It’s Official: President Obama Is The Best Economic President In Modern Times

[zappaman]

A new economic report, published by Forbes.com on September 6, 2014, clearly shows that President Obama is the best economic president in modern times. It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact, based on all of typical the economic indicators, including jobs, investments, growth and expansion, even the rate of inflation. In all of these areas President Obama’s record outperforms that of every other modern president, including conservative idol, Ronald Reagan.

Under President Obama’s leadership, the unemployment rate has now decreased to 6.1 percent, the lowest it’s been since 2007, when the economy began gushing jobs under the failed leadership of then president George W. Bush.

Typically, republicans have tried to detract from the president’s accomplishments. When it comes to the falling unemployment rate, they claim that it is somehow related to large numbers of people just dropping out of the workforce. This would almost be believable if the economy wasn’t creating new jobs at a rate that coincides perfectly with the falling employment rate, but it is. There have been six consecutive months with more than 200,000 new jobs created, with only a slight dip in that number in August. Additionally, there have been 63 straight months of economic expansion and more than two solid years of manufacturing expansion.

MORE AT LINK
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/09/06/its-official-president-obama-is-the-best-economic-president-in-modern-times/

Seems to me alot of Democrats have tried to detract from the president’s accomplishments as well...

[BlueCaliDem]

1. Typically, republicans have tried to detract from the president’s accomplishments."

Typically, yes, but not exclusively. There have been a few around here who, like the Republicans, claim:

"When it comes to the falling unemployment rate, they claim that it is somehow related to large numbers of people just dropping out of the workforce."

BUT ... they're DUers, who support Democrats and all they're doing is healthy criticism of President Obama's policies. To keep it real, you know?

[zappaman]

2. you better believe it!!!

[BlueCaliDem]

4. How many

of those DUers will now come to your thread and "give credit where it's due" without snark and more criticism? I would guess - zero.

Providing healthy criticism of a Democratic president and any other Democratic pol on DU is a good thing. Yes, we need to keep it real. But when those pols do something great for the American people, they should praise them, too. And so far, I've seen very little of that. In fact, the "usual suspects" avoid threads that are positive for Democrats.

I wonder why that is. Hm.

[zappaman]

18. Imagine what could have been done

If EVERYTHING this President did was not obstructed by the Repubs who take the other side no matter what the issue.

[BlueCaliDem]

70. And it's that what frustrates me the most - to put it mildly.

It's not as if Republicans have been hiding their agenda. Incorporated MSM do their best to whitewash the abysmal failings by the Republicans while reporting events as if it's President Obama and the Democratic Party's fault, but with the advent of the Interwebs, we shouldn't be so gullible. Yet now MSM are reporting that Republicans will take the Senate and gain seats in the House. I mean, since when is being lazy and doing nothing in the United States something to reward? It boggles the mind.

[Andy823]

22. I agree

They will come in and add all their negativity to this thread, but they aren't going to admit that the president has done "anything" good. When people ignore the positive and only dwell on the negative it makes me wonder just exactly what their "real" agenda is.

[zappaman]

48. +1

[BlueCaliDem]

69. +2.

Oh, every now and again they'll toss in something positive that this president has done ... to keep it real, of course. But I'm pretty sure we all know what their agenda is. It's not as if they try all too hard to keep it a secret.

[sheshe2]

82. Boom! You just nailed it, Andy!

[Spazito]

128. Yep, well said! n/t

[JoePhilly]

166. Agree.

[zappaman]

174. Didn't add much, did they?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Good grief, you're right! They might prevent him from being re-elected!

Two points. Yes, lots of people are being dropped out of the numbers used in calculating the unemployment rate. And two, lots of people have gotten far lower paying jobs than they used to have, even as they're now being counted as 'employed' again.

Recognizing these problems is the first step to fixing them. Ignoring them harms the Democratic base, who have been getting the shaft economically for decades now, while the money just keeps on flowing upward.

[BlueCaliDem]

72. Nobody is "ignoring" those variables.

But it would be nice if serial-complainers step back every now and then and say, "Hey, you know what? President Obama and Democrats are doing something good here. At least they're working hard at taking the country on the correct path to prosperity. Kudos, Dems!"

Sometimes, it's okay to say, "Well done, Mr. President", because I know for a fact it sure won't kill you.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

87. In fact, I've said kudos to him on a number of occasions.

Mostly on social issues, though. I don't recall doing so for anything related to economics since the stimulus, and even then it was qualified.

[notadmblnd]

111. You know what? I lost my job and never found another

But what I did do was make my own providing a service for mostly republican clients. I now work much less and make much more per hour than I ever did when I was employed. I'm not getting rich, but I am able to pay my bills again and I can pay a helper between 15 an 30 dollars and hour depending on how much we have to do and how fast we do it on any particular day.

If the economy wasn't improving under this president, I never would be able to do what I am currently doing which is taking big bucks from republicans for doing a thankless job.

[stevenleser]

125. No, you are not correct. U6 accounts for discouraged workers and it has trended down dramatically

The reason why there are fewer people in the workforce is that the boomers are retiring, which is what it says in the Forbes article linked to the OP. If that was not the cause U6 would remain the same or go up. But it has paralleled the official unemployment rate (U3)

[woo me with science]

25. Let's all mass at the top of the thread and agree with one another

that the chocolate ration has been increased!

