Thank You Mr. President

[Andy A]

Grammy says,

"I did write him and thank him for keeping me, my family and all Americans safe from another terrorist attack in our country after 9-11."

But, Grammy, 9/11 was on his watch & happened after he either (1) failed to read or (2) read but ignored a memo entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike within U.S."

Grammy says,

"I thanked him for the Patriot Act because I believe that kept us safe."

But Grammy, Benjamin Franklin said "those who would sacrifice essential liberties for security, deserve neither liberty nor security." The former USSR was very "secure" because their "Patriot Acts" took away even more civil liberties than our Patriot Act did.

Grammy says,

"And as far as that deficit thing goes, Obama is going for the Deficit Record in the Guinness World Book of Records."

But, Grammy, Obama didn't start w/ $0 deficit. GWB turned a $236B surplus into a $1.3Trillion deficit; admittedly Obama built on top of that, but he had two of his predecessor's wars, a recession, and a financial meltdown to deal with. Please, give "credit" where it's due.

Of all the threads I've ever read in the political forum, this one is "the ultimate spin of spins" ever written, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Andy A]

For those of you who are writing thank you notes to our current President because your business isn't doing well right now-

just curious- did you write thank you notes to Bill Clinton when the economy was booming and your business was doing well? Or were you obsessed with cigars and blue dresses?

Let me leave you with a thought-

Reagans, Bushes, Clintons and Obamas: we give them all too much blame/credit for what happens to us during their tenure. Each of us has more control over our outcomes. There are many businesses that aren't doing poorly right now. There are many people who aren't struggling at all. Is Obama responsible for that too? If you think one little man can immediately cause the economy and job market to soar, you are being very simple minded. If you believe that one little man can immediately cause the economy and job market to tank, you are being very simple minded.

Rambling.

Just call me simple minded. Watch the stock market on the the days a Fed Chairman makes a strong statement, let alone the effect on many issues when the president speaks.

 

[beachFool]

Watch the stock market on the the days a Fed Chairman makes a strong statement, let alone the effect on many issues when the president speaks.

The day to day volatility of Mr. Market is just background noise.

Ben Graham noted "In the short run the stock market behaves like a voting machine, but in the long term it acts like a weighing machine.?

Regardless of holding periods stocks are volatile.

 

[Andy A]

The day to day volatility of Mr. Market is just background noise.

Ben Graham noted "In the short run the stock market behaves like a voting machine, but in the long term it acts like a weighing machine.?

Regardless of holding periods stocks are volatile.

The question was not whether stocks ar volatile or not. Anybody who has dealt with them at all knows that. The question was can one man's statement have an effect on the economy. It is my contention that it can.

 

[beachFool]

There are a host of things that affect the economy.

You wrote "watch the stock market on the days..." , my contention a single day's movement is no big deal.

I would hope both of us agree with that.

 

[Geo]

Just call me simple minded. Watch the stock market on the the days a Fed Chairman makes a strong statement, let alone the effect on many issues when the president speaks.

Andy,

When I said-

"If you think one little man can immediately cause the economy and job market to soar, you are being very simple minded. If you believe that one little man can immediately cause the economy and job market to tank, you are being very simple minded."

I (following the lead of the thread subject) was referring to the President and (see bold) the economy and job market. I was in no way referring to the Fed Chairman, a half point in the interest rate or the nonsensical completely volatile roller coaster we call the stock market.

 

[beachFool]

Three trillion dollar war?

Old news...2008.

Linda Bilmes on Our 'Three Trillion Dollar War' : NPR

The three trillion dollar war | Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes - Times Online

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87855957

 

[Geo]

I never said my husband's business was doing bad or that we were. We live comfortably and always will because my husband is a simple minded businesses person and we are simple minded family and live a simple life. I was just thanking Mr. President because of the decisions that HE and HIS Congress have made that has led to my huband having to let some of his employees go which he hated to do but had no choice if he wanted to keep the others with jobs. Something that this President and most of this Congress (both Dem and Rep) has never had to do. Maybe we should make that a requirement in order to hold one of these positions. Our country would probably be far better off. You know we will be fine, it's the other 3 million and 50 that are paying the price. Like I said in my first post a very sad day in our home.

You dodged every question/point I made in your direct response to me. All you've clarified is that you're not hurting but rather that the people you've decided to lay off are.

I love when successful business owners do that thing where when a democrat comes into office and there is the possibility that their sweetheart tax breaks and loopholes are going away- they say things like-

"Well I'll be left with no choice but to let people go."

Um, actually- you're left with many choices besides laying people off. You could cut other costs, focus on driving revenue for higher margin products, increase add on sales/drive repeat business, sell assets at their peak value, etc. etc. etc. AND

my favorite one-
You could choose to pay yourself less.

I am a passionate entrepreneur myself. And I have no issue with someone deciding that they aren't going to pay themselves less if sales are down or if taxes are up or if there are health care premiums to provide.

You said you're comfortable. Super. But it is your decision to lay your people off so that you can remain comfortable. And there is nothing wrong with that.

It is just business.

 

[Lake View Too]

I sometimes get my trillions mixed-up...

 

[Lake View Too]

Just as this thread has morphed into whether one man or one administration can influence the economy, I want you people to reflect on what influence one party can have on the economy. If you study the above graph you will see that one party (that starts with an R) was responsible for a 60% increase in the size of the national debt compared to the GNP. Do you really want this party to regain control of our government?

And before you bring up the issue that it is all the fault of congress, let me remind you that the president signs these spending bill into law. Mr. Bush did not veto one bill in his eight years in office.