NOW will you lemmings get IT??

[flatspin7]

Well lets see... Our Oil man President launches the country into a war in a major oil producing region, creating big time nerves in the Middle East.

Oil skyrockets becuase of doubts in the supply chain, so what does he do? He starts sabre rattling against Iran another big time oil producer creating more doubt, oh now there is Chaos in Pakistan, that is going to help things.

Oh I forgot about our best friend Hugo Chavez who is really making life fun down in South America and he is only getting stronger.


During this whole foriegn policy mess the dollar has gotten much weaker making it harder for the US to profit in the global market place where the Euro will soon overtake the US Dollar as the currency of international business.

Oh and who gains from this.... The oil companies are making $$$ hand over foot. Most of these folks are the president's texas buddies.

OH and the rich are getting richer and the middle class is having ot work harder and harder to make ends meet... The only reason that the economy looks rosy is that the top 1% of earners are doing great.

Jobs are being shipper overseas, causing bigtime downward pressure on wages, when was the last time any one outside of upper management got a raise at your airline or other place of business.

I find it very difficult to support this Administration that has made so many mis-calculations, errors, and lies in the past 7 years.... The election can't come soon enough.

I am pretty sure that anyone on either side of the aisle can do the job better than what we have now.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Well lets see... Our Oil man President launches the country into a war in a major oil producing region, creating big time nerves in the Middle East.

Oil skyrockets becuase of doubts in the supply chain, so what does he do? He starts sabre rattling against Iran another big time oil producer creating more doubt, oh now there is Chaos in Pakistan, that is going to help things.

Oh I forgot about our best friend Hugo Chavez who is really making life fun down in South America and he is only getting stronger.


During this whole foriegn policy mess the dollar has gotten much weaker making it harder for the US to profit in the global market place where the Euro will soon overtake the US Dollar as the currency of international business.

Oh and who gains from this.... The oil companies are making $$$ hand over foot. Most of these folks are the president's texas buddies.

OH and the rich are getting richer and the middle class is having ot work harder and harder to make ends meet... The only reason that the economy looks rosy is that the top 1% of earners are doing great.

Jobs are being shipper overseas, causing bigtime downward pressure on wages, when was the last time any one outside of upper management got a raise at your airline or other place of business.

I find it very difficult to support this Administration that has made so many mis-calculations, errors, and lies in the past 7 years.... The election can't come soon enough.

I am pretty sure that anyone on either side of the aisle can do the job better than what we have now.

You must hate America.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

I don't know why people keep saying this. It simply isn't true. The only thing that matters to the average American is the price they pay for goods and services in this country. So far, the weakened dollar hasn't caused an increase in prices for things purchased in America by the average consumer. This can be seen by looking at the CPI stats. The increase in the CPI for the past year has only been 2.8%, which is actually below average for the past century. Unless you're traveling internationally a lot, then the weakened dollar hasn't really affected the average American yet.

Do you honestly think the CPI% posted by the USGovt is any comfort to the people whose wallets are emptier each week than they were the week before, after going to the grocery store and buying gas??

Take the blinders off.....please!

 

[flatspin7]

I guess I do if you go by the whole "If you against the war you are un-patriotic" mantra I guess I am!

I feel that it is our duty as an American to make up our own minds and question our leadership is need be! This administration has made an art of calling those who disagree "un-patriotic" or giving comfort to our enemies!

There have been alot of people who have made a lot of money during the war in Iraq an dthe oil price explosion! Unfortunately the average Joe has not seen a dime of it!

Oh and just so everybody here knows...

The USA funded the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan when they were fighting the Russians! They became the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden fought along with then at the time.

The US and the West supported Iraq in their war with Iran. Iran ironically was also supported by the USA when the Shah was in Power who while not a Saint let probably one of the most progressive governments in the Islamic world. Many of our problems today were created by us 20 years ago!

Imagine the trouble we are creating for the next 20 years!

 

[Wiggums]

Look at last quarters GDP numbers. They showed an increase on 3.9%, but that is with a GDP deflater on only 0.8%. Using a more reasonable deflater, like the number used for the last quarter GDP increased only 2.1%, a much more reasonable number. The government is using the numbers to twist the system to it's advantage.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

The government is using the numbers to twist the system to it's advantage.

Nooooooooooo.....not possible.....just ask PCL_128. He'll tell you.

 

[PCL_128]

Do you honestly think the CPI% posted by the USGovt is any comfort to the people whose wallets are emptier each week than they were the week before, after going to the grocery store and buying gas??

Take the blinders off.....please!

