The whole dust-up about Obama's statement about people being bitter is, well, overdone. People have every right to be bitter right now. Consider the following facts.
First, the last expansion saw the weakest establishment job growth of any expansion since WWII.
As a result, real median household income has been stagnant for this expansion.
People are seeing massive inflation spikes in oil
and agricultural prices
The dollar is hitting fresh lows
They've see the Republican party piss away a budget surplus into a mammoth increase in debt. Here is a list of total debt outstanding at the end of the government's fiscal year:
09/30/2007 $9,007,653,372,262.48
09/30/2006 $8,506,973,899,215.23
09/30/2005 $7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2004 $7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2003 $6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
To place that in perspective, total debt as a percentage of GDP increased from 57% to 64% under Bush's tenure.
Bottom line -- the U.S. economy isn't doing that well and hasn't for some time. Thanks to Republican mismanagement the federal government's finances are a shambles. And I haven't even mentioned anything about health insurance, college tuition costs, or CEO pay.
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But if I concentrate on Gay Marriage & School Prayer/Guns won't all this economical-stuff get better and Make Me Rich?
That's my Faith -Based voting!
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It just baffles me how people can still associate 'capitalism' with patriotism. Capitalism is that which essentially promulgates the relocating of US dollars to foreign markets. Consider the fact that capitalism thrives on relocating jobs overseas in favor of shareholders' interests.
Capitalism, seen without persuasion, is anything BUT patriotic. And working class men and women across the nation are paying for it now.
Hale,
Good post. The correct word is "reactionary" not "bitter." When I studied the economics of anthropology at UCLA the French had coined a term for the behavior of the American voter who need government to make the rules fair for the working man and the disadvantaged. The term is "false consciousness." By 1970, even the Teamsters Union voted for Richard Nixon. The reasons were that affirmative action and immigration threatened the middle American. The Middle American was still very prejudiced at heart. The Civil War did not end this prejudice. The war in Vietnam promised full employment and good jobs for truckers. between Nixon's Southern Strategy (Lee Atwater, Karl Rove's mentor) and the union-busting activity of Ronald Reagan with his supply-side economics and deficit spending, the middle class was being destroyed economically. Jimmy Carter unleashed deregulation in many areas. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush 43 continued the deregulation and the free-trading - an issue opposed by John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln. The rest is history. There is no "solidarity" for labor, students and women. The wedge issues have be used effectively as has religion to shift wealth upwards.
Lets get one thing straight.
We can all agree on one thing. Whoever takes over this ship is going to have a lot of chaos and a hell of a lot of work cleaning up this MESS. When one thinks of the pressure, it is realistiically sound to imagine that the pressure while be so incredibly hard, it will tax the hell out of whoever's to be president.
Just look at those graphs of Bondad's... All the damn money we have lost!
How will we replace it to do all the things that so urgently need to be done for this country?
It will kick McCain's ass. He will get so old so fast, it will be unreal. Hillary will get her butt worn out so bad, she'll be a sleepless wreck.
In the end, Obama's actually the one who will probably be best fit and capable to think clear enough through all that pressure and chaos to deal with so many thankless and deblitating moments to come.
Think about it.
Hale, great post. I not only love to read what ya say, but I also like what people respond for you.
It's often the most intelligent discourse on the blog. Thanks.
What we need at this point is to change to a Parliamentory system where we can vote the bastards out as soon as they start fuckin' up and not be stuck with another bunch of liars and buffoons for 4 years. Yes, anger is what most Americans are feeling right now, bitterness is too weak a word! The "WHO" said it best...meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Lets not get fooled again!
Parliamentary system has it all: "Vote of No Confidence", throw out incompetent bums mid-term. Shadow government, keeps the party in power on their toes. No primaries, keeps people focused on party platforms & issues, not individuals. Mandatory voting, citizens duty is to vote or else you get fined. And best of all, LIMITED CAMPAIGNING, candidates can only campaign for a few months before an election.
Yes, we're bitter AND pissed off!!!!!!!
OUCH! no, no, republicans want you to BE IN DENIAL-- say all is "lovely" while going bankrupt. Nice guys, no? NO. NOT NICE. Rpublicans are BUMS profiteering off the working and middle class of America. It's time to DUMP REPUBLICANS.
When I've spoken with people who live near the Canadian border, they tell me that a governmental system similar to Canada's, including establishment of a Parliament and a four party political system, would be the best thing for America, because our current "two-party" political system is a joke, and getting rid of incompetent government officials often appears to be an exercise in futility.
