Obama and the Economy: An Exertion Gap?

Unfortunately, all that Obama has done is create larger government, more control which is killing small business. The states have way too many government employees at high salaries, great benefits, healthcare, etc. because of labor unions all of this is killing America. The feds are also over staffed, the American taxpayer is paying for them and they in turn do nothing for us, except try to get more regulations in so that they can keep their jobs. Probably more than a 1/3 of all of these people could be done without and we would never notice the difference. It is time that the private sector rebels.

It's not an exertion gap. It's a competency gap...

I think both sides are at fault. Blaming one another for what they have and have not done is high school. Both sides have contributed to the debt. Both sides need to work on it. I feel the democrats need to be opened minded and the republicans need to do more than complain about how the dem's are doing things. Don't complain if what’s going on is something you don't like and you don't have a bright idea or plan. Likewise, if you see your plan isn't working don’t stop the next man or woman from presenting an idea. I think a new government system needs to take place if both the reps. and the dems can't get it together. To the unhappy people, it didn't take 1 1/2 years to make this debt, for the life of me I can't figure out why you would expect it to go away in 1 1/2 years. Everyone has played there part in building up this debt. The government is a long story on and what they've done but the people, i can touch on briefly. When those credit cards came around and you ran up one or two or many more, you knew you couldn't pay it all back so what happens, you file bankruptcy, your problem may have went away but the debt is still around. Along with another government system, the welfare and even unemployment need to change as well. I shouldn't be eating meatless spaghetti and you and your 6 children eat steak and lobster and you collect unemployment. Something needs to be done. I feel the program isn't teaching those 6 kids anything but how to work the system like their parent(s) community service or a shot of birth control in the ass is needed. At least then i would feel a little better about you eating steak knowing that in 9 months’ time the 7th member is going to be eating it too. To touch on unemployment. My aunt has been on it for over 4 years and her benefits just keep getting extended. What does she do with the money, buy beer and get high. The good life. It’s not hard to go to places and turn in an application so when you see your case worker and you can tell her "I’m looking". Something needs to be done. I am in college. Looking at people abuse the system is discouraging. What am I working towards? Me paying for 6 kids and a drunken aunt? The message I'm getting is drop out of school and get knocked several times and live off welfare and the state through unemployment. At least then I could eat steak too.

The problem with "stimulus" is that it destroys jobs, it doesn't create them. Ever. It's worse than a "nothing burger," it hurts regular people. Think about it. To fund a job "there," the government has to take money from other jobs "here" (through taxes), then give it to the "created" jobs. That's just the nature of the beast. Taking money from an employer means that employer has less available to pay in wages, so they lay off more, more often, hire less, pay less. And, sometimes, they die. So, to save an autoworker's job at GM, someone else somewhere is sacrificed. Actually more than one, because government 1) pays more and 2) isn't 100% efficient; much money is lost / wasted. Economists call this a less-than-zero sum game. That's why stimulus is indeed (sad to say), a losing proposition. Borrowing the money (deficit spending) to try and hide the price-tag (and the jobs lost) is even worse--the bill still comes, but with interest. Employers know this, which is why they're not hiring, and why they're saving their money for that not-so-far-off rainy day. That's why there's no recovery. The truth is the government has scant power to create useful jobs without destroying a greater number of existing jobs. And, the harder they try, the worse off we'll be.

From my prospective, Obama did a grand job of campaigning and utilizing the new social media tools all the young generation uses to convince them he was the progressive, "make it happen" guy to be president. I remember during the campaign all the excitement that the 20 somethings had for him and when would ask them if they knew his policies and agenda's they had no clue what he was about. It seemed they were thrilled with a candidate speaking to them through their media that they never bothered to research the man, his political history, his policies and his beliefs. I have to give Obama credit for being a great speaker, but as in all thing here in the real world, it's great to talk the talk but you MUST Walk the walk which of course he falls way short on. He has no leadership background, no business background and no avery long political history as well. It seems the democrats have only had time to pass what is on their agenda and nothing with any real results in mind for the common man. It seems they are drunk with power and are enjoying all the perks of the victory they won 18 months ago. All I see is spending, waste and talk from Obama and the dems. At this point it seems no government official (deomcrat or republican) can be trusted once they are elected as they are after serving their own agendas from that point on. It looks as though it is time for the American people to reformat our government system and that means dramatic changes to the system itself for long term results. The party system in this country has outlived its usefullness and we need to come up with another way of deciding who makes the decisions in this country. Since this system is in place I don't think we will ever be able to shut it down and reboot with a new system. So brace yourselves and grab ahold of something as this is going to be a very rough fall we are about to take for the next few years due to the latest Democratic government changes as well as the mistakes of the past administrations as well. I wonder how our children will write this chapter in history.

It's nice to be able to read a political article and not know the authors political affiliation. Thank-you Mr.Corn.

Thank you Mr. Corn for your insight. I appreciate it. Unfortunately, to the ineducable, it will always be someone elses fault.

Is ANYONE actually remembering the true reason for the lack of jobs in the US? It started in 1994 when NAFTA was implemented. It has been a slow and painful death for this country. Now that there are no jobs, manufacturing to professional. (Except for thieves... Politicans, Financial "professionals" and Lawyers) This process has taken a long time to reach this point. It cannot be repaired in 1 1/2 years especially without the cooperation of both parties. The GOP has unfortunely impaired this by opposing basically every issue put before them. Does any of this have to do with the fact that he is black? Excuse me half white and half black. I believe it does. Anyway I don't want to be negative, but until we get the jobs back that went overseas or create new ones. There is no magic either political party can do. Obama has kept us from falling deeper into the fire and we are headed in a better direction. To him the people come first.

David talks of perception and political machinations , but the truth is the Democrats have nothing in their idealogical arsenal to promote. Pundits have offered that Reagan was in a similarposition in 1982. Nothing is further from the truth. Reagans tax cuts were hostage to a justifiably harsh monetary policy at the hands of Paul Voelker. The opposite is reality now in that every stimulative tactic, from Stimulus spending for the public sector, a Fed Funds rate of .25%. quantitative easing, even in the mortgage market, and an anti-private sector tone that is encouraging a lack of hiring. The only tool remainig, tax cuts, are a path the left is loath to follow.

I am tired of all the talk. I haven't worked in 18 months. I get no unemployment benefits. Therefore; I am not even counted in the stats of being unemployed. It's not like I haven't looked for work, no one has money to hire anyone. Oh sure, I can find a $7.25 an hour "do you want fries with that" kinds thing, but I have 2 college degrees and years of experience. I normally make $60.00 an hour. Let's see, what have the Democrats done for me?? What.. How about Nothing.