Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Worst Economy since Hoover?

While gas prices ARE high, I think we are seeing just how strong our economy really is. There is certainly some shift in spending to reflect fuel prices but most of the wailing is from the folks who are NEVER happy, no matter what.

Miserable folks will be that way even after they win the lottery and go to jail for tax evasion. There's ALWAYS a way to fail, IF you try hard enough. The press has figured this out and these are the folks who lap up the garbage they spew....

As for me, I'll just order a new scope from Rick and be a happy camper.... I love this place!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually, part of your reply is, IMHO, the answer... Consumer debt.. Who's fault is that? The consumer.. Those who have to scrimp and tighten belts are very probably those who have several credit cards, a maxed-out mortgage or worse, have bought into the hype that real estate is escalating in value so fast that an interest-only 100% mortgage is 'just what you need'... Trouble is, most people are just not educated enough to figure in all their home related expenses such as property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities etc., that all factor into the cost of a home. They have a good year or two in their careers, think it's going to go on forever and get themselves into a pile of dung when things don't go as planned.

Frankly, I think the economy IS going well but it's the populace who've gotten complacent. People don't have the money because they're strapped with debt. That's not Bush's fault, not even Clinton's fault..

Fuel prices are going to affect nearly everything we buy. Yes, it's high now. We're still going to take a few weekend camping trips, but they'll be very short range trips; maybe 60-80 miles one way. Other than that, the truck stays parked. For short trips into town I'll use one of the bikes. 45 mpg beats 19 mpg (Santa Fe) every time. Combine shopping into one trip instead of 3-4.. I know I can trim 20% of my fuel costs down by better organization. My wife commutes 30 miles one way but she's driving an '06 Jetta TDI diesel (another 45+ mpg)..

My business is down also. Conversations with customers has shown that it's a combination of higher fuel costs coupled with the high property taxes we're paying here in TAX HELL WISCONSIN. I understand it. So, to help out the family I work part time on a second job helping a local farmer with field work. He's grateful to have someone who can come whenever he needs extra help and I'm happy with the job and the extra money. I don't get rich doing it but it's satisfying.

As soon as possible, I'm selling out and moving to SD where it's a helluva lot cheaper to live. Simple economics...

A Robust Economy?
Just ask the Seven Million People that have lost jobs paying a Livable wage that now stand at their "Robust Economy Jobs" stateing, "Welcome to Wal Mart" or that other catch phrase,"May I take your order Please?"
We have a huge problem in this Country where there is no longer a Middle Class, Just Rich and Poor, and There are damn few Rich. This is not the Republicans fault but it is OUR fault for allowing them to make us their slaves.
As to Parrots,

AWK..Bush sucks
AWK..economy sucks
AWK..Bush lied
AWK..we have failed in Iraq
AWK..tax cuts for the rich
AWK..U.S. went alone
AWK..no body armoor
AWK..domestic spying
AWK....culture of corruption

Parrots are very intelligent critters they can learn to talk but we can't learn to Fly.
Our Problem is the annointed in this Country from the Democrat and Republican Party that have destroyed us.
So Next time you vote get rid of the Incumbent from whichever party they represent.
The Republican Myth about gun ownership is a JOKE,
We have registered Guns in this Country since 1968 so what is the Point of the Republican Party?
They are just Democrats that take the oath of Office on an
Accounts Recievable ledger.

"As soon as possible, I'm selling out and moving to SD where it's a helluva lot cheaper to live. Simple economics... "
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I have looked into this as well.
Wi has gotten out of control,and I may vote with my feet.The S.O.B.'s in Madison and the TEACHERS union just don't know when to quit !

I made it a point to invest 10-20% of my income in mutual funds since I started working. The last 3 years have been very good. The last 4 months have seen 12% returns on them. I don't make a lot of money, but I spend less than I make. We never eat out, don't take expensive vacations, and the kids still seem to be surviving. And starting next election, I'm voting 3rd party. Can't take the Republican spending anymore. And don't talk to me about the Dems.

Joe--your response is a classic, and its the reason I post these little factoids. You....and "the people"----FEEL the economy is bad. Well, the economy is a finite, measurable thing, that lots o fpeople have an interest in and study. And it is unambiguously booming, and has been for years. The media lie or hide the fact, and therefore you and "the people" FEEL like its bad. I'm just trying to correct that misapprehension.

