A hypothetical IMF loan to the US.

[merrylander]

All of that did not start with Reagan, most of the improvement in living conditions started after WW II with the GI Bill getting us into the technology forefront. People were building larger houses before he took office.

Only reason we have AC is because right now the Heat Pump is keeping the lousy wet 46 degree temps outside. When it get hotter we reverse it.

We need another Reagan like we need a round of the bubonic plague.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Fast_Eddie

Good post Chas,

I certainly tend to agree that Keynesian economics seemed to be doing a pretty good job keeping thing moving along. Sure, there were good times and bad. But the current situation started with the massive deregulation in the 80s and in the admittedly brief time we've traveled this road things seem to be considerably less stable. I don't think it's a huge leap to say "maybe we should revisit that". One thing does seem quite clear- the assumption that markets and corporations will "self regulate" in a more open environment seems to have been incorrect. Reagan was just wrong. It didn't work. But the great tax lie is so strong we'll have a very difficult time getting people of a different mind back in office. "We need to be responsible with our money" is the exact line that kept Republicans *out* of power for so long. Now they've abandoned it entirely and instead promise everything under the sun.

Well, maybe Hu Jintao will figure it all out for down the road a bit.

Good Day Comrade!

Ed

Well, we're all Fabians now. It's the only game in town.

For good or for bad.

Chas

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by Twodogs

Exactly Pete, the "middle class" today has things light years better than they did 50 years ago. My Dad was a Union guy and made a decent living, but we never had two cars, central air, etc.. I wish another "Regan" would emerge from the Republican Party and save this country again. I'm afraid though, that Obama has done more permanent damage in 10 months than Carter did all told.

It surprises me that most of us take for granted that 'things aren't better'. I think it helps the politicans that say it. All these folks blaming Reagan when the Obama-led Congress just porked out a tril - when we're broke! Great avatar btw

Originally Posted by merrylander

All of that did not start with Reagan, most of the improvement in living conditions started after WW II with the GI Bill getting us into the technology forefront. People were building larger houses before he took office.

Only reason we have AC is because right now the Heat Pump is keeping the lousy wet 46 degree temps outside. When it get hotter we reverse it.

We need another Reagan like we need a round of the bubonic plague.

It didn't start with him, but certainly continued which means even more considering the state of things when he took office.

The weather's been terrible this fall! It was 35 miserable wet degrees outside on the way in.

I linked a sf graph for those interested, all talk aside it tells the real story of our growing wealth over time:

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_detai...ontentID=80051

Pete

PS: SF grew more during Reagan than Clinton

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

It surprises me that most of us take for granted that 'things aren't better'. I think it helps the politicans that say it. All these folks blaming Reagan when the Obama-led Congress just porked out a tril - when we're broke! Great avatar btw

Are things better now or are they different now?

Has our standard of living increased as much as other countries?


Without Ray-gun we would not have needed a trillion to save the economy.
Just a fact guys.

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by noonereal

Are things better now or are they different now?

Has our standard of living increased as much as other countries?


Without Ray-gun we would not have needed a trillion to save the economy.
Just a fact guys.

Without Madison we wouldn't need a trillion in pork to save the economy? Taylor? I blame G. Washington.

Pete

[Charles]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Without Madison we wouldn't need a trillion in pork to save the economy? Taylor? I blame G. Washington.

Pete

Don't forget all of the money that Lincoln spent on an illegal war.

Chas