US Economy, part 2

[tower912]

I have parallel stories.   Substitute mother in law and brother in law for friend.  I do not have the option of walking away.

[MU82]

Lots and lots and lots and lots of people also lived paycheck-to-paycheck when Trump, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton, Bush Sr, Reagan or Carter was president.

[jesmu84]

These numbers are pretty stable in surveys regardless of the economy. About 50% of Americans can't afford a $500 emergency or 70% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. People in America are bad with money.

Let's ignore that survey data is unreliable at best.

That's a f*cking travesty in the wealthiest country in the history of the planet. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

That said, the current situation is that the 50% or 70% doesn't see the economy as being "great" despite all the headlines trying to tell them how good it is.

I suppose the difference is micro vs macro.

Regardless, messaging on the economy has been awful if you're trying to get individuals to vote.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

That's a f*cking travesty in the wealthiest country in the history of the planet. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

That said, the current situation is that the 50% or 70% doesn't see the economy as being "great" despite all the headlines trying to tell them how good it is.

I suppose the difference is micro vs macro.

Regardless, messaging on the economy has been awful if you're trying to get individuals to vote.

What are your suggestions for improving this issue?

[jesmu84]

What are your suggestions for improving this issue?

The wealth disparity or the economy messaging?

[Goose]

Another locked thread. Great work, 82. How many is that in your career?

[tower912]

Still behind Jamie.

[Goose]

Wasn't Jamie banned? 82 is the Teflon man on scoop. Say the company line and all is good.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

The wealth disparity or the economy messaging?

Economic disparity.

I have ideas, but am curious how you would suggest we go about it.

[MU82]

Another locked thread. Great work, 82. How many is that in your career?

Yes, I was the only one making political comments in that thread. You had zero. Bravo, you gallant defender of Scoop!

[Goose]

82


I would never lock a thread, regardless of what you or others post. I just find it funny that your fingerprints are on a lot of locked downs, and I do not remember you ever being suspended. As for your comments vs. mine, that is makes me laugh.

[Skatastrophy]

That's a f*cking travesty in the wealthiest country in the history of the planet. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

That said, the current situation is that the 50% or 70% doesn't see the economy as being "great" despite all the headlines trying to tell them how good it is.

I suppose the difference is micro vs macro.

Regardless, messaging on the economy has been awful if you're trying to get individuals to vote.

I don't think it's a travesty as much as it's telling about a couple of things.

1. Most people will always overspend their means no matter what, and most people will spend $500 as soon as they receive it
2. Asking people what they think about the current economy is a waste of time

People are idiots. They don't know how good they have it being born in the wealthiest, most stable nation at this point in history.

Let them eat cake.

[The Sultan]

82


I would never lock a thread, regardless of what you or others post. I just find it funny that your fingerprints are on a lot of locked downs, and I do not remember you ever being suspended. As for your comments vs. mine, that is makes me laugh.

The good news is hopefully he drops the "Convicted J. Felon" moniker. It's not all that clever.

[Goose]

Fluff


He ran with vanilla soft serve for several years; I would not bet he will drop that one any time soon.

[tower912]

Meh.  I was as much to blame as Mike.  He just got in the last post.

[Uncle Rico]

Meh.  I was as much to blame as Mike.  He just got in the last post.

At least he's not doxxing scoopers. 

[tower912]

He has been given timeouts multiple times.  As he should. 

[BM1090]

I don't think it's a travesty as much as it's telling about a couple of things.

1. Most people will always overspend their means no matter what, and most people will spend $500 as soon as they receive it
2. Asking people what they think about the current economy is a waste of time

People are idiots. They don't know how good they have it being born in the wealthiest, most stable nation at this point in history.

Let them eat cake.

1. People will overspend their means in a lot of cases and not realize they are overspending their means, which leads to negative opinions that aren't based in reality.

2. US capitalism in 2024 is built to benefit corporations and the rich, not the general population, and there's little to show that we have any interest in correcting it as it keeps getting worse.


Both things can be true.

[jesmu84]

Economic disparity.

I have ideas, but am curious how you would suggest we go about it.

Wider and broader social programs - paid family leave, paid time off, universal childcare, etc.

Significantly more wealth redistribution through tax structure

Regulatory enforcement particularly of financial sector and anti-trust

Probably other things I can't think of off the top of my head

[jesmu84]

1. People will overspend their means in a lot of cases and not realize they are overspending their means, which leads to negative opinions that aren't based in reality.

2. US capitalism in 2024 is built to benefit corporations and the rich, not the general population, and there's little to show that we have any interest in correcting it as it keeps getting worse.


Both things can be true.

2. Bingo

[Goose]

BM1090

Did Fluff ever get back to your well thought post from last week? He had mentioned he wanted to think about his reply, and I do not remember seeing anything. Possibly he sent you a PM but was curious on what his reply was going to be to your post.

[Jockey]

Wider and broader social programs - paid family leave, paid time off, universal childcare, etc.

Significantly more wealth redistribution through tax structure

Regulatory enforcement particularly of financial sector and anti-trust

Probably other things I can't think of off the top of my head

Name one thing you mention that an R would vote for.


I think he was asking for something realistic.

BTW, I agree with what you posted. Alas, there is a 0% chance for any of it.

[MU82]

He has been given timeouts multiple times.  As he should.

Yep.

1. People will overspend their means in a lot of cases and not realize they are overspending their means, which leads to negative opinions that aren't based in reality.

2. US capitalism in 2024 is built to benefit corporations and the rich, not the general population, and there's little to show that we have any interest in correcting it as it keeps getting worse.


Both things can be true.

Excellent post.

[The Sultan]

BM1090

Did Fluff ever get back to your well thought post from last week? He had mentioned he wanted to think about his reply, and I do not remember seeing anything. Possibly he sent you a PM but was curious on what his reply was going to be to your post.

1. I completely forgot about it when the topic was locked
2. I never said I was going to reply

Anyway, I just watched the Ted Talk. You can tell he's a marketing professor and not an economics professor. Very slick and polished, but a lot is taken out of context and a lot is simply wrong. For instance, he gets a lot wrong about higher education - or I should say that he gets a lot wrong about higher education when you don't include where he went (UCLA and Berkeley) or works (NYU). The problem in higher education isn't lack of access. There is more capacity now in higher education than there has been in 30 years!  Has some decent policy ideas but most of it was not terribly substantive.

And it doesn't really address my overall point. Milennials and Gen Z aren't facing substantively anything that previous generations didn't face before.

[Lennys Tap]

Still behind Jamie.

The expression "Damning someone with faint praise" comes to mind.

Reminds me of Shecky Greene talking about Shelley Berman. After ranting for several minutes about what a dick Berman was, the interviewer asked Shecky if there was anything positive he could say about him. He thought for a long moment and said "Yes. His brother was worse."