US Presidential Election Quiz

[Jim Craik]

I was just looking at the historical data....."post war"--after 1945--Republicans have held the White House for 36 years, Democrats have held the White House 28 (not counting Obama, I mean, he may not make it past today if an ex-friend has his way).

Admitting that each president has probably managed both positive and negative accomplishments, it looks like we can blame our current problems 43.75% on the Democrats and 56.25% on the Republicans.

Strange considering all the brouhaha over the Democratic handling of the economy and other issues, no :stunned: ?

I think the Dems handling of the economy has been good!

I know they took a lot of heat for the "bail out" and "stimulus" plan, and our consirvitive friends would have let the banks, brokerage, and auto companys fail, just like the "Great Herbert Hoover".

In 1929 Hoover refusd to help the banks and refused to help Wall Street and the entire economy collapsed!!!!

Its easy to criticize the government spending, but without it do you really think the economy/market would be coming back so quickly??? Of course not!!!

You do know that most of the "bail out" money has been repaid with interest? Probably not as that sort of thing is not covered on Fox.

 

[Garry]

Jim,
You need to check your history. BushII was the author of the stimulus plan. For what its worth, it probably helped for the short term, but it is not doing anything to correct the cause of the problem. Obama is on the right track in trying to restore parts of the Glass-Stegal Act...seperation of banks from hedge fund gamblers. Even the Federal Reserve is behind a plan to reign in these guys.

Let's not forget Jimmy Carter's great economic programs, which Reagan inherited. The question to ask is were you better off at the end of his two terms. Most Americans will say they were. He set the stage for the economic growth of the 1990's.

Congrss is the real culprit in all of the messes in the past. Bad laws, inept oversight, greed, payola, and an atmosphere of selling out to the highest bidder is the root of evil. That applies to Dem's and Republicans...they share the blame. Western democracies are the tools of special interests and their money or votes...a growing problem in all western democracies.

Garry

 

[Dave Wood]

I think the Dems handling of the economy has been good!

I know they took a lot of heat for the "bail out" and "stimulus" plan, and our consirvitive friends would have let the banks, brokerage, and auto companys fail, just like the "Great Herbert Hoover".

In 1929 Hoover refusd to help the banks and refused to help Wall Street and the entire economy collapsed!!!!

Its easy to criticize the government spending, but without it do you really think the economy/market would be coming back so quickly??? Of course not!!!

I don't listen to Fox and I am far from a conservative( at least within the current labeling system), but I would have let them fail. When they were rolling in the $$$ the didn't need or want any help....so screw them. I am also surprised that there is the characterization that the economy/markets are rebounding...I doubt it. I think it is some of the greedy traders that lost money hiking it and then cashing in to take some returns and then re-hiking it. All in an effort to recoop some of their losses from stupidity. I wouldn't have bailed out Chrysler or Harley either. Explain to me...How.. the economy is bouncing back when the basis of it is production and corporate value?? All the corporations are still worth nothing, housing is still over inflated, locally houses are barely selling. Unemployment is still rising. I don't care if they said that the number of new unemployment applicants was the lowest last month, let me know when they are employed again. All that said was that we are about to the end of the cutbacks. That is a long way from recovery. Much like the GT40/Cobra/any diversion is a buyer's market. Personally the market has been over valued for a decade or longer and the collapse of so much manufacturing can't make it MORE valuable. When it hits 5000 or so it will probably be about right. A lot more will take a hit and more of it will be from the govt. to pay for their longtime follies. Interestingly, you will notice in this time of economic problems when CEOs are being asked to take pay cuts or even no salary...the Politicians don't seem to think it is important for them to do similarly. For every,raise,benefit or perk they received because they feel they "improved" the economy ought to be stripped as the economy takes the tumble. Let them eat dirt.

 

[Jim Craik]

Garry,

Of course you are correct, although I remember both Obama and McCain working with BushII to get them past. Additionally the right wing media and Tea Baggers would have you belive it was all Obama.