Still, a parliamentary system of government doesn't sound all bad, especially when you consider that if America had a Parliament, the bastards who got us into an illegal, unjust, unnecessary war would have been ousted from office a long time ago, and 4,000+ American soldiers and over a million Iraqi men, women and children would still be alive, and the nation wouldn't have a $300 trillion dollar debt because of this foolish 21st Century Peloponnesian War.
The Regurgitants have said if you vote a Democrat into office they will RUIN THE ECONOMY! Please someone help me to understand, pray for me to understand, knock me over the head so I can understand, WHAT ECONOMY?
The banks are basically bankrupt - period. If the FED was not printing money like it was toilet paper, these financial institutions would have already folded. - PERIOD.
The devaluation of the dollar by the policies from the Bush/ Cheney administration has caused the apparent rise in the prices of commodities but in fact, it is just a reflection of the devaluation of the dollar, that now people have to pay more for the same goods. Why should the producers take less value for a product? They don't. They just raise the price. Devaluation of the currency is a sinister way to manipulate the economy because few people understand currency fluctuations to be able to understand how a particular economic policy can affect a particular result. The confusion allows plausible deniability by politicians who can blame the problems on the Saudis, Iraq or someone else, when in fact it is their own financial machinations that are causing the problems.
I totally agree. Unfortunately, today, we see McSameOld pandering for a few votes by saying he wants to remove taxes on gasoline. Not only will more people die because bridges and highways desperately in need of repair would go unfixed, but the esssence of what he is saying is lets increase the size of the deficit so prices can skyrocket as the value of our currency plummets.
Repbulicanism may have mortally wounded the US economy, by placing it in a vice. If the Fed doesn't print more money many businesses collapse and credit markets tighten. If does it increases the pace of inflation, to where they will have to tighten like crazy just to get it under control..Soon you will need to pull a trailer when you go to the pump, just to hold the money needed to pay for the fill-up; all this so we can increase the amount of profits for big oil and to minimize their PR problem; and this doesn't even get reference the problems we have, if we actually combust the fossil fuels and increase the CO2 in our atmosphere.
Rather than talking about solutions that make sense, we get yet another diversion. They say the main street media loves old McSame Old. Don't they have any children or grandchildren to worry about? McSame Old seems to have one foot in the grave. That doesn't bother me so much, its just that he seems to want to take us all with him.
Time after time in human history when opportunity is shut off from the many, religion and values of conformity, asceticism and eternal suffering are engrained into the body politic. Gradually, individuals, then communities, finally entire organizations turn inward. Thus, as examples,the rise and spread of Buddism in China, the rise and spread of Christianity preceeding the Dark Ages, and the Tibet in isolation before invasion of outside force and ideas. The rise of monarchy and aristocracy with top-down decision making, cause the decline of the organizarion. The decline of the organization and loss of human opportunity and with that initiative, self confidence and competence are one and the same. In declining times, bitterness, fervent prayer for a better life, hereafter, zenophobia, and willingness to follow demigogues into battle are the stuff of living and dying.
Bondad, if you haven't read Kevin Phillips' "Why the Economy is Worse Than We Know" in May,'08 Harper's, then please do. Phillips is one of our greatest living patrots: He is a man without a country. Patriots go unrecognized and ignored as Republics are in precipitious decline.
Yes, most all of us have a rfeason to be bitter. I wish the focal point of this bitterness was lack of intellegence among our leaders. Why in the hell do americans shy away from an intellegent candidate? Maybe it's the old saying "you're down on what you're not up on" at play.
I agree with Jon Stewart; the leader of this country should be the most intellegent person on the planet, or off! He sure as hell should be ELITE! We've seen the other way much too often.
Okay, he goes to San Francisco and says stuff about the working class of Pennsylvania. "Bitter" is not the problem. The reference to religion and guns as a means of coping with their anger is a problem. The majority are trying to put food on the table and a roof over their family's head. This statement is as bad as any racial slur, nothing sticks to this guy because the media is backing him all the way...Until..it doesn't back him anymore. He is one piece of work.
The hillbilly homophobes got their soulmate elected, twice. Whether they got to benefit from the dividend tax cut is another matter. Now they have to live with the consequences. Karl Rove took a leaf out of Richard Nixon's playbook. Nixon had his "Southern strategy" and Rove had his God, guns and gay strategy.
The difference between what he said and a racial slur is that one is based on fact and the other on pigment. Morons can't tell the difference and that's why Bush is president. Thanks for helping destroy America by voting to bankrupt her because you thought the lying thief was "one of us" and not an elitist. Good god how stupid can Americans be?
