Politics & Stuff

[Vesper 30,230]

33 minutes ago, Fernando said:

I thought inflation was coming down? 

It's not high as years ago. 

it is coming down, it was 3.4 per cent in April (see my post above)

and core CPI is also coming down

https://www.investing.com/economic-calendar/core-cpi-736

Edited May 25, 2024 by Vesper

[Fernando 6,585]

Can't argue with that. Biden economy is not worse as many people like to put it, there has been improvements especially in the inflation part. 

You need to give it to him and the federal reserve had also helped with controlling inflation. 

I guess where he has lost a lot of people is with Israel support. 

But as far as economic we ain't that bad. At least we don't have a  recession which is by far the worse outcome that was feared and so far we avoid. 

Edited May 25, 2024 by Fernando

[robsblubot 3,595]

Blaming Biden for inflation is as silly as blaming Trump for the Pandemic; esp given that much of this inflation was caused by the pandemic, or rather the mitigations put in place.

Economic conditions can be affected by the president's policies, but the immediate causation is crazy. A shift in policies can take a long time to cause an effect, which means we often see results of the previous term policies.

"with Israel support. " a number of polls show otherwise even among students, which are the least likely group to show and and vote anyway.

Biden's main weakness is that he looks and talks like a cadaver.

Edited May 25, 2024 by robsblubot

[Vesper 30,230]

2 minutes ago, robsblubot said:

Biden's main weakness is that he looks and talks like a cadaver.

I absolutely agree with this

and it is a huge problem

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

3 hours ago, Fernando said:

I thought inflation was coming down? 

It's not high as years ago. 

When was the last time you spent less than 50 dollars in a store to feed a family though? A few years ago you probably had respite with covid bucks, but you aren't getting that today.

 

 

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

what you said there is incorrect if you are talking about the US

 

US Inflation Rate Slows as Expected

Annual inflation rate in the US eased to 3.4% in April 2024 from 3.5% in March which was the highest reading since September, in line with market forecasts. Inflation steadied for food (2.2%) and slowed for shelter (5.5% vs 5.7%) while prices continued to decline for new vehicles (-0.4% vs -0.1%) and used cars and trucks (-6.9% vs -2.2%). On the other hand, energy costs rose slightly more (2.6% vs 2.1% in March), with gasoline increasing 1.1% (vs 1.3%) while a decline was seen for utility gas service (-1.9% vs -3.2%) and fuel oil (-0.8% vs -3.7%). Also, cost rose faster for transportation (11.2% vs 10.7%) and apparel (1.3% vs 0.4%). Compared to the previous month, the CPI increased by 0.3%, below 0.4% in each of the previous two months and forecasts of 0.4%. Meanwhile, core inflation slowed to 3.6% annually, be the lowest reading since April 2021, down from 3.8% in both March and February. The monthly rate also eased to 0.3% from 0.4%, both in line with forecasts. less

2024-05-15

US Inflation Rate Seen Easing to 3.4%

Annual inflation rate in the US likely eased to 3.4% in April 2024 from 3.5% in March which was the highest reading since September. Compared to the previous month, the CPI is expected to increase by 0.4%, the same as in each of the previous two months. Gasoline prices are forecasted to have risen from March, while rent increases are expected to slow down and prices for used cars may continue to decline. Meanwhile, core inflation probably slowed to 3.6% annually, which would be the lowest reading since April 2021, down from 3.8% in both March and February. The monthly rate is also expected to ease to 0.3% from 0.4%. less

2024-05-15

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/wage-growth

 

Economists will say anything, but that simply isnt the reality on the ground.

 

There was a time when someone making 6 figures could afford a house and models and bottles in big cities. You aren't getting that anymore.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

2 hours ago, robsblubot said:

Blaming Biden for inflation is as silly as blaming Trump for the Pandemic; esp given that much of this inflation was caused by the pandemic, or rather the mitigations put in place.

Economic conditions can be affected by the president's policies, but the immediate causation is crazy. A shift in policies can take a long time to cause an effect, which means we often see results of the previous term policies.

"with Israel support. " a number of polls show otherwise even among students, which are the least likely group to show and and vote anyway.

Biden's main weakness is that he looks and talks like a cadaver.

Its silly, but its the reality. The person in charge carries the brunt of people not feeling happy. People still call Carter the worst president ever, and Reagan a saint, when Carter is 20x the president(and man) Reagan was because the economy was so shit during his time.

 

It took over 40 bucks to fill up a Honda Civic down here in Georgia today. Its not Biden's fault, but folks are going to blame the man at the top for this.

I dont buy his looks being a problem either. Reagan was literally old forgetful and loved.

