Quote:
Originally posted by Ziroc:
First the Economy hits 8.5, then the Dow hits 10,000 and now Saddam is captured.
Bush just won re-election folks. WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT for the administration! Wow!
Dizzy, how is the reaction and morale NOW? [img]smile.gif[/img]
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[edit: tone changed]
ziroc, i believe you are repeating a number of misconceptions about the figures you quote in order to support a popular conclusion.
8.5% GDP growth is completely meaningless. GDP is a measure of expenditures, not positive contributions to society or the world at large. in this case, the figure is inflated by gross spending by the US govt specifically related to the war in iraq, which has notably put the US deficit to the highest levels it has ever been.
the dow is a measure of the total value of money invested in the stock market. the paper value is non-existent, as the value will change as money is withdrawn. more to the point - how many of us have any significant investment in stocks? who is really benefitting from a strong stock market? as someone pointed out in another thread, if the economy is so much better, how come people are still losing jobs and families cant afford any more than they could 12 months ago?
and regarding saddam, consider taht the country with the biggest armed services and economy in the world beat up a two-bit middle eastern dictator. this is the diplomatic equivalent of stealing candy from a baby. if anything, it was an embarassment that the guy managed to hide himself away for so long and that the US occupation continues to be marred by resistance and deaths of US soldiers.
w. may win re-election, but it will only be because people refuse to get more educated on the very "facts" the administration continually repeats.
[ 12-14-2003, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: sultan ]