Good job, corporate citizens!

Love to watch the patterns in the Third Way messaging.

[Bobbie Jo]

133. Better yet....

Let's mass all over the damn thread, gnash teeth and rend garments over how some freakish, Orwellian prophecy is being played out right before our very eyes1!!1.

Yeah, let's do that.

[calimary]

47. Well, they never bothered with that part of it when bush/cheney was president.

[BlueCaliDem]

73. Makes one wonder, doesn't it? eom

[calimary]

91. Indeed!

You just watch.

One day in the future, when President Obama has passed, you watch. Watch ALL the assholes who are still around then, who obstructed him and spread shit about him and haw-haw-haw'd when somebody at the town hall meeting called him the Muslim Brotherhood in the White House and a terrorist and a phony and a Kenyan and an imposter and a Communist/fascist/socialist/aetheist/nihilist/shit-eating-ist. EVERY DAMN ONE OF THEM will abandon their exalted on-camera positions at Pox Noise and step up to podiums and pulpits across the country, all holy and pious and solemn has hell, extolling what an historic figure he was and what a landmark presidency he had and what an exemplary example of "American Exceptionalism" and his brilliance and effectiveness and courage and belief in America and blah-blah-blah, baloney-baloney-baloney, BS-BS-BS, crapspew-crapspew-crapspew. They'll all talk about how much faith they had in him and how honored they were to serve in Congress and bear witness to his two terms in the White House, what loyalty and pride they felt toward him, and how they sure-as-shootin' were there to help and support him the whole time he was in office and they believed in him and did everything they could to be part of his Great Leadership into Post-Racial America and how they were all "thisclose" as goooooood ol' friends. You just watch. Obstruction? WHAT Obstruction? Legislative sabotage? WHAT legislative sabotage? WHAAAAT are you TAAAAAAALKING about???

[BlueCaliDem]

117. I couldn't have written it better than you, calimary!

You summed up the coming Republican revisionism in a nutshell.

[MFrohike]

71. Ratios are apparently quite hard to understand

You and the author should try doing the actual math instead of making unfounded claims. From January 09 to September 14, the BLS has the labor force participation rate dropping from 65.7% to 62.7%. Year on year, it went from 63.2 to 62.7. When the denominator gets smaller, smaller numbers in the numerator have a larger effect on the overall ratio. The author's claims, and your highlighting of them, remind one of Twain's comment on statistics.

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000

Check the source material for yourself.

[scarletwoman]

83. Thank you. Excellent point.

[stevenleser]

126. The article in Forbes to which the OP linked accounted for that as does the U6 unemployment measure

The baby boomers are retiring. The workforce has started to shrink and will continue to do so as they retire. It's not just a guess, U6 accounts for all discouraged unemployed and temporary workers who would like to work full time.

[MFrohike]

161. Heh

I guess they're retiring mighty early these days, given that participation is down across the board. But hey, never let facts ruin a good story.

The author mentioned U6, he didn't account for it. If he had, he couldn't make a claim that the increase of jobs was somehow keeping pace with reduced participation. He couldn't make the claim because he'd know it was a lie.

[stevenleser]

162. All the evidence proves you wrong. If you understood U-6 you would know that. nt

[MFrohike]

164. Cool

So why do the age groups 55+ show an increase in participation from 2002-2012 while all age groups under 55 show a decline? Did the boomers run into Ponce de Leon?

http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_303.htm

Protip: Evidence is actual data, not unfounded/unproven claims.

[OnlinePoker]

135. There's a very simple explanation as to why a lot are dropping out of the labor force

They are retiring. 10,000 per day are hitting 65 years old. While some may not want to quit work, a lot will. They are still counted in the "numbers not in labor force" because they are over 16 years old. Given the swelling bubble of baby boom seniors, they skew the numbers and the Republicans need to be called on it whenever they bring up this erroneous meme. By the way, in January 2009, there were 81.3 million people not in the labor force. That number is now 92.5 million.

http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab16.htm

[JoePhilly]

153. The huge rise in the DOW is also helping

people who had to wait to retire due to the recession, can now cash out.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. If you have a stock portfolio the economy is fabulous

If you are in the bottom 80% who relies on minimum wage and a series of part-time jobs, with no benefits, you are screwed.

[leftstreet]

6. +1

[yeoman6987]

12. Are you implying only 20 percent have a sock portfolio?

It is more 80 percent have one. Most companies have 401K's in place of traditional pensions. Now of you are talking about portfolios with more than 2 million then perhaps 20 percent would be possible.

[n2doc]

44. 52% have some stock ownership

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-stock-ownership-at-record-low-2013-12

Stock ownership that year fell to levels not seen “since the late-1990s,” the Fed said. Even those who participate in financial markets through 401(k) retirement plans often have only modest sums invested. Half of Fidelity Investments customers have less than $25,600 in their 401(k) accounts, according to Michael Shamrell, a spokesman.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-12/stock-market-surge-bypasses-most-americans-poll-shows.html



Obama has done good, and gotten us out of a hole, but mindless cheerleading does him no good.

He's been great for those with money already, I'll say that.

[liberal_at_heart]

52. And many of us who have a little bit in a portfolio, had to stop making

contributions, and have even had to take some out just to survive.

[cali]

62. jaysus. seriously? make stuff up much?

everything in your post is made up crap. How can you possibly believe it? wow. delusion is powerful.