Edited May 25, 2024 by Sir Mikel OBE

[Thor 2,727]

4 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

When was the last time you spent less than 50 dollars in a store to feed a family though? A few years ago you probably had respite with covid bucks, but you aren't getting that today.

 

 

Economists will say anything, but that simply isnt the reality on the ground.

 

There was a time when someone making 6 figures could afford a house and models and bottles in big cities. You aren't getting that anymore.

The CPI on things are skewed. Food and everyday items are still running rampant as far as prices. 

They cater to those numbers by controlling energy and oil prices. Makes things look a lot better. 

Also America is a poison on the world as far as "woke" issues. I can't believe we've gotten to a point where we can't say men are men and women are women. Its spreading all over the world. The quicker they stop pandering to 0.1% of people who yell the loudest about things that don't matter, the better.

[robsblubot 3,595]

7 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

Its silly, but its the reality. The person in charge carries the brunt of people not feeling happy. People still call Carter the worst president ever, and Reagan a saint, when Carter is 20x the president(and man) Reagan was because the economy was so shit during his time.

 

It took over 40 bucks to fill up a Honda Civic down here in Georgia today. Its not Biden's fault, but folks are going to blame the man at the top for this.

I dont buy his looks being a problem either. Reagan was literally old forgetful and loved.

I don't either, but I also think that's the reality, as you put it.

For me, a slightly senile Biden would be far less dangerous than a moron who thinks he knows everything because he got some money from daddy. The "drinking bleach" press conf showed everyone who he truly is: he rather surround himself with yes-man than experts who may disagree with him.

[robsblubot 3,595]

3 hours ago, Thor said:

The CPI on things are skewed. Food and everyday items are still running rampant as far as prices. 

They cater to those numbers by controlling energy and oil prices. Makes things look a lot better. 

Also America is a poison on the world as far as "woke" issues. I can't believe we've gotten to a point where we can't say men are men and women are women. Its spreading all over the world. The quicker they stop pandering to 0.1% of people who yell the loudest about things that don't matter, the better.

I completely agree with the "woke" part and would suggest not using that word at all; it's triggering and gets in the way of actual arguments.

[cosmicway 1,333]

Economy is never good - by definition.
Sometimes it gets worse but it's never good.
Remember the Charlie Chaplin speech about the economy, the one they considered pro-communist and deported him ?
Well, that period is now called "the golden period of the US economy".
This is because everytime, somebody has a grudge and believes things can get better.
Then the political opposition always takes advantage. The politicians job and that of their trolls is to make 20-30 statements a day. If it was me I would say "why all those superfluous statements ?" but it is how politics work.
Trump and his cronies in particular blame foreigners for everything, even the allies. But this buys votes, it's tested.

[Thor 2,727]

3 minutes ago, cosmicway said:

Economy is never good - by definition.
Sometimes it gets worse but it's never good.
Remember the Charlie Chaplin speech about the economy, the one they considered pro-communist and deported him ?
Well, that period is now called "the golden period of the US economy".
This is because everytime, somebody has a grudge and believes things can get better.
Then the political opposition always takes advantage. The politicians job and that of their trolls is to make 20-30 statements a day. If it was me I would say "why all those superfluous statements ?" but it is how politics work.
Trump and his cronies in particular blame foreigners for everything, even the allies. But this buys votes, it's tested.

Trumps economic policies are actually more centric and left leaning. 

Regardless of who runs the country better, sentiment is(was) better under Trump. 

[cosmicway 1,333]

3 minutes ago, Thor said:

Trumps economic policies are actually more centric and left leaning. 

Regardless of who runs the country better, sentiment is(was) better under Trump. 

Well, the way all this reflects on the common citizen is mainly taxes.
Take for example the Greek economic crisis.
You are a company middle manager. Your salary was 3,000 per month - they make it 1,500.
What affected you is the new taxes, not the negative reports from Brussels as such.
Taxes are always unfair.
If you complain to your local taxman he will just say "please don't bring your personal problems here".

In Greece we have fun these days.
The entire staff of the tax authority of the town of Chalkida have been arrested and are now in jail.
Those had organized a mafia group, blackmailing local businessmen.
Those local businessmen it seems were facing fines of varying amounts for various misdemeanours-inaccuracies in their tax reports.
So the Mafia men -or women rather- were saying to them "you are to be be fined 100,000 euros, give us 20,000 and we are going to fix it".
This has been going on for years and they made themselves rich.
Until someone spilled the beans ...
Walked in with 10,000 euros in marked banknotes - then the police sept in - arrested everybody.
 

 

[robsblubot 3,595]

58 minutes ago, Thor said:

Trumps economic policies are actually more centric and left leaning. 