Oh... say it ain't so! You're so insulted about his comments, yet you have no problem bitching about San Francisco. For way too long rural America enjoyed the republican tune about "Hollywood", "San Francisco" and "The New York Times". I'm tired of keeping quiet when Farmville calls me abortion-lover, the place I live Taxachussetts, and un-American because I don't wear a made in China lapel pin sold in the Japanese-owned 7 Eleven. Obama was right. We ended up with the dumbest president ever because you wanted to drink a beer with him, because he's appalled about dudes kissing like you are and because he believes in creationism like you do. It was about time someone had the guts to put a mirror in your face. Yes, it was your willingness to shove your religion values down my throat, your homophobia and your love with guns (remember the attacks on Kerry?) that gave us Bush. LIVE WITH IT!
I probably misunderstood him. I thought he was pointing out how we always vote based on wedge issues like gay marriage, voter fraud, requirements to register gun ownership, death taxes, etc.
As long as we're fighting them over there we won't need to fight them over here.
If we do away with income taxes and just print more money there won't be any need for any of us to feel bitter.
We're going to be much better off if we pick our next president based on how good he makes us feel about ourselves. as long as we're doing everything right why change it. Definitely don't need any outsiders coming in and telling us how to think or act. What's he think this is? Some kinda Hollywood movie about some ignorant backwoods good ole boys. The nerve.
If only some how we can get McCain elected with Romney as his running mate. Bet it wouldn't be any later than Feb 2009 and we'd find ourselves with Romney as our President. Now there's someone that knows how to make our country profitable and safe again for Wall Street.
Want some truth?
I make 12.50 an hour, forty hours a week, no overtime.
I "support" a wife and child on this income. 10 years ago, that wasn't a bad salary.
Today, it's crap.
I hate what's happened to this country. I hate this administration. I am bitter, angry, miserable and worried so much over what has and might become of my family that I can scarcely sleep nights.
I hate this war, I hate partisan politics and I hate the screwing the American people are taking at the hands of corporate fascists who've been give the key to the Treasury by Republicans AND Democrats.
So, you tell me to "find another job". Sure. Check the want-ads and see how many "good jobs" are available for "downsized" radio broadcasting professionals with 27 years of experience - professionals who were "downsized" when St. Billy allowed the complete deregulation of the radio industry and corporate fascists like Clear Channel and Cumulus turned us out in droves.
Bitter? That doesn't begin to describe it. I'm considered "lucky' to be getting 12.50 an hour.
I don't know if Senator Obama can change a damned thing but I do know that he offers hope and, right now, that sliver of hope is all that I've left to cling to. God help us all.
I agree. I feel like marching on Rupert Murdoch's fascist empire and tearing it down. Join me in boycotting any product that advertises on Fox or Clear Channel and let others know you are doing so. It will catch on and its about the only message they will hear. If King could do it in Alabama and Mississipi, we certainly can do it again. Kind of like breaking the desegregation barrier. I want to force these idiots to hire liberal talking heads too. If they don't I plan to keep my money in my pocket. Also start bombarding your local Cable Network, demanding cafeteria style programming options, so that you can opt out of having to pay for Faux News.
Spender, I empathize so completely with you. I wish you well.
Two years ago my husbands employer for 29 years was bought by a French company and they kicked him and the other mid level managers to the curb. " Here's 6 months pay. See ya." As it turned out he was in a lucky group. Those who were cut shortly after got no severance at all. He was one year short to get life time medical insurance. So, there we were almost 60 with no salary and no health insurance once COBRA ran out. Scary? You bet. Scarier yet......trying to get private health insurance at 59. Good luck........... They need zero reason to turn you down, that is IF you could even afford $2000 per month for the premium. Ha!
Well, like yourself, Spender, my honey did find another job. The pay is 1/3 as much as he made before. He's just a grunt now. But, it gets us health insurance and we can just batten down the hatches and carry on. I know that we have it ever so much better than some......a lot of some.
The good paying jobs are gone. They are not coming back under a Republican. I think a global depression is just around the corner. Obama is the only hope I see.
This is a powerful post not because it is unique, but because it is not. Because it is the situation for so many Americans. Especially those over 50.
I only hope we are right that Obama is the only hope. I frankly don't see how he can do much of anything except inspire. That's no fault of his, our system is rigged to stay the course with minor corrections. Our government has been taken over and that won't be easily changed.