[liberal_at_heart]

34. +1

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

42. That is a very valid point.

[fadedrose]

68. +++

[stevenleser]

138. Which has very little to do with the point of the OP. nt

[louis-t]

7. Remember when the bushies were bragging about creating

30,000 jobs in a month? It was one of their best months.

[Frustratedlady]

8. Democrats trying to save their a***** should be touting Obama's accomplishments

rather than running away from them. Shame on the wimps.

Obama is about the only one I've seen blowing his own horn, and that was recently. The Pubs would have called him uppity if he'd done it much sooner. Pretty sad that his own party can't support him in public.

The Democratic candidates have one month to make amends, show/explain the charts showing the improvement in numbers in many areas, and explain the ACA improvements in healthcare and lowered costs. Man up and you might win over some Democrats who have wandered afar after hearing nothing but FAUX/Republican bad news, as well as the Independents who don't know which way to go!

It's obvious you have had the luxury of not working for the last year or so, due to the Republicans' taking off for home every whipstitch, so step up to the challenge and earn your votes with the truth. Be a Democrat!!!

[scarletwoman]

84. I would sincerely hope that Democrats do NOT try this trick.

Showing a bunch of charts and graphs and spouting off statistics to ordinary voters who *know* that their lives have NOT improved - who know their lives are, in fact, harder than ever, would be a sure way to get themselves hooted off the podium.

[99Forever]

9. Great for the Corporate Elite...

... the rest of us...

Not so much.

Shake them pom poms.

[zappaman]

10. Yes ONLY the corporate elite are better off now

[99Forever]

11. To a large degree, it is so.

Your fucking snarkyness aside.

Most of us are left struggling harder than ever just to stay alive. But go right ahead and pretend everything is all hunky-dowry, cognitive dissonance isn't just a rightie thing anymore.

[zappaman]

13. Okey dokey.

Sorry you Are worse off than you were in 2008.
Obama is a failure.

[99Forever]

15. Nice response.

If I don't sing from the Obama Hymnal, just dismiss my problems.

And people wonder why there's voter apathy for the upcoming election?

[zappaman]

19. Not dismissing at all.

Said I was sorry for you.
Maybe the next four years will be better for you when he is gone.

[99Forever]

37. Under President Sanders, life will be better for all...

... not just the rich. Keep your pity.

[BlueCaliDem]

76. Surely, you're not that politically naive?

You actually believe that a President Sanders would make life better for all, surpassing President Obama?? Oh my.

[NYC Liberal]

94. Tell me what bills President Sanders passes with a right-wing Congress.

Or, let's be nice and give him a Democratic Senate.

What bills does President Sanders get past a Republican House?

[Number23]

116. Heh... your simple but thoughtful question could not have been ignored any harder

Not that I am even the tiniest bit surprised.

[zappaman]

97. If he had this congress Obama has to deal with?

[99Forever]

98. Same lame excuses, different day.

[zappaman]

99. This congress who has been against Obama since the moment he took office

Is a lame excuse?

Yeah, I'm sure everything would be kittens and flowers if by some miracle Bernie was president!

[liberal_at_heart]

100. More people would buy that excuse if the President actually fought for the people instead of

giving into republicans and corporate leaders in the name of bipartisanship. Just put up a fight. That is all we ask. I think if I hear the word bipartisanship come out of a democratic leader's mouth one more time I'm going to puke.

[zappaman]

101. Yes, he should be a dictator.

I agree.

[liberal_at_heart]

103. so how many people have to live in poverty before the democrats wake up?

[99Forever]

102. Obama is the one responsible for making an honest effort.

And that IS the problem.

[liberal_at_heart]

104. exactly.

[zappaman]

105. So you're unhappy that Obama is honest?

Bernie would be dishonest?

[liberal_at_heart]

106. I am not going to go round in circles with you. You go be happy with the President.

Those of us who are seeing our way of life decline and our children's future sold to the highest bidder will keep up the fight. We're not going anywhere. We will tell our stories until someone will actually stand with us and for us and not for the corporations that put money in their pockets.

[NCTraveler]

136. You are actually very wrong.

We(including Obama) are responsible for making an honest effort. Something you clearly aren't willing to do seeing what you have written in this sub-thread. Is Sanders honest effort going to increase your output? That has to be what you are saying. Very strange thought process.

[Bobbie Jo]

108. but..but..but..

He didn't even tryyyy.....

[liberal_at_heart]

109. I am so glad I am not a democrat anymore. I hope you won't miss my vote this year.

I think it is time for me to get out of this thread. Obviously people are so caught up in their Obama love fest they could care less about people being forced from the middle class into poverty. Democrats don't care about poverty. I don't know why that surprises me. Good night. I'm out of here.

[Bobbie Jo]

110. Good Lord

The phrase, "more trouble than it's worth" comes to mind here.

[zappaman]

112. Wow.

Just wow.

[zappaman]

113. If you're not a Democrat, why are you here?

[LanternWaste]

139. I can only imagine the convenience of perceiving the world in a consistent either-or fashion.

I can only imagine the convenience of perceiving the world in a consistent either-or fashion.

[Andy823]

23. Just curious

What do you think things would be like if Romney was now president?

[99Forever]

35. What does that have to do with anything?

Why the fuck is it that if someone doesn't buy into "the Party Line" that somehow or other they are in favor of the complete OPPOSITE of their political philosophy? Explain that line of crap to me, because I've yet to figure out how that works.

