Americans Say Economy Is Getting Worse (poll: CNN/USAT)

[struggle4progress]

(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States are worried about the country’s financial stability, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 59 per cent of respondents think economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting worse, a 12 per cent increase in a year. <snip>

Polling Data

Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?

Mar. 2005 Mar. 2004

Getting better 33% 44%
Getting worse 59% 47%
The same 6% 7%
No opinion 2% 2%

Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,001 American adults, conducted from Mar. 21 to Mar. 23, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=6553

[merwin]

1. But, but... Bush told me everything was wonderful!

[Erika]

2. Bush's redistribution of wealth worked - for the rich

The rest of us are out of luck.

[UpInArms]

3. HATCH: BUSH ECONOMIC PLAN IS WORKING

http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=937&Month=11&Year=2003

Washington — Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) issued the following statement on reports that unemployment figures fell for the third straight month in October:

“President Bush’s economic plan is proving to be just the right medicine,” said Hatch. “He knows that one thing a president can do – one of the few things any president can do – to help the economy is take off the shackles by lowering taxes. The president took quick action to get the economy he inherited turned around. Now we’re seeing the fruits of his decisive moves.”

...more...

[Digit]

4. What fruits, where?

I am on unemployment, trying like hell to get a job.
Only one interview since 2/15.
Just heard today they want to keep looking, will let me know.

[Goldeneye]

6. he certainly did turn the economy right around.

good job bush.:thumbsdown:

[stevebreeze]

11. There is a more realistic measure of unemployment

Though even this the U6 numbers (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm)
don't capture all of the unemployed. They ignor for instance people who return to school during unemployemt, to better their lot.

[doubleplusgood]

15. "shackles" ?

Hmmm...funny how the Clinton economy did so well during his 8 years in spite of the "shackles" of "high taxes". And, of course, Bush was going to cut taxes no matter what the situation was with the economy.

[ninkasi]

22. Hate to break it to you Sen. Hatch...

The economy he inherited had a big surplus, which he squandered in record time. The tax cuts for the wealthy didn't do a damn thing to create more jobs, or raise the salaries of us peons.

For the rich, the economy probably is better. For the rest of us, carrying the parasites on our backs, it's a different story. The Repugs are all incredibly ignorant, lying, or both.

[natrat]

31. $6.15 service jobs -give me a break-

[Daphne08]

12. I heard that on the news, too.

[VegasWolf]

5. Vote Republican and commit financial suicide! Jeebus will take care of

you though!

[alcuno]

7. "It's the price of gasoline, stupid."

Name one other everyday item that has increased over 25% in cost in 4 years.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Health Care.

But that would be closer to 50%.

[LiberallyInclined]

17. wait another 4 years-

a rising tide of fuel costs lifts all prices...

[sandnsea]

8. And the 33%

are delusional, die-hard Republicans. Which means nobody thinks the economy is getting better. The wealthiest undoubtedly are that 6-7%, who are just as wealthy this year as last year, the same.

[are_we_united_yet]

9. Jesus will take care of it.

[Biology]

10. Duhhh!

You'd THINK they'd finally get it.

[stevebreeze]

13. The economy according to this mornings Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy ended 2004 with brisk momentum on the strongest surge of corporate profits in three years, the government reported on Wednesday, though there were signs that price pressures might be picking up.


Corporate profits after taxes climbed 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter to a record seasonally adjusted annual rate of $973 billion - the strongest increase since an 18.9 percent surge in the fourth quarter of 2001. Profits had fallen 4.2 percent in the third quarter after a series of hurricanes wreaked havoc in several southeastern states.




http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=T2NWL3RRFVOGKCRBAELCFEY?type=topNews&storyID=8036633&pageNumber=1

Of course the one annual statistic they fail to mention, is real wages, down again for the fourth stright year.

[BillZBubb]

14. But, but, the chocolate ration is to be increased...

...from 35 grams to 25 grams! Thank you Big Brother!

[solinvictus]

23. Doubleplusgood!

Now, with the advances we're making against East Asia, Ingsoc is on the march and victory is at hand! Hail to Big Brother and the wise Party Leaders!!

