I thought we were in the best economy ever?

[TLK Valentine]

The middle class IS earning a living wage. That's why they are the middle class.

They're not living on Gov't assistance or in a cardboard box because they're earning a living wage. Is that how we're measuring "the middle class"?

 

[hislegacy]

How about this one?

Job growth under Trump falls by 1.5 million from final Obama years

Not that this is anything to be ashamed of... Second place gets a silver medal; that still counts as "winning," right?

you mean after three years of exponential growth and near full employment? So much so that millions have come off food stamps?

c’mon, you’re better than that.

 

[TLK Valentine]

you mean after three years of exponential growth and near full employment? So much so that millions have come off food stamps?

c’mon, you’re better than that.

Are you?

Donald created almost as many jobs in his first three years as Obama did in his last three. In terms of job growth, Donald is almost as good as Obama...

Any other president would take that as a compliment.

 

[hislegacy]

Are you?

Donald created almost as many jobs in his first three years as Obama did in his last three. In terms of job growth, Donald is almost as good as Obama...

Any other president would take that as a compliment.

PBLLLT...…. It was Obama's regulations that Trump removed that caused the unemployment rate to drop to a 50 year low - It was Obama's taxes on industry the Trump removed that cause the repatriation of trillions of dollars - It was Obama's regulations the Trump's 'magic wand' removed and brought 400,000 manufacturing jobs back to the US - It was Obama's foreign policies, that Trump renegotiated that has resulted in NATO nations paying billions more for their defense, instead of the US. it was the Obama regulations that Trump removed that resulted in the middle class and lower wages to come from being stagnate to growing by 3%.

Very few people still believe that everything wrong during the Obama administration was Bush's fault and everything right in this administration are because of Obama's actions. People are waking up to the reality of today.

 

[rjs330]

People don't want to be poor. They want to work. It is never their own fault if they are unable to work at the places nearby that are hiring. If someone is able to do a job that is available near home, great, and it is a blessing. But only evil people can blame poor adults who want living wage jobs and cannot get them for a variety of reasons outside their control. These include where they live, inability to afford college after high school, physical limitations, a lack of job training services in the county, and city infrastructure. Also, if an employer is hiring for a part-time position but has no full-time jobs available, does it really count as good for the employee or just better than nothing? I vote for the latter.

Some don't care. But I agree that most don't want to be poor. But after working with the poor for 34 years this is what I've discovered about the poor. There is a huge variety of reasons people are poor.
1. Disabilities- this is no fault of their own.
2. Bad choices- this is their fault. This has great variety, any where from drug abuse to just plain being irresponsible. This also covers people with a lack of drive or motivation.
3. Lack of talent- again this is not their fault. Not everyone can be a doctor or an engineer. Some people just don't have the talent to perform jobs that pay better. It's not their fault in anyway.
4. Bad location- This is not their fault either. Sometimes your are just born in a bad spot that doesn't have many jobs. Small town USA without any opportunities. This however can turn into your fault. These days anyone can go to college and get a degree which will help.them get a job that is at least middle class. Unless of course you don't have the talent to do so. These people are in a bad spot, with little talent and little to no opportunities. Sometimes being in a bad spot has a bigger problem in that it's a societal issue and not just bad luck. The area may not have opportunity because of societal problems.

These are the biggest reasons I've seen why people are poor.

 

[hislegacy]

I apologize if this sounds rude, but neither of those assertions are accurate.

And how about this one? It was not addressed.

 

[GodLovesCats]

These days anyone can go to college and get a degree which will help.them get a job that is at least middle class.

How in the world did you miss my explanation why this is not true?

 

[GodLovesCats]

Very few people still believe that everything wrong during the Obama administration was Bush's fault and everything right in this administration are because of Obama's actions. People are waking up to the reality of today.

Very many people know for a fact George Bush caused employers to cut thousands of employees during a financial disaster during his second term and Barack Obama brought them back. The Great Recession was at its lowest point in 2008, but that was not when it started. All of the problems happened under Bush. In 2009, Obama not only started undoing the damage, but also raised the federal minimum wage. Nobody is seeing Donald Trump reverse economic problems caused by Obama. The reality is Barack Obama inherited the worst financial crisis in 80 years and Trump inherited a good economy.

 

[TLK Valentine]

PBLLLT...…. It was Obama's regulations that Trump removed that caused the unemployment rate to drop to a 50 year low - It was Obama's taxes on industry the Trump removed that cause the repatriation of trillions of dollars - It was Obama's regulations the Trump's 'magic wand' removed and brought 400,000 manufacturing jobs back to the US - It was Obama's foreign policies, that Trump renegotiated that has resulted in NATO nations paying billions more for their defense, instead of the US. it was the Obama regulations that Trump removed that resulted in the middle class and lower wages to come from being stagnate to growing by 3%.

Very few people still believe that everything wrong during the Obama administration was Bush's fault and everything right in this administration are because of Obama's actions. People are waking up to the reality of today.

And Donald had to do all this to do almost as well as Obama. Why can't he and his followers be happy?

I certainly don't blame Donald for being second best... his predecessor's success is a tough act to follow, and Donald's done a decent enough job of building on it... so far.

Sure, now his economic numbers are beginning to sag, but I'm sure that's nothing to worry about... no winning streak lasts forever.

 

[rjs330]

That does not make the economy better if there are just more jobs, not more people earning living wages where they work.

Are more people living on less money now?

 

[GodLovesCats]

Are more people living on less money now?

The cost of living keeps rising and the minimum wage is not catching up.

Remember what Bernie Sanders said at the 2016 DNC: "Let's make minimum wage LIVING wage!"

