find this hard to say, but I do not trust the Biden administration to be honest. I find it odd altogether that our government would pay ransom for hostages. We have done it so infrequently. I have no idea why this deal was done, but I hesitate to believe it was about getting back hostages.Sharlee:
As I understand it that was Iran's money that was frozen as a result of sanctions that were put on them. Biden simply used it as a bargaining chip to bring those people home.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … rcna104616It appears so... I have a lengthy comment on the drawbacks of paying ransom. So bear with me --- These are my views, I realize you may feel differently. I have no problem respecting your view. Hopefully, you can respect I have a right to my view. Again I have gone to good lengths to offer why I feel as I do.
I don't feel paying a ransom will in any way solve the problem, but just adds to more pain for others down the road. It is clear Biden will pay ransoms.
SHARLEE01 WROTE:
Paying ransom for citizens held in rough nations may seem like a tempting option, but it comes with several significant negatives: Paying ransom often ends up financing criminal or terrorist organizations, providing a terrorist Nation with the resources to carry out more kidnappings, more violence, and other illicit activities. Biden's deal may work to perpetuate the cycle of criminality and pose a long-term threat to global security.
These forms of ransom payments create an incentive for more kidnappings. Kidnappers see it as a lucrative business, leading to more abductions of innocent individuals, which, in turn, puts more lives at risk in the long run.
Paying ransom undermines the rule of law and encourages lawlessness. It sends a message that governments are willing to negotiate with criminals, which can embolden criminal groups to engage in more acts of violence and hostage-taking.
Ransom payments enrich the kidnappers, allowing them to expand their operations and become more sophisticated. This can lead to a proliferation of criminal enterprises and terrorist organizations.
Paying ransom can strain diplomatic relations between countries. Governments that pay ransoms may be seen as cooperating with criminal elements or indirectly supporting terrorism, leading to distrust and potential retaliation from other nations.
Some individuals who are released through ransom payments such as prisoner exchange, the criminal may likely return to criminal activities, and pose a danger to society in general.
While the immediate goal of securing the release of hostages is understandable, paying ransom to rough nations carries serious negative consequences that can impact global security and encourage criminal and terrorist activities.
In my view, once again Biden has shown a propensity for weakness and poor decision-making.The republicans are so predictable. When I heard how the deal was coming down. I told my wife, watch the republicans are going to say it was our tax payer money used to pay the ransom. Boy was I right about this one. This is what happens when you only listen to Fox and MAGA news.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics … index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics … index.html
.Sharlee: Republicans are so predictable. I told my wife, watch they are going to try and say it was our tax payer dollars paying a ransom to Iran to free the hostages. Boy was I right about this one. This is what you get when your only source is Fox and MAGA news. Here is the whole story from both the administrations' view point and the republican's view point.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics … index.htmlI will admit I am lost in regard to your comment. I certainly am aware of all that CNN shared in the article you shared. In previous comments on this thread, I shared my view on the deal. In great length. I do not think it was a good idea to free up Iran's oil cash. I think Trump's sanctions should have stood firm. I have shared a lengthy comment on all the whys of it.
I respect you feel it was a good move, a good solution to get back 5 hostages. We have very opposite views on this one.
It's good to be back Scott. I can't let them get away with so much miss-information.
MikeWatch it, you might be banned for saying that, lol.
I gave up long ago trying to reason with someone who simply takes on faith they are right, regardless of what logic and facts are presented to them. They will find a way to vilify the source.
The only reason I do respond its to correct the mis- and disinformation that is offered by presenting the Truth. That kind of information, if left to stand, is corrosive.
So odd the cash sanctioned for very good reasons "QUOTE
We call on the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions, change its destructive behavior, respect the rights of its people, and return in good faith to the negotiating table."
----------
Why should THEY abandon their nuclear ambitions, Israel is a Nuclear power and so are we. The only way is through a carrot of negotiation which Obama was well on the way to achieving until Trump mindlessly and unilaterally disavowed the agreement. No one is prepared to confront Iran militarily, so why all the saber rattling? Do you not think that it is reasonable for Iran to protect itself and provide itself with a deterrent against attacks from Israel?Ho my gosh, this long-played pout conflict is no place for a chat forum. However, you are aware that Iran has openly stated on numerous occasions --- the minute they develop a nuke it will be headed for Israel.
I am aware of the many, many back and forth between these two nations. The majority was provoked by Iran. "Since 2010, Israel has allegedly conducted at least two dozen operations – including assassinations, drone strikes, and cyberattacks – on Iran. Most of the targets were connected to Tehran's controversial nuclear program, which Israel considers an existential threat."
Iran is clearly a Nation that is dangerous not only to Israel, but the world. Their ideologies are well known. And ya know what, the people of Iran live by these ideologies if not believe them forced to abide by them.If I were Iranian, I would consider Israel an existential threat with their unprovoked raids and such. I am not so quick to assign white and black hats in these conflicts. I find aggression from any and all quarters as provocative. Iran is a danger from the aspect of American foreign policy, and I am not always on board with it. Why should Israel have a nuclear deterrent but we say that another country cannot? From where does that arrogance derive? If you are not willing to go to war against them, diplomacy is your only option to restrain their ambitions.
That is my opinion,Who is more likely to use its nukes first, Israel or Iran?
Why allow a very bad actor, one of the worst in history, to have a nuclear capability?
Apparently, it was Europe who helped Israel to build the bomb, we opposed it once we found out.
Would you have said about Russia way back when, why shouldn't they have the bomb?
Also, we don't know for sure if Israel has the bomb. Since they haven't been tried and convicted of it, then they can't be said to be guilty of possessing nuclear weapons.
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publicatio … ar-project
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_w … and_Israel
I wonder how they know they work. I don't recall them doing any testing. Possibly France did the testing for them.True , ESO, it may be most probable that Iran would use its nuclear arsenal first, but who knows what the circumstances would bring forth?
How do you stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear capacity short of using force? Who is willing to go to war with Iran over such an issue? We had an agreement getting Iran to voluntarily restrain itself until Trump in his inane shortsightedness and insane jealousy ripped the agreement apart.
It will be Russia that would be more than happy to lend a hand to Iran to develop a nuclear capacity, just as a counter to the United States.
Secrets like nuclear deterrent would be by the nature and history of armament development not stay secret for long. It was just a matter of time for Russia to develop its own nuclear weapons just to avoid the US hegemony over them.
You cannot get Israel to confirm or deny their possession of a nuclear capacity. I am willing to bet you that they have it.
It has been pointed out that some here do not appreciate lengthy comments --- How in the world does one address such a complicated issue and how I developed my personal view?
--- Israel has historical reasons to defend itself due to several factors: Since its establishment in the late 40s, Israel has faced multiple wars and conflicts with neighboring Arab states that sought its destruction. Arab countries did not, and do not recognize Israel's right to exist, and these hostilities pose existential threats to Israel.
As you know, Israel was created in the aftermath of the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews were systematically murdered. The memory of this genocide, combined with centuries of antisemitism, has made Israelis and Jewish communities around the world acutely aware of the need for self-defense. Israel is located in a region with significant geopolitical instability. The Middle East has been characterized by one conflict after another, territorial disputes, and the rise of militant groups. They have great security concerns that are influenced by this volatile environment.
Israel has experienced a history of terrorism, including attacks from Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These acts of terrorism have led Israel to develop robust security measures and defensive capabilities, out of necessity. Iran has vowed to blow them off the face of the earth.
Regarding the issue of nuclear deterrence, Israel has never officially confirmed or denied possessing nuclear weapons, following a policy of strategic ambiguity. They do not verbally threaten any nation. However, it is widely believed that Israel has a nuclear arsenal.
So yes, they have nukes... In my view, given Israel's small size and the historical threats it has faced, having a credible nuclear deterrent can serve as a last line of defense against potential aggression or existential threats. It may be working to deter hostile states from contemplating an attack on Israel. Israel's neighbors, including some hostile ones, have pursued or developed nuclear capabilities. Having a nuclear deterrent can be seen as a way to maintain a strategic balance in the region. The Middle East is characterized by ongoing conflicts and instability. The presence of a nuclear deterrent can act as a stabilizing factor by discouraging sudden escalations or reckless actions by regional actors. But, should any nation threaten that the moment they get nuclear capability will blow another away?
Hey, I do not trust Iran and feel there is no more dangerous war than a war on religion. I mean they do not like Christians or Jews... They have made that very clear. I don't look at it as arrogance, I look at Israel as a peaceful nation, that is not threatening to use nukes on neighbors. They are using nukes to deter wars.Yes, indeed, I am aware of the conflicts in that region of the world going on for over 75 years.
I distrust U.S foreign policy more than I distrust Iran.
U.S. foreign policy has been primarily self serving, while it claims a status of pursuing human rights and global parity in the world.
The policy has been against developing and third world nations.
It has been in favor of promoting wealth gathering by American multinationals with their dollars corrupting those governments and exploiting the people and resources. There are plenty of examples of this, so I won't belabor the point here unless you ask.
If you allowed American multinationals to rape and pillage your society with the host Government in support, you became a member of the "free world" eligible to receive American foreign aid for "playing along".
If you put a stop to it as Castro did in 1959, resisting American economic imperialism, you are embargoed and forced to be relegated to the "Communist Block". It is rare that our foreign policy was not somehow an instigator in so many international problems today.
I wrote a graduate thesis paper back in 1976 where I was showing the pro-Israel bias in the typical American High School school textbook. Very Ancient, done with a manual Olivetti typewriter on onion skin with plenty of "white out", what a mess!!
All of books had biases very similar to the "Cowboys and Indians" fables of the Old West. I was called anti-Semitic by classmates based on my material. But, you don't need to be anti-Semitic to oppose Israel's role in the conflicts and have a problem with its government and foreign policy. All of this was in the midst of "Black September" politics of the mid 1970s.
Obama's 2015 agreement met my definition of fairness, instead of rattling sabres, we offered a solution where all parties could benefit.As a native of the oldest colony in the world...What HE said!
I am really surprised to hear you say that, Credence, especially given what a vile state Iran is. Isn't all foreign policy supposed to be self-serving? Isn't that the point of it?
I will not defend a lot of American foreign policy, because it has had many failures. But, it has also had many great successes, sometimes even altruistic ones.
Likewise, America, as a notion, has often had a terrible history; MAGA is trying to have another one. But our nations goals are lofty, although hard to attain.
The two most egregious things we have done in our history, IMO, is the genocide against Native Americans and the long-term enslavement of African Americans. A third is more current, the slipping backwards in the area of human rights in this country, especially against, you guessed it, Black Americans.
But in striving to be better we have done great things as well; although conservatives will probably disagree, fighting the Civil War to keep America united, the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments. Supreme Court rulings to get rid of Plessy and Scott and to give women the right to chose while making it clear that EVERY American has a right to privacy, not just those who live in states that says its OK.
As I said, we are backsliding under the cancer called MAGA. The national right to privacy is gone. The Conservatives are eroding, once again, what the 14th and 15th amendments. (Thankfully, they haven't set their sights on the 19th yet.) The point is we try to do good even though we get demagogues like Trump who take us in the other direction temporarily.
The same with most of our foreign policy. I disagree that we slip it to the third world. I don't know of a nation who has done more to try to lift up the third world (at least while non-MAGA hold the presidency. I put it like that because, in spite of the Ugly American in Eisenhower's times, he did try to do a credible job. All Democratic presidents did, and even Republican's like Nixon and Ford took a stab at it.
Obviously, treating Japan the way we did, as opposed to doing what most conquerors do, we brought them back into the world order and now they are one of our strongest allies. Ditto, the Marshall Plan was a crowning achievement in foreign policy. It bought us peace with Europe for 80 years now and we still have each other's backs most of the time (save for the four years of Trump).
Iran is a terrorists nation, no better than the likes of North Korea, Russia, or China. They deserve no benefit of the doubt. Occasionally, they do the right thing (kicking and screaming) such as entering in the nuclear deal. It is too bad Trump killed it and now the world is in more danger than it ever was.
All in all, I think American foreign policy gets it right more often than it gets it wrong.Thanks! Enlightening! Booked marked for later.
I think one of the things this country does wrong as far as foreign policy goes is it tries to democratize theocratic nations.. Look at what we did in Iraq and Afghanistan all in the name of democracy.. For the most part, their governing document is the Koran, not the constitution.
Yes, "nation building" that seems to our adversaries an excuse to make incursions into other countries while putting a palatable label upon it.
I must note that Iraq was a brutal dictatorship, and not a theocracy. Iran, on the other hand, is both.
What Bush started to do was fine and effective, but he carried it way to far when he unnecessarily invaded. A really dumb maneuver.
Bush was also mostly responsible for the debacle in Afghanistan. In his desire to put Hussain into the ground, he took his eye off the ball which was ensuring the al Qaeda were neutralized. He simply abandoned Afghanistan and left to to flounder, much the same way Clinton did to Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed - another foreign policy blunder.The only justifiable war was that on alQaeda for the 9-11 attacks, anything beyond that was unjustified aggression against a sovereign state. But we can get into bed with Saudi Arabia because we are economically connected, even though most of the 9-11 attackers were Saudi? Can you imagine a place where one can receive the death penalty for something he or she post on the internet? What has happened to the concept of human rights? is it just selectively applied in reality?
Well, ESO, I confess, that I am a bit more of "a dove" than you are but I recognize that an eagle has to flash its talons every now and then.
Self serving is what everyone does, when it may not be the best solution. China, Russia and Iran are self serving, how are we any more noble than they?
Those egregious events and their perpetrators did not take a different tack as to how they conducted foreign policy abroad. The same avariciousness and racism had to be part and parcel.
There have been shining moments: Lincoln's second inaugural address, the Berlin Airlift, and our graciousness toward the defeated Japan. And I am sure that there were many more. I would not refer to these shining moments as defining American foreign policy in general.
The changes in our foreign policy from the stark racism and colonialism correlates with amelioration on the domestic front, which I like to think were actually changes rather than just mere accommodation for public consumption. Much of that correlates with the rise of mass media, when hypocrisy and double standards become more difficult to conceal.
If one man and one movement can so easily change a course of progress over several decades, I have to wonder if there has really been change or just mere toleration and accommodation.
In preserving and advancing Western Civilization, the United States has been a champion.
Yes, tyrannical regimes are to be found everywhere. But even Iran was brought to the negotiating table with the right kinds of diplomacy. I believe that we could have avoided problems with it. No, Russia nor China do not deserve the benefit of the doubt, but they are world powers as are we and we are going to have to figure how to coexist peacefully regardless. Military power has its limits....
I have a more "mixed" attitude about American foreign policy, as I am still vexed about The South African policy of "constructive engagement" from the Reagan Administration during the apartheid period.The shift, began with the fall of the USSR.
The unexpected and unforseen consequence of global trade and a world somewhat under the rule of America.
Nations across the globe developed, traded their goods and materials, China grew, Russia grew... but they don't want to remain subject to or subjugated by America.
These nations don't want to exist merely to enrich the Western elites, or bring to existence the NWO.
All that aside, understand our currency and our economy is faltering. How in the past have such economic failings resolved themselves?
How much longer can DC continue to spend trillions of dollars that it does not have per year, before it collapses?
Right now Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc. etc. are preparing and uniting for just that.
Biden's Administration has merely hastened this downfall, on all fronts, foreign and domestic.We agree on one thing, Ken, the struggle remains between the have and have nots. I don't see my opponents or nemesis as doing nothing more than to make that divide just that much greater.
No one want to be subject or subjected to the whim of a foreign power. So, I am naturally going to expect pushback against American world hegemony.
I don't see Biden as any more complicit in the decline of our economic status, than the contribution of previous administrations and Congresses. I will not assign all the Blame to Biden, when it all does not belong there, except in those circles of FoX and Brietbart News.One can judge each Administration for its deeds, some are better defined with hindsight than others.
It has been a long road in getting us here, when did the key event occur that actually began our road to this point in time?
When Kennedy was shot?
When Nixxon took us off the Gold Standard?
When we allowed the Khomeini's overthrow of Iran?
When the USSR collapsed?
When we decided to start overthrowing nations at a whim?
(Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya)
The country has been on this road for a long time now, but that does not absolve this Administration for taking everything possible to worse levels than before.
Border/Migration it is "worse" because it is deliberate, it is a conscious effort to aid millions of migrants, through a variety of efforts and Biden has stated repeatedly this IS his doing.
Foreign Warmongering, previous Administrations at least stuck to third world nations that were no real threat to American/Civilization's continued existence. This Administration is earnestly trying to provoke Russia into WWIII.
Choosing to involve ourselves in a 'border-dispute' between two 'nations' that have an intwined history longer than America has existed as a nation.
Involving ourselves is a choice, supplying them with the missiles that are now reigning down on Russia is a choice, and lets be damned clear about it, bombing Moscow and Sevastopol deserves far more retaliation than anything Russia has yet done.
Inflation...? The worst in decades.
Foreign relations with other nations other than Russia/Ukraine?
The worst in decades.
There is nothing this Administration has done that is "good"... it has done a lot to divide Americans, make life harder for Americans, and put America further in debt that can never be paid back, without war or economic collapse... or both."This Administration is earnestly trying to provoke Russia into WWIII."
It is as I mentioned earlier, we agree primarily on one thing.
I wanted a non right wing biased assessment of Biden and his administration. Bloomberg is not known as a leftist source of business information.
The results are mixed but hardly the gloom and doom portrayed by Republicans, Rightwingers etc. the truth that certainly cannot be expected from them. I will believe a more balanced assessment.
I will find another impartial source that will discuss Biden foreign policy to challenge the accusations you have made here against the administration.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023 … in-office/You can look for something to sooth your conscience.
We are marching to WWIII, everything I said that would bring us to it is occurring, there is no desire by Biden or this Administration to deter it.
My only misjudgment, miscalculation, was the timing of it.
I should have known that it would coincide with the nearness of the 2024 election.
Biden agrees to send long-range missiles to Ukraine (Yesterday)
https://news.yahoo.com/biden-agrees-sen … 14112.html
Sergey Lavrov says US is 'directly at war' with Russia in horrifying escalation of threat
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/se … -AA1h9PPT?
Understand this.
Russia (those running the country and most of its citizens) blame America for this, as much as they blame Ukraine.
Every missile that hits Sevastopol, every drone attack that reaches Moscow, is one more reminder of how this is America's war to Russians.
Every Russian knows there would be no war with Ukraine right now if not for America's interference (and lesser efforts by the UK and some NATO nations).
A couple months back Henry Kissinger reflected on “How to Avoid Another World War.”
In 1914, “The nations of Europe, insufficiently familiar with how technology had enhanced their respective military forces, proceeded to inflict unprecedented devastation on one another.”
Then, after two years of industrialized slaughter, “the principal combatants in the West (Britain, France and Germany) began to explore prospects for ending the carnage.” Even with US intermediation, the effort failed.
Kissinger posed an important question: “Does the world today find itself at a comparable turning point [like the opportunity for peace in 1916] in Ukraine as winter imposes a pause on large-scale military operations there?”
The answer, obviously, is yes it does. Unfortunately, we have a President that has said no compromise, no negotiating, no peace.
That is not hyperbolic nonsense, that is what he has stated. Biden has demanded Crimea (part of the Russian Republic since 2014) be given over to Ukraine, as well as all the other parts of Ukraine that have since seceded and joined Russia.
This is never going to happen, until Moscow itself falls.
That requires WWIII... it always did.
That was as obvious to some of us nearly two years ago, as it is today.
[The article you linked is 6 months old and is a rosy picture at best]"
“Now the family tree goes like this,” the man on the tape extolled confidently. “John John and…Trump are cousins. And Trump’s uncle is JFK Sr., and Joe Kennedy, who is also not dead…. And Trump’s father is General George Patton, and his brother is Mussolini…”"
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/23/us/qanon … index.html"My only misjudgment, miscalculation, was the timing of it."
------
Ken, can you acknowledge that you could well have made other mistakes and while you would consider Bloomberg's report rosy, why would I not believe that your assessment is that of an overly pessimistic picture?
Maybe we should bring Trump back according to "Art of the Deal"? He would have Putin eating out from his hand within 24 hours..,
.... I like that one. And it is true, one cannot paint my projection(s) of where the Ukraine war is headed as anything but pessimistic.
There is no reason to have optimism, when Biden has flatly stated, since before the conflict escalated 578 days ago, there will be no compromise, there will be no negotiation, Crimea, which is part of the Russian Republic, must be turned over to Ukraine.
So long as Biden's Administration is at the helm, there is only one direction this conflict can go. Now that Ukraine has churned through its own army, with hundreds of thousands dead or crippled, America is now giving them long ranged missiles to reach any target within Russia.
This will facilitate Russia eventually escalating as well.
We have an Administration that wants to escalate this war, so I have no reason to be other than pessimistic.
As for other things, like the migration escalation, inflation and other economic woes, there is also little reason to be optimistic about any of it.
I am aware only that Biden is making all these issues worse, I cannot say whether Trump or anyone else could make them better.
It is hard for me to imagine anyone doing worse... but then again... Harris could be in charge, so I might be in for a rude awakening.Oh my gosh, she is starting to wear pant suits and acting more serious. Is she gearing up for a position of power in the land?
And when she becomes un-voted in, she will make herself appear to be powerful, because I think she is a pretty good actor. (No one in her position can trully be as silly as she acts.)
But in reality of course, she will be the puppet of those who have taken the power. However, these must be de-throned or we will have them all as dictators. (well, that may already be the case.) There is only one man for the job and that is Super Trump.
Sorry.
"There is no reason to have optimism, when Biden has flatly stated, since before the conflict escalated 578 days ago, there will be no compromise, there will be no negotiation, Crimea, which is part of the Russian Republic, must be turned over to Ukraine." - FIRST, that is not true. SECOND, it is nice to know if I stole 1/2 your land, you would let me keep it all as you want Ukraine to do, lol.
Biden is doing a magnificent job.Apparently, you have not read WAPO/ABC polls today --- If you truly feel "Biden is doing a magnificent job" you are in a very small minority.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trouble … =103436611
You might want to reassess your perspective on Biden's job performance. A majority of Americans believe that his leadership has set the nation on a collision course. In my opinion, it will require a substantial amount of time to address and rectify the damage that many perceive his administration has caused for the county.Thank you Sharlee. Biden is doing a horrific job. Illegals are flooding America, taxing resources to the hilt. In my city, illegals are using resources that our homeless could use. The illegals need to be sent back to their original countries. America cannot afford to support others. It is hard enough to support our own. One thing about Trump, he was for America & Americans first.
My extreme liberal cousin even stated that Biden is doing a F minus job as president. Well, I told her she voted for him. I knew Biden was trouble as I knew Eric Adams was trouble. What America needs is some businessperson who is a strong, pragmatic law & order person. We need businesspeople to run this country, not lifetime politicos. We need some grassroots people who are in reality to be in politics.Biden is doing an Amazing job. For some unknown reason some people think poll numbers reflect Truth and Reality. They often do not. So both can be true, Biden has horrible poll numbers while doing an objectively fantastic job.
You elected a "business person" and look where that got us - an America that went down the tubes and an extra few hundred thousand dead people because of terrible Covid policies (save for Operation Warp Speed)If you contend that Biden is doing such an excellent job, there is a $4.00 mansion in Beverly Hills containing 46 rooms including 10 bathrooms and 9 bedrooms on sale. I would like to add that there is a New York 2 story duplex apartment on Sutton Place which costs $800 month for sale.
Not sure what you are driving at. Studies do show however, that those who have joined the Trump Cult have had their brains rewired by his demagoguery rhetoric to such an extent they can no longer discern truth from fantasy.
I hadn't read this one yet, but at least in the beginning it explains a lot about why MAGA are MAGA - https://www.politico.com/magazine/story … gy-213444/
But this is the one to which I was referring - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ … s-00108378
I do feel sorry for those captured in Trump's web of lies and hope they don't drink the Trump version of Jim Jones' Kool-Aid.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ … s-00108378
Even Stephen Hawking thinks Trump is a demagogue (something our founding fathers feared very much)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvMtLQ7OwzM
Sorry, my statement is most certainly true.
Statement by President Biden on the Anniversary of Russia’s Illegal Invasion of Ukraine - Feb 2021
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … f-ukraine/
"The United States does not and will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula, and we will stand with Ukraine against Russia’s aggressive acts. "
This is well known around the world, Biden's stance that he supports Ukraine doing whatever it takes, to take Crimea from Russia, and his unwillingness to compromise or negotiate on any points Russia has stated are of serious concern to them.
Biden Says U.S. Will 'Never' Accept 'Aggressive' Russia's Crimea Annexation
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/02/ … ion-a73092
Biden: 'We don't recognize Russia's actions in Crimea' - 9 years ago'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpSrhDUDKHk
No compromise.
No negotiation.
Just Escalation. So long as Biden is running the show, this war will continue to escalate, until it goes out of control and we all pay a horrible price.How did you grow "The United States does not and will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula, " (a perfectly reasonable thing to say) into "there will be no compromise, there will be no negotiation, Crimea, which is part of the Russian Republic, must be turned over to Ukraine."??
"to take Crimea from Russia" - Are you one of those that says Crimea actually belongs to Russia??? That it was Ukraine who violently annexed Crimea from Russia? Is that were all of this is coming from?How many links and quotes do you need?
Do you need the one where Biden stated he wants Putin overthrown?
Mar 28, 2022 ... On Saturday, Biden ended a widely watched speech in Poland by saying of Putin, “For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power.”
https://nypost.com/2022/03/28/biden-con … overthrow/
Or the one where Biden said there will be no compromise, how far back do you need me to go?
Dec 9, 2015 ... Let me be crystal clear: The United States does not, will not, never will recognize Russia's attempt to annex the Crimea.
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/th … inian-rada
The US likes to say that NATO is a purely defensive alliance, but Russia, China and others think otherwise. The NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, NATO forces in Afghanistan for 20 years after 9/11, and the NATO bombing of Libya in 2011, which toppled Moammar Gadhafi, and now this.