I want Democrats that aren't afraid to fight like Hell for Democratic policies. Instead we vote for Democrats and get Republican policies.

So, what were you asking about Pinhead Prick Romney?

[Andy823]

49. Well

Since you aren't happy with president Obama, or the party as a whole, then I wondered if you would be better off with Romeny in charge. Pretty simply question.

[TBF]

57. Actually a question

Only a simpleton would ask.

Many of us are really not all that interested in choosing the next president for the 1%. If you think the government  is interested in the well-being of anyone else you are terribly naive or complicit.

[Andy823]

58. Classic name calling

Does that make you feel better?

It's an honest question, and if you don't like it, that's your problem, since it was not addressed to you.

[TBF]

60. Can't handle the substance

so you attack instead. Typical. Is this how you always solicit votes?

You may want to work on how you talk to the masses.

[Andy823]

120. Yep

Your insinuation that "only a simpleton" would ask such a question had so much more "substance".

[TBF]

123. Again avoiding the substance - how does insulting

the potential voter help you? Do you really think you're going to convince anyone w/that method?

Of course maybe THAT is the goal ...

[99Forever]

61. Honest question, my ass.

It"s a thinly veiled attempt to associate me with Rmoney. Who is it you think you are fooling? And you have the moxy to accuse that poster of "classic name-calling?" Cool story, bro.

[Andy823]

122. Wow

Once again you miss the whole point in asking the question. It had nothing at all to do with linking you and Romney. I asked you how things would be now if Romney had won, and yet you make something completely different out of what was asked.

As for the other poster, do you really think that trying to paint me as a "simpleton" was actually cool bro!

[99Forever]

141. I didn't "try to paint you" as ...

... any damn thing. And I care fuckall about stupid hypotheticals. I deal in reality.

[Andy823]

165. Maybe you should read what I posted

I said "as for the OTHER poster", I didn't say you.

As for "reality" well I guess everyone has a different view of what reality really is!

[99Forever]

167. Well bud...

..in my reality, Rmoney lost. I have no clue WTF happened in yours.

[Andy823]

168. Well

In my reality president Obama won, and he has been doing a pretty damned good job of fixing the mess republicans left hime. In my reality he has done a lot for this country and for the people of this country. Sure there are a hell of lot more things I would like to see done, but with the republicans doing their best to stop any kind of progress, well it just isn't going to work out. In my reality we need too get rid of republicans in D.C. by voting them out and we need to do our best to get democrats in office, no matter if they pass some kind of purity test or not. The worst democrat is better than "any" republican, and if I don't like the democrat that represents be in D.C., well next time they are up for a primary I vote against them.

I want change in my reality, and it will be slow coming, I know that, but if republicans gain more seats and power, that change doesn't stand a chance of happening. At least with democrats the is a chance and I am willing to take it.

[99Forever]

169. Blah.. blah... blah...

Same lame excuses, different day.

[zappaman]

172. We need someone dishonest like Bernie Sanders!

Who, armed with his dishonesty and magic wand, will make everything hunky dory!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025623976#post102

[cali]

65. You don't seem to grasp that stating the facts-

that the economy is NOT good for much of the middle class and worse for the working poor, that wages are stagnant and that wealth disparity has been rising at an alarming rate- is not synonymous with blaming the President. I shudder to think what it would be like if McCain or Romney had been elected.

[progressoid]

89. ...

[bravenak]

51. For you.

On Sun Oct 5, 2014, 02:21 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

To a large degree, it is so.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5624210

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

"Your fucking snarkyness aside" is rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Oct 5, 2014, 02:58 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I may not agree with the poster, but, this is not a personality contest. 'Your fucking snarkyness aside' is not something worth hiding. I do not want to hide based on who I like best. If you left out the word fucking, it would not be alert worthy.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I'm stunned that this comment rose to the alert level - wow. Maybe I'm jaded but this seems like nothing to me.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I see no issue
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[cali]

63. the middle classes are largely NOT better off. The lower middle class certainly isn't

wage stagnation ring a bell? The working poor are... poorer. The lower middle class and working poor are growing in numbers. Record number of people on food stamps ring a bell? The wealth disparity gap has grown alarmingly. I am NOT blaming the President for this, but these are facts.

[Neoma]

14. Number of jobs only say so much.

Because it doesn't really say if it's an actual living wage.

[Autumn]

16. Acording to Obama “Median family incomes, that’s one that is not doing better,”

" Since Mr. Obama took office, the median income rate has continued to decline, according to Census Bureau data through 2012. The president agreed with Mr. Liesman that incomes have fallen and touted proposals to raise the minimum wage and invest in American infrastructure as policies that could reverse the decline."

The things that are important to a Economic Recovery haven't happened yet.


http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/08/04/have-most-economic-indicators-improved-under-president-obama/

[Phlem]

17. But, but, but the economy is doing sooooo gooood!

That one fact must make everything better.

[Autumn]

39. If the people aren't doing good, the economy isn't doing good.

That's the only indicator that doesn't lie and that's important. I'm glad that Obama pointed that out.

[Andy823]

50. I agree

Workers need higher wages, the minimum wage should be raised, but how can that happen if republicans continue to fight it in the House, and how much harder is it going to be if republicans win more seats, and possibly take control of the Senate? How do we make what needs to happen actually happen?

