What's wrong with our economy?

[EdwardBaiamonte]

I think whats wrong with our economy is it lacks balance and a strong middle class.

yes liberal taxes and unions shipped about 30 million jobs offshore.

 

[pinqy]

Too many people as well as the media believe that only Job Growth and Unemployment Rates define how our economy is doing.
What gets ignored is the Labor Force Participation Rate.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the most recent rate is 62.9.

Workforce Participation at 36-Year Low as Jobs Climb - Bloomberg

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

And why do you think the LFPR is more significant? It does not accurately reflect the labor market because it is affected by many non-economic factors. And while it is currently near the lowest point since 1978, it is still higher than any time before that. I don't think you'd say the labor market situation now is better off than anytime before '78.

Think about the theme of the Mary Tyler Moore show. That was in the 1970s wasn't it? What was so special about her that is common place today? How might that relate to labor force participation rate differences between the present and the pre-1978 era?

Exactly my point. Look at what I wrote just before the sentence you bolded: "It does not accurately reflect the labor market because it is affected by many non-economic factors."

I don't think you understood my point. To compare the rate of today to that of 1978 means that you're not capturing the same thing. Mary Tyler Moore portrayed a woman in the workforce back in the 70s. That was supposed to be some kind of groundbreaking TV.

Look at the rates for men and women today versus the 1970s.

Yes, non-economic reasons effected the participation rate. That's what I've been saying. You are actually agreeing with me

 

[G.T.]

I think whats wrong with our economy is it lacks balance and a strong middle class.

yes liberal taxes and unions shipped about 30 million jobs offshore.

Shaddap loon bomb.

The profits as of current for large corporations is magnifiscent while the middle class has no return on that production.

Its a conglomerate of reasons, left and right.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

Yes, non-economic reasons effected the participation rate. That's what I've been saying. You are actually agreeing with me

yes non economic reasons like:

1) women working so men dont necessarily have to
2) liberal attack on families and schools rendering many unfit for work
3) 20 million illegals who take our jobs
4) increasing affluence so many don't have to work

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

The profits as of current for large corporations is magnifiscent while the middle class has no return on that production.

thats because liberal unions taxes and deficits have shipped most of their jobs to places like China. Over your head?

 

[Rikurzhen]

Look at the rates for men and women today versus the 1970s.

-as more women work fewer men have to work, but that tells us nothing about the health of the economy.

-The question is how many want to work. That number is shown best in U6, not participation rate, the real measure of unemployment.

-high unemployment among HS grads and lower just shows their difficulty, not the difficulty of the entire economy.

The question I'm focused on is actually "how many want to work for the wage that is offered." Lots of people are out of the workforce because a.) they can earn more from disability benefits than working or b.) their contributions in the home (or alternative) are more valuable to them than the income they could earn in a job.

Both of those factors are directly related to the imbalance between labor/capital regarding the allocation of National Income.

 

[pinqy]

Look at the rates for men and women today versus the 1970s.

-as more women work fewer men have to work, but that tells us nothing about the health of the economy.

-The question is how many want to work. That number is shown best in U6, not participation rate, the real measure of unemployment.

How do you figure?
It doesn't include everyone who wants a job and includes millions who do have jobs.
]

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

Yes, non-economic reasons effected the participation rate. That's what I've been saying. You are actually agreeing with me

yes non economic reasons like:

1) women working so men dont necessarily have to
2) liberal attack on families and schools rendering many unfit for work
3) 20 million illegals who take our jobs
4) increasing affluence so many don't have to work

5) hip hop culture proclaiming that working is "white".
6) ever increasing welfare benefits

 

[bugs]

I think whats wrong with our economy is it lacks balance and a strong middle class.

yes liberal taxes and unions shipped about 30 million jobs offshore.

We Need more Mexicans to Jump the Fence ASAP!!!!!

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

I think whats wrong with our economy is it lacks balance and a strong middle class.

yes liberal taxes and unions shipped about 30 million jobs offshore.

We Need more Mexicans to Jump the Fence ASAP!!!!!

yes liberals are so wonderful. First they ship our jobs to China then invite illegals in to take what remains! Liberalism should be made illegal.