 

[Jack]

+1 Garry..

 

[Jim Craik]

Dave,

The Dow is up 50%+ over the last year.

At least in my area real estate values are up over the last six months.

 

[Doug S.]

You do know that most of the "bail out" money has been repaid with interest? Probably not as that sort of thing is not covered on Fox.

Right you are, Jim....I absolutely refuse to tune to Fox News, it has lost all credibility with me as it became the self-appointed opposition to the Obama administration. They have become more "editorial" than "informational", IMHO.

As for the banks repaying the TARP $$, I'd like to present this opinion:

The banks borrowed OBSCENE amounts of $$ from the government when the mortgage market failed, that hasn't been that long ago. While the intent of the government was for the banks to stimulate the economy by turning around and making loans available, the banks instead just put the $$ into their coffers to ensure that their bottom line was black instead of red. They continued to pay their executives absolutely unbelievable bonuses. Now, a year later, it seems that their profits have been so incredibly high that they have been able to afford to pay back the large TARP loans, complete with interest, and still have enough $$ left over to continue paying those excessive bonuses. Some say the banks don't get it (I agree with that), but I would also propose that the American Public doesn't get it.....to make that much profit in a 12 month period means the banking industry is making WAAAAAY too much profit. We need banking reform (I know, it's suppose to take effect in February) to limit the amount of $$ the banking industry can bilk out of the public. I find it interesting the "creative" methods the banking industry has devised in order to get their hooks into the public even deeper before the new regulations take effect. The American Public should be outraged with the banking industry AND with the politicians that allowed them the lag-time to enable the banking industry to gouge the public even further.

I, for one, would have liked to see the government allow more banks to fail during this "recession". A few bankers throwing themselves out of 3rd floor windows again might have just been poetic justice in light of the unethical manner in which the banking industry has satisfied its greed!

Just IMHO.......

Doug

 

[Jack]

Right on!

 

[Jim Craik]

I, for one, would have liked to see the government allow more banks to fail during this "recession". A few bankers throwing themselves out of 3rd floor windows again might have just been poetic justice in light of the unethical manner in which the banking industry has satisfied its greed!

Doug, you have a point, although over 172 banks have failed!

I am afraid any meaningful bank regulations stand little chance against our current Congress, particularly after the most recent Supreme Court ruling.

 

[Dave Wood]

Dave,

The Dow is up 50%+ over the last year.

At least in my area real estate values are up over the last six months.

Really...it was much higher before it collapsed and the collapse was indicative of how over valued EVERYTHING ( especially politicians) was. If it wasn't indicative of value and soundness at that time...what has changed to make it not overvalued now. Major industries are cutting back/failing, GM has cut several brands...and they don't have enough sales in the remaining brands to cover that hemorrage of employment or production. Not to speak of the assets that they would rather let die than get any return from, sounds like the same mentality that created the problem to me. If I am incorrect, well it will make no difference...because I will act as I always have,responsibly. I don't and never will, buy anything I feel is overpriced. I have walked away from literally thousands of deals because they wanted more than, whatever it is, was worth. I have no debt and all my properties are paid in full because I also don't care for long term debt that escalates the value even higher. If many of those 'underwater" had practiced a similar discretion..they would be on the beach instead of underwater. I have no money to speak of, but I owe nothing, I prefer it that way. With the govt. on a continual spending spree, I am likely one of those they will find a way to tax. Tax me because I wasn't foolish enough to buy a new house ever few years at a constantly inflating value, or indebt myself for a new car/truck/boat/anything I can't afford. There are many that might want to consider that philosophy. It has served me well for over 40 years with several economic recessions that didn't phase me at all.
I didn't vote for either of the crooks that were on the 2 major tickets...and I am not a teabagger either. I am sick and tired of our "representatives" living like an aristocracy. I'm pretty certain that was never the founders intention.