[barb162]

21. when "real wages" drop to those = Asia, hiring will pick up here

again

[Zenlitened]

32. Amazing how they still cling to corporate profits as a measure...

... of one country's economic health. Most all of the corporations are global entities, they're not "American" in any real sense anymore. So their well-being has very little to do with how Joe and Jane Workingstiff are doing.

And even if Joe and Jane own stock shares in these corporations via their mutual funds, that money is generally unavailable until retirement, and could vanish in one tumultuous day on Wall Street.

No, it's no wonder Joe and Jane are feeling a bit uneasy these days. Their "wealth" is partly an illusion, while their day-to-day costs just keep on growing at a faster rate than their paychecks.

[TahitiNut]

18. Somebody must've plugged up the 'trickle-down' leaks.

I sense huge reservoirs above my head - and haven't had a shower in years.

(The charts below will show the 4Q2004 updates as soon as my webspace is back online. Sorry 'bout that.)


Employee Compensation is back down (after an election year book-cooking) ...



This has a nice way of raising corporate profits ...



Which is easier to see after-tax ...



Which shows up as the highest ratio of corporate profits to employee compensation ...



In nearly 75 years!

[struggle4progress]

26. Many thanks! These are really informative!

[mhr]

27. Tahitinut, Could You Provide A List Of All The Charts You Update

So we could a view and reference them?

[TahitiNut]

33. I have maybe 40 to 50 charts that I update periodically.

It's been my intention (when I get around to joining Procrastinators Anonymous) to put together a simple web page that displays most of them with notes and comments, but I just haven't yet.

[mhr]

34. Thanks, I Went To Your Web Site Hoping To Find Just That

Please let us know when you get your economic data page up and running.

[TahitiNut]

35. OK... you 'shamed' me into it. ;-)

Here's a webpage that lists the majority of charts I've prepared, showing their current state. (As time permits and whenever I get bored and feel like it, I'll update this page.)

http://members.aol.com/tahitinut/MyCharts.htm

[mhr]

36. Truly Excellent - You Are A Gentleman And Scholar Sir - A Doff Of The Hat

Much appreciated!

[barb162]

19. what happened with the 320,000 jobs per month with his tax cuts

[barb162]

20. forgot something, those jobs all went to Asia

[Voltaire99]

24. "I'm worried about the economy..."

"...but I have to keep voting GOP or married homosexuals will let Osama bin Laden blow up Jesus!"

[Erika]

25. Bush is pretty well cementing the caste system into

the U.S. And he appears to have no shame about it. He lowers our health care, our standard of living, our education, veterans benefits, gives SS to illegals, but the rich love him and he won't allow no gay marriages.
The GOP people love him.

[unhappycamper]

41. just make sure that you-know-who doesn't find out where the

33-ft tall steel Jesus is.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==375

It's right next to the 30-ft aluminum Mary.

[pinniped]

28. So their solution is to vote for that sorry excuse for a piece of shit...

presidunce. Smart.:eyes:

[Mizmoon]

29. My Property Tax is Killing Me

that's all I have to say on the matter.

[indepat]

30. How can the economy not be getting much worse with the burgeoning twin

deficits, outsourcing, a very low minimum wage, spiriling inflation fueled by out-of-control energy prices, an extremely regressive tax scheme, et al ad nauseam? We've seen nothing yet for the best of what this administration has cooked up for us is yet to come.

[lovuian]

37. Well Americans are waking up Bush was Bad News!!!

8 years of Bad News!!! Republicans got what they wanted!!!

[TexasLawyer]

38. They obviously missed the GOOD economic news today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1357612

Americans' Incomes Rise Solidly

Mar 31, 12:07 PM (ET)

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER


WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans' incomes, bolstered by strong gains in hiring, rose by 0.3 percent in February while consumer spending climbed at an even faster pace of 0.5 percent, the government reported Thursday. <snip>

[durablend]

40. Ho boy--a whole 2 bucks a week!

Most likely going towards the credit cards :puke:

[PunkPop]

42. Or gas

Or food. Or clothing. Or energy.

American's incomes "rising solidly". Pssshh. What a load. The media is as big an enemy as our corrupt political system.

[blackspade]

39. I find it interesting...

that this information is presented in this format, ie, new info first, old info last.
My first impression was that the info showed to opposite of the headline.
How many forlks are there out there that are going to take away the opposite impression of the facts in this case.
My guess is, a lot.

way to go MSM.