Many countries, certainly including China, will not back global pressures on Russia that could lead to NATO expansion. The rest of the world wants peace, not a victory by the United States or NATO in a proxy war with Russia.
This war is being pushed by the Biden Administration, the EU and UK to lesser degrees as well. They aren't going to get their way, unless and until they directly engage Russia in war.
Hundreds of thousands have died, because of an unwillingness to negotiate and an arrogance to inject ourselves into what is practically a family dispute between Ukraine and Russia. Which I have expounded on and explained many times before.
Russia is never giving up Crimea to anyone, Russia is never going to accept Ukraine as part of NATO, and so long as we have an Administration that demands that Russia accept both those things... which the Biden Administration DOES demand... there can only be an escalation to WWIII.
For the sake of humanity the Biden Administration must be removed, if he hasn't already gotten Americans into WWIII, come November 2024.They all say the same thing - basically, the US supports Ukraine's effort to reclaim what was taken from them.
NONE of the say " "there will be no compromise, there will be no negotiation, Crimea, which is part of the Russian Republic, must be turned over to Ukraine."??" (I can't believe you used the Moscow Times, for god's sake).
And where did Biden say that America needs to take out Putin, or Ukraine take out Putin, or ANYBODY take out Putin. He was expressing his moral outrage at an animal.
You seem to be making that up to fit your conspiracy theories.
I see you are taking Russia, China, and so-called "others" side regarding NATO, which has never started a war like your friends Russia and China. Yes, they participated in wars OTHERS started, but they have invaded no
one.
BTW, NATO has expanded - all because of Putin, the idiot.
For the sake of humanity, Trump needs to go to jail.I fail to see how quoting Biden and giving links to articles is "making stuff up to fit conspiracy theories"
Here is some current good reading, for those who want to read some facts and opinions on where this is headed:
Ukraine’s counteroffensive is increasingly aimed at ginning up greater levels of U.S. backing.
https://americanmind.org/salvo/for-western-eyes-only/
The conflict must be understood primarily as, somewhat paradoxically, a Russian defensive war. This is not intended to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine; rather, it is an honest appraisal of events as they currently stand. Any other goal stated by Moscow at the beginning of its operations has either been jettisoned as strategically infeasible due to fierce Ukrainian resistance or was proposed solely with the intention of affecting Kiev’s decision-making calculus at the negotiating table. The Kremlin’s overriding imperative is holding major territory in the four eastern oblasts that provide Russia with its land bridge to Crimea.
Even if Russian forces are sustaining a higher level of attrition in terms of both casualties and materiel—which is by no means clear at this point—its military industrial capacity, along with the sheer number of men who can be mobilized, gives Moscow an advantage. On the other hand, Kiev’s political goals as currently stated are, at the very least, the total recapture of all Russian-held territory that corresponds to the 1991 borders. Indeed, it appears that these extremely ambitious ends have only expanded in recent months.
For Ukraine and its supporters, the war has increasingly become equated with an ethnic struggle against a foreign “Muscovite” invader that must have its leadership wiped out to ensure peace. Dmytro Natalukha, Chair of the Committee for Economic Affairs of the Parliament of Ukraine and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, argued as much in a recent issue of Foreign Affairs: after the recapture of all Russian-held territory, Western leaders should be expected to install a puppet government in Moscow so that “post-Putin Russia will have the consent of Ukraine.” Such a scenario would require the invasion of Russia and the total collapse of its armed forces—in other words, a large-scale coalition war in which tens of millions would perish.
-- end quote
It is a very good read, it details the thinking and politicking going on now to lead us into WWIII.First - about your unreasonable WW III fear - IF IT HAPPENS, it is going to happen if and when Putin is crazy enough to push the button. Nothing we (with one exception) or anybody else does or doesn't do will influence his decision. We just have to be ready to respond. There is only one way to hasten its occurrence and that is to nuke him first, which of course only Trump would be stupid enough to do.
Statements like "Ukraine’s counteroffensive is increasingly aimed at ginning up greater levels of U.S. backing." are so ludicrous, I can only laugh and then not pay attention.
Or statements like this "The conflict must be understood primarily as, somewhat paradoxically, a Russian defensive war. " deserves only a ROFL response. There are enough statements by crazy Putin about wanting to put back together the old Soviet Union.
"the total recapture of all Russian-held territory that corresponds to the 1991 borders. " - Again Absurd. Ukraine was part of Russia in 1901. Ukraine became an independent nation in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. THOSE are the borders they want to restore.
Your quote is from a member of their legislature, NOT ANYONE with the capacity to speak for Ukraine. Some members of the MAGA Republicans want to defund the FBI and DOJ, but that is not the official position of the Republican Party yet.That article speaks exactly to mindsets as shown in your statement "There are enough statements by crazy Putin about wanting to put back together the old Soviet Union." this is the goal of the warmongers trying to lead America into WWIII.
And as the article stated, Putin has no such goals, Putin also has no such capability, and Putin knows that would be WWIII which he is attempting to avoid, while protecting Russian interests.
America doesn't belong fighting a war on the Russian border, to take territory from the Russian Republic, it is as simple as that. America and the EU are paying a heavy price for this, economically today, with worse to be paid in blood tomorrow, if Biden has his way.I don't understand why you are such a friend to Russia, but having said that, that is your right as an American (but a Russian couldn't hold your view about America and live to tell about it.)
I am a friend, and concerned citizen, of America.
Therefore, I assess the cost of the current war against Russia, and I consider where the Biden Administration would like to take this war.
The cost to try and pry Crimea from the Russian Republic is already far too high IMO. Hundreds of thousands have already died, hundreds of thousands more are crippled.
The decision to push for and support Ukraine's effort to take Crimea was WRONG for AMERICA. We should have never funded it, or otherwise instilled in Zelensky the belief that we would support it.
We should have told Zelensky to accept the Minsk Agreement or Ukraine is on its own.
The Biden Administration wanted this war, it refused to negotiate, it refuses to accept Crimea as part of the Russian Republic, it refuses to say that NATO will not allow Ukraine entry.
That simple, the Biden Administration has decided that Crimea will be taken from Russia and that Ukraine will be part of NATO.
Biden has chosen, therefore, the path to WWIII.It certainly doesn't sound like it given your whole theme is to give Russia what it wants even though doing so will be against America's national security interests.
For example, when you use words like "taken from Russia" when you obviously know the Crimea does not belong to Russia, one can only assume you are a friend to Russia.
Another example, when you offer disinformation such as "The Biden Administration wanted this war, it refused to negotiate", when it is clear to the world it was Putin who would not negotiate and Putin who wanted this war he started, one can only assume you are a friend to Russia, not America.
"China, Russia and Iran are self serving, how are we any more noble than they?" - To me, the difference is stark and obvious. Those three are murderous dictatorial without one socially redeeming feature. Are you saying that is how you view America?
" The same avariciousness and racism had to be part and parcel" - Again, I have to ask if you consider the Marshall Plan, just to pick one easily remembered event, having those characteristics? A much more current example is what we are doing and will do. for Ukraine.
There are no doubt many periods like the Reagan Doctrine (a conservative, mind you) you mention. But, I don't think that defines America. Instead, I think it can speak volumes about which political philosophy controlled the White House.ESO, this is much as how I see it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._po … overnments
Plenty of examples there to make a point. I will share an account with you regarding a visit to New York City by Fidel Castro in 1959 about the time he overthrew the Batista regime in Cuba. He visited Harlem to the cheers of thousands of Black residents. The white police officers were annoyed as to the adulation Castro was receiving from Blacks. But Blacks were saying, "Man, Fidel is the most", anyone with the gall to "stick it to the man" was a winner in their book. The point is WE have always seen things from a different perspective. Much of the time, you have to be amongst those on the outside to appreciate the views of those on the outside. Obama got it right with Cuba as well in his attempt to put an end to its pariah status, ending an unproductive 60 year pi$$ing contest.
Is America all bad? Of course not, but it is not all good either. I would not want to live in Russia, China, or Iran. I prefer the U.S., while certainly not perfect from my perspective, it is the least offensive.
I wanted to share this Salon article that came out today, that speaks on the persistence of American foreign policy over many decades and several presidents. I was thinking about you as I read it.
https://www.salon.com/2023/09/24/joe-bi … c-mistake/
We are both staunch allies in this struggle to get people to see what should be in plain site, but we still have our differences in an area or two.
Well said.
This continues today. This Administration pursues it with gusto.
If one grasps what is going on with our economy, with our fiat currency, and one understands how BRICS and other nations are now trying to work together to get out from under the yoke of the Dollar and American interference... then one can understand why this Administration is walking us into WWIII.
It is always about the elite maintaining control, the corporations and banks they own maintaining/growing their wealth.
In today's information age it has become very hard to hide this truth, it is too easy to find facts, watch real videos made by people on the scene, whether it be in Crimea, or at the Border, or Israel or Iran."It is always about the elite maintaining control, the corporations and banks they own maintaining/growing their wealth."
---------
You can say that again, and you can bet that people and entire nations are mere pawns on the chessboard in the face of challenging that kind of control and power.
Cred
"I distrust U.S. foreign policy more than I distrust Iran."
I can't agree with that Cred... Iran has more than proven itself to be a very destructive nation, in so many ways.
"U.S. foreign policy has been primarily self-serving, while it claims a status of pursuing human rights and global parity in the world."
I totally agree --- all talk no action.
"The policy has been against developing and third world nations."
Agree, and very obvious. However, do we need to be the world's savior? Just Google the aid we give to third-world nations. It appears we do more than most nations.
"It has been in favor of promoting wealth gathering by American multinationals with their dollars corrupting those governments and exploiting the people and resources. There are plenty of examples of this, so I won't belabor the point here unless you ask."
If America did not accumulate wealth could we have the quality of life most enjoy here in America? Yes, we have people who live in poverty and are homeless, and this number has severely risen. We have jobs we can't fill... And in my view, this would not be the time to over-tax the rich. It would cause more jobless and a higher cost of living for all. Right now, today, we need to do a balancing act to try to rebuild a lagging economy. I don't think it is timely to play the push-and-shove game.
"If you put a stop to it as Castro did in 1959, resisting American economic imperialism, you are embargoed and forced to be relegated to the "Communist Block".
It is rare that our foreign policy was not somehow an instigator in so many international problems today." I would need to write a book to respond to this... (many here are discouraging lengthy comments) This subject requires a very lengthy historical retort.
"Obama's 2015 agreement met my definition of fairness, instead of rattling sabres, we offered a solution where all parties could benefit."
I totally agree ...
SharYes, Sharlee, I am not a friend of Iran, but the world is full of "destructive places".
No, we do not need to be global cop. But, what is it that we demand in return from these nations for our aid? Are they ask to surrender so much of their sovereignty? Not to support of align with nations that we have issues with? Or perhaps accommodate our multinationals who take liberties with less stringent regulations in regards to labor arrangements and contribute to environmental degradation that would never be tolerated in developed countries?
There is nothing wrong with accumulating wealth, but was it obtained ethically, honestly or fairly? That is the question that I ask. Much of the instigating could well have occurred in the past, but when you follow the dots....
You go right ahead and write your book, it will be a best seller on my list. I revel in the debate and the exchange of ideas. These are complicated issues that cannot always be addressed with curt responses.
Some people on this forum keep pointing to Biden's misremembered or embellished stories as as sign that he is a liar our becoming demented. Well, if he is, so are you. As it turns out all people, to one degree or another, frequently do exactly what Biden is doing; and that includes those here who criticize him for it.
Ask yourself without looking for the answer, just rely on your memory. When and where did Nelson Mandela die? Does Mr. Monopoly wear a monocle? If you answered 1) While he was in jail or 2) Yes - then you would be wrong.
Nelson Mandela died in 2013 after serving as leader of South Africa. But, it is a widely held belief he died in jail. And, no, Mr. Monopoly does not wear a monocle, he never has although most people, including myself, would swear he does.
This misremembering of things has a name - the Mandela Effect (the article will tell you why). Scientists know this phenomenon exists and his ubiquitous. But, they can't tell you why. Nevertheless, it is a thing.
My guess is that is what Biden is experiencing for most of his "memories" like teaching at college or the encounter with the Amtrak conductor. After reading this article, a lot of things makes sense now. (It doesn't answer the question as to why his handlers can't get him to stop telling those embellished stories.
https://theconversation.com/new-study-s … ies-188269While it is a very long way out for the 2024 election, it is not going very well for Donald Trump in New Hampshire.
"About 6 in 10 New Hampshire residents, 62%, say they would be dissatisfied or worse if Trump retook the presidency – with most, 56%, expressing outright anger at the prospect. Biden doesn't do very well either. A 56% majority say they’d be dissatisfied or worse if Biden won reelection, but fewer, 38%, say they’d be angry. About one-fifth say they’d be less than satisfied with either scenario. - Polls consistently show that Biden wins hands down among that group if it were a Biden-Trump match-up.
But in a head-to-head matchup between Biden and Trump, a narrow majority, 52%, of potential 2024 voters in the state say they’d back Biden, with 40% favoring Trump and 8% unsure or saying they would back someone else. That’s a wider edge for Biden than in most recent national polling on the matchup, which has largely found a margin-of-error contest between the two most recent occupants of the White House.
There’s also little consensus that any of those challenging Biden or Trump for their party’s nominations would be a good choice. Nearly half, 48%, say they’d be dissatisfied or angry if South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott were to win the presidency next year, with the numbers going up from there. Majorities say they’d be unhappy with a win by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (57%), tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (62%), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (63%), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (72%) or former Vice President Mike Pence (76%). On the Democratic side, most also say they’d be unhappy with a win by author Marianne Williamson (56%) or environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (59%). THEY really don't like Christie, lol.
Biden’s edge in a New Hampshire rematch of 2020 rests partly on stronger support among his own partisans: 94% of Democrats currently say they’d back him against Trump, while 79% of Republicans in the state now say they’d support Trump. Yet Democrats are less enthusiastic about the prospect of a Biden presidency than Republicans are about a Trump one. Few Democrats in the state are outright discontented with the thought of a second Biden term – about 8 in 10 say they’d be satisfied to see him reelected. But just 31% report that they’re enthusiastic about the prospect, with that number falling to 19% among Democrats younger than age 50. Among Republicans, by contrast, 53% say they would be enthusiastic about a Trump win.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/politics … index.htmlReally strange Biden-Trump poll results. I thought I would look at some recent results and then look at a couple of poll demographics. The results are all over the map. The first number is all strong they lean in a certain direction with '+' being Democratic. The second "number" is their rating as a poll by 538, and the last number is the last head-to-head result.
Morning Consult: +3.1; B-; B+1
ABC News/Wash Post: +.8; A; T-10 (I bet that got them looking at their sampling method)
NBC News: +.8; B; Tie
HarrisX: -1; A; T-5
Emerson: +.3; A-; Tie
Yahoo News: +.8; B; Tie
CBS News: +.3; A-; T-1
Harvard Harris: +.1; B/C; T-4
Rasmussen: -1.4; B; B+1
You Gov: +.8; B; B+1
Fox News: +1.4; A; T-2
Quinnipiac: +.6; A-; B+1
As I said, all over the map but nevertheless Trump inexplicably has the edge.Nationally, Biden and Trump are within the margin of error of each other with Trump currently up 1.5, So, I thought I would take a look at the Battleground states.
NH - Biden +12
PA - Biden +2 with 8% undecided
MI - Biden +3 with 11% undecided
AZ - Trump +2 with 12% undecided
NV - Biden +3 with 13% undecided
WI - Biden +9 with 5% undecided
GA - Trump +1 with 17% undecided
NC - Trump +1 with 19% undecided
MN - Trump +3 with 13% undecided
The undecided are crucial because other polling suggests they will break heavily in Biden's favor. A good chunk of the undecided do not like either candidate, but when forced to decide, most say they will go with Biden. Another chunk are Republicans who don't like Trump. They will vote for Biden, as they did in 2020, vote for a different person altogether, or sit out the election.
This is why many on the Left feel pretty confident Biden will win in spite of the national neck-and-neck polling and Biden's terrible favorability numbers.
https://www.270towin.com/2024-president … ion-polls/ESO, this article is a bit long but certainly makes many of the points that you are referencing to.
https://www.salon.com/2023/09/30/leftis … ndulgence/Yes, it was long and I'll have to reread it a few times - he was all over the map and sort of disjointed. There are some things in there I agree with and some things I don't. I did like the Copovitch(sp) chart, however.
He does have one thing right, I believe, "gradualism" is better than "revolution", you get more done.
The Sep 29, right-leaning Rasmussen poll has Biden's approval rating at 49% approve and 49% disapprove. And you said it couldn't be done, lol.
Rasmussen - " for Friday shows that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Biden’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%)
disapprove.
The latest posted figures include 27% who Strongly Approve of the job Biden is doing and 42% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14. https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public … eptember29
Rasmussen presents daily reports.
YouGov
40% Approve
55% Disapprove
Morning Consult
40% Approve
52% Disaporve
Sep. 22-26
1,000LV
McLaughlin & Associates
42% Approve
54% disapprove
New NBC polls show some very troubling polls for Biden, pretty much mimicking ABC/WAPO which were really very bad.
Biden’s disapproval rating reaches new high
Meanwhile, Biden’s job rating among registered voters stands at 41% approve and 56% disapprove — the highest disapproval rating of his presidency.
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/ … rcna111347It's stunning he can still have 40%... maybe after taxes hit next year, now that Trump's tax breaks have expired, it will sink below 40%... or maybe when gas creeps up over $7.
Just goes to show how impressionable people are, some of them, so long as the MSM continues to praise him and laud what he has done, gullible people all over the country will probably believe it.Ken
The 40% approval rating of President Biden raises questions. Could it be influenced by the negative portrayal of Trump by media outlets like CNN and MSM? Perhaps some respondents feel compelled to align with their political affiliations when polled. In my opinion, there are individuals who remain uninformed about the facts.
I believe more people are becoming aware of the economic challenges caused by Biden. They are being told that everything is going well, similar to what Trump claimed during his presidency. However, under Trump, we experienced lower costs for various goods and services. Under Biden, people are feeling the strain on their finances, resorting to borrowing for daily expenses. Using a credit card was convenient during the Trump era, but now it often becomes a necessity.
When Trump's tax policies expire, we can anticipate increased financial burdens on many if the Democrats maintain control. This could lead to more hardships for the poor and middle class. The current state of affairs appears to be business as usual but with more severe consequences. Some people seem unusually susceptible to manipulation, and I find this trend concerning, especially when individuals unquestioningly believe what they're told.
The question arises: will more Americans awaken to the realization that they've been misled? I believe they will, especially if the economy continues to struggle and if oil companies and OPEC exert additional pressure, leading to even higher prices and job losses. Additionally, there may come a time when Americans question supporting overseas conflicts while grappling with economic challenges at home—a potentially precarious situation. Ultimately, the extent of change depends on how much hardship Americans are willing to endure. It's worth noting that many are currently unwilling to acknowledge their current difficulties, which is somewhat ironic.I agree that CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, The Hill, Politico, The Guardian, etc, etc, report negative things about Trump.
Could it be that there is nothing Positive to report? (I remember them giving him credit for Operation Warp Speed, the only positive I can think of.
The way I interpret your criticism is that if there is nothing good to report about Trump and only negative, then they shouldn't report at all.
BTW, why didn't Trump make the individual tax rates permanent like he did the corporate?
I suspect Congress will keep the lower tax rates for the middle income families and below. Personally, I will benefit because I will be able to itemize again.Hopefully, more Americans can see what Biden has done to this country. Inflation rates are at an all time high. Many middle class people are suffering because of Biden. Illegals are flooding this country, further taxing our resources. Enough is definitely enough.
"Inflation rates are at an all time high." - Inflation is around 3%. The all time recorded high is 18.1% in 1946. I just can't understand why you keep posting false information. Can you explain that? Is there a purpose for posting false information? I would really like to know.
Did you know that illegal immigration was much, much worse under Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, and Obama? It was Obama's policies that started lowering the high Bush II numbers. It is hard to tell the difference between Trump and Biden numbers when compared to those that came before them. What do you have to say about that?
Just to complete the story, immigration fell to very low levels at the end of the Eisenhower administrations and through the Kennedy-Johnson and the very early Nixon years. Compared to them, Trump's numbers (and Biden's) are gargantuan.
It is obvious to me when you look at the history of illegal immigration numbers, Conservatives are building a mountain out of a molehill.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ … ty.svg.pngIt is is quite clear, there are many people that prefer to wrap themselves in lies rather than admit to facts revealing their gross partisanship in this matter. None of their resistance has anything to do with truth and facts, is that not pure rightwing?
Time for a little good news?
https://www.salon.com/2023/10/01/calm-d … l-save-us/Cred, the writing style, tone, and voice piqued my attention. Certainly strong contrasts of the leading opponents for the upcoming ballot. One could cuss up a storm if a Trump supporter while for Biden pausing here and there with thought. Me, the message about the youth vote came through clearly.
Today, drives to get people registered to vote are beginning for 2024. I would bet on what target each party will aim at. So, in an odd sense, yes, the battle has begun by sifting through rhetoric, influences of memes, and the scuttlebutt chatter. Yet, that matters not unless they are registered to vote. Then it is the next campaign ahead . . . get-out-the-vote!
BTW . . . a recent Onion article shares a stark truth. A one paragraph read. It is;
DNC Concerned After Poll Shows Only 15% Of Americans Have Heard Name Joe Biden (Sept 25, 2023)
https://www.theonion.com/dnc-concerned- … 1850863024Though is satire, is there truth within it? The idea of the satire had to come from somewhere, right?
Along those lines, a recent article by the NY Post (09/23/23) reveals that "The president’s identity was the third most commonly Googled query beginning with “who is” nationwide from June through August, according to the results of a Google trend analysis by Casino.org." Huh?
https://nypost.com/2023/09/09/study-rev … president/
Note: Short read.I wish that more citizens would have taken the time to research Biden before casting their votes in 2020. Personally, I make it a priority to thoroughly investigate the candidates, closely follow their campaign activities, and carefully assess the merits and drawbacks of their platforms.
In my view, Biden's campaign lacked the level of engagement I expected, and his history in Washington shed light on certain aspects of his character. I found Google to be a valuable tool for gathering information, and my memory regarding Biden's background also played a role in my assessment. I already had an impression of his character, due to his many years in Washington.
Nevertheless, I am encouraged to see an increasing number of Americans showing a greater willingness to inquire and seek information about political candidates.
It truely baffles me, I see his failing polls, but I hear only slight murmuring from Democrats in Washington to produce a new candidate. This is odd, makes me think the party might feel they can push him through, just due to party loyalty. I am not sure they will pull the wool over a majority of heads this time around.
Gosh, TSmog, i have a hard time wrapping myself around the Onion article. Can't imagine Americans being that uniformed.
The youth vote could prove tantamount and that is why Republicans are going to do all they can to repress it.
I sure hope they do!
Do you think Bernie Sanders disciples will 1) vote for Biden, 2) vote for Trump (like they did in 2016), or 3) not vote at all?They will vote for Biden as the alternative is to horrific to for them contemplate. I preferred Liz Warren as my ideal, but I settled with Biden as at least as effective in keeping the barbarians of the Right at bay. I believe most Left oriented voters will see things the same way.
Among 18- to 35-year-olds, Trump has a slight 53-38 percent advantage (marginally
significant at this sample size). Still, that essentially matches what it was in May, and
Trump also was numerically ahead in this group (albeit not significantly) by 50-43
percent in February.
ABC?WAPO https://www.langerresearch.com/wp-conte … litics.pdf
Men as well as black voters are also shifting away from Biden.
"Younger black voters are increasingly dissatisfied with President Biden, a glaring warning for the party as next year’s presidential contest comes into focus. In 2022, despite generally exceeding expectations, Democrats struggled to turn out their black voter base in places like Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Detroit—all cities vital to the 2024 race. The 11-point turnout differential between white and black voters was the largest in decades.
Despite widespread acknowledgment of the problem, little has changed since November. Biden’s approval rating with black voters is significantly lower today than when he took office. A New York Times average of recent general election polls found the incumbent leading Trump 74-19 with black voters, well below the 90-9 margin he mustered in 2020.
New data from AEI’s Survey Center on American Life reveals that younger black Americans are driving the shift away from Biden—and the Democratic Party. The disparities between black voters ages 18–49 and those 50+ are dramatic. The table below compares the two groups."
https://www.aei.org/politics-and-public … out-biden/
Don't you think the DNC should start looking for a new candidate?As for the black voters I am hearing some of the scuttlebut as well, while they may express disappointment with Biden, they are sure not going to embrace a clear adversary.
Regardless of the buzz, the proof is in the pudding, 2024. And a year is practically an eternity in politics.
It was interesting that I found that despite Carter's record by 1980, and things were in a mess, 83 percent of Blacks voted for Carter with 2 percent voting for third party candidate Anderson, with 15 percent voting for Reagan. Our interests go beyond our perception of the economy as what determines how we vote. While white folks gave Reagan his landslide. Very similar as to why Jews prefer Democrats even though Republicans appear to be more staunchly supporting Israel.
We can't afford to split the party in search of a new candidate, the GOP must be stopped. That means Democrats voting in unison without distractionI realize there is a long history of blacks voting for Demacrats. I think more and more Black voters' perceptions of the Democratic Party are changing just realizing that their needs are not aligned with Demacrats ideologies or policies.
Policy Priorities for Black voters often prioritize policies related to healthcare access, education, criminal justice reform, and economic equity, which no longer align with the policy positions of the Democratic Party. They had for many decades perceived Democrats as more likely to address these issues in a way that benefits their communities. But, they have not delivered.
The Democrat of today has a "new world agenda, and are more interested in a new green deal, paying off college loans, and fighting offshore wars. They are visibly bringing in migrants who will most certainly overburden our public schools and health services, as well as other social programs. Do you feel migrants will be last in line to get jobs? Do you feel Biden has done anything for Black citizens? Do you feel his policies align with the immediate needs of black citizens? I don't recognize the current Democratic party. I don't see where in any respect they have any policies that will improve the lives of black citizens.Take it from me, the perceptions, if anything, is much more negativity toward the Republicans and the Right. Look at the gerrymandering issues in Alabama and Louisiana as an example. They are not seen as our allies. Attention to Civil Rights issues and economic justice always comes first. A party that fights for fair representation through apportionment is on our side while the other party is not.