 

[G.T.]

Yea, really.

Partisans need their heads surgically removed from their asses.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

Yea, really.

Partisans need their heads surgically removed from their asses.

typical liberal without IQ for substance reduced to ad hominem

 

[bugs]

I think whats wrong with our economy is it lacks balance and a strong middle class.

yes liberal taxes and unions shipped about 30 million jobs offshore.

We Need more Mexicans to Jump the Fence ASAP!!!!!

yes liberals are so wonderful. First they ship our jobs to China then invite illegals in to take what remains! Liberalism should be made illegal.

Indeed.. Bill Maher was on HBO last night doing a Stand up thing.. BRAGGING About Donating $1,000,000 to OBunga!

 

[Politico]

Too many people as well as the media believe that only Job Growth and Unemployment Rates define how our economy is doing.
What gets ignored is the Labor Force Participation Rate.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the most recent rate is 62.9.

Workforce Participation at 36-Year Low as Jobs Climb - Bloomberg

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

And why do you think the LFPR is more significant? It does not accurately reflect the labor market because it is affected by many non-economic factors. And while it is currently near the lowest point since 1978, it is still higher than any time before that. I don't think you'd say the labor market situation now is better off than anytime before '78.

Because when people stop participating for lack of jobs they are counted as employed.

No they're not. That's idiotic. Where on earth did you get that idea?

In the real world where you apparently don't live.

 

[Joe Steel]

Well for starters:
1) The economists and politicians can't decide whether they are creating a mixed economy, a corporatist economy, or a free market one. Instead you have all factions fighting it out and creating economic instability. ...

The politicians aren't trying to create anything. To the extent they make economic policy, it's directed at specific issues and has specific goals. If they actually tried to create a broad, coherent policy, we'd all be better-off.

 

[Joe Steel]

... 2) The tax system is such a mess that trust in the IRS is at an all time low, and those in higher incomes as well as corporations can find a way out of paying tax. Also the level of tax avoidance shows that people and corporations don't trust where their tax money is going or that giving money to the US government is worthwhile. ...

Stuff is complicated. That's just the way the world is. Don't whine about it, learn to deal with it.

 

[hipeter924]

Well for starters:
1) The economists and politicians can't decide whether they are creating a mixed economy, a corporatist economy, or a free market one. Instead you have all factions fighting it out and creating economic instability. ...

The politicians aren't trying to create anything. To the extent they make economic policy, it's directed at specific issues and has specific goals. If they actually tried to create a broad, coherent policy, we'd all be better-off.

Actually politicians (as you haven't noticed) have ideologically driven economic goals, whether it is George W. Bush or Barrack Obama. As such they do create policy according to those beliefs, just like under Reagan and Clinton, the White House, the Senate, and Congress try to pass ideologically motivated legislation to organize the economy and CREATE their vision, whatever that might be.

Stuff is complicated. That's just the way the world is.[...]

Apathy is not how you fix the IRS, or the tax system. Thanks for making no sense.

 

[ShackledNation]

The decline in the LFPR is almost entirely a result of a larger percentage of people aged 16-24 not working than in the past. The 25-54 age group has remained virtually flat since 1990, with a minor drop more recently. Those 55 and older have seen their rates increase, which again makes sense as people are retiring later to ensure they have enough money for their longer life expectancy.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

The politicians aren't trying to create anything.

of course they are. Democrats are trying to create socialism. Ever heard of Obamacare? Republicans are trying to create capitalism. ONce you understand that you can move forward.

 

[hipeter924]

The politicians aren't trying to create anything.

of course they are. Democrats are trying to create socialism. Ever heard of Obamacare? Republicans are trying to create capitalism. ONce you understand that you can move forward.

Democrats at best are centralist (both Obama and Clinton endorsed things that their base claims to be against like corporate welfare and economic deregulation), except maybe in places like Vermont where you have a few democratic socialists or social democrats. You might get some democratic socialists in the Green Party, but they don't get elected. The US doesn't have any real 'socialist' politicians in power, just like it doesn't have any true 'free market' types, simply because the system is rigged in favor of corporations, unions, foreign governments, and their interests.