You've Got to Admit Though, the Economy Has Really Gone South Under Obama...

[LAGC]

As many of our conservative friends keep reminding us.

[img][/img]

Yes, clearly, everything started going south right around the time Obama took office.

[cantbeserious]

1. Wall Street Is Not Main Street

eom

[LAGC]

2. True, but a rising tide does lift all boats to an extent.

The economy is still growing. We just need to spread the wealth around a bit better.

[cantbeserious]

3. Please, Do Not Quote Ronald Reagan - The Long-Term Unemployed Will Laugh In Your Face

eom

[LAGC]

4. Do you really think things haven't improved since 2008 for most people?

I'm doing a lot better, that's for sure.

Still, there's a lot more we could do.

[cantbeserious]

5. For Main Street - We Have Yet To Regain Where The Economy Was In 2008

All signs are that we are heading back into a mild recession.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-04-18/goldman-confirms-slowdown-accelerating

[NYC Liberal]

12. And where would we be if the right-wing GOP assholes didn't control the House,

focusing all their time on passing dozens of futile Obamacare repeal bills and trying to redefine rape, instead of focusing on helping the poor and middle class, and fixing the economy?

[Amonester]

16. They only work for themselves first, for those who sign them big checks second,

and that is, if what they do can be called 'work' to begin with...

[TexasTowelie]

17. That kind of chart is worthless in my opinion.

You could make a similar chart with each peak and valley of the graph in the OP. If next month goes up because we have good weather or the sequester is resolved, then the next data point could easily be in the expansion quadrant of the graph.

Past performance does not predict future behavior.

[cantbeserious]

19. Individual Opinion Is Usually Not The Last Word And That Is A Good Thing

eom

[TexasTowelie]

20. Pardon me.

I do have a degree in math and I also know how to interpret graphs.

First the graph is comparing global leading indicators instead of US indicators.

Second, notice how there is an upward bounce between the February 13 and March 13 data points. Then in April 13 the data point is at about 0.19% growth. If the May 13 figure is also at 0.19%, then the data point would be on straight line upwards from April 13 and on the x-axis. If the following months if the figures remain at 0.19% growth then the data points would cluster at 0.19 on the x-axis. The red curved line merely smooths out the curve, but is not predictive that GLI will become negative (crossing the y-axis). From a mathematical perspective, the y-axis merely represents the derivative of the change in growth (x-axis).

The graph does measure the change that occurred in the time period stated, but I wouldn't short any stock picks just because the plot is made to resemble a circle. If you extend the chart out over a larger period of time, it would most likely resemble a warped bed-spring coil that has been hammered in certain spots.

Yes, growth has slowed down in 2013. However, the jury is definitely still out as to whether we are going to see the GLI actually contract (meaning a recession).

[cantbeserious]

21. I Have A Degree In Engineering - Touche

eom

[TexasTowelie]

22. Then you are well aware that statistics can be manipulated to

represent any conclusions that the presenter want others to believe. The graph is designed to persuade people with less sophistication than either of us that an economic crisis is imminent, but where the next data point resides is merely a guess and slow growth is better than either no growth or contraction (at least for most of us).

Congrats on the engineering degree. I thought about going that route at one point, but I couldn't see myself doing it as a career.

[cantbeserious]

23. All The Recent "Main Street" Economic Data Is Pointing To A Slow Down

eom

[Newest Reality]

15. +1

There are two Americas.

The one on the chart has generally recovered and is becoming more wealthy than ever, each and every day.

The America that is not on the chart is going downhill in a critical way, but America #1 is not concerned. Well, they are in the sense that they are sequestering themselves in more gated communities and resorting to more security.

[IrishAyes]

35. Strong gates didn't help the Romanoff's much, did they?

[Newest Reality]

38. That's for sure ...

since true security is often a convincing illusion.

Alan Watts wrote a wonderful book called, The Wisdom of Insecurity, illustrating that point.

The best security America #1 could give themselves is a thriving, healthy, empowered population surrounding them. Too bad they can't see that or greed makes it more enjoyable to flaunt affluence than be pragmatic.

[harmonicon]

11. If only money were water and people were boats. (nt)

[jtuck004]

13. Sure does. That's why poverty is at a 20 year high. They get richer, and more people wind up

on food stamps.

'Course, some boats are yachts, and some are just people clinging to driftwood...

[IrishAyes]

34. Rising tides

don't lift boats already under water; they only sink deeper.

And btw, I don't agree with your OP either.

Don't ask me to list the reasons; they are legion and I'm sure you already know.

[BlueCaliDem]

44. I believe JFK made that quote famous, not Saint Ronnie. eom

[Cha]

24. The Economy is slowly getting better since bush crashed it.

It would be better if Pres Obama's Jobs Bill had passed but had no chance with an obstructionist congress.

This is the Barack Obama Group.. there's plenty of other places for you to voice your "Opinion" about how bad things are.

[BlueCaliDem]

31. Thank you for the reminder, Cha! I'm sick and tired of Anti-Obamanites infesting every MB

from the BOG to YouTube. The sad thing is, all the kvetching . . . is part of their ilk's fault. Had they supported this president and come out to vote in 2010, the Repubs wouldn't have won all those state legislatures and then turned around to gerrymander the districts with an eye focused on 2012. But, of course, these same faceless people will jump up and down and swear to Odin that they not only voted for him, but they contributed footwork and thousands of dollars in cash {some even tell me, up to $4,000} to his campaign. Right. Like anyone's going to believe that b.s.