Blacks have proportionately more college debt and less ability to pay, helping with college debt helps African American students. That is something he has done or works toward. The migrant issue is a red herring, it is a GOP trick to have us be opposed to migrants, where economic equity and exploitation are the overriding issues that affect us all.
Trump tried that phony populism in Detroit when we all knows the Republicans hate labor unions, so Trump in effect says to be quiet, blame China and trust management. Control of those that would want to have an easier time exploiting labor helps Black folks.
While you don't recognize the current Democratic Party, I and We do. As for our adversary, any party that is embraced by white supremacists as one of their own could not possibly be interested in doing anything for Blacks besides make things worse.
The Democratic Party recognizes our policy preferences far more than the Republicans ever has in modern times and that has not changed.
I think your assessment is incorrect and I can't demonstrate that to you until 2024.Cred,
Take note, I read your comment and respect your view, although it differs from mine. I feel more Black citizens are dissatisfied with the Dems and what they are offering.
ECO pretty much made my point. Please read the list he supplied... Actually, it is the same promises he made in 2020. None of this has been accomplished, but he puts out the same promises, and in reality, are these promises truely going to make any headway with the real problems black Americans face?
Please note, I certainly am not nor did I compare any of the agendas of any of the Republicans running for president, As ECO has implied. Due to the fact the Republican party has several candidates, all differing in their agendas.
I feel I address issues not candidates in our conversations, unless it was appropriate to mention a candidate or agenda. My intelligence tells me you are very much well-versed in your views, and our conversations offer good debates.
https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/352 … ost4309765I think the real issues go beyond race.
The economy, the war, the forced acceptance of men as women on real women... these things are either a concern to you or they aren't.
None of them have to do with race really, inflation impacts all people regardless of race, WWIII will effect all people regardless of race.
Leading this nation to its ruination effects all people, regardless of race.Ken, I agree, my point is more black citizens are coming to the same conclusion. I think more feel the Democratic party has gone into a realm they don't recognize any longer, and that the party has left their concerns in the dust. The polls indicate a larger percentage of blacks are stepping away from the Dem party comparing the number to the 2020 election.
I feel the entire picture has become very clear to a good majority of Americans that the Democratic party has become very radical, and taking our country to a place not many want to go.
The scary part --- I don't put anything past the Dems to make sure they keep power. Never thought I would entertain such a thought, but yes, this bunch is hell-bent on leading us into WWIII. The words "ONE WORLD ORDER" are now spoken out loud.I don't think it matters based on race.
If you want to blame a particular demographic blame white people, especially the women who vote Democrat and are the reason why Biden is in office.
Blame them for voting on emotions, on not liking that Trump was recorded saying he would "grab her by the ___" these are emotional taunts that have little or no impact on men voters.
Men vote their wallets and issues like a migration crisis they see overwhelming their neighborhood, or a war they are being sent to go fight... they could care less (most of them) whether or not he slept with a porn star while married.
UPDATE
Just went to fact check my own point
Men Percentage of voters 48% 45% Biden 53% Trump
Women Percentage of voters 52% 57% Biden 42% Trump
Conclusion: the reason why Biden is in office is the women voters, not the men.
https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/how-groups-voted-2020Hey, good point... I know they supported him heavily in 2020. I think the majority got what they deserved. Don't you? Maybe they will go back for more. LOL
Being a woman, I hesitate to share my comment on today's women. It is a very negative view, and I feel women have set themselves back decades. I don't likely share the views of the majority of women today. I am sure you noted this characteristic.Ken, a misogynist slip is showing.
You should specify that your frustration is with white women who voted for Democrats, as black women have a 98 support rate when it comes to the party and its candidates.
Your opinion as to why "women" vote for Democrats appear as quite biased and if Republican men think as you do, it is no wonder that they support Democrats in numbers beyond that of the men.
Who would presume that they have their own interests and preferences that should not be denigrated simply because they are not of your own "non-emotional" perspective on things?
I vote for Democrats and believe me the reasons are quite substantive, having nothing to do with being swept away by emotions. So I can presume that women make their decisions on the same basis.
We all want to be treated with respect, Ken, verbally coarse sexual aggression against women by a leading candidate is not going to get you much support from amongst them.
It is that attitude that continues to be evident, that only rightwing male Republican voters vote for the right reasons for the correct conclusion. It is quite fallacious.
Yes, our views differ, but I speak from first hand experience, Brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, etc. I know that we may of touched on this before, but what does any your black acquaintances in your town ever tell you about all of this?
I consider the agendas and the Republican candidates as much in the same. I said that the Democratic initiatives represented by President Biden is certainly the better course among the alternatives we have now.
In my opinion as an African-American citizen.I believe that my black friends may not necessarily represent the broader experiences of the majority of black citizens. This is primarily because they have achieved significant success and may not have encountered some of the significant challenges that many black individuals face. It's important to note that I don't mean this as a criticism; rather, I see them as embodying what some may colloquially refer to as "Uncle Tom" characteristics, though I'm not sure what the equivalent term might be for a female counterpart. It's worth mentioning that not all of them hold conservative beliefs.
For example, one of my closest friends is a black woman who works as a psychologist. Her ideology revolves around the principles of hard work and earning respect based on merit. She strongly believes that highlighting differences can perpetuate systemic racism and hinder progress.Perhaps, but we don't have to highlight differences to acknowledge that they do exist and not just ignore them. All the more encouraging to attempt to address it.
It would be an imposition so I don't ask, but regardless of ideology and principles of hard work, I wonder if your friend were actually confronted, which candidates would she actually vote for.
An "Uncle Tom" is an apologist and accommodationist for racial inequalities found in American life. We neither need to harp on it as an excuse for not taking the effort required of anyone who wanted to succeed but not ignore it either and pretend that it doesn't exist when it does and do influence still far too many aspects within American life.
I did ok, I recognized the important of perseverance and hard work toward the goal, but that does not mean that I ignored systemic systems that still can nullify much of your own effort.Since we are on the topic of elections, and whom votes for whom.
I came across this video... presented by lawyer David Schoen who plays video montage of Democrats doubting election results, in Congress it appears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjnX4IUt_eo
A good 8 minute watch.MCCARTHY FIRED, PELOSI EVICTED, Matt Gaetz scores a win.
Interesting, they are actually fighting the corporate stooges and cronies in the Republican Wing. Might actually try and do something for Americans.What has Biden done?
Runaway inflation, increased interest rates.
And now:
Biden Unveils $6.9 Trillion Budget
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … #xj4y7vzkg
Which Includes Biden's $5.5 Trillion in tax hikes
https://nypost.com/2023/03/09/biden-pit … -proposal/OMG I am still laughing. I must admit I missed this in March due to still being in Mexico ( I try to leave much of the news behind while I am out of the country) Thank God we have the Freedom caucus in place. It will be the best chance of stopping this "nut job' in his place. Well, in my view this nutty plan should also be the last nail we needed to rid ourselves of the Marxist if he pushes it. I mean who campaigns on raising taxes... OMG.
I think the Dems have lost it, or better yet lost control over the puppet he has gone rogue on them. Full-out nuts.
His "New One World BS" Joe just did not plan on the Freedom Caucus. I think they have proven they are very serious.
I saw it, yes there has been contention about the outcome of the elections from both sides. But this thing about dragging this question around almost 3 years is a first. To shape an entire political party around the theme of election fraud even in contests for city dog catcher is a Republican first.
Funny, when you talk of "uniparty" it is always the Democrats, that garners my suspicions as to your true affiliations right there.I agree with you in this, one can feel the election was wrongfully decided, but after making the claim, putting up the fight in court, etc. move on.
Clinton still has not moved on, Clinton still claims the Russians interfered and decided the election's outcome.
I am sure many Democrats that had been devoted to her, feel whatever it took to take the next election was justified, to remove Trump.
Trump now claims the 2020 election was stolen... I have found peace with it, the Democrats made some changes to voting rules and regulations in 9 States, swing states, and in PA they allowed Mail In Ballots that could not be verified even if they wanted to... when you send out millions of ballots, there is no way to verify that many signatures or verify how those ballots were handled and secured.
Democrats win... even if it was by "Stuffing the Ballot Box"in a few key states, so be it, Trump and the Republicans allowed it to happen.
They are allowing it again. They are allowing Trump to be persecuted in the courts, when there is not even a crime, simply the decision of corrupt DAs and Judges that want to persecute him based on politics.
If it happens it happens, the American people stand for it, they deserve what is to come, what has been happening for the last 3 years and more.
They are OK with the dollar being worth 30% less than it was 4 years ago or they aren't. They are OK with men in girls sports and locker rooms, or they aren't. They are OK with millions of migrants being brought into the country every year and spread throughout the nation or they are not. They are OK with war with Russia or they aren't.
If Americans aren't going to wake up, I'm not going to worry about it.Hillary Clinton did not continue publically to claim that the 2016 election was stolen well into Trump's term. You and I know that there is a big difference as to how all of this came out. So, let's not pretend that both cases are the same.
Democrats were not happy with Clinton's loss but certainly were not involved in extra legal attempts to change the election's outcome, your presumption has no basis in fact.
It is only"fraud" when Republicans lose? I don't care for the Republican Party generally and my vote for Democrats is in earnest. Democrats did not make a scene of over very close defeats of Democratic candidates in 2000 nor in 2016 when Clinton still won the popular vote by 3 millions. Trumps loss was at a greater margin but I still have to listen to him and Republicans continue to whine about it?
Nobody is "allowing" anything, this man is not above the law and I am not a respecter of persons. These indictments are not political games, it is only those who are clinging to Trump who believe that "he did nothing wrong". I will let a court of law make that determination.
I will stand for it and I insist that everybody play the game by the rules and if there is another J6 type event that it should be dealt with in the most harsh severity.
I am not convinced that any of your remedies in the form of policies or personnel will be of any advantage from the current situation regardless.
What, me worry?I don't like Trump, can't stand listening to him babble on. But I like how he ran the government.
I don't care if they take away his businesses, his properties, and remove him from the ballots.
I'm not going to pretend I don't know what it means about our corrupt government either. Or our "Democracy".
"Democrats were not happy with Clinton's loss but certainly were not involved in extra legal attempts to change the election's outcome, your presumption has no basis in fact."
Really? Talk of impeachment on day 1 from Democrats, investigations, impeachments, supporting open riots and rebellions... nah the Democrats didn't do anything.
Clinton to this day says the election was stolen, to this day. She is as adamant and fixated as Trump that the election was stolen.
As I said, Democrats played their hand better than Trump and his supporters in 2020... they will do so again in 2024.
There are those who recognize what is to come, and situate themselves as best they can for it. Those who try to fight it, those who pretend it isn't happening, and those totally oblivious.
I much prefer to be the former rather than any of the latter.That's right Ken, the sky is falling. I don't know where you get your crystal balls from, but you never back up your claims with sources. Can you even prove without a doubt that Hillary is still bitching and complaining about losing the election, even though she won the popular vote?
How about those that pretend along with Trump that the election was stolen from him? As far as his governing goes, he caused literally thousands to die from COViD because he knew in Jan. that it was lethal, but it didn't look good for his presidency to admit it. So he waited until March to claim it was just a flu and it would be gone in a few days.
Trump surrounds himself with people who tell him what he wants to hear and that has gotten him into a lot of trouble. Hence, four criminal trials, and yet now he wants to run for speaker of the house. The sky is falling, but not where you think, it is in a dysfunctional house that is happening in real time, right now."Can you prove without a doubt" that Trump "caused literally thousands to die from COViD"?
Of course not; all you can do is project what YOU think would have happened had events proceeded as YOU think they should have. And that without any real life experience to back up your opinion.
Is the pot calling the kettle black?I will tell you I am sick of the accusation Trump killed thousands, millions. CC shows Deaths under Biden are a very close second. 704,000 according to the CDC. versus 800,000 under Trump. While Trump handled the virus at its conception, when it was truely spreading quickly, he took steps to recommend shutting it down to curb the spread, as well as working on getting vaccines. No one should imply he was responsible for the deaths that occurred. I note there are crickets on the death rate that has occurred in Biden's time. Can you just imagine what would have occurred if Biden were president when COVID broke out?
Sorry about the rant, but I have a very hard time accepting such illogical BS. Actually, me scared to see the stupidity of some in our society.Which one of these offers proof that Trump's actions killed "literally thousands"?
Biden could have saved anyone not sick when he took office by ordering a complete lockdown, with everyone locked into their homes. No one would have died...from covid; starvation is another matter entirely.
Better blame Biden, hadn't you?I was not referring to what Trump may have said, I was referring to his quick actions, great problem-solving skills, and reacting quickly with each ongoing information he received updates from WHO, as well as the CDC. So, no I don't need you to provide links to tweets or interviews. I followed a timeline of what actions Trump took.
I feel comparing the way Trump's handling COVID to the way Biden handled it, is striking. Biden ignored COVID, yes he provided lots of words... LOL But no actions. You see that's what Biden does he talks and never does anything. That's why the majority of Americans are ready to ost him for his poor job performance.
SO, again I ask --- Why did such a high number of fatalities occur during Biden's presidency? It's been suggested that his lack of approach to COVID-19 played a role. Critics argue that he knew about the virus's severity in January when he came on the job. Consequently, his lack of problem-solving is attributed to and responsible for the 704,000 DEATHS. This is a fact.
Questions arise about why this happened. Did he neglect the vaccines and testing resources made available during the previous administration, which was credited with Operation Warp Speed? Did he fail to establish a coherent plan for distributing vaccines? Critics argue that the absence of such measures may have contributed to the high death toll in Biden's time.
I truely feel Trump saved many lives due to his quick balanced problem-solving skills. The difference in our mindsets, you like lots of words, and I prefer action.
Yeah, it is a really foolish statement. It assumes that Trump was able to read the future, and everything that the speaker thinks would have helped should have been done regardless of the consequences. As I told PP, Biden (or Trump) could have locked down the country, forcing people to all remain home, and no one would have died from COVID. Deaths from starvation would have been 300,000,000, but none from COVID.
Fauci (sp?) once commented that his statements referred ONLY to the disease; the president has far more than a pandemic to consider but the folks making these silly claims somehow "forget" that simple truth.I also have strong reservations about Dr. Fauci's actions. He needs to be in jail.
Personally, I shudder to think how the crisis might have unfolded under Biden's administration.
It's become increasingly difficult for me to engage with individuals who defend Biden. In my view, his leadership is causing harm to the nation, and I'm no longer inclined to appease his supporters. I must admit, I've lost respect for those who stand by this president.Trump let the virus go on its own. By the time Biden took over its infection rate was through the roof.. Yes Trump really is a great problem solver, when he put Fauci and Birx out to pasture so that he could control the briefings. At one point, he evens suggested injecting Clorox into our veins to get rid of the virus.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52407177
See what this really boils down to is Trumpers only get one side of the news. What Trump calls the Fake News and in reality it is the real news and Trump and company are providing the fake news, Just like Jan 6 stealing an election. Trump's OWS was too little too late as the virus was infecting people by the thousands when Biden took over.
You are sick of me and others like me. harping about Trump. Well I'm sick of you people covering for Trump and trying to blame Biden for what Trump did and is still doing. You remind me of parents who rationalize what a great son you have while he tried to burn down the school.
If you want a timeline. Here is the real timeline from Representative Lloyd Dogget of Trump's reactions to the virus when he was in office and the death tolls.
This is the point at which Biden took office.
Trump's term in office saw over 25 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, over 400,000 of which resulted in death.
https://doggett.house.gov/media/blog-po … -responsesSo, once again you find it just easier to blame Trump for what Biden did. I don't respect this kind of logic. I acutely feel it futile to have conversations that are not in any respect sensible. Just being truthful.
We buy you books and what do you do? You take them home and tear the pages out of them. In my view, you are not even truthful to yourself. You can't win the marble game, so you are going to leave and take all your marbles home.
With Trump you see the glass half full and with Biden it is half empty. I feel good about what I presented. It backs up my claims about Trump, even though it is an exercise in futility for me to convince you.
I bet you never even looked at the timeline that is so revealing of what Trump is really about. It has his dialog and his weasel wording of which is typical of everytime he opens his mouth..
Actually China did something along those lines.
I don't think they succeeded in saving their nation from losing lives to the virus. Maybe a few were spared, but at what cost to their society and their economy?That was the point: we know how to stop a pandemic dead in it's track...but the cost is far, far more than that of the pandemic itself.
It is always a guessing game, and using hindsight to declare what should have been done, without considering the cost of the action, is foolish.
Wilderness: I'll let this timeline speak for itself.
https://doggett.house.gov/media/blog-po … -responses
Biden is responsible for more than half a million lives lost in Ukraine alone.
If Biden has his way, that will multiply into the tens of millions dead in his war with Russia (and let me note, its the cabal, Clinton, Rice, Obama, etc. this has been their pet project since before 2012).
Covid is a virus, blaming Trump is biased political nonsense, it was going to run its course, those who were susceptible to it were eventually going to be exposed, whether six weeks in or sixteen months in, they eventually got it.
The War in Ukraine could have been avoided, instead it is being pursued and escalated. That is 500,000+ deaths and rising that COULD have been avoided, damage to the global economy that COULD have been avoided, inflation causing hundreds of billions wasted on a war that is not in our best interest... merely the arrogance of Biden and those in his Administration that think they can dictate to the rest of the world what they will do and what they must accept.
Fact --- "The number of Americans who have died of COVID-19 during President Joe Biden’s time in office now equals the death toll under former President Donald Trump. The United States reached the staggering, near-incomprehensible milestone of 800,000 Americans killed by the coronavirus Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University—double the 400,000 deaths recorded by Jan. 19, Trump’s last full day in office."
COVID deaths under Biden
CDC stats Fact COVID-19 was associated with approximately 460,000 deaths in the U.S. during January–December 2021.
CDC stas -- COVID-19 was associated with approximately 244,000 deaths in the United States during January–December 2022.
704,000 Why so many? I mean why did your guy let so many die --- We have several vaccines and better treatments -- Why so many?
Trump took action within a day after the first death while being called a racist by the Democrats and Pelosi dancing in the streets inviting all to join her in Chinatown --- he stopped travelers from China. I am very discussed to see you make such a statement. if not for Trump's very quick action, we would have had no vaccines, ASS Clown Biden would have just ignored the need for vaccines as he ignores all the problems he has solved.
I have posted Trump's COVID timeline over and Over through now two years--- when will you read it, when will you realize he did a wonderful job under dire circumstances? I have no respect for anyone who can take the time to look at the facts. The real facts show the moment Biden took over, we had little organization in getting test kits, and vaccinations many of us literally waited three months.
I suggest you stop accusing Trump of "killing a million people" or maybe add to your statement how many Biden killed.
Trump did an outstanding job, he was organized, and quick to do all in his power to save lives, facing the largest crisis in our time -- a killer pandemic. Biden has done nothing to stop the deaths, he has ignored the problem from day one. Facts can be ugly digest the death rate under Biden -- and all he needed to do was his job, get out the vaccines that Trump provided. I'm not sure your assessment is fair or even logical.
And you think Black interests are aligned with a MAGA party that hates them and is trying to disenfranchise them?
Here is the Democratic platform:
* PROTECTING AMERICANS AND RECOVERING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (Biden has accomplished)
* BUILDING A STRONGER, FAIRER ECONOMY (Biden has accomplished)
* ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEALTH CARE
* HEALING THE SOUL OF AMERICA (Biden is accomplishing)
* COMBATING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND PURSUING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (Biden is accomplishing)
* RESTORING AND STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY (Biden accomplished)
* CREATING A 21ST CENTURY IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
* PROVIDING A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION IN EVERY ZIP CODE
* RENEWING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP (Biden accomplished)
Credence - Do any of those not line up with Black interests?
What is the Republican Platform? I couldn't find a current one. The latest one I could find was from 2016.Sharlee: I believe it is wishful thinking on your part. You want him to be a shell, but he really isn't. You accuse him of dementia, but you were a nurse not a clinical psychologist. How is America ruined by Biden? Again is the glass half full or half empty? Your glass with Biden is always half empty and that will never change.
Regardless if he is a bumbling dementia ridden puppet or not, the issue is, and should be, where this Administration is taking the Nation.
What are their actions causing overseas... with Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.
What are they doing at home... allowing in millions of migrants every year, with numbers growing, inflation that they can't put in check because they can't stop spending trillions of dolllars needlessly.
If we don't replace them, if we don't find a new way forward, the cost to all Americans is going to be unimaginable when this house of cards comes crashing down... WWIII is not going to make our lives better... a Great Depression and overreaching government is not going to make our lives better.
This is where the Biden Administration is leading America to.
I have no doubt that Democrats will coalesce around Biden when they have to chose between an effective president and the train wreck that is Trump. The only group that may not are the those to the left of Bernie Sanders; they helped Trump win in 2016 and may try to help him again in 2024.
The challenge for Democrats is to get turn-out. Fortunately, the Republicans are doing a great job in making sure Democratic turn-out will set records. Between taking away people's freedoms, especially women, impeaching Biden, and putting a dangerously, anti-democratic, mentally ill narcissist as his opponent will make Biden a shoe-in.ESO, anyone to the left of Bernie Sanders can only be defined as anarchists, there really can't be too many like this. I am pretty strong left, somewhere in between Biden and Sanders. If the damned press stopped pussyfooting around trying to present parity between an indicted, criminally charged candidate and one who has no record of breaking the law, it would help.
It may well be the cultural issues and the anti-democratic stance of the GOP that will keep voters engaged ensuring a Republican defeat, I can only hope. They will be driven to the polls by their fear of control by the other, even if they may not embrace Biden. Biden makes the attempt to work with us in a hostile environment,while the Right can only take us back the other way. Which would you select?
Yes, enough is enough. However, keep the faith polls are showing that Americans have realized Biden has ruined our economy, and can't handle the job. We are now in a majority.
"ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL: Presidential Politics
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AFTER 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023
Troubles for Biden: Not Just His Age
Joe Biden’s job approval rating is 19 points underwater, his ratings for handling the economy
and immigration are at career lows, a record number of Americans say they’ve gotten worse off
under his presidency, three-quarters say he’s too old for another term and Donald Trump is
looking better in retrospect – all severe challenges for Biden in his re-election campaign ahead.
Forty-four percent of Americans in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll say they’ve
gotten worse off financially under Biden’s presidency, the most for any president in ABC/Post
polls since 1986. Just 37 percent approve of his job performance, while 56 percent disapprove.
Still fewer approve of Biden’s performance on the economy, 30 percent.
On handling immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden’s rating is even lower, 23 percent
approval. In terms of intensity of sentiment, 20 percent strongly approve of his work overall,
while 45 percent strongly disapprove. And the 74 percent who say he’s too old for a second term
is up 6 percentage points since May. (Views that Trump is too old also are up, but to 50 percent.)"
Source https://www.langerresearch.com/wp-conte … litics.pdf
https://www.axios.com/2023/09/24/biden- … -new-polls
This is a promising poll for those of us who are realistic enough to see what Biden has truely done to our economy, as well as our southern border. Polls in every issue show Biden underwater, in regard to issues we are having in the country. In my view, this somewhat represents my faith in our society. We that are concerned in regards to Biden's job performance are in the majority.
Goebbels indicated that if you tell a lie long enough, people will believe it to be the truth.
This is true, and the propaganda state that America has become puts anything Goebbels dreamed of to shame.
Only those who spend a considerable amount of time outside of America will have any idea of how true this is.
As for the coming election, its a shame it isn't easier to go back and look at old posts. I noted three years ago I expected it would be Trump vs. Biden again... I believed the primary reason for this, is that if America had a choice of a better alternative, say Nikki Haley and Tim Scott as P & VP choices... I think Biden would be slaughtered.
I said then that Biden needs it to be Trump, all the effort they have put in to destroy the public perception of him for the previous decade will keep 50% of the populace from voting for him even if the country is literally burning down around our ears.
But they have done nothing to smear or destroy Haley and Scott... it would also be very hard to paint such a ticket as Sexist and Racist, not that I don't think they would try.
Given the hardships we are facing with Inflation, Interest Rates, Immigration, and likely higher gas prices come next November chances of the majority of Americans wanting to move on from Biden are good.
I don't think Biden could defeat a moderate, articulate, well rounded opposition ticket. But I do think they have cowed the American public enough that he can beat Trump.I heard from Q that Trump is a Martian bent on taking over the world and doing weird things to children.
(Q now wants JFK Jr. to win and has turned on Trump)Ken, it is not going to be as simple as putting up female and black tokens and expecting votes. There remains the abortion issue, and the very right of younger voters to participate.
If I were a young voter, I would find the GOP plans to disenfranchise me or otherwise control my reproductive options as authoritarian and unacceptable and as we saw in 2022, the significance of this outweighs concern over the economy.I doubt Haley and Scott feel they are tokens.
Your view of the parties appears unapologetically racist and set in a time that no longer exists.
The parties are the people who run them... and if Haley or Scott became the President they would set the precedence for the party.
They would not be tokens.Nikki Haley and Tim Scott better alternatives?
Republicans are unattractive not only because of its standard bearer but based on ideology and platforms that are much less popular than you think. So, changing faces and personalities changes only the image but not the substance of what people will respond to at the polls. Your predictions may well prove to be wrong, and it is not like it is first time.
I wonder if Biden is really as unpopular and as inept as you have been claiming here and why would I believe that it was not purely partisan.Here are my predictions, you will be reminded over the next 24 months that I predicted them, I will cut&paste this comment for reference.
Trump will be jailed, his assets seized, and removed from ballots.
He just lost in court, on charges no one brought up against him. That is 100% political in nature and had no standing.
We will be in WWIII either before November 2024 or most certainly after it, and during this war, the banking system, and liberty as you know it, will be revised.