Regardless of who runs the country better, sentiment is(was) better under Trump. 

Heh there is no such 'sentiment" other than what the media, on both sides project for eyeballs. Trump presided over a pandemic where nothing was better than it is now; he also made ridiculous blunders (drink bleach, gone in the spring...). The only fact is that Trump hasn't done very well since he lost the last election.

People really don't care all that much about elections until it's happening, I mean real people that is.

[cosmicway 1,333]

The biggest exponent going on for Trump is racism.
Racism dierected against immigrants and particularly against hard working - money making immigrants.
If you think they are concerned with tramp immigrants who go round and round in the streets, it's a big fat lie.
It's theur smokescreen.
It's those people who are part of the economy but of foreign nationality they are against.
There are many such people and they are the product of the close ties and the alliances that were formed after the war.
Nobody in his right mind got up one morning and said "I will go to Tramp land, or brexit land".
It's the product of the alliances, but now even these historical alliances are questioned - the nazi revival.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

6 hours ago, Thor said:

The CPI on things are skewed. Food and everyday items are still running rampant as far as prices. 

They cater to those numbers by controlling energy and oil prices. Makes things look a lot better. 

Also America is a poison on the world as far as "woke" issues. I can't believe we've gotten to a point where we can't say men are men and women are women. Its spreading all over the world. The quicker they stop pandering to 0.1% of people who yell the loudest about things that don't matter, the better.

The culture wars are nonstarters that republicans use to farm votes because they have NO solutions for real problems.

 

Nobody cares about men being called women or vice versa when interest rates are 7%+ and home prices are out of reach for the vast majority of Americans.

[Fernando 6,585]

11 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

When was the last time you spent less than 50 dollars in a store to feed a family though? A few years ago you probably had respite with covid bucks, but you aren't getting that today.

 

 

Economists will say anything, but that simply isnt the reality on the ground.

 

There was a time when someone making 6 figures could afford a house and models and bottles in big cities. You aren't getting that anymore.

But that is called overall inflation in decades. Of course everything was cheaper in the 90s. But then again wage was also lower. 

What was minimum wage in the 90s in NYC? And take a look at minimum wage today? 

So yes it is true in the whole the federal reserve likes to keep inflation at 2% percent year on year as that is healthy and for the economy. But runaway inflation not cool and that is going down. 

[Fernando 6,585]

24 minutes ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

The culture wars are nonstarters that republicans use to farm votes because they have NO solutions for real problems.

 

Nobody cares about men being called women or vice versa when interest rates are 7%+ and home prices are out of reach for the vast majority of Americans.

But people are still buying. Despite the historical high value of owning a house. People have money and don't care. Take a look at one example:

One house was listed for 439,900. On April 9,2024 and was sold on 

May 15 2024 for 510,500.

So despite high interest people are still putting multiple offers and buying above the asking price. 

 

[Vesper 30,230]

12 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

When was the last time you spent less than 50 dollars in a store to feed a family though? A few years ago you probably had respite with covid bucks, but you aren't getting that today.

 

 

Economists will say anything, but that simply isnt the reality on the ground.

 

There was a time when someone making 6 figures could afford a house and models and bottles in big cities. You aren't getting that anymore.

The numbers are the numbers, and now you are moving goalposts to areas I did not discuss.

In terms of housing prices, I agree, the US is absolutely fucked, same for rents in many areas.

It's all underpinned by corporate greed, manipulation and proft taking (especially via falsely raised margins).

[Thor 2,727]

2 hours ago, cosmicway said:

The biggest exponent going on for Trump is racism.
Racism dierected against immigrants and particularly against hard working - money making immigrants.
If you think they are concerned with tramp immigrants who go round and round in the streets, it's a big fat lie.
It's theur smokescreen.
It's those people who are part of the economy but of foreign nationality they are against.
There are many such people and they are the product of the close ties and the alliances that were formed after the war.
Nobody in his right mind got up one morning and said "I will go to Tramp land, or brexit land".
It's the product of the alliances, but now even these historical alliances are questioned - the nazi revival.

I'm not sure what you're alluding to - but illegal immigration is a huge problem in the USA. 

I don't think it is racist to not want illegal immigration. 

[cosmicway 1,333]

10 minutes ago, Thor said:

I'm not sure what you're alluding to - but illegal immigration is a huge problem in the USA. 

I don't think it is racist to not want illegal immigration. 

Not sure ...
What an odd expression when you actually do understand perfectly.
The illegal bit is second-third-fourth consideration.
Because who knows who is illegal or not ?
Only the cops after they have looked into their computer.
They don't care about legal or illegal status more than they care about the local tramps - clochards.
The workers and the professionals is they are after.
Put that in pipe and smoke.