[woo me with science]

20. The chocolate ration has been increased! (Low-wage jobs replace middle-income work)

The chocolate ration has been increased!

Bullshit.

The jobs that have been created in this "recovery" are mostly low-pay service jobs. The truth is that it was not a recovery. It was a restructuring to benefit the One Percent.

April 28, 2014: Most Of The Jobs Added Since The Recession Pay Low Wages
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/04/28/3431351/recovery-jobs-low-wage/

Recovery Has Created Far More Low-Wage Jobs Than Better-Paid Ones
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/28/business/economy/recovery-has-created-far-more-low-wage-jobs-than-better-paid-ones.html?_r=0

Low-wage jobs proliferate as middle class ones disappear: job growth patterns since the recession
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/low-wage_jobs_proliferate_as_m.html

Low-Wage Jobs Replace Middle-Income Work, Study Finds
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/low-wage-jobs_n_1846733.html

Careers Are Dead. Welcome To Your Low-Wage, Temp Work Future
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/08/30/careers-are-dead-welcome-to-your-low-wage-temp-work-future/

No, the chocolate ration has not been increased. First goal is to get corporate money out of politics and government so that

1) the two corporate parties stop working aggressively on behalf of corporate interests and against the interests of the people

and

2) they start pouring resources into actual help for the 99 percent [font color=brown]instead of into relentless advertising to put lipstick on this pig of a corporate agenda: protection of criminal banks, corporate schools, Monsanto, drilling, nukes, wars of choice, austerity, TPP, TISA, etc, etc., etc. ad nauseum.

[/font color]


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Top 1% get 121% of income gains since 2009 (100% of new income + 21% from your old income)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022384139

How the 1 percent won the recovery, in one table
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/11/how-the-1percent-won-the-recovery-in-one-table/

Recovery for the Rich, Recession for the Rest
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/recovery-for-the-rich-rec_b_3910615.html

The Rich Get Richer Through the Recovery
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/the-rich-get-richer-through-the-recovery/

Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014400736

U.S. corporate profits stronger than ever, workers' wages fallen to lowest-ever share of GDP (CNN)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021922334

U.S. Income Inequality Now Worse Than Many Latin American Countries
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268073

Ranks of working poor increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022200197

Inequality Rages as Dwindling Wages Lock Millions in Poverty
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022198286

The Middle Class In America Is Being Wiped Out – Here Are 60 Facts That Prove It
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022144851

Child poverty rates increase unabated
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268450

40 Percent of Americans Now Make Less than 1968 Minimum Wage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111631016

Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under ‘Anti-Business’ Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014372334

US poverty on track to reach 46-year high; suburbs, underemployed workers, children hit hard
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002998131

Poverty, hunger among retirees increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002748342

The Economy is "Recovering" By Creating More Low-Wage Jobs... Increasingly Filled By Graduates
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022602162

"Recovery" in US is lifting profits, but not adding jobs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014414149

Obama to use pension funds of ordinary Americans to pay for bank mortgage settlements
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002205218

What Recovery? Across America, People in Distressed Cities and Small Towns Face Economic Catastrophe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022545596

Real wages decline; literally no one notices
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11172387

Wall Street Soars with Wealth as Wages Stagnate, Jobs Remain in a Slump
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526154

Wages for bottom 90% declined 1.2% during 2009-2011 recovery, top 1% income grew 8.2%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022271466

Three Minimum Wage Jobs Needed To Afford Two-Bedroom Apartment
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022578738

Wages have fallen to a record low as a share of America’s gross domestic product.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022183930

The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping toward 75%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022906982
[/Rich Get Richer Through the Recovery
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/the-rich-get-richer-through-the-recovery/

Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014400736

U.S. corporate profits stronger than ever, workers' wages fallen to lowest-ever share of GDP (CNN)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021922334

U.S. Income Inequality Now Worse Than Many Latin American Countries
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268073

Ranks of working poor increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022200197

Inequality Rages as Dwindling Wages Lock Millions in Poverty
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022198286

The Middle Class In America Is Being Wiped Out – Here Are 60 Facts That Prove It
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022144851

Child poverty rates increase unabated
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268450

40 Percent of Americans Now Make Less than 1968 Minimum Wage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111631016

Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under ‘Anti-Business’ Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014372334

US poverty on track to reach 46-year high; suburbs, underemployed workers, children hit hard
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002998131

Poverty, hunger among retirees increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002748342

The Economy is "Recovering" By Creating More Low-Wage Jobs... Increasingly Filled By Graduates
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022602162

"Recovery" in US is lifting profits, but not adding jobs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014414149

Obama to use pension funds of ordinary Americans to pay for bank mortgage settlements
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002205218

What Recovery? Across America, People in Distressed Cities and Small Towns Face Economic Catastrophe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022545596

Real wages decline; literally no one notices
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11172387

[whereisjustice]

33. excellent reference material here! I wonder since stock market participation is at all time low

what will happen when the current bubble bursts. Since we have so much less at risk than before the recession, will it mean we will be less impacted by the fraud of Wall Street? I think not because we will once again be asked to move what little wealth we have back into the hands of the rich to bail them out again.

[BobbyBoring]

46. And your point is?????

Very well taken!

[cali]

66. thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Pastiche423]

157. I highly recommend this post!

Thank you, WMWS.