If you do not have assets, you won't be majorly affected by the things to come, although you might not like the new system or taxations imposed.
If you do have considerable astes... 401ks, Roth IRAs, properties... well, you deserve what you get if Biden remains in control and you supported him. War, Banking Crisis, all new system imposed. Its baked into his second term, and they will do anything to ensure it comes to pass.
You never took the time to delve into Agenda 2030, the Global Compact on Migration, the Great Reset, I have harped on these things for years.
These are the very things that the Biden Administration supports, works towards, as does most who are in DC with power today, they have culled most of those who would resist; none of which are co-habitable with the Constitution, private ownership of wealth, weapons, or the ability to deny the government anything they want."He just lost in court, on charges no one brought up against him." - How does that make any sense at all?
Biased NYC Dem Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over Trumps civil trial, just blocked Trump & his family from transferring their money or property to any entities.
They also must provide a list by next week of every entity they own and to ‘what extent any third party may have in ownership or interests of their entities.’
The State AG abusing her authority and position, it is abuse of the justice system, a judge persecuting a person based on politics... this is 3rd world stuff... this is what we accuse Putin of doing to his opponents.
New York Attorney General Letitia James' ad shows bias (if not outright hatred for Trump):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1yj0NKSsuU
Judge Arthur Engoron called Donald Trump “just a bad guy” in a scathing rebuke to a lawyer arguing that the former president was being unfairly singled out for investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
This is not fair or impartial, it is a persecution, it is a judicial execution based not on the merits of a crime, but on the prejudice of those enforcing the law.
Seems to me you are trying to prove his point. Problem is, I won't believe your lies.
Wow, well over 6000 comments. Americans must love suffering.
Could not care less what you respect. Yours is the kind of logic that finds a man like Trump blameless.
I can't believe that this is happening in the USA, but no worries....
because, apparently, Joe Biden is "doing great things"!I'm sure Nepoleon, Stalin, and Hitler did great things. Now to weigh out the negative with the Positive
Can the government seize the property and businesses of the primary opposition candidate (as well as former President) without a trial?
Obviously it can.
Can it do so without the claim of a crime having been brought against him by another person or corporation?
Obviously it can.
Biden hasn't done any positive things for America. Under Biden's administration, inflation has escalated beyond control. Middle class families are suffering because of the increasing cost of living which includes necessities such as rents, health insurance, & food. There are middle class families living in cars because of Biden.
Biden is putting other countries ahead of America. He is giving money to assist other countries. America doesn't have the monies to assist other countries. Biden is allowing massive amounts of immigrants to America which have deleterious effects on American infrastructures. To paraphrase Stevie Wonder's song- "if Biden want to hear our views, he hasn't done a thing for America.Nothing here I could take exception to, for it is spot on.
A good jobs report to go along with a continuing good economy.
* Inflation under control at 3.7%, it was 8.2% a year ago.
* Job growth steady and strong in spite of the strike
* GDP growth continues at an almost to-good-to-be-true rate of 4.9%!
* Unemployment at 3.9% is still at historically low levels. (It ticked up in Oct due to the strike)
* Wage growth continues to beat inflation growth.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/03/economy/ … index.html.... well?
Does anyone want the LAND of America?
Germany?
Russia?
China?
Africa?
Iran?Right now, we, here in America, are not at war, and one of these days everything will get back to normal.
Let us keep that thought in mind and anyone who does not agree should be ignored and un-empowered.
How do you un-empower power-hungry evil billionaires?
That is the question, for which there is no practical answer.I would think everyone can agree that President Biden has done a fantastic job of navigating the minefield of the Israeli - Hamas war.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … -israel-7/He is very skillful indeed ...
at speaking out of both sides of this mouth.THANK YOU AND A RESOUNDING AMEN. SPOT ON!
Thank God we have a president at this time in history who has such a depth of foreign policy experience. I couldn't imagine if Trump were in office with all of this going on. A man who, his closest advisors say didn't grasp fundamental history and uninformed about basic geography and government. It's impossible to think of him as anything other than a bloviating buffoon.
It seems you're still in alignment with the minority opinion. Biden's statements appear inconsistent on a daily basis, and his recent actions have drawn more attention and criticism than usual. He can't even get the Americans out of Gaza, or get the American hostage back. not to mention he has made our servicemen in Iraq sitting ducks. He needs to be removed, he is inept. He has caused nothing but serious problems from day one. Thank God so many have finally realized he is not fit to do the job. Polls are tanking weekly, now at a 37% approval rate.
Biden is simply not presidential material. He doesn't have the aptitude to be in such a powerful office. Shar you are correct in your premise that everything he undertakes turns to absolute naught. An astute 5 year old can see that Biden is unfit to be president.
He was not fit to be a senator either. I was baffled when he won the 2020 primary. I could not figure out why the Dems would even jump on his bandwagon. I guess they wanted a scapegoat when their big New World Plan hit the ground. They needed someone to tell them what to do, and if all went south --- Hey it's all on Joe. And oh my has all gone south... Two wars, a failed economy, open borders, crazies in the streets protesting against Israel, and let's not forget open borders --- Hey what next?
I think she means the SAME open borders Trump had, lol. Biden kept almost ALL the same polices, save stripping children out of the arms of their parents, that Trump put in place. SO, if Biden has open borders, so did Trump (but they won't admit that)
Did you know we are fighting in two wars? I didn't, I wonder which ones
they are.
Of course, you and I know the economy is perking along nicely.
As to the Israelis, if they are protesting the right-wing extremist in the West Bank, that is probably a good thing. If it in support of terrorists like Hamas, that is a terrible thing.
Do I wish Israel would be a little more precise in their attempts to kill Hamas, yes. But because Hamas hides behind the skirts of Palestinian Women and the diapers of the babies they carry, the loss of innocents is on Hamas, not Israel.
If Hamas weren't so cowardly and do the manly thing of coming out to fight the Israelis, a lot more innocents would be saved.
There is a penthouse on Fifth Avenue and 77th Street selling for $1000.00. Better yet there is a duplex apartment on Shore Road, Brooklyn selling for $900.00.
I try not to let opinions guide my thinking and analysis, although they are a data point. I let facts guide me and I stay out of left and right-wing echo chambers.
And the facts clearly demonstrate Biden, for the most part, has been one of the best presidents America has had (so says the opinions of professional historians)He is THE WORST president in American history, even Jimmy Carter was a better president than Biddy Bepop Biden.
Carter was a good man, ill-suited for the job.
Biden is a corrupt, compromised, and mentally declining man that has no business doing the job.Experts differ radically from your opinion. For example, the latest Sienna poll of experts puts Biden at 19 out of 46 presidents while Trump is WAY down at 43rd.
It is probably just me, but I take the word of experts over partisans from either side.
I bet once he is jailed, he will drop to 46th.Yep, I am going to give credence to the consensus of renown historians over hair brained right wing judgement and opinion based on absolutely nothing.
Really? Those historians are analyzing & concluding things based upon their particular narrative. So called facts can be manipulated to fit a particular agenda. It is THE REALITY of a situation that verifies how Biden is doing. Inflation is out of control. Even middle class families are struggling. Some are living in cars because of escalating costs. Illegals are coming in droves, exhausting our socioeconomic infrastructures. Those historians are making fanciful speculations based on their particular purview. They are living in their Ivy Tower, divorced from what is ACTUALLY happening in America. I majored in history & sociology. I don't see the world through rose colored glasses. I live in THE REAL WORLD.
Statistics can be manipulated? All of them? And what is your knowledge outside the right wing bubble chamber to challenge authoritative sources far more credible than just your mere opinion?
You are just a rightwinged oriented MAGA that pretends to a certain objectivity in your political choice. Nothing can be further from the truth.
For the rightwinger, the real world is only what they say it is, the truth be damned
"If you can bash, then you can Biden bash""Statistics can be manipulated? All of them? And what is your knowledge outside the right wing bubble chamber to challenge authoritative sources far more credible than just your mere opinion?"
Trump leads Biden in 5 key battleground states: poll
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4 … ates-poll/
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/politics … index.html
NYT -- Joe Biden Is in Trouble
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/opin … lling.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/us/p … trump.html
Behind the Curtain: Biden's race problem with Blacks and Hispanics
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/biden- … sing-polls
I predict Biden's approval rate will soon become historic stats.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/bi … al-rating/
"David Axelrod questions whether it is 'wise' for Biden to stay in 2024 race: 'Stakes...too dramatic to ignore"Well, Sharlee, this wasn't what I was speaking to Grace about. It has to
do with the success ratings of Presidential historians for the 44 U.S. Presidents and I challenged her point of view.
Particularly for Blacks, When it comes to supportin Joe Biden verses any Republican, it is the choice of jumping out to frying pan directly into the fire. I speak from direct experience, garnered by exchanges among gentlemen in a barbershop setting communicating with confidence amongst ourselves. Who among us is truly ready to do that?
As for the accuracy of the polls, I will just have to wait and see if it pans out by Election Day.
You know that it might just drop to 45th as Grover Cleveland had two non consecutive terms as President.
President Biden has Secretary of State meet with Palestinian Authority Leader President Abbas to talk next steps. He also met earlier with other Arab leaders in Jordan to discuss what comes after Israel cripples Hamas.
MASTERFUL. The sign of a sharp mind and great statesmanship.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/world/bl … index.htmlNetanyahu has made his plan clear. Not sure why you feel he would consider what Biden wants. That is laughable. Maybe Bide will pull the old Do this or no money... LOL
Biden and his crew are an embarrassment. A sharp mind would have been not to lift the sanctions on Iran's oil... Biden supplied the cash to Hamas, and enabled them to commit genocide --- Biden has blood on his hands. Biden ultimately is responsible now for two wars, and many hundreds of thousands of deaths. How in the world can you support such a person?Netanyahu has made his plan clear. Not sure why you feel he would consider what Biden wants.
But it seems that you blamed Biden for not persuading Putin to stay out of Ukraine? You seemed to have stated previously that Biden should have single-handedly been able to stop Russia's war machine. Yes, you are more than likely right about your assuming Netanyahu has made up his mind and other world leaders will not sway him but let's make sure we're using the same premise across situations.Also, the false implication of the statement is that Biden hasn't changed Bebe's mind about ANYTHING, nothing, nada, not one thing - to use a phrase I heard somewhere, laughable..
The two crises are not directly connected. Russia had been displaying aggressive behavior in the lead-up to its actions in Ukraine, giving ample time for the Biden administration to respond decisively. Diplomatic efforts, backed by strong sanctions against Russia, could have been pursued, as well as the option of the threat of positioning troops at the border as a deterrent. There was also the possibility of halting Russian oil exports to the market period, which could have been a powerful measure. Biden's leadership in every crisis he created has been perceived as weak and ineffective. My point was to sarcastically share that BiBi would not consider anything Biden or his weak administration would suggest, regarding fighting his war. I would think BiBi is somewhat blaming Biden for providing the money to Hamas to commit genocide on his people. Biden made it possible for Iran to get rich by dropping and ignoring any sanctions on their oil.
Once again Biden has caused a huge crisis due to his poor fission making. He should have stayed in his basement.So far there are 10,000 Palestinians dead, half of those are children. who is committing genocide?
I'm struggling with the logic of your statement..
"Netanyahu has made his plan clear. Not sure why you feel he would consider what Biden wants."
It seems that your expectations of Biden aren't consistent.
Let me just rephrase..
Putin has made his plan clear. Not sure why you feel he would consider what Biden wants...
If Israel's prime minister has made up his mind and has no care or consideration for what Biden has to say or offer in terms of brokering peace then how do you come to the conclusion that Putin's mind wasn't made up and that negotiation failed because of his intractable stance? Somehow it seems you're trying to say that Biden could have stopped a determined Putin but his words are meaningless to Netanyahu.
This logic escapes me it's not consistent. Folks are just clamoring to find ways to blame Biden even when it makes no sense and logic has to continually shift.
Biden certainly did not enable Iran to become rich, they have been funding terrorism through the region long before Biden hit the White House. Again overly simplistic.
It's getting to the point on this forum that people should just say, "I blame Biden for everything, I am a conservative and I will remain in my conservative box and say and think as I am told..."The mistake you are making is thinking that Biden wanted to avoid war with Russia, he did not.
Biden in fact, has always wanted war with Russia, even as VP. Biden's corrupt ties to Ukraine aside, he was never willing to negotiate with Russia.
Biden demanded that Russia give Crimea to Ukraine, and that they would pay reparations for the Donbas separatists that Russia supported.
Biden flatly stated time and again he would not negotiate on Crimea or Ukraine becoming part of NATO.
Russia built up its forces as a show of seriousness that they would not accept Ukraine as part of NATO and they would not allow Crimea to be taken from the Russian Republic.
The war started only after Biden and Zelensky made it clear they wanted war and were willing to do whatever it took to take Crimea from Russia.
Context matters.
Understanding the Russian perspective matters."The mistake you are making is thinking that Biden wanted to avoid war with Russia, he did not."
Oh yes, Biden wanted war, --- I was trying to point out he could have avoided it if he wanted to, there were lots of great options to stop that war --- It was obvious by his decisions he invited the Ukraine war. And look at the devastation ---
Bloody Biden does not care about the life of foreigners or Americans, he is a vile human being. He has been a very bloody president. Who knows what will happen here, I won't be surprised.Why? Putin has made the Russian perspective VERY CLEAR - conquer Ukraine and subjugate its people.
What would have that "decisive response" look like exactly? What is it you think he should have done that he did not do?
I didn't know that, when did Biden give money to Hamas. Goes to show, you learn something new every day. And what did say to make you "think BiBi is somewhat blaming Biden for providing the money to Hamas to commit genocide on his people. "? That seems pretty laughable to me.
Tell me, how does someone get rich when they don't actually receive any money? Iran didn't receive any money.
What is "laughable" is to think Bebe wouldn't consider what his greatest benefactor has to say. Anyway, facts prove you wrong since he has been listening to Biden and has been persuaded to alter course somewhat.
"What is "laughable" is to think Bebe wouldn't consider what his greatest benefactor has to say. Anyway, facts prove you wrong since he has been listening to Biden and has been persuaded to alter course somewhat."
Oh my Gosh, are you insinuating --- Biden's Ukraine scam could work on BiBi, who has just witnessed his people being slaughtered by terrorists?
"Fire the AG or ya don't get the million --- Joe Biden: "If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money" And SOB he was fired..." LOL
Hey, that's you, guy! In my view, he is a disgusting human being with lots of blood on his hands. AFGHANISTAN - UKRAINE - ISRAEL .... Who next?
Provide a link that gives proof that Netanyahu has been persuaded to alter the course of his war. Ridiculous. First Biden has no authority over aid to Israel. Israel is our most cherished ally, this old POS would not dare to hold up aid to Israel. Hey, hopefully, he does try to pull his well-used blackmail grift... That would be one more ridiculous decision that will have him dragging his butt back to his basement.
Biden looks like a fool, he should keep his mouth shut, he has embarrassed America enough. Time to impeach.Can't follow your non-sequiturs. Sorry.
Are you claiming the president of the United States has no authority over foreign affairs. You might reread the Constitution.
Biden has been doing a magnificent job working his way through the Israeli crisis. Brilliant man.I think we all know the president has no power over the purse. Shocked you did not know that. Just to remind you hear is what I said... Very clear I was speaking of foreign aid.
"Provide a link that gives proof that Netanyahu has been persuaded to alter the course of his war. Ridiculous. First Biden has no authority over aid to Israel. Israel is our most cherished ally, this old POS would not dare to hold up aid to Israel. Hey, hopefully, he does try to pull his well-used blackmail grift... That would be one more ridiculous decision that will have him dragging his butt back to his basement."
Gosh, how long have you been back... You need to stop putting words in my mouth. I mean you do this frequently and seems you would at some point become a bit embarrassed at being found to be not picking up context.
I am going to do the kind thing --- leave you to those that have the same ideologies. Bye
Well, ESO, I have had it up here with conservative oriented drivel over this issue.
Trump unilaterally destroyed the agreement Obama had consummated between Iran, the U.S and Western Europe, unilaterally and with out cause as if somehow this base and ignorant man knew more than people who have been in foreign policy matters for some time.
This country gives Israel almost 4 billions dollars in foreign aid every year. In the face of all of this, I expect that our government should have the ear of the Israeli government. So, they should not be turning their noses at our advisors. I say that the Israeli government has been taking advantage of this "so called" relationship for at least the 50 years since I have been closely involved studying it. Bibi and the Israeli government gets its cake and eats it as well.
I don't like linking Palestinian concerns with Hamas, another conservative ruse? Israel continues in its dubious settlement policies while pretending to address Palestinian grievances. Bibi is the beast of the Middle East and Trump's counterpart in the region. His goal is to destroy the entire area, so there will simply not remain a "Palestinian Question".
Too many conservatives here would continue to blame Biden for a rainy day. If I had to blame him for anything, it is being too lenient with Bibi and the Israeli government in this matter. There are many the protest on behalf of the Palestinians, are we all to believe that their complaint and grievances have no merit?It is the right-wing driven Settlement projects that put a bad taste in my mouth about Israel. In all other aspects, I respect them very much.
Biden is much appreciated by the normal Israelis, in fact, at the moment, is idolized for what he has done for them.
You can easily tell that Bibi is listening to Biden's cautions about how to approach Gaza. If he weren't ten of thousands more Palestinians would be dead along with Hamas who is hiding behind them.
To preach otherwise is so much partisan drivel by those consumed with their Biden-hate campaign.
Sharlee, Biden is far from sharp. Biden is addled. Sharlee, you are astute in your analysis as usual.
Due to President Biden's masterful diplomacy, A Texas pizza shop owner who was stranded in Gaza with limited supplies for weeks was able to safely cross into Egypt on Saturday, his wife told CNN Sunday.
https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-new … 33353c6fb7"David Axelrod questions whether it is 'wise' for Biden to stay in 2024 race: 'Stakes...too dramatic to ignore"
OMG --- do you realize how many people holding American passports want to get out of Gaza? These people should have been allowed to leave weeks ago. DeSantis has brought home every one of the Floridians that were trapped in Israel, that wanted to come home. Biden is weak, he actually can't handle even the simple problem of getting Americans into Eygpt and home. He is a pure idiot. This old fool makes no mention of the Americans killed on Oct 7 --- How does one support this man?
He has brought America to its knees on the world stage. Sickening to watch.I think a huge majority have become very worried about the path Biden put us on, and would further lead. Hey, I am very sure more problems are coming, I mean I feel and have felt our Governing body is spinning out of control. I think Joe is going to be dumped pretty quickly. The Dems are pretty smart and don't see a win with Biden in 2024.
It is going to get much worse before it becomes better. You are right-many people who voted for Biden now REGRET it.
Sharlee:
"I mean I feel and have felt our Governing body is spinning out of control."
If you mean the House of Representative, you are right. But Biden didn't have anything to do with that. The GOP are all out of control because they are Trump's puppets, including the latest Speaker of the House.I disagree --- Many Americans are very concerned about righting all the huge crises Biden has caused, and they want to hear solutions. The old-school politicians just do not have what the Majority of Americans are looking for. Many (most likely the majority) of Republicans want a strong about-America agenda, an end to all the fluff-woke BS, and someone who is very much transparent, and the independents are on board with the same.
So many Americans have WOKE (lol) up to the fact we need to fix America, right now before she sinks. The polls indicate the majority are done with Biden, due to his poor job performance, and the mess he has made of the Country and the world. I have no idea if they will turn to Trump, but in my view, they will turn away from the Democratic party. Their left-wing agenda sunk them big time. I surmise a very small minority will continue to support Biden, so many in his party want him out. I know I have harped on this for almost three years --- Biden makes problems, big problems, and has no solutions to solve them. I feel somewhat pleased that the polls are pretty much supporting my thoughts at this time.
Trump leads Biden in 5 key battleground states: poll
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4 … ates-poll/
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/politics … index.html
NYT -- Joe Biden Is in Trouble
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/opin … lling.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/us/p … trump.html
Behind the Curtain: Biden's race problem with Blacks and Hispanics
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/biden- … sing-polls
I predict Biden's approval rate will soon become historic stats.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/bi … al-rating/
"David Axelrod questions whether it is 'wise' for Biden to stay in 2024 race: 'Stakes...too dramatic to ignore" So many jumping ship.
I realize my comment is very cynical, but I can't find even a bit of respect for those who continue to support such a flawed president, he has ruined our country before our eyes, in my view. Maybe time to reevaluate your thoughts on Joe. Just saying...
The How many great amazing, wonderful things Joe Biden has done as President thread. Always a fan of the forums favorite.
The Afghan Fiasco Will Stick to Biden
https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghanista … 1630612285
In the rapidly worsening Ukraine fiasco, the U.S. is reaping exactly what it sowed
https://www.salon.com/2022/02/02/in-the … -it-sowed/
Biden cash to Iran and Gaza under congressional scrutiny after Hamas attack
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/poli … e_vignette
Biden allowed Iran's oil to flow, removed the previous Administration's sanctions, even after complaining that Iran was helping Russia against Ukraine. Even after:
February 25, 2021: President Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes on Iraqi Shiite militia targets located in eastern Syria. This was in response to an attack in February of 2021, when Iranian proxies (again, Iraqi Shiite militias) launched three attacks on American targets inside Iraq. One U.S.-employed contractor was killed and U.S. troops were injured.
June 27, 2021: President Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes on Iraqi Shiite militia targets located along the Iraq/Syria border. This was in response to drone attacks on bases in northern Iraq that housed U.S. forces. The two Shiite groups hit were the Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia groups. Iraqi media reported that four militia members died in the attack.
June 28, 2021: In response to the previous day’s airstrikes, militia forces respond with rocket attacks on U.S. troops on the ground in Syria near al-Omar. The U.S. reported no American casualties, and responded with artillery fire at the “rocket-launching platforms.”
August, 2022: Two Airstrikes against Shiite militia targets in Syria following rocket attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq in which American troops were wounded.
Etc. etc.If these facts don't wake up Americans, not sure what would. Maybe being nuked?
Very one sided. I'll just hit on the supposed oil sanctions on Iran during Trump's administration.
"Iran conceals the bulk of its oil trade through subterfuge, with practices ranging from the simple — changing the names and registrations of oil tankers — to the complex and dangerous, such as clandestine transfers of crude oil or liquefied petroleum gas between vessels in the open sea. United Against Nuclear Iran, a Washington advocacy group that monitors Iran’s illicit oil trade, obtained aerial photographs depicting four vessels allegedly engaged in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil in October. In five other instances, foreign ships were seen picking up Iranian liquid petroleum gas and transferring the fuel to other vessels bound for Chinese ports.
https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.co … m-pressure
A true blockade of Iranian oil could not be realized without some sort of military action. And since most of their oil goes to China what do you think that sort of conflict would look like? I'd say that the Trump administration probably turned a blind eye to Iranian oil slipping off to China. Yes he reduced the export of Iranian oil but what were the consequences?
https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.co … m-pressure
This was the consequence..
Two years after Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran has cut in half the time it would need to produce enough weapons-grade fuel for a nuclear bomb. Cool stuff huh? Did Trump make the proper trade off? Ditch a nuclear agreement that all said was working in favor of sanctioning oil? And in the opposite, Biden's desire to bring back the nuclear deal with loosened sanctions on oil which most say would drop crude prices? Especially in light of the fact that there is an entire 'dark fleet" out there delivering so-called sanctioned oil to China.
Why the US Can’t Stop Iran’s Lucrative Oil Trade With China?
'...thanks to China’s appetite for discounted crude, and what traders, analysts and oil industry executives describe as expanded payment and transport networks that the US cannot reach."
What’s less clear is whether Washington can actually do much to counter the effect of China’s support. The trade is very sophisticated, with multiple middlemen, which makes it a lot more difficult for the US to sanction. The US can hit companies that are more public or obvious in their Iranian dealings, but many of these middlemen are small entities,
Yet both Iran and Russia have provided fodder for critics who argue that even unprecedented measures have failed to change behavior, as oil revenue continues to flow to the very top.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-us-t … 43691.html
Again, the issue is so much more complex and multifaceted. The "Biden did this" refrain is again, too simplistic.Iran exported nearly 1.4 million barrels of oil per day in October, sustaining its average for 2023. This is up 80% from the 775,000 barrels per day Iran averaged under the Trump Administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy, according to United Against Nuclear Iran, the group of former U.S. Ambassador Mark Wallace and Sen. Joe Lieberman, whose Tanker Tracker generates the best public data we have.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-admi … a-df192c53
The difference for Iran, over $35 Billion dollars.
This isn't politics as normal. I'm not jumping on Biden (his Administration) because he is a Democrat or because I have a horse in the race I prefer (right now I'll take ANY change that gets this cabal out of the WH).
Biden is everything the MSM warned America that Trump was, he is the one that is starting WWIII, it wasn't Trump.
Biden is the one having the FBI run around investigating and arresting the opposition, using the FBI and DOJ to cover up his own crimes, labeling half of America a threat to Democracy... look back into other nation's histories, see how things go when their leaders start calling the opposition traitors and domestic terrorists.
Biden is a one Administration wrecking ball to the Constitution, and to Global Peace, how many new wars have to be opened up before people get it... this Administration is run by warmongering lunatics AND incompetent idiots, a bad combination to have in control of the WH.Ken: "Biden is a one Administration wrecking ball to the Constitution, and to Global Peace, how many new wars have to be opened up before people get it... this Administration is run by warmongering lunatics AND incompetent idiots, a bad combination to have in control of the WH."
The last time I looked. Putin started the war with Ukraine and Hamas and Netanyahu started the war in Israel where 12,000 Palestinians have needlessly been killed and the remainder have been made refugees in their own countries. The towns, cities, and infrastructure in both countries have been turned to rubble. Talk about a wrecking ball !!!You didn't look very hard, or you don't know how, one of the two.
Why do Americans think they're always at the center of everything that goes on in the world? We seem to be a very egotistical people.