[IrishAyes]

36. All that chest beating they do fails to impress.

Even though it's meant to intimidate others into thinking they're in the presence of their betters and had better listen worshipfully.

A pox on their houses. I'd wager half or more are Koch employees, posers at best.

Same as when somebody on DU tries to shut me up by pointing out they've (allegedly) been here longer than anyone else. That argument doesn't hold a drop of water. As when someone tells me, "We've always done (so and so) this way!" I just tell them, "Well, then... you've always been wrong, so why am I supposed to be impressed with that?"

[Ilsa]

6. That chart doesn't help people within ten years

of retirement who are scared to gamble their life savings. There are folks with IRAs that can't handle the up and down risks of the market any more.

[liberal N proud]

7. For those seeking to destroy the middle class it has.

[fasttense]

8. You know who owns the majority of stock in the US?

The top 1 to 10 percent of Americans. And those with large enough holdings to sway votes on a board are all in the hands of the top 1%. So it's ONLY the rich, and a handful of lucky people - never underestimate the lucky few, who are doing better in this economy. Just look at the huge decline in workforce participation rate. The unemployment numbers sound small because millions and millions of people have dropped out of the workforce and are no longer counted -anywhere- as unemployed.

And the few jobs the uber rich condescend to allow in America are without benefits, without sick leave, without medical care, without vacation days.

No a rising tide only lifts those people in the boat. Those people who don't have boats drown.

[mindem]

9. The Dow is doing great

the rest of us are looking at chained CPI. I don't think Obama has been all that great for the middle class or the poor.

[Cha]

25. I think he has been great for the middle class.

[IrishAyes]

37. And the poor.

[Cha]

39. Of which I am

one. So Yeah!

IrishAyes

[IrishAyes]

41. Well, I have less materially than before retirement

But a lot more peace and contentment. All my life I walked away from people who tortured me one way and another. Now I don't have to suffer the consequences. My time is my own, and I'm a world class expert in thrifty living, so much so to the point that I don't basically yearn for more than I've got. I'm not afraid to spend for quality so I don't consider myself cheap. Just careful.

Time to study and read and learn what you want, when you want. Freedom to avoid toxic people like the plague. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

[Cha]

42. I so hear you, IrishAyes. It's our time

to enjoy and make the most of the fruits of our labor.

We're so fortunate and I appreciate everything I do have.

[MotherPetrie]

10. Good times for CEO's

[BlueCaliDem]

32. Yeah. Next time, let's get out the vote like in 2014 and give the Repubs the boot!

You know that they're the ones who should be held responsible for the slow economic growth for average American workers right? Right?

[ErikJ]

14. Agreed. Worst economic crash in history-even 1929

95% of people forget how bad it really was or never knew it. The world economy almost bit the big one.
Thanks to the bank bailout and even more Obama's job stimulus the economy has recovered. But the core things havent been fixed. Banks still gambling with our money. Repeat coming?

[Baitball Blogger]

18. The jobless numbers are gamed. The CPI is only going to make things worse.

We will never know the extent of the suffering out there, until election time comes around.

[Cha]

26. The CPI hasn't happened. Things are slowly getting better from

when bush crashed and burned it. And, it would be getting a lot better if we didn't have enemies of our country as the majority in Congress.

This is the Barack Obama Group.. many other forums to talk about the cpi.

[NYC_SKP]

27. That sounds like a RW talking point.

Jobless numbers.

I had to research that last year after hearing the same talking points on the Savage Nation.

RW likes to cite U6 rate while U3 is termed the official rate.

Link: http://portalseven.com/employment/unemployment_rate_u6.jsp

[Cha]

28. Thanks for the link

and the research, NYC SKP.

[grantcart]

29. There is no one indicator that can capture the entire economic reality.

As many have pointed out unemployment, though down, still remains high.

A better metric, IMHO is a comparison with the Euro because you are comparing similar economic systems competing against each other at the same time.

This graph (set to 2009 to the present) shows that the USD has gained against the Euro by about 20%.

Again not a complete picture but part of it.

If you want more stimulus and more legislation helping those at the bottom then you have to elect a different House.

[Cha]

30. thank you,

grant.

[grantcart]

33. welcome. here is the graph I forgot to link

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=eurusd=x#symbol=;range=20080718,20130415;compare=;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined;

[Jamaal510]

40. 2000-2008 was just a figment of everyone's imaginations.

[treestar]

43. Oh but it is all gains to Wall Street and the 1%!!!!!!!!

Really though, it could not be better for everyone else when that graph goes down, so it is still good news for everyone else.

[BlueCaliDem]

45. Not only our "CONservative friends". Plenty of Ultra-Leftwingers mimicking the same BS

as their Teapublican cousins. Just a look at DU and friendly Obama threads - barely a rec and the only comments are usually from Ultra-Leftwingers with froth around their lips. But-but-but they voted for Obama! They gave over $20 million to Obama's campaign! They dragged their friends and family to the polls for Obama! They walked door to door until their feet bled in their shoes for Obama!

Yeah, right.