Can we all agree that there are technical definitions and practical definitions? (re "Recovery")

[Stinky The Clown]

I have seen many coldly tell us that the recession was just that - a recession - and then go on to recite coldly all the definitional details that prove their case. While there's no arguing with that, the fact is, real people in real places - like Detroit, for one - who are suffering as a result of the economic downturn are in Great Depression II.

One of those views is definitionally correct. One of those views is emotionally correct. People are, first, emotional. If they feel it, that is their reality. Some of us are empathetical and others hold tightly and coldly to their icy facts. In my view, as a practical matter, we are in a second Great Depression. No amount of cluck-clucking and fact citing is going to change that **perception** among those living it. And it is to *those* people, the ones living this pain and devastation, I find myself relating.

Similarly, there's the matter of the "recovery". I put that in quotes, too. Yes, it is obvious that some segments of the economy are recovering or have, indeed, recovered. Massive bank bailouts that never made it to Main Street helped a great deal to cause these definitional parts of the economy to "recover". And all recoveries have to start someplace. The same cold fact citers cite these facts and say with their usual cold certitude that the recovery is gaining steam. Or, in some extreme cases, that we have recovered. But once again, what about Main Street? Until the jobs come back, the "recovery" doesn't affect any great number of real people. The rise in stock prices is the fodder of headlines daily. But who does that affect, really? **Jobs** affect great numbers of real people, 20 million of whom would love to have one. The recovery will be real when the jobless rate falls back to some reasonable number. I don't know where that number is since we've fucked with the definition of unemployment for years - whenever the then-current fuckwad (<--non-partisan, non definitional broad term) in chief needs to make himself look good. For now, I'll use 6%, but that is hardly any more meaningful than any other number. For any one person, unemployment is either 0% or 100%, and that's the ONLY unemployment number that matters to real people.

So much of this is politics. ALL of this ought to be humane and personal and social.

Why do some people seem not to get this? Or worse, why do some people refuse to acknowledge this so as to strengthen their case that this President or this Congress or this Cabinet or this Treasury Secretary, or this "whoever you're defending" are doing any better than they are?

You have the facts. I know the facts, too. Yes, there are some positives. Yes, one thing needs to follow another. Yes, there are leading indicators and lagging indicators. I get all that.

But I can NOT accept them coldly.

Not when people are hurting.

Where's the compassion? Where's the empathy? Where's the help?

The recovery is NOT moving fast enough and the depression is NOT over until Main Street - or Woodward Avenue - is once again healthy and happy and confident. It might be moving that way, but it is NOT there.

Not yet.

Go ahead, flame me

[DJ13]

1. Go ahead, flame me

Nope, you made sense.

I think theres two sets of economic numbers, the one Washington uses (and the focus of all their energies in fixing) is the economy comprised of the top 5% of the population, and the other 95% that live day to day trying to make ends meet by working their asses off.

The Wall Streeters, the wealthy, and the largest of corporations ARE doing better now thanks to the concerted effort of two administrations to shield them from the damage they caused our entire economy.

Sure the government claims the recession is over since they're doing better now, that points out how truly those in DC and Wall Street are out of touch with the rest of us.

Im afraid we'll have to wait until just before the 2010 midterms before the out of touch politicians begin giving our plight a second thought because they need our votes.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. "Im afraid we'll have to wait until just before the 2010 midterms before ......."

" ..... the out of touch politicians begin giving our plight a second thought because they need our votes."

That pretty much sums up the repetitive nature of politics. Somebody said that the repubs openly fuck us and the Dems do little more than stop the bleeding.

Some day a new FDR (or dare I say it, the Great Society part of the man LBJ) will appear.

He's not here yet.

[OHdem10]

2. Some very good points.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Thank you. I was hoping this post would get more honest discussion.

Maybe it needs the word "vagina" in its title? :)

[Hekate]

5. Very well put...

Sorry I can't stick around to discuss it, but I just wanted to give your post a kick. I'm starting to fall asleep in front of the monitor. Manana.

Hekate