All of this talk about Israel and Hamas and almost no one brings up the Israeli government, it's almost as if they are non-existent and have had no impact. Folks need to read more from the people of Israel, they are blaming their prime Ministers coddling and promotion of Hamas through his many terms. He has allowed hordes of Qatari cash come through to Hamas over his years. Bibi never wanted an actual government in Gaza. He is never wanted a two-state solution. Having Hamas in power has made it easier for him to meet his end goals
Not sure where to post this but I'll go here because I will count it as a Biden win (simply because he is in office right now) if oil prices come down.
Saudi Arabia could 'flush' the oil market with a flood of supply to regain control over prices in the face of rising US production, crude expert says.
That comes as OPEC+ concluded its latest meeting where members pledged voluntary production cuts without giving firm commitments.
Meanwhile, US crude output has been on a tear this year, hitting new record highs. (WHAT?!... SOMEONE GET JOE BACK TO THE BASEMENT)
Saudi Arabia may flood the market with more oil supplies, reversing its production curbs, as the world's top crude exporter tries to regain control of prices, an energy market veteran said.
For now, OPEC's de factor leader is trying to prop up crude by pumping less. On Thursday, it extended its cut of 1 million barrel per day into the first quarter.
But Sankey noted Saudi Arabia shocked markets in 2014, when it similarly tried to flush the market by sinking crude prices from highs of around $110 a barrel to $50.
The drop in prices eventually forced higher-cost producers to exit the market as pumping was no longer profitable. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia continued to pump as it was better able to withstand lower prices. As supplies from its rivals disappeared, the kingdom was able to regain traction over prices.
Back then, like today, booming US oil supply is a headache for OPEC and Saudi Arabia. (WHAT?! BOOMING?..GOD BIDENS GONNA DESTROY THIS COUNTRY )And Sankey said Friday that the oil cartel has "a huge problem with US production levels." HMMM..., interesting isn't it? I thought they had the problem with Biden?
US crude output has been on a tear this year, with monthly production hitting a record high in September at more than 13.2 million barrels a day, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.
But please let's keep logic consistent on our right wing. If gas prices continue to fall, it will solely be to the credit of Biden and absolutely nothing due to OPEC deciding to flood the market... Just as the right-wing logic told us increasing prices were completely, 100% in the hands of Biden and absolutely nothing else impacted those prices.
https://markets.businessinsider.com/new … od-2023-12It would appear we may have a month's reprieve from high gas prices at best.
OIL Dec 2, 2023
Oil prices could reach $100 a barrel in 2024 if OPEC+ members fulfill pledges for voluntary cuts
Oil prices are expected to rise in the new year after some OPEC+ oil producers voluntarily pledged to cut output.
The oil cartel on Thursday released a statement that did not formally endorse production cuts, but individual countries announced voluntary reductions totaling 2.2 million barrels per day for the first quarter of 2024.
Leading the cuts is OPEC kingpin and largest member Saudi Arabia. Riyadh agreed to extend its voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels per day — which has been in place since July — until the end of the first quarter of 2024. Russia said it will cut supply by 300,000 barrels per day of crude and 200,000 barrels per day of petroleum products over the same period.
Iraq is cutting by 223,000 bpd, the United Arab Emirates by 163,000 bpd, Kuwait by 135,000 bpd, Kazakhstan by 82,000 bpd, Algeria by 51,000 bpd and Oman by 42,000 bpd.
“Compliance is key. It can’t just be Saudi Arabia. We have to have compliance from the other OPEC nations,” Bill Perkins, CEO and head trader of Skylar Capital Management, told CNBC. “When these other nations say they’re going to cut, the market doesn’t trust it as much,” he added.
The way the production cuts were announced also fueled traders’ confusion and skepticism. In previous announcements, the OPEC+ press release contained all relevant information. But on Thursday, individual member states issued separate statements on their voluntary cuts.
If members do fulfill their pledged cuts, crude prices are set to climb.
When the cuts expire at the end of the first quarter, these removed barrels will only return gradually, “which should help keep the oil market in deficit in 1H24,” UBS strategist Giovanni Staunovo wrote in a note following the decision, adding that he expects prices to rise in the undersupplied oil market.
“If the compliance rate of the group improves from here, even more barrels could get removed,” Staunovo added.
Similarly, Goldman Sachs forecasts higher prices, adopting a wait-and-see approach on OPEC+ members adhering to the proposed cuts.
“We estimate a modest mechanical boost from the extra cut to Brent Dec24 prices of around $4/bbl relative our prior OPEC+ assumptions,” the investment bank said in a note, adding that it expects the group “can maintain Brent oil prices in the $80-$100 range in 2024.”
Global benchmark Brent crude futures traded 0.25% lower at $80.66 a barrel Friday, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures slipped 0.04% to $75.93 per barrel.
—CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache contributed to this report.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/01/oil-pri … %20output.
The thread that never dies... in Biden's America:
Crime is so bad in NYC that stores are locking up dish soap and laundry detergent.
The Biden administration has been so weak against our enemies he actually continues to send them billions (Iran) while putting our forces in harm's way to fight the terrorists being funded with that money. (see Hamas, see Red Sea attacks on our ships)
The Biden border invasion is now so bad that Border Patrol has to suspend training because they are too busy helping bring in all the illegal aliens arriving.
Biden is so bad, the only thing substantial he's running on is the fact that gas costs a dollar more a gallon than when Biden took office.
The rest of their strategy revolves around voter shaming, and threatening an end to democracy as we know it. Which is exactly what they are themselves doing, trying to remove Trump from the ballots in key states and not even allowing for him to be written in.The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration reported that American oil production in the first week of October hit 13.2 million barrels per day, passing the previous record set in 2020 by 100,000 barrels. Weekly domestic oil production has doubled from the first week in October 2012 to now. Huh? Fake news?
Wait a minute... Oil output exceeding prepandemic levels?! . Get this man back to the basement. He is on a literal tear.
What kind of foolery is this..And it conflicts with repeated Republican talking points of a Biden "war on American energy.". Come on already is he at war with energy or not? Remember when the oil companies were whining how they were being constrained?
And the biggest lol to those that call Biden a climate warrior..." passing the previous record set in 2020 by 100,000 barrels. "
That stat means nothing in broader terms... We were in the middle of a lockdown, not in need of as much fuel.
https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2020/artic … 20rebound.2020 was just when the previous record was set. He has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Crude and condensate production rose to a record 13.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in August, surpassing the previous peak of 13.0 million b/d set in November 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodi … 0pandemic.
The United States is poised to extract more oil and gas than ever before in 2023, a year that is certain to be the hottest ever recorded.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment … l%20fuels.
HOUSTON–The Permian Basin is back in full swing.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Permian oil production has returned to pre-pandemic levels and in October is expected to surpass the previous record of just under 4.8 million barrels a day set in early 2020.
https://www.aogr.com/web-exclusives/exc … mic-levels
U.S. production of crude oil reached the highest levels in 40 months as domestic production returned to pre-pandemic levels.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/nationa … 29a9c.html
Yep. Get the demented man back to the basement. He is single-handedly boosting oil production.He has singlehandedly made problem after problem, and it will take many years to fix what he has done. I agree he needs to return to the basement.
Biden is not likely to be the nominee in 2024.
His health is worse than they are admitting to. They don't want him, and the way the DNC/Democrats operate, they can have him give up his delegations... or they will just declare him incompetent and move from him.
Gavin Newsom is their guy, he has met with Xi a couple times already, the debate he had with Desantis was to help sell America on him and the idea of him being President... there is no other reason for him to have agreed to it. I believe he was interviewed before/during the Republican debates as well... its their way of getting Americans ready for him, without giving away the fact that they are about to put Biden in a Box and get him out of the way, one way or another.
I wasn't sure about this until recently, but the stories that are coming out about how bad Biden's health really is, pretty much convinced me its the only card they have to play.
Its not like Americans would put Harris in as President... she's as dumb as a box of rocks and even more clueless about what is going on in the world than dementia Joe is.
Putting her out in front of a camera on a regular basis would have hardcore Democrats voting for RFK Jr as the Independant, or whatever other choice they had other than Trump.
I wish they would go with Harris, that would be the best way to ensure we get a change from the current Administration, and hopefully someone who will clean out DC... the FBI, CIA, DOJ, IRS which the President most certainly can do, he can clean them all out, which Trump didn't do, and it cost him.I agree --- It is very clear to me that in recent appearances Biden has become more unsteady on his feet, and he is having increasing problems with drawing on the proper words that are appropriate for questions he is asked. He looks dazed, and I would think we won't see him in public. They that be are unable to prop him up any longer.
In my view, I can't see them going with Harris, she appears so unintelligent. However, it would be wonderful, it would give Republicans a win in 2024.
I would imagine Trump is kicking himself for not cleaning the house when he had the chance. I would predict if he wins in 2024 we will see a complete housecleaning in every agency including DOJ, FBI, CIA, Military, you name it.
I also think Haily may go on a third-party ticket if Trump does not drop out.Nikki Haley is the preferred choice of the "old" Republican Party.
The "old" Republican Party is not the one that Trump brought into existence, which is the Blue Collar, America 1st screw the Global-NWO-Socialism party.
She has no desire to go third-party, nor do her backers want that, they want her to replace Trump and/or DeSantis (who is also not really controllable like a DC insider such as Haley is).
I think most Trump-Republican voters are aware of this, which is why replacing Trump is not working well, and if he is replaced the bulk of his supporters will swing to DeSantis... Haley reeks of establishment and that is not what Trump supporters want.
The RINOs, the Neocons, the Globalists and the Socialist-Identity-Politics types will all support the Democrat nominee this election.
The Moderates, the Libertarians, some of the "old" Democrats that have woken up to what has happened to the Democrat Party, and all America 1st types will vote Republican or Independent.
Democrats are the Establishment, the FBI, CIA, DOJ, IRS The MSM and Social Media Giants, the UN and the WEF, are all in bed with the Dems and some of the "old" Republicans still lingering around (IE - Lindsey Graham) the corrupt and tyrannical.I think this is a good time to offer this:
A video titled "Feeble," posted by The Lincoln Project on Monday shared this with America:
* First, Trump wasn't able to discern that what the Lincoln Project posted was authenticated archived copies of what Trump has said or done.
* Trump struggles with trying to pronounce the word "anonymous."
* In 2020, Trump appeared to be slurring his words during a speech in New Jersey, prompting even Fox to snicker.
* CNN crafted a super-cut of Trump sniffling and slurring his words from 2017, when he was much younger. - https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/watch- … -speeches/
* The narrator then asks: "Are you sure you don't have dementia," before answering the question in a hushed whisper with a still photo of Trump with his arm around his father. "It runs in the family." Fred Trump Sr. died of Alzheimer's Disease. (In case you didn't know, Alzheimer's is inherited.)
* Not in the ad but Trump on several occasions wrote or spoke that his father was NOT born in NY. In one case, it was in New Jersey and in two others it was in Germany.
* "And we did with Obama. We won an election," claiming he beat President Barack Obama in the 2016 election when it was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
* After being corrected twice in one interview, Trump tried to save it by saying they were all intentional. Joe Biden, he claimed, was really just Barack Obama pulling the strings. That's why he was referencing beating Obama. But, Trump didn't beat Biden in 2016 either.
* Trump is "Getting the facts wrong." The most recent example is of Trump not knowing which country Viktor Orbán leads.
* Trump appeared next to first responders and leaders in the fire-ravaged town of Paradise, California, saying, "We just left Pleasure—" and multiple people corrected him. "Oh Paradise," he said.
* The video does not mock him for walking around with a piece of toilet paper on his shoe, and losing his power, strength and even his manhood. What the video does show, however, is an open palm pouring out two Viagra pills.
* The video does not mock him for walking around with a piece of toilet paper on his shoe, and losing his power, strength and even his manhood. What the video does show, however, is an open palm pouring out two Viagra pills.
* Nor does it bring up his "Shining a light inside the body to kill Covid".
Even looking at Trump at his rallies, he seems beat and tired, always hanging on to the podium.
There is no way in the real world that Trump could keep up the schedule that Biden does day in and day out. He was much more interested in watching TV or playing golf than governing.
*It's evident that Trump struggles to articulate his words effectively, and he often gets facts wrong. Nevertheless, in my view, his problem-solving skills surpass those of many previous presidents. Given the current state of the country drowning in problems, I believe Trump could effectively address and resolve many of our pressing issues.
I find Trump exhibits a good energy level, he can certainly juggle many things at once, and keep his temperament in check.
I don't agree that Biden keeps a busy schedule. I feel he does very little on a day-to-day basis. Just my view. He appears feeble and unsure, and much of the time he searches for words --- that never come.
Oil production on average is higher under President Biden than previous administrations on record.
And Trump tells Hannity yesterday that on his first day in office he's going to "drill drill drill...lol. too late.
“If Biden’s elected, he will wipe out your energy industry.” -President Trump, 2020
Oh my heavens, that didn't age well did it?
The U.S. oil industry has thrived under President Biden. The share prices of energy companies have exploded since his inauguration, because their profits have surged.U.S. crude oil production fell by 8% in 2020, the largest annual decrease on record due to the pandemic, and less need for fuel. Biden has now enjoyed (finally) getting back to Trump's era production. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50621#
"U.S. crude oil production grew 11% in 2019, surpassing 12 million barrels per day. Annual U.S. crude oil production reached another record level at 12.23 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2019, 1.24 million b/d, or 11%, more than 2018 levels. The 2019 growth rate was down from a 17% growth rate in 2018."
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detai … in%202018.
It seems many don't just look at the stat facts. I guess Joe needs to take credit where is not due,
As he has regarding unemployment stats. I note he does not talk about the ongoing inflation, and the records he broke regarding inflation in 2021, and 2022. This administration has fallen back on what Trump built in my view.
I would love to have him speak about the stats on our Border, sheer stats say it all. In my view, our borders are open, wide open.The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration reported that American oil production in the first week of October hit 13.2 million barrels per day, passing the previous record set in 2020 by 100,000 barrels. These are the facts, there's no way around them, Biden is in office and we are having record oil production therefore he gets 100% of the credit.
The United States is poised to extract more oil and gas than ever before in 2023. U.S. oil production , already the highest in the world, is on track to set a new record this year, and will probably rise even more in 2024.
The United States now producing more crude oil than at any other time in history...
https://www.newsweek.com/united-states- … mp-1846864
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/2 … n-00111626
Biden wins. Let's not divert to the border but the same policies govern the border now as they did under Trump. Immigration law has not changed
It really is pure partisanship when folks can't give credit where credit's due.
If this was the Trump administration right now we will be hearing all sorts of praise on this forum. But because it's Biden, now it's just inconsequential like it doesn't even matter anymore. I just don't understand the inconsistent logicThe laws have not change particularly, but our response to them surely has. Trump did not fly illegal aliens all over the country under cover of darkness...
Again, there is a new lawsuit against Biden concerning immigration every other week but it is never brought by Republicans and when they have brought a lawsuit it's been struck down in conservative courts.
If he is breaking the law in terms of not enforcing the law where are the suits?
Am I really to believe that Republican lawmakers would not file lawsuits if he were acting outside of the law? That's laughableWhat's laughable is that you appear to think that Congress, and the President, does not operate outside the law when it wishes to.
It is also laughable that you think that anything inside the law is the proper thing to do - that if it is legal then it is the best thing for the country.Republicans bring lawsuits on the Biden administration all the time, on every issue. Except immigration. They understand, completely that there is little to nothing he can do to prevent people from showing up at the border.
Well that just flies in the face of innumerous posts I have made explaining how the Global Compact on Migration and all associated UN and NGO efforts have worked in conjunction with the Biden Administration to make the growing waves of migrations occur... but whatever.
However, previous presidents certainly kept the numbers down and worked toward solutions. Biden's solutions spell --- Come on down, we will be hiring more staff to expedite your entry.
Your reasoning is baffling. If the current laws in any circumstances are not working, it is up to the president and his administration and or Congress to come up with sensible ways to solve problems. Early on Biden put forth a bill that was so ludicrous it was not considered. In my view this bill does nothing but encourage more to make their way to the border.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo … on-system/
As of late all his ideas involve how to process illegals into America, even putting up a website where migrants can accelerate the process. He appears to hope to increase the number, rather than get some control over the numbers that are presenting at the border.
Our law dictates a ceiling --- U.S. Annual Refugee Resettlement Ceilings and Number of Refugees Admitted, 1980-Present
"This data tool shows refugee admissions and annual resettlement ceilings since inception of the U.S. refugee resettlement program in 1980. The number of persons who may be admitted to the United States as refugees each year is established by the President in consultation with Congress. For fiscal year (FY) 2024, the ceiling was set at 125,000, as it was each of the two prior years. Refugees are individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin or nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."
Each month Bidens has been in office we have witnessed more than 125,000 approach our borders. The great majority admitted to waiting for an asylum hearing. Many never show up for their hearing, and just stay illegally in America.Legislation/laws happen in Congress not in the executive branch. The Republican section of the house seems incapable of doing just about anything these days. But what interest do they have in changing any current immigration law? This is a campaign issue for them. They understand full well that the American public does not understand immigration law whatsoever.
Yes there are many more people migrating around the globe and there are many reasons for it but I'm sure no one here would be interested in any of them. You know, keep it on a singular focus. No impacting conditions. Biden operates as a sole entity, entirely in a vacuum.
As far as his ideas, he is operating under the law he is bound by, what other choice does he have? He presented a bill on day one that at least could have been a starting point for some compromises. Instead, no one did anything. Brilliant.He could respect one law -- As many previous presidents made an effort to do. Your excuses in my view, are fluffy, and show little to no sense in the light of such a serious crisis.
"Our law dictates a ceiling --- U.S. Annual Refugee Resettlement Ceilings and Number of Refugees Admitted, 1980-Present
"This data tool shows refugee admissions and annual resettlement ceilings since the inception of the U.S. refugee resettlement program in 1980. The number of persons who may be admitted to the United States as refugees each year is established by the President in consultation with Congress. For fiscal year (FY) 2024, the ceiling was set at 125,000, as it was each of the two prior years. Refugees are individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin or nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."
Just curious Eso, if Biden has the country knee deep in WWIII fighting Russia, Iran, China and who knows who else, will you still be espousing what a great leader he is?
A dementia riddled President leading us into a multi-front world war against nations with a combined Industrial might that dwarfs our own, that would be the best.
Remember Willow, you live in the real world full of checkable facts. The other side still believes the election was stolen, lol.
Checkable facts... well... that depends on what sources you trust.
These days that also depends on what faith you believe in, if you kneel at the alter of Identity Politics or Christianity or Islam or whatever.
You know... the Pillars of our Civilization today are Cheap Energy, Meritocracy, Law and Order, and Free Speech... and all four of these things are currently being threatened... and it isn't because of Trump.
The reason for oil companies thriving under Biden is clear, and I am surprised anyone would bring that up --- curious.
Biden went after oil companies on his first day in office. And oh my did energy prices rise... from gas to untilties. They have had an out-and-out price boom, and we have paid the price for Biden's mistake.
It's so odd you would not have thought this one out a bit more. Under Trump, we enjoyed great discounts on energy, and he kept the oil producers in check. Biden was a dream come true. I know so well, I invest in Oil
"Exxon and Chevron each logged their biggest profits ever in 2022, and the share price of each hit a new record high in 2023. The two firms' financial performance so far in 2023 is close to last year's record pace, which is why each can make a $60 billion acquisition as easily as some companies buy staplers or toner."
So, old Joe has made oil companies billions --- Trump not so much... I should say Americans made oil companies billions, all under Biden's quest to cut oil and make the planet green --- lol So, yes, you said a mouthful of oil production is up, and we are still paying at the pump.
I would not be at all surprised that many of our Washington reps as well as Joe and his family have not become very rich due to the actions he took on oil.
Makes one wonder...This seems like a clear departure from other posts that you have made in the past concerning how oil producers hated Biden and were quite friendly with Trump
I thought in a capitalistic society it was good for corporations to thrive and make as much money as possible?
I thought that many wanted the oil companies to drill drill drill and that's exactly what they've been doing. They've hit an all-time record for production, this is not to be applauded? LOL from a man that extremists said would wipe out the oil industry.
How was this missed?
New Data: Biden’s First Year Drilling Permitting Stomps Trump’s By 34%..
New federal data shows the Biden administration approved 3,557 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first year, far outpacing the Trump administration’s first-year total of 2,658.
Nearly 2,000 of the drilling permits were approved on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management’s New Mexico office, followed by 843 in Wyoming, 285 in Montana and North Dakota, and 191 in Utah. In California, the Biden administration approved 187 permits — more than twice the 71 drilling permits Trump approved in that state in his first year.
I'm sure that climate activists are upset but the oil lovers on the right should be ecstatic
https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/ … 022-01-21/This is the previous post from you..
"First one may want to consider, America's Oil and gas resources are privately owned, not by governments as in some other parts of the world. We have free enterprise, and Government has no right to dictate to privately owned companies. These companies have shareholders that they are required to look out for. These companies are about employing citizens, making money, and staying solvent. This has been a preferred
ideology known as capitalism. The US has done well under capitalism.
The oil companies worked with Trump, they won't cut off their noses to please Biden. Biden borders on " state-controlled energy" The oil industry is one of our biggest industries. It helps keep our nation rich, providing the cleanest energy, and millions of high-paying jobs."
Are you not satisfied that the oil companies are making lots of money and paying lots of dividends? It seems that you were before.
It seems the logic has shifted from one president to the next. Praise for Trump in terms of oil production but when Biden tops it it turns into a potential scandal?
I hold the view that presidents don't have much control over oil. I took on the position in logic that so many on this forum employee, that is the president is 100% responsible for anything and everything that happens while in office. But when I do that, the logic of others flips. It doesn't remain consistent. MAGA supporters, when faced with a positive accomplishment of the Biden administration, shift their logic to find a way to say that he can't possibly be responsible for anything positive or that tops Trump."Are you not satisfied that the oil companies are making lots of money and paying lots of dividends? It seems that you were before.
It seems the logic has shifted from one president to the next. Praise for Trump in terms of oil production but when Biden tops it it turns into a potential scandal?"
As I said --- Under Trump, we enjoyed great discounts on energy, and he kept the oil producers in check. Biden was a dream come true. I know so well, that I invest in Oil. So, does that statement not share my pleasure?
Trump surely had the oil companies in check, he had them still making profits, but not at the cost of Americans paying more. The oil companies saw a future with Trump's Pium baby pump policies. He was very liberal with leases, and pumping on federal land. They loved him, he was not threatening to shut them down, as Biden did. They had it all, good profits with a promising future. Biden tweaked their noses big time. They fought back, and I would say as of today, they won.
Biden looks foolish he promised to decrease oil production to ensure a greener planet... LOL
Domestic production is projected to reach an all-time record high of 12.9 million barrels a day by the end of this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A data analysis by E&E News also shows that the Bureau of Land Management has approved MORE oil and gas leases on federal lands during Biden’s first two years and seven months as president than former President Trump did during the same amount of time at the beginning of his administration.
This data, in my view, underscores Biden's energy policies, this will likely be a focus of the 2024 presidential race: What is driving oil and gas production to record levels under Biden, and how much are the gains the result of decisions and policies made by his administration? AND - Why is the surge failing to keep gasoline prices in check, and is the Biden administration doing enough to help consumers?
In my view, he is the worst kind of liar, he will tell anyone what they want to hear, and yet know he is lying as the words leave his mouth.
I need not remind you, that I am a pure capitalist, I am sure I have shared that with you before. I like living in a country that is considered one of the richest. Without big industry, without oil, and technology, we would be looked at as just another country that did not thrive.
I can't disagree that oil companies cutting the price of oil momentarily, due to pumping more is a good thing or a bad thing. It's a momentary thing. Most likely first of the year, we will watch the price of oil rise due to OPEC stating they will be cutting back on pumping. As I said the oil companies win in the end. They strive to stay in business and make dividends for investors.
I must ask, does it please you to see Boden go back on his promise to cut pumping, yet he did not, and time and time again asked OPEC, as well as US oil companies to pump more? I am certainly happy with the increased pumping, it may lower prices and add profits to oil producers. Ultimately this will cause Biden a problem in the 2024 election with many who hoped he would support his promise of decreasing oil output, to ensure a cleaner planet.
"I hold the view that presidents don't have much control over oil."
I agree, and Biden's mistakes are good proof of that. When push comes to shove, we still need oil, and stats show we are using more oil than before. I don't feel this is a good thing, but it is where we are.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/artic … s-much-oil
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=709&t=6Trump surely had the oil companies in check, he had them still making profits, but not at the cost of Americans paying more.
How exactly? Should a president have private corporations "in check"? What exactly did he do to make them set aside their own goals for profits?
politicians in both parties have called for a seemingly easy solution: Drill our way out of the problem to ease prices at the pump.
the US is already the world’s top producer of crude oil, we are also the world’s largest consumer of oil. Buried under US soil lies an estimated 38.2 billion barrels worth of proven oil reserves that are still untapped. But there’s a big impediment to the US using that oil: It tends to be lighter and different from the heavier imported oil we currently rely on. Here in the US we consume a different kind of oil than we produce.... So Trump's "drill drill drill"..yes, just more money for the oil companies and dividends for its shareholders... Means nothing for the price we will pay. Let's use the same logic to compare administrations.
The idea that the US can be fully energy independent and that it would combat rising gas prices is a fantasy.
Can the US wall itself off from volatility in the global oil market? Their goals? No we can't. OPEC is not going to diminish their goals and profits for our country, no matter who sits in the White House.
Oil is a global commodity. The global price of oil determines gas prices in the US.
The US gets the vast majority of its imported crude oil from Canada, Mexico and
Saudi Arabia. Organizations like OPEC+ have a huge influence on prices, which fluctuate due to production targets and profit goals. This applied to the Trump administration as well as the Biden administration. No difference.
Yes letting American oil companies drill as much as they want increases their profits but does not necessarily reduce our prices at the pump for the reasons outlined. We are dependent on foreign oil. Let's apply the same logic to both people. The facts are the facts regardless of who sits in the office."Trump surely had the oil companies in check, he had them still making profits, but not at the cost of Americans paying more."