Yeah, people are fat and happy in New Orleans right now, Joe.

Gee, I really feel sorry for the poor lawyer that can't get a $3000.00 fee. Maybe he should try changing to a safe high paying job like law enforcement or the military.
give me a break.
(USMC 61-66, Security police -nuclear security, deputy officer Idaho State police, guess what I make. & I LIKE President Bush, hate whinney liberals!!!!!!!!!)

Jimbo, the humorlessness of the left must be very depressing after a few decades, huh? The whole point of my little "I blame Bush" postings is to show what a pack of lies the MSM serves you daily on the economy, as part of their function in the socialist/democrat/media axis of weasels. If I didn't have to respond to a bunch of lefties, kooks and America haters, I'd be able to concentrate on firearms posts more. I've only got a few thousand of those.

The best thing that can happen to the "little people" you and other lefties profess to be concerned about is a roaring, kick-a$$ economy, which is what we've got and have had for years. Unemployment is now below 4.7% and dropping, and the average US wage is $16.49.

The stock market is approaching its all time highs, with no inflation and low interest rates. It simply doesn't get any better than that in the real world. And yet the MSM have made about half the people "feel" like its Hooverville again.

There are pockets of poverty around the country---hell, I live in one of the worst---but that will always be the case. My friend Joe I believe lives in an impoverished area near a bunch of Indian reservations. I'm glad he's there, doing good for the citizenry, but if'n he don't like the economics of it, move to freaking Dallas or Atlanta.

We are not and never will be the nation of burger flippers the demos wish we were, we have an economy that is the envy of the world, with a population whic now has a majority of investors, thanks to retirement savings plans.

The problems which arise from people overspending on credit cards, and trying to have the lifestyles of the rich and famous on a middle class salary, demanding big screen TVs, second and third cars, designer tennis shoes, etc etc and feeling bad if they don't have them......that I suggest is a moral problem, not an economic one. But of course.....you blame Bush.

BTW the onlytime I have represented the gov't was during the savings and loan scandals when I sued crooked executives forthem. My only MIC (I didn't know that old leftie acronym was still in use) cllient is Northrup Grumman Ship Systems, which builds Navy vessels at Ingalls and Avondale shipyards to help oppress innocent third world nations with gunboat diplomacy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You are absolutely right about Countrywide and the other predatory lenders (jeez, I sound like a commie). The constant bombardment of easily influenced people with commercials encouraging them to take out another credit card, or borrow the little equityoutof their home to fund more consumer spending, is little short of criminal.

I blame Bush...isn't he in charge of Countrywide?

It always interesting to selectively pull stats. from one month, quarter, year, etc and assume that is the measure of things.....

A few more facts may helpful in assessing where we are today.

National Debt $8.2 Trillion and counting. This debt has grown from $5+ trillion to $8.+ Trillion in the last six years.
Annual Deficits $300+ billion and seeingly no fact based plan for reduction.
Record trade Deficits and what appears to be an unwillingness to address this issue.
Minimal saving rate among households and wages still remain under pressure....
Leadership is unwilling to veto any spending measure, hopefully this will change.

I could go on but why...this is enough to consider...These are real "issues" we will have to deal with one day......

I wonder just how much the US economy would have grown over the last six years without all this government spending and additional debt..........

What really concerns me is no real plan to put Federal Gov't fiscal house in order.....

The current situation is not sustainable by any measure and to suggest otherwise is foolish......seems the strategy is to leave this mess for the next Administration.....I am at a loss to label this Administration, as Republican, it has no fiscal discipline!

Hopefully, one day we will leave the labels of Republican and Democrat behind and understand we are all American's....faced with issues that need to be dealt with.....

A solid and strong economic future is more important than any other issue....but we have been suckered and blinded into voting on marginal issues driven by the Right and Left wings of both parties...what BS that is.................