The CPI is an accurate measurement of how much the increase in prices is affecting the average American. If you guys refuse to accept this basic fact, then have at your "sky is falling" mentality. There's simply no help for you.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

The CPI is an accurate measurement of how much the increase in prices is affecting the average American. If you guys refuse to accept this basic fact, then have at your "sky is falling" mentality. There's simply no help for you.

The CPI does not go out and talk to real people. Ask low income people whether the 2.8% CPI is affecting them. First, they (most) won't know what that means. Second, they are hurting.....much more than they were a year ago.

You know as well as I do that numbers can: 1) be easily manipulated, and 2) whenever you use the word "average" that the parameters can be anything. Is average considered "those households making 75k-125k"? If that's the case, then probably true, they haven't felt much impact. It's kinda like the validity of Consumer Reports. What does the little half filled red circle really mean? What is it relative to? Does it mean that a car breaks down 10% or 1% of the time??

EDIT: This is one of the larger problems with this country. We are so much happier to talk in numbers, than actually have a discourse about real people. Averages are so much easier and impersonal, and allow us not to be concerned with our consciences.

 

[PCL_128]

The CPI does not go out and talk to real people.

Yes, actually, it does. The statistical analysis of the CPI is based off of spending "diaries" that were kept by 30,000 families across the nation for several months. The calculation method is updated every few years by a new group of families. These diaries kept by "real people" are used to determine how much of the average American's budget is alloted to each category of product, and that info is used to calculate the impact of increases in prices of that type of item to each family.

Ask low income people whether the 2.8% CPI is affecting them. First, they (most) won't know what that means. Second, they are hurting.....much more than they were a year ago.

Got any empirical date to back up that claim? No? Didn't think so. Just because you claim it, doesn't make it so.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

Yes, actually, it does. The statistical analysis of the CPI is based off of spending "diaries" that were kept by 30,000 families across the nation for several months. The calculation method is updated every few years by a new group of families. These diaries kept by "real people" are used to determine how much of the average American's budget is alloted to each category of product, and that info is used to calculate the impact of increases in prices of that type of item to each family. Got any empirical date to back up that claim? No? Didn't think so. Just because you claim it, doesn't make it so.

What is the definition of "average" for these families? Further, is 30,000 a large enough sample? What is specifically included in the diaries?

Empirical data? No. Do I talk to people who are struggling? Everyday. Do they have less left over at the end of the day than they did a year ago? Without question.

 

[Wiggums]

The way the data is collected is fine, it is what is done to the numbers after that is the problem. Varying the basket of goods and then hedonically adjusting makes the CPI a poor measure of inflation.

 

[PCL_128]

What is the definition of "average" for these families? Further, is 30,000 a large enough sample? What is specifically included in the diaries?

I can't remember all of the details, and frankly, I don't care. Every legitimate economist in the country trusts these figures. Only crackpots who run websites allege that some sort of malfeasance is taking place. If you want to know the details of how the figures are calculated, what "average" means, etc...., then go do some research on the government CPI website. All of the data is available there.

Empirical data? No. Do I talk to people who are struggling? Everyday. Do they have less left over at the end of the day than they did a year ago? Without question.

Yeah, roughly 3% less than a year ago. I don't trust anecdotal data. Show me some real researched data, and maybe I'll start to pay attention to the "sky is falling" mantra. Until then, it's all nothing but a bunch of useless noise.

 

[CitationLover]

What is the definition of "average" for these families? Further, is 30,000 a large enough sample? What is specifically included in the diaries?

Empirical data? No. Do I talk to people who are struggling? Everyday. Do they have less left over at the end of the day than they did a year ago? Without question.

30,000 sample size for the US works out to a 99% confidence level with +/- 0.74478% error.

http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

I can't remember all of the details, and frankly, I don't care. Every legitimate economist in the country trusts these figures. Only crackpots who run websites allege that some sort of malfeasance is taking place. If you want to know the details of how the figures are calculated, what "average" means, etc...., then go do some research on the government CPI website. All of the data is available there.

Yeah, roughly 3% less than a year ago. I don't trust anecdotal data. Show me some real researched data, and maybe I'll start to pay attention to the "sky is falling" mantra. Until then, it's all nothing but a bunch of useless noise.

I didn't say the sky is falling (although it just might be). What I am suggesting here, is that things are worse than what this CPI data suggests. I'll do a little research on the site tomorrow. I'm too tired to learn anything tonight.

 

[CitationLover]

all i know is with 45% of my income going to TAXES (and it appears that will be rising if the presidential polls are right), CPI is the least of my worries.