"Saudi Arabia. Organizations like OPEC+ have a huge influence on prices, which fluctuate due to production targets and profit goals. This applied to the Trump administration as well as the Biden administration. No difference."
yes, that is a fact... However,
Trump cut regulations, opened more leases, and promoted new refineries to be built, to handle the oil under our soil, as well as pipelines. He had the oil companies investing. Companies were pumping to the needs of the country, and the world working well with OPEC. The oil market was steady much of the time, and the oil companies made good profits, and prices were low due to good control. Plus, the US was starting to export more oil than they ever had, under Trump. He made careful decisions, and they paid off.
Knowing volatile oil prices can send shockwaves throughout the global economy. Changes in the production and consumption of oil also drive prices. He got involved in the oil war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
I don't think many know how he ended the war between Oil-producing nations and got them to agree to the largest production cut ever negotiated, in an unprecedented coordinated effort by Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to stabilize oil prices and, indirectly, global financial markets. We were facing a real financial downfall if the oil war continued. We could have seen a worldwide recession, that would have been devastating to our economy as well as the economy of the world.
Saudi Arabia and Russia take the lead in setting global production goals. But President Trump, facing a re-election campaign, a plunging economy, and American oil companies struggling with collapsing prices, took the unusual step of getting involved after the two countries entered a price war.
It was unclear, however, whether the cuts would be enough to bolster prices. Before the coronavirus crisis hit us, 100 million barrels of oil each day fueled global commerce, but demand fell swiftly. While significant, the cuts agreed on did fall somewhat short of what is needed to bring oil production in line with demand. It did work to stop a market crash and any rise in inflation.
By the end of Trump's term, we were purchasing very little oil from other nations.
Good to see President Biden's superb leadership paying off with a good economy.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/08/economy/ … index.htmlYes it's great that we employed more in health care - we have a desperate need for doctors and nurses to care for the millions of illegal aliens that have invaded.
It's not so great that government is expanding - it mostly means taxes must rise to pay those people.
Meanwhile we continue to suffer from inflation, even as Biden and the government claim it is down and everything is rosy there...while most of us are cutting our expenditures and doing without because we can't afford to live as we were before he took office and gave away Trillions government did not have.
A magnificent achievement. As long as we don't mind cutting our standard of living, anyway.+100000000, inflation is at an all time high. Yes, people are suffering from inflation. The value of a dollar is at the lowest it has ever been. It has gotten much worse instead of better.
Any stats to back up those claims? Inflation at an all-time high? And the dollar and its lowest point ever?
"Yes it's great that we employed more in health care - we have a desperate need for doctors and nurses to care for the millions of illegal aliens that have invaded." - PROOF please that this is true. Without it, it is just histrionics and hyperbole.
"It's not so great that government is expanding - it mostly means taxes must rise to pay those people." - PROVE that claim. Wouldn't the current budgets already appropriate money for these people? Show where these are BRAND NEW jobs not already budgeted for.
"Meanwhile we continue to suffer from inflation," - NO, we are not. Inflation is only 3.2%, well below the average. Facts Matter.
"while most of us are cutting our expenditures and doing without " - PROVE that as well. Wouldn't that mean the poverty rate is climbing? Well, it is not. The only time in the last 33 years is in 2019.I think that is true, facts do matter.
The recent lower, yet still positive, 12-month inflation rate is a misleading indicator. It ignores the multiplier effect.
Inflation's flip side is a currency's purchasing power loss. So, it's like compound interest in reverse, as each month's positive inflation rate (no matter the size) worsens the accumulated purchasing power damage.
If inflation goes all the way down to ZERO it still does not undo the damage done, that the dollar has lost 30% of its purchasing power in the last 3 years.
Inflation was caused by the "printing" of money into existence, the government gave out Trillions during the Pandemic, then Biden funded his 1.9 Trillion Build Back Better Act, the second part of Biden’s infrastructure and social spending legislation, which combined with the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Investment act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and lets not forget the pains of not only funding Ukraine's war, but the impact that has had on costs and trade.
Honestly... I don't know how many Trillions they spent, but I know just last year the government spent 2 Trillion more than they took in, that means they "printed" money into existence to cover those expenses which devalues the dollar.
Worsening this... the Fed tried to kill the high inflation cycle it created, so it continues raise interest rates higher.
Worse is yet to come, the Fed needs to reverse its enormous, uncorrected Fed Covid-19 action... The money created by the Fed’s 2020-2021 Trillions of long-term bond purchases.
The Fed has said it is dealing with the issue, but it is not. It has not sold the bonds because they were bought at very low yields (much higher prices) and the unrealized losses (not reported until the bonds are sold), are enormous. This is the same problem that many regional banks created for themselves.
Speaking of banks, the changes made to the banking system doomed us to a future collapse, requiring them to keep nothing in reserve, removing restrictions put in place to keep from having a complete economic meltdown... so the nuclear timebomb is ticking on that problem as well... this is part of the reason why we have seen waves of bank failures, the next wave to hit might do the entire system in.
So... the point I am making is that Inflation may only be 2 or 3% now... but that does not, in any way, undo the damage already done, or the costs to come.
We are going to spend 1 Trillion dollars this year just to pay the interest on the Nation's debt... I don't know how much longer they will keep things afloat, but I would be making whatever financial plans that you can, to be ready for a collapse to hit after November 2024... at the latest."Inflation was caused by the "printing" of money into existence, " - That can certainly be true, BUT, not in this case. Excess demand coupled with shortages in supply were the culprit here.
"removing restrictions put in place to keep from having a complete economic meltdown..." - YES, Republicans did a good job there, just as they did in 2000 setting up the 2008 recession.The statement made was no attempt to play politics or point blame specifically at Biden.
Sometimes you just need to tell people the truth... however... nothing done during the Biden Administration helped matters... spending money that didn't need to be spent chasing Green Energy and Inflation Reduction (come on)... funding a war that did not need to occur, a war that has harmed global trade and aligned half the world against America, has nations bailing on the Dollar... yeah, Biden poured gas onto the fire.What nations are "bailing" on the dollar? Last I checked, it is pretty strong.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, are two. Russia of course. The nations signing new agreements with BRICS and other trade alliances centered around China, Russia and India are significant.
America isn't the global leader in trade like it was decades ago, it will pay the price for its hubris. Or I should say, we all will.
To those that value FACTS, inflation is at 3.2% which is not an "all time high". In fact, it is below the historical average. Facts Matter.
This is what JP Morgan has to say about the value of the dollar, which surged in 2022. It certainly is not at an "all time low" has some have falsely claimed.
[i]"After a historic bull run last year, the nominal broad dollar index fell almost 7% between November 2022 and January 2023. Such weakness reflects a mean reversion from the dollar’s outsized gains in 2022.
“The confluence of factors that had proved so supportive of the dollar earlier in 2022 has since inverted. Markets are now aggressively pricing Fed easing on the back of growing signs of disinflation, while the outlook for global growth this year is no longer looking as pessimistic as it did earlier in 2022,” said Meera Chandan, Global FX Strategist at J.P. Morgan."[/i}
More proof that President Biden's Bidenomics is working well.Admittedly, inflation, as you have presented, is not running high. No doubt a good sign. But, that is not the problem for the average Joe and Jill, especially us old guy ones. The problem is that it was 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022.
That means that a soda pop that cost $1 jumped to $1.07, right? The next year, it didn't jump to $1.065; it went to $1.14. Okay, now it is 3.2%. So, that obviously means prices didn't come down; they continued to grow. So, now that soda pop costs $1.18, right?
If I got that wrong, I don't mind being corrected.
I don't know about you. but I live on a fixed income. That $0.18 increase in three years when extrapolated regarding my grocery, heating, and gasoline expenses is a lot.
Have you looked at the cost of everyday things recently and compared those to pre-2020? Let's look at the fast food industry for just a moment.
"On an annual basis, fast-food menu prices are up 8.2%. By comparison, prices at full-service restaurants increased just 0.1%, down from a 0.7% increase in March. And over the past year, those prices are up 7.2%."
Inflation at fast-food restaurants shows no sign of slowing by Restaurant Business (May 10, 2023)
Limited-service restaurant prices accelerated slightly in April, even as inflation cooled at full-service restaurants and grocery stores.
https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.co … gn-slowing
As an aside, all I know is a couple of years ago I could get a hamburger, fries, and medium coke for $10. Now it is $12.
The next one hit me personally hard. Even though I live in San Diego, it does get cold at night, especially for us old guys.
"The cost per unit of natural gas (known as a therm) has more than doubled increasing from $2.36 per therm in January 2022 to $5.11 per therm in January 2023. More than 90% of the increase in the overall gas rate is driven by the market price for gas – what SDG&E pays suppliers to buy the gas on behalf of our customers."
2023 Energy Rates and Who Sets Them by San Diego Gas & Electric
https://www.sdge.com/rates/rates-2023-e … -sets-them
"Economywide, prices have been rising across a range of products and services, including electricity and natural gas. A key contributor to rate increases is the ongoing, steep rise in the natural gas market, which has impacted energy bills across the nation. The commodity, the cost of natural gas, accounted for more than 90% of the overall increase in the gas rate - and the majority of the increase in the electric rate."
In 2020, I spent $3.49 for a gallon of gas. Today, it costs me $4.37. Yes, again, I live in California, where gas prices are higher. But, again, I live on a fixed budget. The only thing I have going in my favor is I don't drive anywhere. But, from the month I fill up to the month I fill up next, the price of gas has never dropped. It is always a significant increase.
California all grades all formulations retail gasoline prices
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafH … PG&f=M
I use an inflation calculator from time to time. The one I used just now is linked following. Anyway, if I input the start year as 2020 for purchasing something for $1 in 2023, it says $1.19. That falls in line with what I shared above for a soda pop. That is an increase of 18.9%. I find that to be revealing.
That has more value to me than our current inflation rate. You see, I am spending the dollars I saved in 2020 today. Yes, I collected a whopping 0.01% on it. Supposedly, that would counter inflation.
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/Don't forget that energy price increases are not included in the inflation number. Just one way to make a lie sound true.
I just got my SS notice of the increase for next year. The entire increase was sucked up by increases in home energy and gasoline; any others, including groceries, clothing, home maintenance, travel, taxes, etc. have to be covered by simply not buying many of the things that make life worth living. A cut in living standard, in other words.
But inflation was only 3.2%, which the SS check covered. Right, and do I have a great buy on ocean front property in Arizona for you!Energy prices are absolutely included in the most frequently reported inflection calculations. Why do you keep peddling something that is only true in certain circumstances,
BTW, have you noticed, gas prices, adjusted for inflation are now lower than they were in 1978. Here, in my part of Florida, it just dropped below $3.00/gal. Discounted prices are hovering around $2.90/gal.
Eggs to are below pre-pandemic levels in inflation adjusted dollars. So are many other things.
I don't know if your fixed income is from Social Security or not, but the recent increases have been 5.9%, 8.2%, and 3.2%, respectively for 2021, 2022, and 2023. That is an 18.3% increase, compounded.
Inflation for those same years was 4.7%, 8.0%, and 3.2% so far this year. That is a 16.7% compounded increase.
Like gas prices, natural gas prices are back down as well. In unadjusted dollars, natural gas is at the same level as it was before the inflation raised them. That is not to say that you aren't getting screwed in CA, but the wholesale prices don't seem to justify what you are being charged. - https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/rngwhhdm.htm
Used car price index is below what it was in 2021 - https://www.cargurus.com/research/price … 2184399999
I was wrong earlier when I talked about egg prices (I based it on what my wife saw at the store). While, in terms of inflation adjusted dollars, eggs are currently at the same price as they were in 1980, but are still 86 cents higher that in 2019.Actually, I think I do. What I get is there are two realities out there, one fact-based and one emotion base. To an outside observer, fact-based should prevail. To any given individual, facts matter less while emotions matter most. That is why Biden is in such trouble with the polling. People answer polls on how they feel, which may or may not coincide with the facts.
Why people feel the way they do is for many, many reasons: after-effects of the pandemic, constant news cycles from the right, left, and middle reporting on what people feel, but often without putting it into context with the facts. For a large part of the electorate, it is simply because they have been convinced to hate Biden.
Wouldn't you agree that if the increase in incomes kept up, generally speaking, keep up with inflation, then there should be no real lasting impact on buying power. Mathematically, it is the same as before inflation began.
I already showed you that for certain large parts of the economy, Social Security more than kept up with inflation, that the price of gas, liquid and natural, is below pre-pandemic levels, and a couple of other odds and ends.
Now, have wages kept up? Yes, they have - almost. For the last year, wages have been increasing faster than inflation has. In September, Bankrate predicts wages will have closed the gap and one can buy as much then with the 2024 dollar as they could in 2021 with that year's dollar..
For example, lets say you earned $1/hr in 2021, and gas cost $1 per gallon. Then assume that in 2024, overall inflation has increased 20%, but so have wages. That means in 2024, you are earning $1.20/hour and gas costs $1.20 per gallon. You still walk away with a gallon of gas for one hour's work.
Now, can someone cherry pick certain items to show that is not true? Of course they can. But they can't do it for the economy as a whole.
That is the simple truth about our economy. It is growing at a nice steady pace, jobs are plentiful (if you want one), poverty is down.
What is NOT good, is the disparity between what the average Joe or Jane earns, and their upper level bosses. That is probably another factor playing in why people don't feel things are good - they aren't getting their fair share.That is all well and good with no argument from me, Eso. But, the reality remains the same for 'me'!!
In 2021, when I reached into my pocket at the end of the month, I discovered two quarters. Not the usually anticipated $2. Yes, an analogy with exaggeration for drama to drive the point home. Having experience reading profit/loss statements, I believe that is a loss. From my understanding, a loss is a loss.
So, I ask how do I make up that loss? Yes, we did receive COLA increases to keep up with inflation. But, the one in 2022 was needed to compensate for the inflation of 2021. The prices remained high.
The same thing occurred in 2022. When I reached into my pocket at the end of the month, there were only two quarters. That meant, once again, no savings or building of my wealth. Nor eliminating the previous year's loss. Not only did inflation compound and, yes, COLA, but the loss compounded, too. A loss is a loss.
The question remains: how do I make up that loss? It is through sacrifice, meaning I have to change my lifestyle. In other words, inflation, though now in control, still has a cost upon me.
Just for giggles are the following articles for perusal.
[Edit} Articles released today (12/10/23)
CBS News poll finds Americans feel inflation's impact on living standards, opportunities
by CBS News (Dec 10, 2023)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-p … 023-12-10/
Biden’s 2024 dilemma: US economy looks solid, but voters still not feeling it by AP News (Dec 10, 2023)
https://apnews.com/article/biden-econom … 4254208272
Americans need an extra $11,400 today just to afford the basics, Republican analysis finds by CBS News (Nov 30, 2023)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inflation- … en-higher/
US inflation means families are spending $709 more per month than two years ago by CNN Business (Aug 11, 2023)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/11/economy/ … index.html
We’ll gather together — even though everything seems so much more expensive by The Harvard Gazette - Business (Nov 21, 2023)
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/ … -they-are/
Those articles are not to be argumentative. They are meant to offer perspective, while the adage is "Perception is Reality".The reality of the situation in America is that it is EXTREMELY GRIM, EVEN BLEAK. Things are becoming worse. There is increasing crime, especially in the larger cities. The mayors of such cities are ineffective. They are way over their heads regarding performing their jobs. They are soft on crime, they are even excuse, even rationalizing crime.
Of course, inflation is exacerbating. No one what some people indicate, inflation is here. There is no escaping it. Living in rose colored world, denying that there is inflation is pointless. There is inflation whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Things are becoming astronomically expensive. The average rent in New York City is $4,000.00 monthly.So agree... Not sure why anyone is considering stats over the facts that all costs so much more. One only looks at what is left each month and sees there is nothing left, and one must hit other sources to make ends meet. As Tmog has shared he is spending out of funds he made in 2020. Most likely he had hoped to leave these funds intact.
No amount of lipstick on this pig will fool anyone.
All of that.
And may I add, again, imagine now you are a young person or young family and you want to buy a new car or a new home.
The monthly payment (cost) has risen dramatically since 2019. Not because the sticker price has gone up that drastically, but because of interest rates... what was once a $900 payment for a $100k townhouse is now a $1,400 payment, what was once a $500 a month payment for a new car is now a $950 payment for the very same thing.
This is a hard pill for young people to swallow, they are no longer able to qualify for loans due to nothing done wrong on their part... the government has an out of control spending problem, and that in turn caused inflation, which in turn has the Fed raising Interest rates... and that prices young Americans out of the marketplace.Thank you Ken. Because of escalating rent hikes, there are MIDDLE CLASS Americans who are living in CARS. Almost everything is INFLATED. Aware people know this.
Interest rates go up and interest rates go down. It is the cycle of life. Did you (or those young people) complain when interest rates were at historic lows for all those years? I don't think you (or they) did.
Yeah, just happens, no reasons behind it, nothing to do with trying to counter the massive amount of government spending going on the last few years.
In my view, he is paying more out of pocket as we all are... I think your initial comment gave a great presentation of the current problems we are facing. And you know what --- Most, a majority of Americans get it.
I was so appreciative that you posted sources that gave great weight to your thoughts. One word --- RefreshingMost people are paying more for Rent or a new Mortgage today than they were in 2019.
Many people are paying considerably more for Insurance, vehicle, home, health, than they were in 2019.
Groceries, for whatever reason, are considerably higher than they were in 2019. Did eggs go up and then back down... probably. But the cost to buy a weeks worth of groceries has gone up.
As you can see in the photo above, prices remained relatively flat during 2016 - 2019 and only went up during 2021 -2023. Yes, the increase has slowed in 2023, it remains to be seen if this can continue.
There is a cost, as well, for that downturn in 2023, it is high interest rates, which shifts the costs (loss of dollar value) to other things, like higher mortgage, car, loan payments."Most people are paying more for Rent or a new Mortgage today than they were in 2019." - Yes, that is true. But what is also true is that their wages increased enough to pay for the increased cost, generally speaking.
You are only presenting one side of the equation. To be fair, you must present both sides like I do. You didn't tell the reader that wages grew 5.7% in October, well above the current rate of inflation. Why was that omitted?Regarding our cost of living expenses, what is the positive side? I am a stats person, but stats mean little when they are not reflected in our checkbooks. Americans are not happy with the state of our economy, and have no confidence in Joe to fix it .... New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/07/opin … biden.htmlHonestly I did not check wage increases... that is something that when last I checked was lagging well behind inflation. I concede that.
Still, while wage increases may counter most of the costs regarding groceries, it will not help young folk looking to buy a new car or home with these interest rates.
Ken, I don't think anything, I mean anything has not been affected by the inflation we have lived under the last 3 years, we are paying more for everything.
He may be paying more out-of-pocket now, but if his income is from social security, the COLAs more than made up for it. So his net position is essentially status quo. (If his income is from sources that didn't provide COLAs, then what I am saying may not be true for him.)
He admitted to living on a fixed income, and that at this point due to all costing more, he has needed to tap into spending the dollars I saved in 2020 today to pay for simple monthly costs. This is the norm at this point for many. It would seem you have not taken note of the increases in almost everything from food to utilities, to insurance costs to credit card interest rates.
No, he doesn't. My observation is that every year that inflation (as reported) is low, my new check (as opposed to gross payment) is likely to decrease. This is not an increase in "income"; it is a decrease.
In years with higher inflation it is pretty close; the increase in the check comes close to matching the last years check plus the stated inflation amount. It can even be greater, although never very much.
This happens because increases in health care are not included in the calculations for inflation, just as energy is not. In years with high inflation that increase in health care costs is in line or even smaller than actual inflation, but in years with low inflation health care cost increases are always higher.
Just another method the government uses to screw the people. Another is using "chained inflation", which artificially lowers the actual inflation rate, allowing the government to give smaller raises to employees, smaller amounts in EBT, smaller SS raises, etc. They simply do not count what was used in the past but has increased beyond the ability of the poorer to purchase, substituting a cheaper product. Hamburger rather than sirloin steak, sirloin rather than rib eye and Tilapia rather than lobster are all possible examples of what is being done to us. The cost of living does indeed remain static or a small increase...but the standard of living falls to cover the costs of what can no longer be purchased because of inflation.I am concurring with you Wilderness-he doesn't get it at all. Amen to you Wilderness. Everyone KNOWS that there is MASSIVE INFLATION. There is no avoiding that there is inflation. That is REALITY.
Did you not get a raise of some sort in 2021 and 2022? Even if you got a dollar raise, you should have seen your net increase by around 80 cents, all else being equal.
Did you state raise your taxes? Did your health care go up as a result of that raise (and not just because they wanted to)? Did you increase your contribution toward FSA? Those type things could have eaten up your 80 cents.
Show me where health care costs are "excluded" from the inflation calculation. I couldn't find where it is specifically exculded. But, I did find this from Y-Charts "Basic Info. US Health Care Inflation Rate is at -0.77%, compared to -1.42% last month and 5.02% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 5.15%. US Health Care Inflation Rate reflects the year over year change [u]in the health care component of the US Consumer Price Index[/i]."
I need to correct you again - yes, Energy IS part of the normally reported inflation rate. It is not (but health care is, I think) pare of the "core" inflation rate which IS NOT the normally reported inflation rate.
And, in any case, you are talking about YOUR specific case and not what is generally being actually experienced (regardless of how people FEEL things are)I am talking about the percentages given to SS recipients. Presumably they are all the same figure, regardless of person.
And when the check is lower than the previous year, because medicare charges ate up all the increase, it is indicative that those health care figures were NOT included in the inflation rate that gave rise to a SS increase. Simple arithmetic says it is impossible to have a medicare cost rise greater than inflation, while inflation calculations include those costs.
And no, we are being the "core" inflation rate, calculated on the "chained inflation" algorithm. That's why it hurting so much more than it should be; because the figures are not connected to the reality of every day life. It may save government billions (it does) but it is an absolute lie to tell us that the figure calculated is actually indicative of what the reality in the outside world (outside of the abacus used to calculate the number, that is).You didn't show me where healthcare costs are excluded from inflation calculations, even core inflation calculations.
I don't know about yours, but my Social Security check (net) increased much more than my Medicare costs increased.
As to whether the COLA includes healthcare costs - "Since 1975, Social Security's general benefit increases have been based on increases in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. We call such increases Cost-Of-Living Adjustments, or COLAs. We determined a 3.2-percent COLA on October 12, 2023. We will announce the next COLA in October 2024."
So yes, healthcare costs are included in COLA calculations.
Also, notice that the increase in SS was the same as 2023 inflation, 3.2%For those interested in the real story regarding Chained CPI, here is an analysis of it from the BLS. I highlighted important parts:
'What is the C-CPI-U and when did the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) begin publishing it?
BLS began publishing the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers effective with the release of July 2002 CPI data. Designated the C-CPI-U, the index supplements the existing indexes already produced by the BLS: the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The C-CPI-U employs a formula that reflects the effect of substitution that consumers make across item categories in response to changes in relative prices.
C-CPI-U data can be found on the BLS web site at https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?su.
What is substitution and substitution bias? And does the C-CPI-U eliminate it?
Traditionally, the CPI was considered an upper bound on a cost-of-living index in that the CPI did not reflect the changes in consumption patterns that consumers make in response to changes in relative prices.
Since January 1999, a geometric mean formula has been used to calculate most basic indexes within the CPI; this formula allows for a modest amount of substitution within item categories as relative price changes.
The geometric mean formula, though, does not account for consumer substitution taking place between CPI item categories. For example, pork and beef are two separate CPI item categories. If the price of pork increases while the price of beef does not, consumers might shift away from pork to beef. The C-CPI-U is designed to account for this type of consumer substitution between CPI item categories. In this example, the C-CPI-U would rise, but not by as much as an index that was based on fixed purchase patterns.
With the geometric mean formula in place to account for consumer substitution within item categories, and the C-CPI-U designed to account for consumer substitution between item categories, any remaining substitution bias would be quite small.
When did you decide to use a cost-of-living (COL) index as a framework for the CPI, and why is the CPI still not a COL?
The C-CPI-U does not represent a fundamental change in the underlying objective of the CPI. BLS has long used the concept of a cost-of-living (COL) index as a framework for dealing with practical questions that arise in the construction of the CPI.
While the C-CPI-U accounts for consumer substitution, the CPI still differs from a complete, or "unconditional," cost-of-living measure. While the CPI measures changes over time in the cost of consumer goods and services, an unconditional cost-of-living index would go further, and take into account changes in non-market factors, such as the environment, crime, and education. The CPI is said to be "conditional" on those factors.
How is the C-CPI-U constructed and how is it different from the CPI-U and CPI-W?
Both the CPI-U and C-CPI-U are indexes designed to measure price changes faced by urban consumers, while the CPI-W is designed to measure price changes faced by urban wage earners and clerical workers. Population coverage is the only difference between the CPI-U and CPI-W. The C-CPI-U is further distinguished from the CPI-U and CPI-W based upon the expenditure weights and formula used to produce aggregate measures of price change.
As background, all three of the CPI indexes are built in two stages. In the first stage, prices for each of the 8,018 item-area combinations (211 item categories X 38 geographic areas) are averaged together to form 8,018 basic indexes. This stage is often referred to as "lower-level aggregation" as it involves averaging the prices within item-area groups. For example, price changes for apples within Chicago are averaged together to produce the Chicago-apples index. In 1999, the BLS introduced a geometric mean formula for averaging prices within most of these item-area combinations, in order to approximate the effect of consumer response to changes in relative prices within these item categories. The geometric mean estimator is used in the C-CPI-U in the same item categories in which it is used in the CPI-U and CPI-W.
In the second stage, sometimes referred to as "higher-level aggregation", these 8,018 elementary indexes are averaged together to yield various aggregate indexes and ultimately the All-Items, U.S. City Average index of price change. It is at this second stage where the C-CPI-U is different from the CPI-U and CPI-W. The use of a superlative formula for upper-level aggregation, used in the final C-CPI-U, is designed to address consumer substitution across item categories. In contrast, the CPI-U and CPI-W use a formula that assumes consumers do not substitute across item categories.
