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Originally posted by SignyM:
Auraptor's first stab at economic analysis was in another thread. That was where he laid his hands on the first positive statistic that came to hand Why... LOOK! Consumer confidence and consumer spending and home sales are up and unemployment is down! ... or words to that effect. I kept asking for a point by point discussion on economics because I predicted that consumer confidence would drop. I see that he evaded a rigorous discussion. I still would like one. Well, maybe in the next thread.

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Originally posted by AURaptor:
( Just more fuel for the economy which is on FIRE! )

U.S. Stocks Rise on Verizon Profit; S&P 500 Nears 5-Year High

May 2 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose as earnings from Verizon Communications Inc. exceeded analysts' forecasts, easing concern that higher interest rates may curb profit growth. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index reached an almost five-year high.

TXU Corp. led a rebound in utility shares as the largest Texas power producer said profit climbed on higher electricity prices. A drop in Treasury yields also boosted the group.

Emerson Electric Co., the world's biggest maker of power supplies for telecommunications systems, and Archer Daniels Midland Co., the No. 1 grain processor, joined Verizon in reporting results that topped Wall Street's expectations.

``We still keep seeing better-than-expected earnings,'' said Cummins Catherwood, who helps manage $800 million at Walnut Asset Management in Philadelphia. Companies such as Verizon and Emerson are ``posting some impressive stuff. That gives me encouragement about our economy.''

The S&P 500 added 7.46, or 0.6 percent, to 1312.65 at 2:18 p.m. in New York, the highest since May 21, 2001. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 74.76, or 0.7 percent, to 11,418.05. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 5.70, or 0.3 percent, to 2310.49.

Stocks reached their highs in early afternoon trading as Treasury yields fell to their lows on the day and a gain in oil prices lifted energy shares.

Almost two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Some 1.14 billion shares changed hands on the Big Board, in line with the same time a week ago.

Exceeding Forecasts

Better-than-expected reports have lifted the earnings growth rate for S&P 500 companies in the first quarter to 14.1 percent, from 13.6 percent a week ago, according to Merrill Lynch & Co. chief market analyst Mary Ann Bartels.

Stocks made up most of their declines from a day ago, when remarks attributed to Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke suggested the central bank may not pause its series of 15 straight interest rate increases soon.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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SignyM and Citizen - you simply want to argue facts because I'm the one pointing them out. I can't change the facts, but it's y'all who want to try. I was never closed to discussing the specifics, but that was never brought up.

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It's almost as though some WANT the economy to be bad, so they can find something else to blame Bush over, and there by follow their well ( in their own mind ) established template that Bush is the cause of all things bad in the world.

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It's beyond silly.

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I officially declare Auraptor's views on the economy as "road pizza".

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I officially declare Auraptor's views on the economy as "road pizza".- SignyM

AAAWWWWWwwwww ..... but I'm not done playing yet! You see, by keeping this bubbled up to the top, Unwrapped CAN'T post in RWE. He HAS to pretend he hasn't seen it and that that's why he's not responding. And - it works! Have you seen him here lately? Plus, I have to admit, this is a fun game, for me. I like playing with my food.- Rue

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Originally posted by rue:
As I mentioned before, I'm not here to convince Slick, Zero, Unwrapped or any of them.

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... whatever it takes to engage evil people every day. I read those posts and sit in silent wonder and awe at the things I can't mimic, but only appreciate.

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I like to set logic traps, probe the idiots to see whose right-wing response they're parroting now, check out which set of disinformation techniques they're willing to use (and get an idea of who's a professional, and who's a clumsy amateur), and things on that order.

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Careful now Rue. Too many more of your "nicknames" and people may start treating your posts like PN's.

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So people with dissenting (sic) opinions are evil and stupid?

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Maybe I should have just kept bumping the thread and taunting the other participant.

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Originally posted by rue:
The reason to keep bumping is that it works like bug repellant.

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Originally posted by rue:
Hey Unwrapped !

"WASHINGTON - The economy's growth in the second quarter was less than half that of the prior three months as consumers tightened their belts and spending on home building nose-dived. Inflation, however, shot up."

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Originally posted by rue:
Hey Unwrapped !

"WASHINGTON - The economy's growth in the second quarter was less than half that of the prior three months as consumers tightened their belts and spending on home building nose-dived. Inflation, however, shot up."

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Originally posted by citizen:

He's incapable of evaluating evidence, his only capable of having his opinion downloaded into his brain...

"Bush is my master, Bush is so great, Bush will tell me who I should hate."

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Originally posted by AURaptor:
Point of fact, I do agree that it's hard to evaluate evidence not given.

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Until you're willing to face up to the big boy numbers, keep your petty little ad hominems at bay.

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You haven't answered any of my questions, or anyone elses for that matter (hint, scroll up, they were made months ago before you went off for a sulk), so why should I, or anyone else answer yours?

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First of all, I started this thread w/ facts, a report on how well the economy is doing. Now, after almost 3 months since the original post, you want to claim some sort of victory because of one little slow down, as if that completely dismisses the great economic news from the past several years.

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Still no reply to my question, huh? I know, it's because you don't like that answer, and all that it implies.

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Originally posted by AURaptor:
"First of all, I started this thread w/ facts, a report on how well the economy is doing. Now, after almost 3 months since the original post, you want to claim some sort of victory because of one little slow down,"]

Didn't see date of original post, sorry. There is no question that the 5.6% growth during the first quarter was outstanding.

But regarding the meat of this discussion, isn't it possible that all of you are right?

The US economy has done reasonably well under Bush's stewardship. This doesn't mean that you or I are doing well, but corporate profits are. That is great news for stockholders and those who have capital to invest.

At the same time, real wage growth has been stagnant and the small gains reported have largely been eaten up by inflation. Current predictions (for what their worth) have inflation outpacing real wage gains this year (3.7% wages, 4.7% inflation).

So, the economy IS doing well and the gap between rich and poor IS growing. As is often the case, there is truth in both arguments.

Sources:

ECONOMIC REPORT (MARKETWATCH)
Wage growth weaker than thought in 2003-05
GDP revisions show labor getting less, capital getting more

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7B4D74A5E8-B42A
-4950-9377-513032E9F677%7D

(AP)
Wage increases seen struggling to outpace rising inflation

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/15157803.htm

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MORTGAGE CRISIS OVERHELMING CREDIT COUNSELORS

... Phones at credit counselors across the country are now ringing off the hook. The industrial heartland has been particularly hard-hit. Ohio had the highest number of home foreclosures in 2006, while neighboring Michigan and Indiana -- all sideswiped by the faltering U.S. auto industry -- were close behind.

Housing analysts predict between 1 million and 3 million U.S. homes will be foreclosed upon in 2007. Already a wave of defaults on subprime mortgages held by those with poor credit have caused a crisis in parts of the industry, and some economists believe a recession could result.

"We knew it was going to be bad, but we didn't think it would be this bad," said Britton, echoing many who warned that increasingly exotic mortgage programs -- including those that required no down payment on home purchases --would come back to haunt home buyers.

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Originally posted by citizen:
Not my problem if you don't understand how economies work, not my problem at all.

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
Ha, This from the guy who thinks that the economy is doing poorly because he doesn’t agree with the overlying economy philosophies in place.

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