I'm not an economist. But I did have a few courses at Ga Tech.

[DemoTex]

Let's factor out all the usual things a great economist would look at but the following things (some facts):

1. Bu$hco has decimated the US treasury.

2. Bu$hco has increased the Federal deficit to over $400 billion.

3. The central bank has just raised the interest rate by a quarter of a point.

4. The stolen treasury money is in Bu$hco hands.

5. The benefactors of the theft, the rich, invest in the higher-yielding money markets. They make more money on our grief. Anyway, picture it as circular!

6. DemoTex should quit worring, leave his life in the hands of those who know best, and sleep like a baby tonight!

[whistle]

1. You got it about right, except the looting by BushCo and the republicans

...in Washington DC has been much more widespread that you are describing. Bush is spending all of the surpluses from Social Security and Medicare to make his deficits look better than they actually are. The has put the federal government in the hole by several trillion more dollars than appears on the books. The only way to get this straighten out will be to tax the rich to get some of this money back and also the throw Bush and his cronies into federal prison and seize their assets.

[Cleita]

2. Great suggestions.

Especially, throwing Bush and his cronies into federal prison and seizing their assets. The truth is, if we don't, even if we get a liberal government in in the future, these boys will be sitting back waiting again for their opportunity to sieze power again and take us back fifty years again. If we make Bush and all his cronies pay dearly for their crimes, it will set a precendent and act as a warning for any neo-cons who would be king in the future to think twice about the possible consequences.

You see, we let tricky Dicky walk away without punishing him. He even got to put up a presidential library. It made his crimes almost legitimate, like a mistake. These new RW criminals had no problem moving in because even if they got caught, there would be no consequences. They would just walk away like Nixon did. We can't let it happen this time.

[buycitgo]

3. the way I see it is the Fed took a pretty big gamble here

counting on those low job numbers and other bad numbers as a hiccup in the rising economic curve

if they're right, it will slow the pace of inflation heading toward a rebounding economy

course the real inflation we all suffer is ludicrously understated in all government numbers

that aside, if they're WRONG, which any halfwit living outside 1600 Pa. Ave feels in his gut, based on everyday signs and signals, that means the economy is headed DOWN DOWN DOWN

one of the key indicators for me is the FACT that a big reason in the recent turndown is just now turning up as a result of the huge oil price increases

you'll note that that, after a brief respite, and a twenty-some cent decline at the pump, per-barrel prices are at almost 45 bucks/barrel now, as high as they've been since Carter's days, when adjusted for inflation

ANNNNNNNNDDDDD guess what? prices haven't gone up at all at the pump!!!!! you know that NEVER happens. usually, when barrel prices are raised, the price in the tanks at gas stations go up almost immediately, reflecting the NEW price of oil, NOT the price already paid by the retailer to the wholesaler

so, two things here

one: oil companies are HOLDING DOWN prices for some reason, which I've never ever seen before. you can just BET the reason for that

two: when they eventually raise them, it'll be high and hard, which will REALLY set the economy in a tailspin, GREATLY exacerbated by the foolish rise in interest rates, which will make it that much more difficult for companies to access capital, much less likely to hire more employees

have fun citizens

thank Mr. Greenspan for much of this