[whereisjustice]

21. (*) for the wealthy. eom

[jtuck004]

26. +1 That asterisk says a whole lot for the 50 million in poverty. n/t

[whereisjustice]

31. India's booming Democracy has 340 million people living at or below $1.24/day and you

hear the same praise for their inspired economic growth (seeded by millions of US workers no longer employed).

The US is rapidly adopting the same model of corruption and influence as China and India.

A "good" economy today is one in which the rich and their entitlements are not inconvenienced in any way.

[woo me with science]

29. Very important asterisk. nt

[SidDithers]

24. But the Debbie Downers at DU keep telling us everything is shit...

and that Obama, the "POS used car salesman" is nothing more than a pawn of the big banks, the MIC, and the 1%.

Who to believe?

Edit: not surprisingly, they're all over your thread.

Sid

[zappaman]

40. Oh well

http://m.sadtrombone.com

[BlueCaliDem]

77. I dub them serial complainers.

They don't make for good company. They're so busy attacking, criticizing, and ridiculing Democrats and President Obama that they lose the ability to see the forest for the trees.

They actually believe that they're doing the Democratic Party a favor.

[Number23]

92. "Edit: not surprisingly, they're all over your thread."

And in case that isn't funny enough, screaming insults at other people WHILE AT THE SAME TIME demanding to know why everyone isn't kissing their behinds in efforts at "increased Democratic turnout"!

So it's okay to scream insults at people, but when they do the same, suddenly the issue becomes "is THIS how you get me to vote Democratic??!one"

At this point, I cannot possibly be the only person here who a) realizes these folks don't have enough numbers or power to be a statistically significant threat in their own neighborhoods, let alone the Dem party nationally and b) after the years of endless screaming about how horrible this president is and how horrible his supporters are, TRULY don't give a flying fish stick how they vote anymore and haven't in years.

Even on DU, with the large numbers of pro 3rd party voters and closet Libertarians who have done nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- but criticize and castigate every step the man has made day in and day out since Day 1 of his first term, a recent poll of about 370 votes had the president's support at over 80%. If that doesn't give them or anyone else an accurate reading of their true power -- and that's just on a damned web site, let alone the real world -- then nothing will burst that bubble they've encased themselves in. And folks need to stop trying to.

[SidDithers]

114. Exactly...

The disconnect is stupefying.

They go on and on and on, seemingly forever, about how bad Democrats are, and how the parties are just two versions of the same corporate party, and how there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans, etc.

On and on. Day after day.


But then they totally expect us to believe them when they say they'll vote for Democratic candidates.



Sid

[whatchamacallit]

124. I can see how annoying and hurtful it is to you

you being a US democrat and all

[SidDithers]

134. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=437&topic_id=2545




Sid

[whatchamacallit]

145. I would suggest there's a difference between a foreign co-founder

and a foreign whatever-the-hell-it-is-you're-doing-here DUer.

[Number23]

160. Really, the only answer that tired old trope even deserves

[BrotherIvan]

115. Believe Canada!

[JoePhilly]

154. The perpetually disgruntled aren't happy!!

Big surprise there.

[valerief]

27. But...but...but...

he's black!

How could it be possible?

[lovemydog]

28. Yes he is, because his policies have worked.

I would prefer even more progressivism. But that's the fault of Congress and the people who vote for Republicans. Perhaps some day the majority of Republican voters will see that trickle down economic theory is a cruel joke that only benefits billionaires and multi-millionaires.

Until that time, we must keep voting for the most progressive candidates available.

[spanone]

30. k&r...

[woo me with science]

32. No president pushing for TPP and TISA

is the "best economic president in modern times."

That's not just absurd. It's Orwellian.

Study: "Trade" Deal Would Mean a Pay Cut for 90% of U.S. Workers
http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/09/the-verdict-is-in-the-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-a-sweeping-free-trade-deal-under-negotiation-with-11-pacific-rim-coun.html

[liberal_at_heart]

36. Thank you.

[whereisjustice]

38. Remember this is Forbes and for the rich, Obama has been great. For the non-rich, pretty much

the same as always, slow steady drain of wages, wealth and opportunity along with increased debt for education, health care and housing.

But unless we applaud the so-called exceptionalism of America's rich, take Ferguson, for example, we are accused of wanting a pony.

At least you can eat a pony.

[Phlem]

54. yup.

but here 2+2=Thursday.

[FlatStanley]

41. Damn commie, fascist, socialist, Kenyan Muslim!

[amandabeech]

43. Perhaps you remember the later Clinton years during the dot.com bubble

and the widespread introduction of computers and the internet into business and society.

Although it was a bubble and it could not last, it seemed to me that the economy was better for the lower 80% of the income distribution.

The clients of the firm where I worked were scrambling to find people. It've never seen people so eager to employ those with physical or developmental disabilities in jobs that required the skills that they DID possess. That was the real mark of just how good the labor market was.

[yurbud]

45. Democrats aren't trying to detract from his accomplishments, we're trying to get him to do more

and strike at the heart of our problems.

Leaving Wall Street unprosecuted for crimes that did more damage than 100 bin Ladens could ever hope to is like leaving an undetonated A bomb at the heart of our economy with the trigger in the hands of those who detonated the last one.