JJS---no doubt deficits are bad things and should be avoided. Of course, the 9/11 attacks and resulting economic disruption, two wars, massive security costs at home, multiple hurricanes, and doubled crude prices explain a lot of it. But this is one place where I reallydo blame Bush for not enforcing some fiscal discipline on Congress--with vetoes if necessary. The Republican majority has discovered how much fun it is to spend other people's money, just like the democrats did for decades. Like being a drunken sailor in a wh%rehouse with your buddy's wallet.

But the dire predictions of the destructive effects of deficits and the debt have been around for 50 years, and loudly since the 80s. We're still waiting for private lending capital to dry up....hasn't happened. And the Fed has been driving up interest rates to slow a booming economy, not because the government can't borrow money at market rates.

But whatever the reason, the deficits just aren't affecting current economic conditions, and I don't think that's what Joe Six Pack is thinking of when he tells a pollster that the economy sucks and he blames Bush....I think he's parroting what the MSM have been telling him for six years.

Just a couple of general questions for those who are saying they are experiencing a "tight" economy...

Do you have...

Cable or Dish TV?

Own more than one rifle or shotgun to hunt with?

A cell phone for the kids?

A cell phone in addition to your landline?

Even have a landline?

Subscribe to the newspaper?

Have internet access? (i.e. pay an ISP)

Have more than one car payment or any car payment?

Have a outstanding balance on any credit cards?

Own a boat? camp trailer? 5th wheel? ATV? Snowmobile?

Drive a 1-ton dually or a 3/4 ton crewcab when a old commuter car would do?

How often do you go out to eat a week?, Month?

Do you smoke/chew/dip?

Drive your kids to their activities or let them ride a bike?

These are just a some items I came up with in the few minutes it took to key them in this post. All are things that can be cut in "hard times". Now in my opinion if you ansered yes to any of those questions you shouldn't be gripeing about how rotten the economy is.

Not to brag or to ask for sympathy, but, in 1979 for one year I lived in a 18' camp trailer on $75 a month in Denver no less AFTER all of my divorce, childsupport, old CC bills, bus ticket to get to work, etc. bills was paid. That was what I had to wash my clothes, buy groceries, and provide for a 5 yearold son some fun on visitation weekends. I bathed in a 10" sink and used a toilet at a nearby city owned rec center.

Yeah, in tough times the tough survive. I don't think there are that many who are doing the complaining who are that "tough".

JMO

Elkslayer

BRAVO !!!!

Elkslayer,

You nailed it, big time. You won't hear many replies to your questions though, because the "Chicken Littles" don't respond to common sense. Emotion and pessimism rule, while solutions are taken as direct attacks.

The bill will come due soon enough.

I predict that it will occur in early spring 2008.

The bill is here ! The fight is how to correct the problem.(hint,it's not to raise taxes <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)
BRING IT ON !
LET'S ROLL !
etc..

Let me tell ya, you can buy "dog bones" from the butcher counter at the grocery, an onion, stalk of celery, and a couple of spuds, boil that up and eat dinner or supper (which ever you call it) for darned near a week on $5.

Now, I don't have to do that any more cause I learned to live within my financial ability but it was the best lesson(s) I could ever have had.

Tough times,but you have my respect.You didn't collapse,didn't expect someone else to bail you out,and didn't think you had a right to govt service.We need more JUST like ya.

The question is what does the future hold given this level of debt and spending by the Federal Gov't??? Frankly, I have little concern for my own situation but I do have concern for those who are highly leveraged and for future generations.

Debt and Deficits by the Federal Gov't, in the long run, can only be sustained by the tax base, sale of assets, or bringing spending in line with tax reciepts....and there is no a hint that the president or congress is considering any measure to bring things in line.............

The concept and rational for cutting taxes is to grow the economy and force federal spending down, however, what has happened is economic growth has not produced tax reciepts sufficient enough to keep up with the pace with the growth of Fedeal spending....We are sacrificing the future for today........

The level of debt and deficts today will have to be addressed and I see no reasonable plan to do so, that is a significant problem in my view. I have realized president Bush or Congress has little reason or could care less about bringing spending under control...

There are many good reasons to run a deficits but not at the level we have managed to do over the past six years...The growth of Gov't continues to outpace any reasonable measure and includes entitilements, pork barrel projects, etc........

The current use of the taxpayers money and resources is really shameful...I hope we will start to address these issues or our society will pay a big price down the road!