Why do people still say the US economy is bad?

Question

Since 2003 the NASDAQ has gone up 1000 and the Dow has gone up over 4000 points in just 4 years. Why are people still saying the economy is terrible when the unemployment rate is lower than the lowest Clinton ever had, not to mention that the average earnings and productivity are up too?

Just how bad is the housing market?

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/img/hown0107.gif

Home ownership is way up. Look at the % of home owners in the 90's compared to now.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/historic/histt14.html

Answer 1

As a democrat, a public school teacher, I must protest.

Not you, the silly claims of our "bad economy".

I benefited from the tax cuts. Thank you, I am NOT the rich.

Socialists don't want us to succeed. They want us to fail until we turn to them to take over. They don't see Americans when they see another political party. They see "the enemy" and act accordingly.

They very much believe that if "you lie enough, and others swear to it, people will believe it over the truth".

This works in countries that are already restrictive, already don't have free speech. We, as a country, have been a major pain in their side, and STILL they've had a lot of success. Look at medicine, education, etc.

They don't represent me. I'm a patriot, first, a democrat, second.

Answer 2

The economy is bad because the US dollar can't even compete with the world wide market anymore. Our trade deficits are skyrocketing. Corporations are what drives the DOW and NASDAQ, not the general public. Foreclosures are at an all time high. Oil companies are making record profits which drives up the prices of everything that must move around this country. The cost of everyday living is increasing but incomes are not increasing at the same rate. Just because unemployment is low could simply mean that unemployment benefits have expired or people have had to take much lower paying jobs just to be employed.

Glad your making one of those 6 figure incomes living in a small town in the mid-west on the family homestead where you can ride you bike to work and grow you own vegetables in the backyard.

Answer 3

I wouldn't say it's bad, but I wouldn't call it good either.

The stock market is not the end all, be all barometer of the economy. And they use a projection that's not terribly accurate. The Dow Jones Industrial Average takes *30* stocks out of thousands and projects an average of the market.

We've experienced the slowest growth in 4 years this last quarter.

The housing market is horrendous. People are filing bankruptcy left and right. Entire lenders are being put out of business.

The dollar compared to the Euro or British Pound is at all time lows.

Because of gas prices, consumer confidence and spending is way down.

And if illegal immigrants are taking so many American jobs, how is it that the unemployment rate is so low?

Answer 4

The democrats lie about the economy for political gain. If you want to revert to the Carter era of 22% interest and 15% inflation vote for one of the democrat clowns aspiring to be president. The increase in the market indexes may not be an increase in the value of the stock, but a decrease in the value of the dollar caused by Government overspending. The tax cuts are bringing in increased revenues, but not enought to satisfy the democrat desire to spend. Look at the time this congress has spent on issues that do no one any good.

Answer 5

The stock market is cyclical, as is the employment rate. The employment rate study includes temporary, remedial jobs, which have always been transitory in nature. This artificially boosts figures. This has been true for any administration. The President has little to do with the efficacy of the stock market. The true test of the nation's economic health is the "National Debt", otherwise known as the "Deficit". Under the Clinton administration, the debt was around 5 trillion dollars. As of today, under the Bush administration, it is closely approaching 9 trillion. This major, devastating deficit is crushing the economy. It was created by the present administration, and it will devastate this country's economy for many years to come.

Answer 6

I think it is bad

Americans are in debt with no visible end. To me that is bad economics.

Americans have the lowest personal savings rate ever. To me that indicates something is wrong with the economy.

China's National bank owns over 1 trillion dollars worth of US home mortgages. To me that is not good economics.

Go Team Bush Go

There is a huge difference between owning a home and living in a home.

Having a $500K 50 year mortgage that can never be paid off it not good for the economy it is only good for the banking business.

Answer 7

It's all about GDP which is very lousy and also the housing market. The dow is a horrible economic indicator. In 1929 it had record highs also and if you ever picked up a history book you'd know how that worked out.

Answer 8

maybe people say the economy is bad because of the housing bubble and the trade deficit. i'm no expert economist, but the economy cannot be accurately measured by the fact that the stock market is up, can it? maybe i don't know. but i do know the dollar is weak and China owns our economy with trade surplus. the economy has been "good" for my entrire adult life and i'd rather not experience a truly "bad" economy.

Answer 9

War is a capital venture.

GDP is down, housing is down, interest rates are up so is inflation and bankruptcies and the cost of consumer products has skyrocketed.

I think the best indicator of Bush's economy is to ask people if they are able to save more or less than they were in 1999.

Answer 10

. The record DOW and NASDAQ represents record profits for corporations. It does little to help the average American as less than a fourth own stock. Real Income has been down each and every year Bush has been in office. With Clinton, real income increased 15%. Poverty has gone up each year while Bush has been in office. Clinton reduced poverty by 25%. Personal savings in America are at an all time low, while personal debt is at an all time high. Unemployment is not at historical lows. It is at a low for the Bush era. Bush has set records for deficits nearly every year he has been in office. Our national debt has doubled since he has been in office. Health care costs have doubled since he has been in office. College tuition has doubled since he has been in office.
Foreclosures are twice as high as they were two years ago when they were at an all time high at the time....