[bettyellen]

59. Some definitely are, they pretend the obstructionists in congress do not exist, and give POTUS no

credit in fighting for minimum wage increases and legislation to help the middle class. Argue with RW talking points about Obamacare? They pretend we should cater to the "concerns" of the most ignorant RWers all the time.
Maybe that's because they, like the goddess Warren they worship, were once republicans, and still have a soft spot for their POV.
As a solid Dem, I do not.

[Bobbie Jo]

75. +1

Well said.

[bettyellen]

80. I'm sorry but I have zero trust in anyone who used to be a republican....

for any part of their adulthood.
Either they were stupid, blind or completely self serving. Doesn't matter much which on it is, they fucked up big time politically by supporting a bunch of greedy sexist bigots , and there is no good reason to trust their judgement now.

[BlueCaliDem]

78. +2000.

[yurbud]

129. Democrats could have ended obstruction in Senate by

Doing away with filibuster.

[bettyellen]

131. and that will be great when a Republican does the same right? We need to take back Congress to fix

90% of these issues- but you don't here this from the "they're all the same" folks. Strangely, they avoid talking about that like the plague. Interesting....

[yurbud]

142. How often did Democrats use filibuster when Bush was president

What is the point of having a fire extinguisher when you never use it?

[yurbud]

130. How does Republican obstruction stop Wall St prosecution?

[AgingAmerican]

150. The unwillingness to prosecute

...those who ruined the economy is the worst economic decision in US history, because it guarantees that it happens again. And next time we won't recover.

[yurbud]

158. and our Third Way president can't blame that on Republican obstruction--he CHOSE to do nothing.

[yurbud]

132. How does Republican obstruction force obama's corrupt K-12 privatization policy?

[yurbud]

159. He not only didn't prosecute Wall St, he's giving them our public education

that's the kind of shit we expect from a Republican, but a Democratic president should not be actively throwing away our kids futures to the wolves of Wall Street.

[Phlem]

55. Or the Economist

which my well to do father on law swears by.

[AndreaCG]

67. Actually many aren't happy with Obama

Because he gives at least lip service to trying to do something to help the middle class and working poor, like raising the minimum wage and penalizing companies which send jobs overseas. Too many of these rich fucks think we should be worshiping them in addition to letting them have the vast majority of the nation's wealth. They can't abide criticism. They're called Republicans. Never mind they do way, way better when Democrats are in charge.

[stevenleser]

137. That is an interesting way of dodging the substance of the OP, but it's still a dodge. nt

[kickysnana]

74. For the 1%, yes, for the rest of us not so much.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/10/03/illusionary-growth/

[DrDan]

79. "modern times" - what does that mean . . . . 2000's?

[stevenleser]

127. It means since the end of the second world war. nt

[alarimer]

170. By any measure, people are actually worse off now.

Despite the economy. Wages have not kept pace with inflation. Job security is for the birds, pensions have been raided and destroyed.

Etc., etc.

I think the economy is great...if you're already a millionaire.

[DrDan]

171. No doubt - the 1% have prospered

[killbotfactory]

81. Republicans are why the "middle class" aren't doing better

They have blocked, or tried to block, anything that will help anyone who isn't ridiculously rich already.

Remember that when you vote

[jwirr]

85. Imagine what he could have done if he had a working congress to help him.

[indepat]

86. This in spite of despicable GOP obstruction at every turn smelling of economic

terraism.

[robthesocialist]

88. I agree somewhat.....

Considering the amount of blocking the GOP has done the past six years, it's surprising he's even gotten this much done.

[Number23]

90. Probably why a recent poll in this forum has the president's support at around 84 freaking percent

Despite the endless howls of some here that everything he touches, everything he does is only for the wealthy and the corrupt.

[Nye Bevan]

93. Lots of Nattering Nabobs of Negativism in this thread.

I say congratulations, Mr. President, and thank you for making me happy that I voted for you.

[liberal_at_heart]

95. I'll make sure to thank him the next time I have to take money out of my 401(k) just to

make ends meet. I've already had to do that once this year. May have to do it again. Yes, thank you so much Mr. President for supporting the TPP and for making bipartisan deals to cut food stamps and for taking meetings with business leaders and ignoring union leaders. Thank you for taking meetings with companies that profit from standardized tests taking and ignoring teacher unions. Thank you from the bottom of my broke heart. I'll be sure to thank him as I am scrambling to get ready for winter expenses. I have been going to every sale at the grocery store using every coupon I can and buying space heaters and sweatshirts so that I keep the thermostat down. There is no way I can afford a high electric bill this year and thank goodness I don't use natural gas(thanks again Mr. President for supporting fracking).

[ZombieHorde]

96. Well, that's depressing.

Record number of homeless children enrolled in US public schools

A record number of homeless students were enrolled in US public schools last year, according to new numbers released Monday by the Department of Education.

The data – which most experts say underreport the actual number of homeless children in America – showed that nearly 1.3 million homeless children and teens were enrolled in schools in the 2012-13 school year, an 8 percent increase from the previous school year.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025624617

If President Obama is the best ever, then the next President probably won't be as good, which may mean even more homeless children. Maybe his advancements just need a little more time to turn this around. I really hope that is the case.

[TBF]

118. I'm gonna rec this because

midterms are coming up and I know the mission is to get folks to the polls.

But we do realize it's a pretty low bar to be the best president in modern times ...

Look at who Obama followed - how could anyone possibly be worse.