In the CPI-U and CPI-W, expenditures from a previous (or lagged) two-year period are used to calculate aggregate indexes. These weights remain fixed for 24 months before being replaced with updated expenditures. For example, the CPI-U for the years 2004 and 2005 uses expenditure weights drawn from the 2001-2002 Consumer Expenditure Surveys. The final C-CPI-U, on the other hand, utilizes contemporaneous monthly expenditure estimates for each of the 8,018 elementary indexes. For example, the final C-CPI-U for May 2003 is based on monthly expenditures for April and May 2003. As such, expenditure data required for the calculation of the C-CPI-U are available only with a time lag. Thus, the C-CPI-U is issued first in preliminary form, and is subject to two subsequent revisions. For example, "final" values of the C CPI-U have been issued for data through 2003. "Interim" values are available for the 12 months of 2004, and "initial" values are available for 2005 data. In February 2006, with release of the January 2006 index, revised interim indexes for the 12 months of 2005 will be published, and the index values for 2004 will be revised and become final. In each subsequent year, indexes for the months in the year two years prior will be issued in final form and those values for one year prior will be revised and issued as interim.
In its final form, the C-CPI-U is a monthly chained price index with the expenditure weights varying each month. The CPI-U and CPI-W, on the other hand, are biennial chained price indexes where their expenditure weights are updated every two years. Within the two-year span, these indexes are fixed-weight series, where the changes in these indexes reflect only changes in prices, and not expenditure shares, which are held constant.
More detailed information on how the C-CPI-U is constructed can be found in "Introducing the Chained Consumer Price Index" (PDF).
Where is the C-CPI-U currently being used? Wouldn't the C-CPI-U be a more appropriate index to tie Social Security or other adjustments to?
The C-CPI-U, which in final form is said to be a "superlative" index, is designed to be a closer approximation to a cost-of-living index than other CPI measures.
That said, BLS publishes thousands of indexes each month; these indexes can vary by which items, geographic areas, and populations are covered. As different users have different needs, BLS cannot say which index is necessarily better than another. As such, BLS takes no position on what the Congress or the Administration should use to make adjustments to Social Security or any other federal program.
The C-CPI-U to our knowledge currently is not used in any federal legislation as an adjustment mechanism.'
Wait. "...the value of the dollar, which surged in 2022". A dollar bought more in 2022 than it did in 2021? Not sure what planet JP Morgan (or you) live on but it isn't earth!
Despite your continual claims that inflation was only 3.2% in 2023, what a dollar can purchase has continued to fall, and at a much higher rate than 3.2%. Anyone responsible for purchasing a families needs knows and understands this, for they must make adjustments nearly every month, cutting their standard of living just to live through Biden's inflation.I certainly trust real economists like JP Morgan than a neophyte or right-wing pundit.
I recommend taking this test to see where you line up politically. OpenSource's ChatGPT and Elon Musk's Grok both scored in the economic liberal and socially liberal realm. Musk is upset had has vowed to recalibrate his AI program to lean more Right.
I scored where I thought I would. I lean socially liberal while not being libertarian and economically liberal. The scores were -5.33 and -5.13, respectively.
A true libertarian would score a -10, while an authoritarian would score a +10
Likewise, a socialist would score a -10 while a social Darwinist would score a +10.
https://www.politicalcompass.org/testLast Updated: November 2, 2023
Approximately 70 million Americans will SEE A 5.9% INCREASE in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index
The standard monthly cost of Medicare Part B, which most seniors and disabled people have to cover certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services, WILL INCREASE by $9.80, OR 6%, to $174.70. The annual deductible for Medicare Part B beneficiaries will rise by $14 to $240 in 2024 YIKES!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/pe … in%202024.
KEY POINTS
Standard monthly Medicare Part B premiums will be $174.70 in 2024, up from $164.90 in 2023.
Beneficiaries with incomes above $103,000 for individuals and $206,000 for MARRIED couples will pay higher monthly rates.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/medicar … 0Services.
Bidinomics is more like Sideenomics... He sidesteps the increases that we are all left with.Spot on analysis. To be truthful, Biden & the present Democratic Party couldn't care less about the average American. They are of the Maria Antoinette school- oh well, let them cut back. They have to learn to cut back.
My wife has spinal stenosis, L3,L4,L5, S1 surgery costs 75,000 dollars. She had laparoscopic surgery to remove two tumors impinging on her ovaries. Total cost to remove non-cancerous tumors and ovaries 45,000 dollars. Our cost = cost of Medicare while making payments over the years.
When will it end? It is the MIDDLE CLASS who is impacted.
I'm uncertain if you got the essence of my post. It appears that ECO believes the increase in Social Security (SS) adequately compensates for our current out-of-pocket inflation costs. However, I wanted to highlight that the rise in SS was essentially absorbed by the surge in Medicare costs, and the SS increment doesn't contribute to meeting monthly expenses.
I harbor no grievances against Social Security or Medicare, as I am fortunate enough not to totally rely on either. Nonetheless, I view them as invaluable safety nets for fellow Americans less fortunate than myself. Imagining America without these programs is beyond my comprehension.i say again, if inflation rises at 3.2% and SS rises at 3.2% then you are no worse off than before the increases.
Of course we are not talking about whether SS alone is sufficient, it isn't. But that is not the topic. The topic is whether you lost buying power or not. Simple mathematics says you don't.
The same is true with wages. This issue isn't whether what you earn is enough. The issue IS whether you are worse off if wage growth equals or exceeds inflation. Back to my gas example. I it takes one hour of labor to buy one gallon of gas before inflation, it will still take one hour of labor to by one gallon of gas if both increase at the same rate.I agree with what you are saying about macroeconomics. I am not sure if it applies to microeconomics. Can you delve into that?
Microeconomics, as the name implies, is about individual (or small homogeneous groups) of things. What happens to one thing or individual might not apply to a different thing or individual.
But, an economy is the aggregate of a whole bunch of things. In one sense, it is the average of all the pieces.
When one says Americans, as a group, are falling behind to inflation implies that average wages are not keeping up with inflation. If that is true, then the standard of living (a macro concept) will decline, everything else being equal.
But, assume that income, over time, is increasing at the same rate as inflation over the same period of time (which is currently the case, or nearly so) then mathematically, the standard of living must remain constant.
But again, the standard of living is a macro concept. It is the average of all the micro inputs into the standard of living equation. Because it is an average, at the micro level, you will have some elements whose standard of living declines, but you have other micro elements whose standard of living increases. On the whole though, the standard of living remains constant when you average it out (in this scenario).
It may very well be your personal standard of living has declined relative to 2019. On the other hand, mine has increased. (Both micro views) So, between the two of us, OUR (a macro view) standard of living in 2023 has remained constant relative to 2019So, in essence, considering microeconomics, I am justified in saying inflation sucks for me and is high. Though, the nation - macroeconomics, says everything is hunky-dory. It is a matter of perspective.
Mind you, I don't blame Biden per se; I blame the pandemic more than anything, but I do say Biden was responsible for how it was handled and that he did cause some of the inflation we experienced. That is just me and as all, I have an opinion.
At the same time, I do not give Biden all the credit for the economy becoming better. Much of it, in my view, can be attributed to being cyclic with economic forces. In other words, he may have held the reins, but he wasn't the horse pulling the load.
To share why I feel I am justified the inflation sucks is the following link from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Consumer Price Index for the San Diego area Nov 2023. You will notice the inflation rate for Nov is 5.2%. Yes, a drop from Jan at 6.4%, yet still above the touted 3.2% of macroeconomics nearing on being double. Inflation did drop until about Jun-Jul, when it began to rise again.
https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-r … ndiego.htm
From the report comes the following quote:
Area prices were down 0.2 percent over the past two months, up 5.2 percent from a year ago
"Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U advanced 5.2 percent. (See chart 1 and table A.) Food prices rose 3.1 percent. Energy prices rose 4.0 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of electricity. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 5.6 percent over the year. (See table 1.)"
I did spend some time exploring many links on specific items or categories to delve deeper. Revealing! For instance looking at the history for food. I was interested in comparing 2020 - 2021 - 2022 - 2023.
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUURS49 … raphs=true
I did the same thing for Fuels and Utilities
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUURS49 … raphs=true
I will also add an article in defense of Biden, a source that is center in the spectrum of left vs.right, CNBC. The article is:
Inflation fears down, consumer optimism up: Economy may start to help Biden with voters by CNBC on Dec 12, 2023.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/12/inflati … oters.htmlYes, if you were already hurting before inflation, then you are probably hurting after the inflation cooled off, especially if you did not receive an increase in income from COLA's and such.
I do not blame Trump for the inflation, but I do blame him for how bad it got.
I do not blame Biden for inflation either. His ARA increased it only a little, temporarily. Just imagine the pain and suffering people, including you, would have experienced without it (and then the Biden-haters would blame him for that as well). Also consider that had the ARA not happened, inflation would probably been even worse, just delayed a little, because demand, when it came back would have been that much greater.
Glad to see your CNBC article.
Your source also said "The premium increase in Medicare Part B is in line with the estimates by the Medicare Trustees earlier this year but lower than what some experts had estimated. "
Personally, I prefer the whole story.
My increases in Social Security and federal retirement more than made up for the increases in my Medicare costs.
Bidenomics is working nicely, thank you.
You have hit the nail on the head. My grocery bill for one person(ME) costs $120.00 which included 4 steaks, 2 onions, 2 cucumbers, 3 special sauces, a large containers of arugula, 4 medium kombucha, 2 boxes of crackers, & 4 yogurts from Wholefoods. I have enough food to last for at least 1 month.
Median Household income in 1990 - $30,636
Median Household income in 2022 - $74,580
Are you trying to suggest your still earning at 1990 levels?
Unfortunately, this is not the worst of it.
No President has ever done more harm to America's foreign relations...
Failure to recognize the real interests of Iran and choosing to release hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran, even as they showed that they were working with Russia against our interests in Ukraine, even knowing they supported Hezbollah and Hamas.
Bailing on Afghanistan, only so Biden could turn around and start a proxy war against Russia, which the Biden Administration wants to escalate even now, even as our own economy buckles, using fearmongering to get tens of billions more sent, to continue it.
And now supporting Israel's efforts against Palestinians, even as the rest of the world demands a cease fire be enforced, even as more and more evidence mounts that civilians are taking the brunt of casualties in these efforts.
The Middle East right now is like a tanker full of gasoline and we are daring someone to drop a lit match into it. Its like we are begging someone to start WWIII... nations are bailing on America and the US dollar like no one could have imagined 3 years ago.I can think of several presidents, starting with Donald Trump. They include
* George W. Bush
* LBJ
* Herbert Hoover
* Calvin Coolidge
* Warren Harding
* Andrew Johnson
* Franklin Pierce
* James Buchannan
* Millard Fillmore
* Zachery Taylor
* John Tyler
President Obama pulled out of the debacle Bush left us in and President Biden pulled us out of an even worse debacle that Trump left us in.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
I just paid $8 for a jar of olives. Double of what I paid three years ago.Is it general inflation or, like it use to be with eggs, are olives in short supply?
Baffles me why the high cost of living has escaped you. We are paying more for just about everything.
That's just Right Wing propaganda.
Things are actually cheaper now than they were 5 years ago.
Every good American knows this to be true. Things have never been better.Oh yes, I forgot... All is well, Happy Days Are Here Again due to Bidenomics. My bad
See, don't you feel better, isn't it wonderful?
Just go along and you can be accepted, you can be happy, you can be one of the many who recognize how great Biden is doing.
You don't have to be a fascist, racist, dreadful person... you can work to overcome the inherit evil you were born with as a white person, recognize it, accept it, and work to combat it everyday.
It is not enough to admit that being a white person in America, you were born privileged. Even as our fragility has been well-documented, we whites must tackle the guilt, shame, and awkwardness of privilege.
Focus on all the good Biden has done, from protecting Transgender rights to defending Democracy across the globe, in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine and everywhere America is needed, he is doing great things.Yes & Satan loves & wants to elevate humankind.
Why won't you look at the other side of the equation - higher income? Or, is that a myth and everybody (except the rich) are earning the same amount as they did in 2019?
Putting this into an equation might look like this (using a gallon of gas as an example).
A gallon of gas costs A in 2019
An hour of work earns B is 2019
Therefore, the number of hours of work needed to buy on gallon of gas in 2019 is A/B - agreed?
Between 2019 and 2023, inflation rose 10%. Between 2019 and 2023, wages increased 10%.
Therefore, A gallon of gas in 2023 is 1.1A and an hour of wages earns 1.1B.
Consequently, the number of hours needed to buy a gallon of gas in 2023 is 1.1A/1.1B which equals A/B. which is exactly what it was in 2019. Agreed?
What you are attempting to do is say that gas prices increased 10% and beleeing that is the total story when it is not. It is only half the story. To make any sense out the price increase (or decrease for that matter) you must look at both sides of the equal sign and bring wages into the picture. Otherwise, your analysis is totally biased.In my view, Biden's economy is complicated, all stats need to be assisted to understand why Americans are finding it very hard to make ends meet. Just manipulating the inflation rate by raising interest rates may offer up a pretty number, but it just does not reflect what we all are paying out of pocket to live.
"12.4% of Americans now live in poverty according to new 2022 data from the U.S. Census, an INCREASE from 7.4% in 2021. Child poverty also more than
DOUBLED last year to 12.4% from 5.2% the year before."
"Supplemental Poverty Measure
The SPM rate in 2022 was 12.4 percent, an INCREASE of 4.6 percentage points from 2021. This is the first increase in the overall SPM poverty rate since 2010 (Figure 6 and Table B-2)." https://www.census.gov/library/publicat … 0-280.html
"U.S. inflation rate versus wage growth 2020-2023
Published by Statista Research Department, Nov 16, 2023
The rate of inflation EXCEEDED the growth of wages for the first time in recent years in April 2021. In October 2023, inflation amounted to 3.2 percent, while wages grew by ONLY 5.2 percent.
Inflation in 2022
The high rates of inflation in 2022 meant that the real terms value of American wages took a hit. Many Americans report feelings of concern over the economy and a worsening of their financial situation. The inflation situation in the United States is one that was experienced globally in 2022, mainly due to COVID-19 related supply chain constraints and disruption due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The monthly inflation rate for the U.S. reached a 40 year high in June 2022 at 9.1 percent, and annual inflation for 2022 reached eight percent. Without appropriate wage increases, Americans will continue to see a decline in their purchasing power.
Wages in the U.S.
Despite the level of wage growth reaching 6.7 percent in the summer of 2022, it has not been enough to curb the impact of even higher inflation rates. The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States has not increased since 2009, meaning that individuals working minimum wage jobs have taken a real terms pay cut for the last twelve years. There are discrepancies between states - the minimum wage in California can be as high as 15.50 U.S. dollars per hour, while a business in Oklahoma may be as low as two U.S. dollars per hour. However, even the higher wage rates in states like California and Washington may be lacking - one analysis found that if minimum wage had kept up with productivity, the minimum hourly wage in the U.S. should have been 22.88 dollars per hour in 2021. Additionally, the impact of decreased purchasing power due to inflation will impact different parts of society in different ways with stark contrast in average wages due to both gender and race." https://www.statista.com/statistics/135 … lation-us/
"U.S. wages and salaries - statistics & facts
Wages and salaries in the U.S. vary depending on a number of factors, such as occupation, industry, education level, location, and demographics. Given the strong influence that wages and salaries can have on the quality of life of Americans, they are considered a key economic indicator and are often an essential topic of any political agenda. In 2021, the average annual wages in the United States came to 74,738 U.S. dollars. The number has grown incrementally over the last decades with the annual average having been 57,499 U.S. dollars in 2000. Additionally, the average hourly earnings in the U.S. sat at 10.99 U.S. dollars in March 2023.
The average household income in the U.S. varies greatly, yet as of 2021, slightly more than half of households had an annual income of 75,000 U.S. dollars or less. However, more than 17.4 percent of American households reported an annual income below the U.S. poverty threshold, which as of 2021 was considered 26,500 U.S. dollars for a family of four. In 2021, around 77,000 workers in the education and health services industry were making an hourly wage at or below minimum wage. with the vast majority were among the leisure and hospitality industry. In 2022, many of the highest paying jobs in the U.S. were those in the medical field, with the highest earning profession being anesthesiology, with an annual average salary of 421,330 U.S. dollars."
https://www.statista.com/topics/789/wag … icOverviewI will add just one more item - as wages grow, so does the tax bracket being charged. Not just the taxes, but the percentage government grabs.
This reduces actual earnings even more, reducing the effective wage increase.Absolutely. Stats just are not at this point reflecting what Americans are spending under this administration.
If we are not relying on stats or data or anything empirical then what are we relying on here? Anecdotal evidence? The stories my neighbor tells me? How does that add up to anything quantifiable?
Are you not paying more for just about everything? The price tags and costs of commodities are not anecdotal.
I can bear the fact I am paying double on my electric bill under Biden. I can honestly say I am paying at least 30% more for groceries. I actually can't come up with anything that does not cost more.My dear Sharlee, we are living in the real world. Prices are up on almost everything. Let us not be fooled. So-called statistics can be manipulated. Inflation is the highest it has ever been. If people want to live in a rose colored, fantastical world, let them. When reality bites them, it will be FAR TOO LATE. My cousin voted for Biden, now she sees the ramifications of what Biden is doing to America. She is struggling. Many people, formerly middle class, are struggling under Biden.
There are people who are cheerleaders for Biden. To them, Biden can do no wrong. To them, it is Biden uber alles while Trump was demonized no matter what right he has done for this country. Biden is an F minus president. He isn't presidential material. Trump was a MUCH BETTER president than Biddy Biddy Biden.There are people who are cheerleaders for Biden. To them, Biden can do no wrong.
I'd say it's really more of taking the stance of looking at an entire picture. I don't look at issues in terms of supporting a person or a party. I'm more interested in researching an issue if I'm unfamiliar and determining my support in that manner. Why would anyone ever be so invested in a person or a party?? I prefer to take in a wide variety of new sources and independently make up my own mind.If they belong to a cult like MAGA, they will become that invested.
Puit so well as always. I just can't comprehend how anyone at the point could not be feeling the effect of Biden's not only economy but the many crises we are now forced to endure. Biden needs to be impeached, and sent packing.
We are all feeling the great job Biden is doing. I hope he continues on bring back America from the depths of despair that Trump put us in.
You say "Prices are up on almost everything. "
I say
"Gas just firmly dropped below $3/gal in my neck of the woods. Haven't seen that in like forever.
Prices for eggs, fresh vegetables, fish and seafood, and dairy products have dropped since 2022.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ … 0products.
So are rents. - https://www.morningstar.com/news/market … edfin-says
So have used car prices - https://caredge.com/guides/used-car-pri … s-for-2023
Utility bills are flat and about to drop - https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-ut … heres-why/"
It looks to be more of a mixed picture according to actual data. Some things are actually cheaper this year than they were previously, some have remained close to the same and some have increased.
"A detailed breakdown of prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows one of the biggest year-over-year price drops is fuel. Fuel oil is about 25% cheaper now than it was last year, and gas prices at the pump are about 10% down. Utility gas service, piped into homes and apartments is also about 10% cheaper.
Another commodity that’s seen a big price drop: eggs. The grocery staple was expensive all through 2022 because of a devastating nationwide bird flu outbreak, but prices have now dropped 22% since November of last year. Eggs for me are .99
Food prices overall are up about 3% since last year, but just a few items got cheaper. Apples are 6% less expensive and lettuce is 10% lower.
Some bigger ticket items are also getting more affordable, the federal data shows. Major appliance prices are down 10%, and laundry equipment specifically is 12% cheaper. Television prices have also dropped about 10%. The prices of these types of durable goods have normalized.
When it comes to travel, car rentals are 10% cheaper this year, and airline fares are 12% lower.
The biggest price drop on the list of expenses tracked by the BLS was for health insurance. During open enrollment last month, insurance prices were down 30% compared to last year.
We have about 20 States currently that have gas under $3. Mine is $2.72. energy costs for me, I have tracked as about 15% higher from year to year.
In terms of 2024:
"We expect an aggressive drop in inflation into 2024.
In our latest Economic Outlook, we detail that the drop in inflation is driven principally by the unwinding of price spikes owing to supply chain resolutions and as the pace of economic growth slows because of the Federal Reserve’s tightening."
In my view, Americans expect everything to happen immediately, on a time frame that's generally just not realistic. We are still, as a country, working through the economic aftermath of covid and it looks to me that many economists believe we may have another year or so to go but the trajectory is positive. I think more Americans need to understand that you don't go through a pandemic such as what we did and immediately emerge from it unaffected. An economy is large as ours does not turn on a dime.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/13/fed-low … rcent.html
https://www.morningstar.com/economy/why … -fall-2024
https://www.fox21news.com/news/national … g-cheaper/I value your view and the references you provided. Nevertheless, the concern that some of us have been expressing is that a significant number of Americans, regardless of the statistical data, aren't experiencing any tangible relief. It's worth noting, from my standpoint, that a substantial portion, if not the majority, may not engage in the kind of research that many of us participate in on chat forums. Instead, they simply assess their financial situation based on the month-end bottom line.
Yet a substantial number of Americas ARE experiencing tangible relief from higher wages and COLA's. Don't they count?
It isn't a "substantial" number, c'mon man. Face REALITY!!!!
I just used the same unsupported word that prompted my comment. If you believe it is a "substantial" number of that are experiencing a loss of standard of living, please present DATA to PROVE it?
I have shown the economic DATA suggests that a "substantial" number of Americans have received income increases that outpace, or almost outpaces, inflation.Raises are getting smaller, and fewer employees are receiving them by ALM Benefits PRO (Dec 13, 2023)
"The report found that 2 in 5 salaried employees (41%) didn’t receive raises in the past year."
https://www.benefitspro.com/2023/12/13/ … ving-them/
"Fewer American workers are receiving raises these days — and those raises are smaller than they used to be. That’s one of the main takeaways from a new study of 1,500 adults examining worker sentiment regarding compensation and benefits.
Released by the cloud-hosted human resources platform BambooHR, the report found that 2 in 5 salaried employees (41%) didn’t receive raises in the past year — up from 33% not receiving raises in 2022. Those who did get raises saw a 25% decrease from previous raise amounts, underscoring the economy’s impact on employee pay in the past year."Do you respect polls to represent how citizens ar feeling?
"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Joe Biden’s job approval rating remains at 37%, tying his personal low, with disapproval at 59%. Approval ratings of the president’s handling of healthcare (40%) and the situation in Ukraine (38%) are similar to his overall rating, while fewer, 32% each, approve of his handling of the economy, foreign affairs, and the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians." https://news.gallup.com/poll/544808/poo … fairs.aspx
This is a very simple question that requires your view... Do you feel the average American keeps tabs on economic stats or are they more interested in how much more they are spending to live?Do you respect polls to represent how citizens are feeling?
The University of Michigan said Friday that its consumer sentiment index jumped 13% to 69.4, as people became less worried about inflation and more optimistic about a number of issues. That not only ended the downturn but reversed the decline, returning the sentiment index to where it was in August.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index shows that consumers feel better about the economy than they did in late 2022.
Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial, wrote that the reading shows "a more optimistic view of economic conditions, which suggests that coupled with a stronger than expected payroll report, helps underpin the narrative of a still resilient economy."
The report was a surprise to experts as well. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal thought sentiment would inch higher to 62.4 from November's reading of 61.3, but the metric jumped instead.
"There was a broad consensus of improved sentiment across age, income, education, geography, and political identification," said Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu.
The sentiment index is calculated based on surveys of Americans with questions about their current views on categories like inflation, personal finances and business conditions, as well as their expectations of how those things will change.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/econom … rcna128725
"Voters have a slightly rosier view of the economy now that inflation is easing. Few are giving President Biden credit for the improvement.
That is the takeaway from the latest Wall Street Journal poll and other surveys that show Americans’ outlook has brightened in recent months."
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/vot … d-3c7d98c9
To make the disconnect even more confusing, people are not acting the way they do when they truly believe the economy is bad. They are spending, vacationing and job-switching the way they do when they believe it’s good.
Fox reports this:
"The U.S. economy may not technically be in a recession, but most Americans believe it is.".
This is a troubling statement because a recession has clear identifiable indicators...two consecutive quarters of negative growth. It is not based on feeling. Maybe it says not enough Americans actually understand basic economic principles? Maybe it says Americans need to strengthen their spine a bit and "get out of their feelings" as the young folks would say.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/maj … ion-survey
My own little anecdotal
evidence on inflation?
The drive-thru lane for $10 lattes still wraps around Starbucks... first world problems.
I don't know, many have grown into whiners and complainers when faced with less than perfect scenarios.As previously mentioned, economists hold diverse predictions and perspectives. The University of Michigan, my alma mater, conducts monthly surveys that I trust to be meticulously done. However, it's worth noting that these surveys typically involve around 500 phone interviews across the continental U.S., mainly reaching out to graduates of UofM. The survey delves into about 50 key questions, covering personal finances, business conditions, and buying conditions.
I must acknowledge that I suspect the survey predominantly captures responses from individuals who are regular consumers of $10 lattes.
It's a reality that Americans have a longstanding tendency to voice their grievances when the economy faces challenges. This undeniable truth often leads to a situation where statistical financial data holds limited significance for most when confronted with rising costs.it's worth noting that these surveys typically involve around 500 phone interviews across the continental U.S., mainly reaching out to graduates of UofM.
I don't think that even their own students would breach one of the tenants of research and statistical analysis.. a representative sample.
"Who are the interviewees? Are they all college students?
The surveys employ a simple random sample selected from a list of all possible cell telephone numbers in the 48 coterminous States and the District of Columbia to yield a sample that is nationally representative."
I believe this is an extremely solid survey.