It will have to be us - and lot of us - on the streets and demading meaningful change or taking their heads (figuratively of course) if we don't get it. BO has had to do his own version of waffling to maintain momentum. The problem will be the day the devil is due. With so many millionaires in government, quite literally, "what's a poor boy to do?" - except of course as they all have, become one of them.
les, "our sytem is rigged to stay the course with minor corrections", great statement, and something I have believed for a long time. You can't get elected if you think outside the box in this country. 81% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track, yet 2 of 3 remaining candidates are McCrazy and Clinton, go figure.
What are you whining about... I was just listening to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and everything is just fine. I'm off to ride my unicorn to the rainbow where I can count all my George W Bush-supplied blessings.
if you really want to feel good about the economy you need to listen to Kudlow.
Yeah, but he's not as much fun as he used to be. He no longer spends his arrogance on babbling about how weak the Canadian and European currencies are anymore. He seems to have had a credibility attack that left him disabled. Boycott any adverstisers of this show! Chances are good that they are so highly leveraged even a small push will knock them over.
Spender,
Man you have my sincere sympathy..I thought radio folks did better than that...
I sure hope you are not based in the mid-atlantic region..not because I wouldn't want
to talk to you..but because that salary...with a family isn't really too good...
Thank you for your honesty and candor.
I really wish folks would do the same as you had done because it helps to understand where folks are coming from.
Best of luck to you!:)
How is "bitter" a poor choice of words? Should Obama have said that working class whites were "upset" or "concerned" or "angry?" Maybe "miffed" would have been the right elitist word to use. Or he could have eschewed euphemisms and said they were "enraged" or "fucking pissed." Any way you cut it, Obama was accurately describing the mental condition of many Americans and he need not apologize, explain, or spin what he said. Anybody who isn't "bitter" about what has happened to this country under the War Criminals lacks a pulse, a brain, and a heart.
I've noticed a rise in "is troubled by". I'm less "bitter" than I am "bloodthirsty". I want the republicans shipped to the Hague. The sad thing is after they have been kicked out of government, finally, they will start with their "we're the party of fiscal responsibility" bullcrap again. Thats going to drive me nuts.
I'm still confused what the big deal about calling bitter people bitter is. It's not like the bitter voters don't know it.
Actually, it's hilarious how rethugs latched on to the "Bitter" line, as well as Hillary, and it's already starting to make the BIG fat circle all the way around the country to bite 'em right square on the butt!!
They were so stupid to think they could get between people and how bad they know they have it, and try to say- "Oh no, they're not mad, BITTER, or unhappy! They're PROUD Americans!!!"
"-Right folks?" ... and the applause sign lights up!!!! but nobody claps.
Instead the big majority of us are going- "Wait a minute!" THIS MAN"S TELLING IT LIKE IT IS!!!"
Change the channel. Turn the damn thing off. Im just glad I know the real truth.
Go Obama!
It's Funny that everybody has been saying for the past dozen decades that they want a politician who will just tell the truth and not B.S us. and when a politician actually tells the truth, they get all up in arms and in his shit. It's amazing, its hypocrtical if you ask me. the people who are say they are not bitter are the same people who a few years ago where and still are cussing out Bush about how the country is in the toilet. last time i check when time are hard you do a lot of praying. as a person of faith I pray more than i normally do at those time. everybody does, the bible is full of stories of people asking GOD why me lord, why has thou forsaken me. And the Cling to guns- that's rigth people do cling to guns, If hunting is a way to release the stresses of life, then what the hell are you going to do when you are stressed? Right you are going to go huntin, eat, exercise, write,etc Give me a break. I think it are those who do not agree are in Denial and can't face the truth and that is the kind of thinking and denial of the truth that got us into this. I much rather someone tell me the truth i may not like and tell me a lie and get 4000+ people killed
ditto peterg76. I'm generally bitter (and cynical) as regards our political and government processes, and I don't care if somebody goes and points out a fact like that.
Good news is if he becomes President within 4 years a huge percentage of the populace will be bitter toward him. Just the way it is.
Well then at least that's after 4 years, vs. the bitterness people feel NOW against Hillary and McCain
Thanks for the charts and graphs...but people in this country don't need that to know things are bad. Groceries higher, gas prices high and going higher, no health care, mortgage crisis, neverending war sapping the economy, kids dying for supposed oil revenues, jobs going overseas, coporate welfare, tax cuts for the wealthiest....and so on. Bitter isn't a strong enough word for what some people are feeling......anger... at a government that seems to ignore these problems. People all over feel it ....it's just relative to how much you have in the first place.
Posted April 15, 2008 | 07:39 AM (EST)