[zappaman]

119. True.

Just about anyone following the worst president of all time would be better.
Although, I think McCain or Romney would have given Bush competition for that title.

[kelliekat44]

121. But that will only make the GOP angrier and nastier than they already are. Now they are focused on

foreign policy which they wanted to shun and talk about the economy when it was in the tank and Obama was trying to get major foreign policy issues resolved. Panetta can talk all the trash he wants but he knows damn well that Bush signed the original agreement for us to get out of Iraq and after much negotiation (with little help from the patriotic GOP at the time)the Iraqis told us they didn't want us there. The media is playing the GOP whore as usual and making it seem that Obama could have changed their minds on his own without Iraqi government permission and without security assurances for our men and women who may have stayed.

[Capt. Obvious]

140. Let them eat cake

[stupidicus]

143. and precisely what policies of his were enacted that led to this?

is his success gonna be bubbleiscious too as a deficitmonger?

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/11/housing-bubble-on-the-horizon/

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-22/obama-white-house-is-on-economic-bubble-alert

let's hope not, no?

This pattern persisted even after the collapse of the housing bubble put the economy in a situation similar to but far worse than the situation faced by Bush in 2001. Honesty would have required saying that until a lower dollar brought the trade deficit close to balance, it would be necessary to run large budget deficits to sustain demand. However, this would have meant disavowing the Clinton legacy.

That poses a problem, since so many of the top figures in Democratic circles have their service in the Clinton administration as the lead item on their resumes. They want to preserve the fiction that the prosperity of the late 1990s was due to deficit reduction rather than an unsustainable stock bubble.

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2013/12/deficits-jobs-fullemploymentbillclinton.html

I'm not an economist, but given that most of the financial gains have gone to the rich throughout his admin, how is this not in some way validation of the rightwinger "trickle down" stuff http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/15/news/economy/income-inequality-obama/ that we've obviously benefitted from based on your post here? Just imagine where those numbers would be if they were more generous with the dispensing of the bones for the still struggling dogs, no?

[AgingAmerican]

144. The article only compares him to Reagan

nt

[stevenleser]

147. No, it doesn't. The title says best economic President in modern times. nt

[AgingAmerican]

148. Without proof

Outside the Reagan comparison. It is for the most part an opinion piece.

[stevenleser]

151. The whole article is proof as it contrasts him with the guy previously thought of as best. nt

[AgingAmerican]

173. That is absurd on it's face

nt

[Orsino]

146. Nothin' But Good Times Ahead

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025624617

[guyfromla]

149. Secrets divulged on election Night in November

Everything that the research article divulged is a Republican President's dream come true. And yet, these Repubs are at daggers drawn with this President. Is it simply racism or someone from his very inner circle let out the basic strategy to the Repubs - which lead to their 'meeting' with all the big wigs on the election night to reject everything that the first Black President will do???

[Man from Pickens]

155. Yay the least stinky turd in the bowl!

Try taking the massive gains for the 0.1% out of the equation and you'll see that this is STILL the Bush economy and Obama basically hasn't done a damn thing. Getting grandma and grandpa into part-time jobs at Wal-Mart because they can't afford to retire like they had planned is not the equivalent to having workplace opportunity for a new generation of doctors and engineers and artists. If you're under 65, this is still a horrendous economy. And if you're a recent college grad, these are some of the worst conditions ever - just try calculating how long that burger-flipping job (if you can get even that) will take to pay off that six-figure student loan.

[R.Quinn]

156. The numbers may say it

but it sure doesn't feel that way.

Can't help but feel it's akin to saying that Obama's presidency has been the "least damaging" to the economy.

[Liberal_in_LA]

163. Dems need to run some ads about this

[pampango]

175. Krugman on why Obama is a historic success

When it comes to Barack Obama, I've always been out of sync. Back in 2008, when many liberals were wildly enthusiastic about his candidacy and his press was strongly favorable, I was skeptical. I worried that he was naive, that his talk about transcending the political divide was a dangerous illusion given the unyielding extremism of the modern American right.

But now the shoe is on the other foot: Obama faces trash talk left, right and center – literally – and doesn't deserve it. Despite bitter opposition, despite having come close to self-inflicted disaster, Obama has emerged as one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history. His health reform is imperfect but still a huge step forward – and it's working better than anyone expected. Financial reform fell far short of what should have happened, but it's much more effective than you'd think. Economic management has been half-crippled by Republican obstruction, but has nonetheless been much better than in other advanced countries. And environmental policy is starting to look like it could be a major legacy.

I'll go through those achievements shortly. First, however, let's take a moment to talk about the current wave of Obama-bashing. All Obama-bashing can be divided into three types. One, a constant of his time in office, is the onslaught from the right, which has never stopped portraying him as an Islamic atheist Marxist Kenyan. Nothing has changed on that front, and nothing will.

There's a different story on the left, where you now find a significant number of critics decrying Obama as, to quote Cornel West, someone who ''posed as a progressive and turned out to be counterfeit.'' They're outraged that Wall Street hasn't been punished, that income inequality remains so high, that ''neoliberal'' economic policies are still in place. All of this seems to rest on the belief that if only Obama had put his eloquence behind a radical economic agenda, he could somehow have gotten that agenda past all the political barriers that have con- strained even his much more modest efforts. It's hard to take such claims seriously.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/in-defense-of-obama-20141008