"The Index of Consumer Expectations, produced by the Surveys of Consumers, is included in the Leading Indicator Composite Index published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.".
https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/faq.php
I feel there will be more of this type of polling coming out. Yes they are voicing their grievances with Starbucks in hand lol ...who by the way had an annual gross profit for 2023 of $24.567B, a 12.01% increase from 2022!
Corporate profits do not seem to be suffering due to inflation.
New research argues that the impact of companies maintaining margins by passing on higher prices to consumers should not be overlooked as a contributing factor to inflation.
This is just one outlet that has reported on this issue but there are many, many more.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/08/excess- … laims.html
"I don't know, many have grown into whiners and complainers when faced with less than perfect scenarios."
That is a joke, right?
Is bitching about the impact of inflation on one's life any different than bitching about some woman in Texas having to leave the state for an abortion? Just curious.
They both are exercising Free Speech and Expression, right?Yes free speech allows us the right to whine, complain and air grievances to no end. I am grateful to have the ability to speak on the whining nature of others speech.
Gas just firmly dropped below $3/gal in my neck of the woods. Haven't seen that in like forever.
Prices for eggs, fresh vegetables, fish and seafood, and dairy products have dropped since 2022.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ … 0products.
So are rents. - https://www.morningstar.com/news/market … edfin-says
So have used car prices - https://caredge.com/guides/used-car-pri … s-for-2023
Utility bills are flat and about to drop - https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-ut … heres-why/New cars --- The average cost of new cars is now well over $48,000—up almost $6,000 from two years ago and about $10,000 from September 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book. That figure largely tracks with inflation, but there are many other factors at play.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/bu … at%20play.
Rent here in Michigan is up and rising --- from 2021 we have seen rents go up monthly approx $250.00 I think rent increases depend on which state one lives in.
Utilities have almost doubled in Michigan from 2021. Car insurance is off the charts in Michigan.
The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the childhood poverty rate more than doubled last year to 12.4%, compared to a rate of 5.2% in 2021. The main reason for the jump came from the end of stimulus payments and expanded Child Tax Credits that helped families during the pandemic.
Economic data show that wage growth is now outpacing inflation growth. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, wages and salaries increased by 4.6% for the 12-month period ending in September 2023 and by 5.1% for the 12-month period ending in September 2022.
[b]Just manipulating the inflation rate by raising interest rates may offer up a pretty number, but it just does not reflect what we all are paying out of pocket to live.[b/]
This is the role of the fed, J. Powell. The FED always acts independently of any administration but Biden chose to keep him in the position as a hold over from Trump. Do you feel he has not acted competently?I feel J. Powell came with very good job performance and played a part in why the economy improved under Trump. Again, stats do not portray the full picture nor do they give any proof that consumer costs are going down for Americans.
It's important to note that the impact of interest rate decisions depends on the overall economic context, including factors like inflation, unemployment, and global economic conditions. Economic outcomes are influenced by a wide range of variables, and predictions are inherently uncertain. Powell certainly has been prudent and looked at the entire picture. He has worked to take steps to bring inflation down, which he has. The problem of decreasing the higher costs of living has not occurred.
However, I can't imagine what shape our economy would be in without the steps Powell took.
Many economists are predicting consumer prices will rise even higher in 2024.Oh, they will. However, there will be people lulled into thinking that the socioeconomic situation has improved but there will be those who will smell the proverbial coffee. They know that Biden is hijacking America socioeconomically. There is rising homelessness. This reminds me of Germany in 1944, Germany was losing the war but there were some people INSISTENT that things aren't that bad & Germany will win the war. Now we all know how that turned out. People sadly will not face the facts until a catastrophe comes-culturally, politically, & especially socioeconomically. Hopefully, it won't be too late.
I think people are coming out of their comas. I know my circle of friends who voted for Biden have jumped off the good ship Biden.
Rising prices
rising crime
rising homeless
rising numbers of illegal migrants
Rising deficit
Rising levels of BS !
Rising costs of wars --- you name it.Rising Prices:
Gas just firmly dropped below $3/gal in my neck of the woods. Haven't seen that in like forever.
Prices for eggs, fresh vegetables, fish and seafood, and dairy products have dropped since 2022.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ … 0products.
So are rents. - https://www.morningstar.com/news/market … edfin-says
So have used car prices - https://caredge.com/guides/used-car-pri … s-for-2023
Utility bills are flat and about to drop - https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-ut … heres-why/
Rising Crime:
"This snapshot suggests that levels of nearly all offenses are lower, or have changed little, in the first six months of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. The most notable exception is the large increase in motor vehicle theft." - https://counciloncj.org/mid-year-2023-crime-trends/
Rising Homelessness - Of course it is rising since the Republicans killed the pandemic aid. - Cite provided elsewhere
Rising number of illegal immigrants - true
Rising Deficit:
Average Obama Deficit: $908 billion (includes recovery from Bush's recession)
Average Trump Deficit: $1,390 billion (includes one year of the pandemic)
Average Biden Deficit: $1,900 billion (includes three years of the pandemic and recovery)
To expect a different outcome is simply naive and partisan.
Rising level of BS - Yes, from Republicans.
Rising cost of wars - I guess the solution then is to let Putin and Hamas win. Sad.
I wonder why homelessness went up? Could it be because the Republicans wouldn't extend the pandemic aid. Yeah, I bet that was it.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-ho … 2023-data/
Here is why homelessness declined during the pandemic - https://www.americancityandcounty.com/2 … a-quarter/
Don't you think it would have been a miracle that homelessness didn't go up after Republicans killed the aid?
Poverty rate is down from 2022.
"In October 2023, inflation amounted to 3.2 percent, while wages grew by ONLY 5.2 percent." - SO, it is bad that wage growth exceeded inflation in 2023? (isn't that what emphasizing the word "Only" implies?) Personally, I thought it would a very good thing that wage growth exceeded inflation by 2%.
Granted, wage growth hasn't QUITE caught up with inflation as of the third quarter of 2023, economists expect it to totally catch up by the 4th quarter of 2024. - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/07/wage-gr … 0research.
2021 is the end of the Trump term, I believe.The 5.2 percent wage increase surpassing a 3.2 percent inflation rate can be seen as a positive outcome. A 2% difference in favor of wage growth indicates real income growth for workers. As a rule, this would provide more purchasing power and potentially improve one's standard of living. Yet we are feeling the hurt of higher costs almost across the board. American credit card debt has hit record highs, with an increase in late payments. It would appear many could be using credit cards to meet monthly bills. I think we can all remember 2007 and I am seeing the same symptoms I witnessed then.
The stats are in alignment, but reality is reality.Wonderland must be nice to live in. Reality is so hard to face for some. Sticking one hand in the hand is so nice.
So "feelings" outweigh reality, is that what you are suggesting?
GOOD GOD, IT ISN'T FEELING. Sharlee is expressing the reality of American economics, not something from the Ivy Tower.
Then please present the data to back up the claims and stop using the words like "feeling" if that is not what is meant.
Sorry, but the flow of this conversation is about views, feelings, and yes stats. Users are sharing concerns about the economy, and that stats are not reflecting that they are spending more out of pocket.
Allow me to clarify your misconception regarding my comments on this matter. I suggest revisiting my posts. When presenting statistics, I consistently provided references. When expressing my opinions, I carefully framed them with phrases like "In my view" or "From my standpoint."
Explaining the dissatisfaction of many Americans with the Biden economy is challenging. While certain polls indicate a majority of Americans expressing discontent with the economic situation, understanding the reasons behind this sentiment is complex.
It appears users are sharing both stats and their perceptions on the subject. Questioning the complexity of the stats, and how they don't seem to be affecting our out-of-pocket costs.
Polls show a majority are very dissatisfied with much of Biden's job performance, the economy being up there at the top. polls are relevant, and give one an idea of what Americans are feeling. Polls offer a majority of views and a minority of views. I feel it's very safe to say the majority of Americans are concerned about the economy.
Nov 23, 2023 gallop polls " WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Joe Biden’s job approval rating remains at 37%, tying his personal low, with disapproval at 59%. Approval ratings of the president’s handling of healthcare (40%) and the situation in Ukraine (38%) are similar to his overall rating, while fewer, 32% each, approve of his handling of the economy, foreign affairs, and the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians." Please read on
https://news.gallup.com/poll/544808/poo … fairs.aspx
MONTH WAGE GROWTH% INFLATION%
Nov 22 5.1 7.1
Dec 22 4.4 6.5
Jan 23 6.1 6.4
Feb 6.2 6.0
Mar 6.4 5.0
Apr 6.7 4.9
May 6.9 4.0
Jun 7.1 3.0
Jul 5.8 3.2
Aug 5.6 3.7
Sep 5.3 3.7
Oct 5.7 3.2
At the very least, a significant amount of Americans should be experiencing an improved standard of living each month.The keyword "should be" But they are not, as proven by the growing displeasure with the Biden economy. Citizens in the majority are complaining about the economy. We are paying more out of pocket to make ends meet.
All the stats you provide are not throwing light on what Americans are feeling.
Also when wages rise so do our costs.It is funny, Sharlee, when the election results of 2020 was discussed, feelings of fraud by Trump supporters were to supersede the actual facts, could such be the case here?
We all seem to forget that the stage was set for this inflation problem while Trump was in charge when because of the pandemic demand for goods and services fell substantially. So what happens when demand suddenly increased in the face of inadequate supply? Inflation.
It is so easy to blame Biden for what was a global phenomenon, isn't it?In no respect did I supersede any of the facts concerning stats that others offered. I pointed out that many Americans are not interested in stats, and are more interested in the increased money they are spending to live. You have not followed my comments. The blame game just did not show it's head in my back-and-forths.
Your response suggests that my previous comments may not have been thoroughly acknowledged. I took care to avoid assigning direct blame for economic issues, focusing instead on the sentiments expressed by Americans through polls to support my perspective. I explicitly conveyed that I was presenting my viewpoint and expressed the complexity of understanding the current state of the Biden economy.
I incorporated statistics and references intermittently to challenge opposing opinions. The context of my comments remains transparent – I believe that a considerable number of Americans are dissatisfied with the present economic situation, and this sentiment is not adequately reflected in current statistical analyses. I refrained from directly attributing the downturn in our economy to any specific factors, recognizing that such an analysis is a separate, intricate topic that even many economists find challenging to explain.
The context of my previous comment was evident, but it appears you've shifted the focus to assigning blame. My concerns about Americans' dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living have not been addressed.
I sense a reluctance to engage with the specific points I've raised, and there seems to be a preference for redirection. Can we discuss whether Americans are discontent with the escalating expenses associated with daily life?Sharlee, I am interested in stats as giving evidence of who or what is responsible for the current so called economic morass. So, here it is, front and center, yes, I am discontent with rising inflation that has shown itself at the grocery store without a doubt. So, I am addressing it?
I acknowledge your comments, but what lies behind them is an assualt on President Biden and his handling of the crisis, even if you don't expressly say as much.
So yes, my viewpoint is that there has been inflation and I am not pleased, but I need to understand the source and the cause, and progress made toward correction which is just as important for rendering a fair evaluation.Government spending on wars, immigration, social services, green energy, etc. $886 Billion on Defense alone in 2024.
In 2023 the government spent 2 Trillion dollars more than it took in. 2024 is going to be worse.
This causes inflation, interest rates are raised to try and combat that, which leads to a recession, typically.
However there are much bigger issues going on. Such as much of the world ditching the dollar, shifting sentiment and support for Russia, the matter of not paying the bill yet for the 2020 spending spree... All this and more that point to a coming economic collapse, the type where one day soon you wake up and a loaf of bread costs $100 dollars.True, but what else is new? When was the last time spending and incoming revenue at the federal level was in synch?
Prior to the 1930s, the federal government during peacetime generally balanced its budget or ran surpluses.
After 1950, federal budget deficits became the rule instead of the exception. It has been a succession of things, Central Banking, coming off the Gold Standard and the funding of the MIC and our never-ending-wars that has brought us to the precipice of our economic demise.
You can see where we are headed, war with Russia, war with Iran, war with China, its the only thing America seems to have left... the people in charge today seem determined to threaten and dictate and demand from the rest of the world through military means... I don't think it is going to end well for us at all.Is a pre-1930s America really possible, can you get the spilled milk back into the carton? America has since become a world power and has had a "New Deal" for its residents. While I may lament what has happened, the past is not a good example or alternative solution.
You are right, the past is a terrible example.
* Pre-1930s you had the largest gap in income disparity in recorded American history.
* Pre-1930s a significant number of blacks were held in virtual bondage.
* Pre-1930s it was almost impossible to vote south of the Mason-Dixon line.
* Pre-1930s saw that women did not have the right to vote at all.
* In fact, pre-1930s was when women had very few civil rights and, in some red states, were considered chattel. (At least, outside of marriage, they weren't held in virtual bondage.)
Yep, those were the good old days MAGA yearns for.
Even Nixon saw the Gold Standard was a disaster. It worked OK in good times but made bad times even worse. That is why he dropped it, thank goodness.
The same is true of requiring a balanced budget 100% of the time at the federal level - it just makes things worse.
It seems to me that, through their representatives, the people have spoken and said they want what the government spends money on. The problem is, they don't want to pay for it through taxes.
Now you personally may not like the choices that were made at the macro level, but you would be in the minority. Had your view been in the majority, those things wouldn't have passed and therefore wouldn't need funding.
Once Trump and MAGA go away, America can return to normal and be a happy nation again."The same is true of requiring a balanced budget 100% of the time at the federal level - it just makes things worse."
There is an enormous gap between requiring a balanced budget 100% of the time and borrowing huge sums of money 100% of the time because we spend too much.
If the people are stupid enough to demand what they will not pay for then it is up to the politician, charged with running the country to the best of his/her ability, to refuse to buy it.
"Once Trump and MAGA go away, America can return to normal and be a happy nation again."
You mean like the inflation and invasion of migrants Biden has supplied us with? That "normal", wherein the numbers set new records every few days? Or do you refer to men competing in women's sports that liberals have demanded we support? Perhaps the crime wave inflicting our retail businesses is "normal"?
But I will agree that the wartime footing Biden is headed for is probably the "normal" for our country, sadly enough.Gap or not, requiring a balanced budget puts a straight-jacket on the nation leaving it unable to meet unforeseen events or to meet necessary (according to the People's representatives) goals.
Even the "family unit" which the right loves to sanctimoniously point to as if that is how a federal government must operate, by and large, lives on deficit spending. Where would home ownership be but not for the mortgage?
I didn't realize it was the position of MAGA to have representatives not listen to the people who elected them.The reality is that we are a debtor nation that lives on a perpetual credit card. Each president inherits the national debt of the previous president. How can the national debt become balanced with that amount of increasing debt?
The budget is also a credit card that is not even funded until the next fiscal year. The GOP always holds that debt hostage by threating to shut down the government until they get what they want or they compromise.
Currently, it is stop funding Ukraine and fund the closing of the border. I guess, you don't realize that many of those people come here and take jobs that we don't want to do, like working in the fields and hotels.
In the final analysis, the debt that is not funded gets added to the national debt and has interest added to it. So in this day and age, balancing the budget is pure folly.
If Trump is elected president, he will start his administration with whatever debt Biden leaves him with and the GOP will have to live with that as the Dems. will use it against them. As I see it, that is the world we live in.This was not always true. This did not begin until the 1950s, and didn't REALLY begin until Bush Sr and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
After which, America has been a non-stop war machine against former U.S.S.R. and current Russian allies. We have endeavored to destroy or destabilize and overthrow the lot of them... Libya, Syria, Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.
And that has also been where the majority of our 33 Trillion dollar debt came from, as they have laundered trillions through these wars into who knows what.
For a long time now... our foreign policy has not aligned with what Americans wanted or thought. Americans didn't care because they didn't feel the price for it... but that cost is coming due... very soon... and it is going to be a catastrophic blow to our economy.
The establishment, both parties, have created our 33 Trillion dollar deficit running these wars. So don't think I am blaming a party... I am not... though it is clear the power structure of the establishment today is firmly camped with the Democrats... as Trump is not their guy and had no interest in starting new wars.
The world is changing... America can no longer run its foreign interventions AND keep building debt (no new credit cards available) ... therefore, in order for the establishment to be able to continue to fund its wars and its efforts to rule the world, it now has to turn on its own people.
It will need to take from the American people... their wealth, their retirement, their property and their assets, their freedoms and their privacy... so that they can continue to fund the American Empire...
The world is no longer going to play by America's rules or fund its debt, it will no longer use the Dollar as the go-to currency.
America is no longer the industrial heart that makes world trade pump, that has shifted over to Asia... China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
The Administration alienating the UAE which has now gone off the dollar standard for trading oil... alienating Saudi Arabia which is doing the same... giving hundreds of billions to Iran so that they can fund our enemies the world over... spending hundreds of billions funding a war against Russia that never had to happen...
Most Americans cannot see it yet, but the Biden Administration has doomed America, the cost is increased civil disorder, economic decline, global conflicts... it's all going to get worse... it does so every day he remains in office.
More retirement savers are borrowing from their 401(k) plan. Those are ‘leading indicators of economic stress,’ expert says by CNBC (Dec 10, 2023)
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/10/more-am … tress.html
"More retirement savers have taken loans from their 401(k) accounts over the past year, suggesting that U.S. households are borrowing more readily as they feel the pinch of inflation, experts said."
More Americans are yanking money from their 401(k) plans to pay the bills by CNN (Nov 7, 2023)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/economy/ … index.html
"Lisa Margeson, managing director of Bank of America’s retirement research and insights group, said the rising number of 401(k) hardship distributions could be caused by high inflation and the rising cost of living."
Most Americans Haven't Had a Raise In 3 Years by Kiplinger Personal Finance (Sept 20, 2023)
https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-fina … in-3-years
"The average American employee hasn’t received a raise in three years, a new survey shows, reflecting the disconnect between rising inflationary pressures and wage growth.
The survey of 2,000 American adults was conducted by OnePoll, an international market research agency, on August 31, 2023. Participants were asked when they last received a pay raise. Only 4% said they had received a raise in 2023, 9% said they received a raise one year ago, 22% said it had been two years and 37% said it had been three years since they had received a raise. On average, the typical worker has not received a raise in 2.9 years."
Doesn't it baffle you why increased income has escaped her?
Just for kicks, I took a look at the numbers of your meme. It's a bit fishy.
It seems the first and second numbers are reasonably fair comparisons. The $44.40 almost matches the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator at $45.62. That cast doubt that the meme number was a recreation of the original 'list' because the 'official' number is a box number and Home Alone's number was a 'listed item' one.
USAToday did a comparison (they did try to recreate the original 'list') and came up at $54.94 - but it doesn't look right to me. Comparing 'regular' milk with organic milk isn't a fair one. A comparable milk (whole, 2%, and 1%) in my region is in the $1.99 - $2.19 range. Not USA's $4.85. (the original 'list' price was quoted as $1.70)
That makes a point, but it isn't the point. Even the higher 'second number' is still in the reasonable range.
The 3rd number is the fishy one. Where did the $72.28 come from? That is 62% more than the 'official' inflation numbers, and 32% higher than the 'inaccurate', but higher, USAToday second number.
The explanation might be out there, but I didn't look because that's not the point either.
The point is the slickness of the meme's construction.
First, the establishment of a good emotional first impression via the Home Alone movie visual. Most folks probably have a 'feeling' about the movie.
Then they establish a perception of legitimacy with their first two numbers, which are reasonably accurate (and checkable) representations of both the stats and emotional perspectives (your anecdote resonates in my area too).
That's the hook. The 3rd number is the bait - it's fake (I'm betting), and it plants a camouflaged lie. Sounds like malware to me.
The point was just a chuckle. The meme does illustrate a point, but . . . it uses bullshit to do it.
GAThe problem is the "Last Year - This Year"
If it were instead, something like: on November 2021 I paid $50 dollars... on November 2023 I paid $80 dollars for the same exact list of items... it would probably be dead on.
Americans were hit hard with inflation, a devaluation of the dollar that does not go away simply because inflation is no longer in the double digit range.I think considering the higher 'second number' (USAToday's number using comparable items) as reasonable—even though it was higher than the 'official' number, left enough flexibility to include arguable specifics.
The thought included no position on whose inflation numbers are right or wrong. The points made were very specific to the movie's grocery list of items. The article's list of 'recreated' purchases were specific items, so there isn't much shade to hide stats manipulation.
The only assumptions made were that the official inflation calculator number was reasonably acceptable—even if understated, and, that the movie total of $19.83 was actually representative of the item's prices, not just some 'fudged' number in the script.
Maybe the point alleged in the $72.28 is right and can be supported, but I don't see it. The compromise number is derived from near-direct comparisons. There doesn't seem to be much room for 30+% difference.
Google probably has the answer: Where did the $72.28 come from?
. . . and here we are, arguing about 'the hair of the dog' before we even agree that 'it' (the claim) is a dog.
GAI understood your point, and I agree(d) with it.
No such inflation occurred in ONE year.
However... if you made a claim for that inflation to have occurred over 2 or 3 years (the Biden years) that "meme" would be more than factual, it would actually be kinder than the reality.
For example:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/meganeliscomb/ … -23-tiktok
But when she went back to Walmart to buy the same items again in 2023, the prices had gone up even more significantly. "This week, I went back again and purchased those same items. Now, they cost $15.10, which is about 50% more than the prices at the end of 2020."
Also we have this:
You can see, the rise in inflation, which translates into higher costs, which do not go down just because inflation goes down. One item may go down, like the egg example used by Eso, but the overall costs remain higher.
That is all I was pointing out... the dollar's buying power took roughly a 30% hit over Biden's Administration... and that 30% isn't coming back. For those folks that didn't get a significant raise the last couple of years, they are feeling the pain.That was a year ago when inflation was still high. I hope she goes back in Jan 2024 to do the same thing.
(I tried to find prices for what she bought, but without quantities, I couldn't)
For some more giggles the following article, Fans Using 'Home Alone' to Criticize 'Bidenomics' by Newsweek on Dec 5, 2023 gives the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to the story and history surrounding it. It may put to rest how the numbers came to be and end the speculations. Worth a peek and is a short read. It even includes the clip of the shopping scene from the movie giving entertainment value.
https://www.newsweek.com/fans-using-hom … cs-1849856Well hell, so that's where that $72.28 came from. ;-)
GAI was surprised there was an article about it, though I did search for one. It makes you wonder about Chicago, or at least it does me.
An interesting site I just discovered, 'payscale' says,
"Chicago, Illinois's cost of living is 20% higher than the national average. The cost of living in any area can vary based on factors such as your career, its average salary and the real estate market of that area."
https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living … is-Chicago
That site states for me to move to Chicago from here in Escondido I need an additional $46,732 to maintain the current standard of living. Take a peek. It showed my result without inputting anything, so I imagine it does it with the wizardry of Google stuff.As a former professional cost and economic analyst, I find the Newsweek article rather misleading because it is incomplete in its analysis.
WTF!!! Your bullshit was almost as funny as the meme. Go back to bed and maybe you'll wake up on the right side next time. ha-ha geez Louise . . .
Home Alone was in 1990
What are the years for the other two examples?
The example could be made using Murder Inc. (1960) and 1981 when inflation was even worse.
WOW! President Biden keeps on giving and improving.
* Stock market hit a record high
* Inflation is controlled
* Interest rates will start falling next year, just to name a few.
* Rents posted their biggest drop in three years.
https://www.cnn.com/economy/live-news/f … index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/homes/re … index.html
IN OTHER NEWS:
* Republicans insist on increasing Democratic turnout by formally voting on an impeachment inquiry when there is no evidence to support one.
* The Supreme Court also gives Democrats a boost by considering whether to make medical abortions unavailable everywhere.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/politics … index.htmlNo, RENTS are INCREASING, NOT DECREASING!!!!
Seems to me you are ignoring the facts I presented.
Living in Wonderland must be so idyllic, divorced from REALITY.
The Dow rose nearly 500 points, breaching 37,000 and hitting its highest close ever.. Ever?! I think it's a good time to revisit this...
"If he's elected (Biden) the stock market will crash" Trump during a 2020 debate
And this one is pure gold..
“You mean the Stock Market hit an all-time record high today and they’re actually talking impeachment!?” he asked. “Will I ever be given credit for anything by the Fake News Media or Radical Liberal Dems?”. .... Trump April 23 2019. The irony, the hypocrisy.
“If we're not elected, we'll have a depression the likes of which I don't believe anybody has ever seen.”. Trump, last night immediately after the market hit an all-time high... His mouth really is the gift that just keeps giving. The stable genius LOL25 States with Highest Inflation Rates in the US by Yahoo Finance (Dec 7, 2023)
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/25-state … B21-dGXJR2It is worth noting that the Consumer Sentiment Index increased in Dec, up 13% from Nov 23 and up 16% from Nov 22.
The Consumer Confidence Board had this to say - "Consumers End 2023 with a Surge in Confidence and Restored Optimism For 2024"" . At 110.7, consumers no longer expect a recession is around the corner. The Present Situation Index rose to 148.5 in Dec from 136.5 last month. The Expectations Index jumped from 77.4 in Nov to 85.6 in Dec. "“December’s increase in consumer confidence reflected more positive ratings of current business conditions and job availability, as well as less pessimistic views of business, labor market, and personal income prospects over the next six months,” said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board." - https://www.conference-board.org/topics … confidence
Interest Rates are now falling
Inflation continues to be controlled.
The Dow, S&P 500, and the NASDAC are all near all time highs.
401Ks are getting getting much, much better.
GDP for the third quarter was adjusted to a robust 4.9% annual growth.
The spread between people who think their Family Income will improve over the next 6 months widen dramatically when compared to those who think it will get worse.
Energy prices deflated 5.4% in Nov, freeing up a lot of consumer money. - https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
Food price inflation is at a relatively low 2.9% where Food At Home rose only 1.7%, but Food Away From Home rose at a more worrisome 5.3% (which means don't eat out yet)
It seems people's "feelings" are coming more in line with reality.Hooray for our side. let's see how Trump and his cult down play this news.
I suspect they will call it all a lie and mis or worse dis-information. Facts do not matter to many on the right.
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