It's the Economy AGAIN, Stupid!
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
January 8, 2008 6:48pm CST
Polls in New Hampshire, including entrance and exit polls, as well as in other parts of the U.S. show that the economy is the top issue facing many voters. People are worried about losing their homes, about being able to afford to put gas in their vehicles or heat their homes, about choosing between paying for health care or putting food on the table. I thought it wasn't supposed to be this way! I thought the "War on Terror" was the top issue facing our country or illegal immigration, certainly not the economy again! What do you think about this? Does it surprise you or do you agree with those who are most concerned about "kitchen table issues"?
Annie
1 person likes this
5 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
9 Jan 08
I always laugh when the issue of the economy dominates the presidential races. The president really has very little to do with the economy... but gets all the blame or credit.
1 person likes this
@justabloke (526)
• United States
9 Jan 08
It the current scenerio a lot of the problems with the economy were caused by the current President. The War in Iraq is costing/has cost $275,000,000 a day! Just think what that type of investment would do in the US.
Therefore, talking about the economy is very relevant.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
9 Jan 08
Congress had to ok that war, and continue the funding for it. Yet the economy is rarely talked about much when it comes to Senate and House elections.
State and local government officials are almost never put under pressure when it comes to the economy, but when it comes to a person's wallet... they have far more to do with it than any federal position.
When it comes right down to it though, the economy is most affected by our spending habits and the federal reserve bank. Neither of which have much to do at all with whose butt fills the big chair in the oval office.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
10 Jan 08
justabloke
Using you logic the government has eliminated poverty in the US too. The government spend over 550 Billion in poverty programs for 37 Million people living in poverty. Since the government bases everything on a family of four then the average family in poverty had an inocme of just over $59,000 and the median income for the US is $47,000 for a family of four therefore we have no poverty in the US.
The figure you cite for the cost of the war may include the total cost for all military personal and equiptment used to fight and support the war including many cost in the US that we would be paying even if we had no war.
People need to study economics and get a better understanding of government spenidn and oerations. Most people would say that Women Infants and Children (WIC)is a great program to fight hunger in the US. It is first and formost a farm subsidy program. Congress wants to buy the farmers votes so lets help the Children and the Babies. Fed them food high in calories and fat and then we can buy the health care vote later.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
9 Jan 08
It is interesting that when polls are taken about the economy people say the economy is bad and how terrable it is. But when askedabout them selves most people say they are doing fine but it is the ohters that aren't. It is the same thing with Public Schools. The public schools in this country are terrable, except the one my kids attend that is great. There are many reports out there saying that forclouseres are way up. Who are they forclosing on, people who bought houses planning to flip them and make a profit. I know people who bought a house and llived in it for a year and wanted ot sell it for $20,000 more than they paid and are now complaining that the housing market is so bad. Study the people losing their homes. One family featured on TV were making combined about $150,000 a year and bought a 1.5 million dollar house and planned to refinance it when the value increased and their ARM was up. They bought way too much house and could not afford it. Another was a person who bought a house but had no job.
We are becomming a nation that listens to 15 second sound bites and counts it as fact. The stock market drops 200 points and we are heading into a depression, but if it goes up 200 points it is not news. If you report something long enough it will come true. Poll after poll is telling us that the economy is bad for everyone but us.
By the way Dewey beat Truman for the presidency in 1948, and Obama beat Clinton by 12% in New Hampsire.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
9 Jan 08
"It is interesting that when polls are taken about the economy people say the economy is bad and how terrable it is. But when askedabout them selves most people say they are doing fine but it is the ohters that aren't."
Rush Limbaugh said that very thing back in 1992 and I just heard him say it again the other night. I've no doubt people like him are doing more than fine! It doesn't take any 15 second sound bite on the news to tell the rest of us "ordinary folks" things are NOT just fine.
The public school system is something the Republicans complain about nonstop in their campaign to give rich people vouchers to send their kids to private schools while lower income families will still be stuck with the "bad" public schools whic surely would suffer in funds were taken from them to give in vouchers for private schools.
As far as the housing bust and the mortgage foreclosures, sure there are some people who got in over their head but there are more hard-working people who are losing their homes through no real fault of their own.
When the cost of gas for our vehicles, heat for our homes (no matter what we use for heat), virtually everything we eat and drink and - of course - health care spiraling out of control I'm hard pressed to say most of us are doing "fine".
Annie
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
9 Jan 08
I think that alot of people are worried that they will not be able to take care of their families if the economy keeps going like it is. I think it is the biggest issue on their mind.
1 person likes this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
9 Jan 08
The economy is a big deal because of the war. It's a drain on our economy. We're
9,000,000,000,000+ dollars in debt (yeah that's right, in the trillions). Our dollar is losing it's value, inflation is increasing, and we're looking at an inevitable recession. If the economy suffers, it will effect everyone negatively in the one place no one ever wants to be negatively affected: their wallets.
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
9 Jan 08
Considering that I have been unemployed for the last three years (unless you count going to college or struggling to make income as a freelance writer as employed), I am not surprised at all. At the moment, unless they are the devil incarnate, I am probably going to vote for the person most likely to improve my monetary position. Of course, the war on terror and immigration has a lot to do with the economy; the reason that I can't find work in food service (hence my going to college) is the fact that companies can hire cheaper labor than me. As I said, it is no surprise at all.
