Hmmm, I Wonder

Here's one view on where things stand:

"Obama: Economy's Moving In Right Direction, But Not Fast Enough" (NPR)

"The key point I'm making right now is that the economy is moving in a positive direction," but jobs aren't being created "as fast as we need," Obama added.

Economic indicators, he said, signal "we're moving in the right direction. ... We just need to speed it up."

And here's another [italics mine]:

"81% Rate U.S. Economy as 'Poor' - CNN Poll" (CNNMoney.com)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A new national poll released Sunday indicates that eight in 10 Americans say that the economy is in poor shape, and the number that say conditions are very poor is on the upswing after steady declines through the spring.

And according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, more people blame the Republicans over the Democrats for the country's economic problems.

Eighty-one percent of the public rates the county's economic conditions as poor, with 18% describing the economy as good. Forty-four percent of people questioned describe economic conditions as very poor, up seven points from July.

The poll indicates that roughly half the country says that conditions have not improved in the past two years. The other half says that the economy has gotten better, but many of them expect things will get worse in the near future.

Hmmm, I wonder who I should believe?

Comments

[Mick]

Things should get better in exactly 2 months.
That is when we have the elections, and Obama will no longer be able to jam programs through a divided congress.

[strange bedfellows]

Why Big Bankers and Corporations Love Obama

http://tinyurl.com/32vb4de

[sharonsj]

Mick, Obama has not been able to jam programs through or we'd see a lot more done. The Repubs are blocking tons of bills and appointments simply by withholding votes. The Dems don't have enough votes to override it.

While I think most incumbents should be thrown out, putting more loony Repubs in charge will make everything worse. Repubs will stop unemployment checks, keep tax breaks for the rich, continue two wars (which we are unable to pay for), and deregulate industries (how is BP working out for ya?). If you can't pay for a doctor, they'll suggest swapping a chicken for a check-up.

And just when you need to take early Social Security (because you can't find a job and you've used up all your savings), the Repubs will tell you you must work until age 70, at which point you'll take whatever money is still left and be expected to kiss their shoes for it. Oh, and while you're waiting to collect, you can live under a bridge in the meantime--if there are any bridges left, because the Repubs don't believe in public works projects.

[just toke it will be all right...they promise]

Don't worry people...they will be flying back opium for mass consumption for the stolen loot...this way you don't know your jobless, hungry, and taken advantage of...

Bill Black: “Control Fraud” Crushes Kabul, And the New York Times Needs to Correct its Correction

The problem is that the “earlier version” was correct – the correction is incorrect. Kabul Bank has been revealed to be a “control fraud.” Control frauds occur when those that control a seemingly legitimate entity use it as a “weapon” to defraud. Control frauds cause greater financial losses than all other forms of property crime – combined. Control frauds can also cause immense damage to a nation because they are run by financial elites that curry favor from political elites. The result is that they are often able to loot “their” banks for years with impunity. They also degrade the integrity of the entire system.

Kabul Bank is a typical example of a crude variant of control fraud at a major bank. Systems of crony capitalism, such as Afghanistan, inherently create an intensely “criminogenic” environment that produces epidemics of control fraud in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Kabul Bank, like the (originally Pakistani) Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) – better known to regulators as the “Bank of Crooks and Criminals International” is reported to have helped everyone – corrupt Afghani government officials, corrupt business leaders, and the Taliban laundering its drug profits to, in part, buy weapons. Like BCCI, Kabul Bank’s managers’ reported frauds and self-dealing blew up the bank by causing massive losses. (If you believe that Kabul Bank is the only bank like this in Afghanistan you are consuming too much of Afghanistan’s leading export.)

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2010/09/bill-black-%E2%80%9Ccontrol-fraud%E2%80%9D-crushes-kabul-and-the-new-york-times-needs-to-correct-its-correction.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capitalism%29

[Joe]

And why do Republicans and Democrats alike still allow H1B and L1 visa holders into this country when at least 15 million Americans are looking for work? H1B and L1 visa need to be repealed and these visa workers deported! Give these jobs back to Americans. Don't give me the there's not enough qualified Americans out there crap. There are now plenty of qualified Americans looking for work!

[Richard]

Seems like Jimmy Carter's second term to me.

[Nancy Kramer]

I think the US economy and all of us are totally doomed. However my business is having its best year ever and I am making more money then ever. Just a small business that may be wiped out anytime. I am totally worried.

[Jon]

Strange bedfellow: You can no longer claim that Afganistan is a republican war. Mr. Obama greatly expanded the size, cost, and number of troops there, far beyond anyone else. If he kept his campaign promises, he could have/ should have,pulled out.
The war in Afganistan is clearly his war now.