So, most folks agree we're on the cusp of a recession, if we're not already in one. Oil surpassed $115 a barrel today, gasoline prices are expected to hit $4/gallon (if they aren't already there in your area), the dollar continues to fall against other currencies.

I'm no economist, but I really can't grasp why these aren't the big stories of the day, or of the presidential campaign for that matter. If these trends continue, the November election isn't going to be about Obama's pastor or any of the other bullshit stories that are topping the news these days. What's up?

As soon as people feel legitimately affected, it will be the only thing you hear about. Many polls already indicate it is the #1 election issue. And it will only continue to get more attention if things do get worse. See the 1992 election for reference.

i do.

The solution is to emplace more tariffs, to protect American workers from unfair foreign competition, amirite?

"Handouts we can believe in" - some candidate.

It's all politics. The democratic candidates want to totally avoid the topic because, despite how poor the Bush administration has been, the republicans would still win if the economy were the most important issue. The dems would still rather focus on handouts and class warfare.

For me, the economy is the issue I care about most (because it affects the most people), and it's probably why I'll probably end up voting for McCain come November. As bad as the Repulblicans have been since...well...Bush Sr., the Democrats want to do crap like reverse the capital gains tax cuts (I think Hillary has stated that she will increase the capital gains tax to the normal rate) that will only help to further sink the economy. It's times like this that investment and risk-taking needs to be encouraged, not penalized.

George Bush and John McCain don't care about you! They don't care about the plight of the American auto worker! They just want to sell your jobs overseas! But I care about you. And I have the solution. The solution is to make Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee just like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and upstate New York! That way, states like Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee, don't have an unfair advantage over you! We also need more ethanol! We are completely dependent on our from middle eastern countries. Ethanol is the solution that will lead us to energy independence! We also need to start raising taxes to support clean energy like wind and solar! With these programs in place, we will begin to see economic improvement for sure.

This is the #1 issue for me.

I feel we're fucked any way we get it, though. Hillary and Obama's planned spending on social programs is INSANE. John McCain wants to spend endless amounts of money in iraq and all the bombs he can build to drop on Iran.

You better be saving your money now because there isn't going to be any damn social security for us and we are going to end up working until the day we die. They'll just pick my dead body up off the floor at Target after my 90 year old ass has a heart attack while stocking the yogurt. Just throw me in the dumpster with that shitty sushi they sell.

I've always held that the elected federal officials (i.e., the President and Congress, not, say, the Federal Reserve) hold little sway on the economy. The dot-com and housing booms (and subsequent crashes) all took place in the private sector. Increased demand that's causing oil and food price rises are taking place worldwide. Cycles come and go.

I think, generally, you are right.

But the vast amount of money that Obama and Hillary want to spend, during a recession, will cause further recession. Coupled with rising gas prices, it could potentially cause an economic collapse.

Not that our old pal GWB has been a tightwad with all our money. That's really the only ray of hope in this whole election. At least it's not that douche.

Ever heard of the war in Iraq?

I'd like to hear why some people don't give a shit about this.

I honestly think that there are some posters in this forum that would LIKE to see our economy collapse.

Is this the thread where all the angry Libertarian white boys rush in to play bean counters and discuss how horrible it is to have to pay taxes?

No. It's the thread where all the disenfranchised white boys start talking about the "haves" and "have nots".

I don't think the federal government can directly cause a recession... Well, they could, but it'd be tough to make it look like an accident... But it can certainly exacerbate a recession. It's not the federal government, per say, but the Federal Reserve certainly had something to do with the housing bubble, and it's pretty obvious how something like the capital gains tax (and to a lesser degree, other taxes) can have an effect on investment.

Just think, all those bitter Pennsylvanian's are out of jobs because business owners had to pay taxes.

Shit.

Marvelous. Shouldn't you be whining about how the rest of us feel about your relationship with Jeebus in a religious thread?

Should we make it the thread where clueless white boys rush in to whine about social injustice and grandstand about how horrible it is for some people to have more than others?

Nice distraction.

Now why don't you tell us about how you'd feel if the economy/Wall Street crashed.