Is anyone else making an obscene amount of money in this "recession" the Liberals say we're in?

Question

I made almost $250 yesterday alone, and I don't even have very much invested. Not any more than the average American can save up in the amount of time I have, anyway.

Boy, if this is a bad economy, I want to see what a good one will do!! Agreed?

So, why do you say the economy is doing bad? Unemployment is down:
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?request_action=wh&graph_name=LN_cpsbref3
and the stock market is up.

Now, you may be saying "the dollar is at an all-time low", but that is obviously not keeping everyday, middle class Americans like me from making money, so what does it matter?

I don't do anything special. Every dollar I save is in Vanguard Mutual funds, I don't do day-trading or any of that foolishness. I put my money in and keep it there, through good times and bad. And this is the most money I have made since before the internet bubble burst (Thanks, Bill Clinton)

So, why is the economy SOOOO bad??

---BTW, I am talking about my investments alone, not my salary.

Answer 1

Even the Liberal media is not any longer claiming the economy is bad.

The DOW is record. Unemployment is down. Income is up. Interest is holding. Inflation is holding. The only negative is in the housing sector, and that is due to an over-heated boom. It is just settling to where it should be.

Truthfully, the money is in investing. No, I am not getting filthy rich. I was in school when the market was affordable, and I am in debt. I do not believe in investing until I pay the debt. I think probably many of the grousers are in my shoes.

But I own my choices. I made them. I am not looking for a bail-out. Just let me keep what I can earn, and don't tax me into poverty!

Answer 2

No that's not our story at all. Our story is factual reality. What exactly is the "scandal"? The IRS was targeting groups, big surprise. Obama condemned it and is taking care of it the only way he can, by investigating it and removing the top leadership, no scandal there. Terrorist attack on Benghazi. Not Obama's fault. Nobody can prevent terrorist attacks if there is no intelligence to make you believe otherwise. And if you're going to start in on "talking points" and emails, just stop already. The white house released the email chain yesterday, and it was a total cluster. That's what happens when you have a bureaucracy as convoluted as our gov't try to make decisions as a whole. If the third "scandal" you are referring to is the AP mess, what exactly is the "scandal"? That there was sensitive information that could have compromised an investigation or operation, so the gov't stepped in to squash it? Let's get real already. If there's a true "scandal" then Obama will be impeached, but it's not going to happen. There's no scandal that is going to bring Obama down, no matter how many hours, days, months, and years the GOP waste on this witch hunt.

Answer 3

First of all, the stock market is not a measure of the economy in any way shape or form. It's part of the economy, but it is not THE economy., The economy is measured by the GDP. This is a universally accepted concept. GDP growth has not been spectacular lately. In fact in Q1 GDP growth was quite low.

I also invest in Vanguard funds, and the sotck market is doing well for my 401k and what not, but it has not changed my overall economic situation. I still earn the same amount of income when the market is up and down. I don't work any harder when the market is up. BUsiness is not any more or less productive when the market moves one way or the other.
You'd be wise to research some of these macro-economic concepts before starting a topic like this.

here is some reality for you

"WASHINGTON - The growth in worker productivity slowed in the first three months of this year but so did wages, providing evidence that a slowing economy is holding down inflation.

Wages slowed even more sharply with unit labor costs rising at a 0.6 percent rate, compared to a 6.2 percent surge in the final three months of last year when year-end bonuses for high-income workers had inflated the number.
"

Answer 4

Well you shouldn't see your stocks with the current recession as with current trends, by year end your stocks should be even higher.


A recession is an economic downturn significant enough, based on employment data and other indicators, to be declared a recession by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Under current conditions a contraction of general business activity is more probable than continued expansion. It is a prediction and it could be wrong.
There's a lag between an economic trend and the time the government issues statistics about it.

Answer 5

With liberals if there is a republican president, up is down black is white, the sky is not really blue they seem to paint everything as a negative.

For the liberals out there let me give you a little reality check because I lived through it.Under the Carter administration Unemployment over 14% black unemployment over 22% inflation over 12% my house mortgage was 13.5% gasoline over $2.00 the equiv of $5.00 today. rationing rampant can you imagine if this happen under this administration the democrats would be storming the white house with fire and pitch forks.

Answer 6

Everytime I have interest on my account I have to withdraw it for medical, car, home improvements, so really It just stays the same. Since 2002 I lost all my pension from a previous employer when I rolled over in stocks and what not.
I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but I've been trying to get ahead for years, and I don't see a promising future.

Answer 7

I am in sales and my income has increased steadily since 2000. Last year I had a personal best in sales and I have been leading the company in sales since 2004. If the economy keeps up, I will make a good living this year and also contribute a very large amount to the federal and state tax receipts.

Answer 8

I'm doing quite well. I refinanced my house at the right time and have managed to pay off some debt. I live modestly because I am saving for my future by investing wisely, and I'd like to keep politicians like Mrs. Clinton as far away from my money as possible.

Answer 9

$250 isn't much, and you haven't actually made that money until you sell. The market could drop again tommorrow. In fact, historically, the stock market doesn't do well between May and September, IIRC, so it quite possibly will, regardless of fundamentals.

Answer 10

My investments are also doing well. But unlike you I care about everybody else. And everybody does better when EVERYBODY does better. It's not good enough for the Investor Class to prosper when the Middle Class is getting squeezed and due to stagnant wages can't keep up with ever-rising energy, health care and education costs.