 

[hislegacy]

Some don't care. But I agree that most don't want to be poor. But after working with the poor for 34 years this is what I've discovered about the poor. There is a huge variety of reasons people are poor.

Let's look:

1. Disabilities- this is no fault of their own.

Totally agree.

2. Bad choices- this is their fault. This has great variety, any where from drug abuse to just plain being irresponsible. This also covers people with a lack of drive or motivation.

Totally agree - I don't think that anyone should support or enable such actions. I believe there should be some type of incentivized system for them to take charge of their lives and change it. We have been working with the homeless for quite a while, we are involved in a program where meals and clothing are provided. I've seen both ends of the equation - some have stayed for years and others take advantage of the help and a number have come out and are living a normal lifestyle.

3. Lack of talent- again this is not their fault. Not everyone can be a doctor or an engineer. Some people just don't have the talent to perform jobs that pay better. It's not their fault in anyway.

I completely disagree that lack of talent is not someone's fault - Talent is what you learn and practice. my grand parents and parents came to the US not knowing English, my grandparents were farmers, my grandfather could write his name and that is about it. He had zero talent. His drive and motivation landed him a position as a day laborer on a construction crew, within a couple years he was supervising crews. Another example is you would entertain it: In the early 80's we sponsored a couple families from Ukraine to come to the US - they had very little talent when it came to what's needed in the US. Their drive and ambition had them start several businesses including a house keeping service that is not a 2,000,000 a year business handling office buildings.

Talent is what you make of it - you are 100% in charge of what you do. They are not doctors or engineers, but they make good livings.

4. Bad location- This is not their fault either. Sometimes your are just born in a bad spot that doesn't have many jobs. Small town USA without any opportunities. This however can turn into your fault. These days anyone can go to college and get a degree which will help.them get a job that is at least middle class. Unless of course you don't have the talent to do so. These people are in a bad spot, with little talent and little to no opportunities. Sometimes being in a bad spot has a bigger problem in that it's a societal issue and not just bad luck. The area may not have opportunity because of societal problems.

These are the biggest reasons I've seen why people are poor.

While you might be born in a bad location, at some point you have to take responsibility for you life. When I went to finish my degree I moved 1,200 miles away to do so. I had a job working at Arby's, 250.00 in cash and everything I owned fit into the back of my 12 year old car.

Let me add: IMHO - you want to see if someone is doing well - check their credit rating. My dad never made more than 30,000 a year in his lifetime and had a rating of 814. Mine is only 790, but I'm working on it. You would be amazed how many people make six figures and have a low credit rating - while making money, they are really poor.

 

[hislegacy]

And Donald had to do all this to do almost as well as Obama. Why can't he and his followers be happy?

LOL - in that one myopic view, yes he is. Feel better now?

Unfortunately in many other things Obama fails miserably. Except he was number one in putting people on food stamps - his loyal minions can shout about that also.

 

[hislegacy]

Very many people know for a fact George Bush caused employers to cut thousands of employees during a financial disaster during his second term and Barack Obama brought them back. The Great Recession was at its lowest point in 2008, but that was not when it started. All of the problems happened under Bush. In 2009, Obama not only started undoing the damage, but also raised the federal minimum wage. Nobody is seeing Donald Trump reverse economic problems caused by Obama. The reality is Barack Obama inherited the worst financial crisis in 80 years and Trump inherited a good economy.

And then Trump reversed most of the Obama regulations and made it the greatest economy.

 

[iluvatar5150]

you mean after three years of exponential growth and near full employment? So much so that millions have come off food stamps?

c’mon, you’re better than that.

pssst. All GDP growth is exponential, because math.

PBLLLT...…. It was Obama's regulations that Trump removed that caused the unemployment rate to drop to a 50 year low

Which regulations were those and when did they take effect? Because when I look at the unemployment numbers, I see a steady decline from 2010.

Civilian unemployment rate

- It was Obama's taxes on industry the Trump removed that cause the repatriation of trillions of dollars

Not "Obama's taxes":
United States Federal Corporate Tax Rate | 1909-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast

- It was Obama's regulations the Trump's 'magic wand' removed and brought 400,000 manufacturing jobs back to the US

What regulations were those and when did they go into effect? Because, again, I see a steady increase in manufacturing jobs since 2010, with a dip in 2016:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

it was the Obama regulations that Trump removed that resulted in the middle class and lower wages to come from being stagnate to growing by 3%.

I can't find data on lower-class wages right now, but middle class wages have been growing at least since 2014.

Employed full time: Median usual weekly nominal earnings (second quartile): Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over
Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over

Very few people still believe that everything wrong during the Obama administration was Bush's fault and everything right in this administration are because of Obama's actions. People are waking up to the reality of today.

Pretty much everything you said in this post is at least somewhat divorced from "the reality of today".

 

[TLK Valentine]

LOL - in that one myopic view, yes he is. Feel better now?

Truth ways makes me feel better.

Obama created a lot of jobs. Donald created almost as many. Good for both of them.

Unfortunately in many other things Obama fails miserably.

I'm sure we could sit down and think of a few things. I doubt we'd agree on them, but we'd think of them.

For example, Obama's way behind Donald when it comes to number of investigations into illegal activities. Number of associates caught lying to Congress about illegal activities is another one. Number of associates imprisoned for illegal activities, well, Donald's set a record that future GOP leaders will have to work hard to top... but I have faith in them.

And of course, call it as "fake" as he demands, but there's the impeachment. Donald's the first president in US history to have a vote to convict that was, while unsuccessful, bipartisan.

The first president in US history to get a "throw the crook out!" vote from his own party... Obama can't hold a candle to that one.

Except he was number one in putting people on food stamps - his loyal minions can shout about that also.

Well, a recession will do that, we can give it to him. Better to let them starve, and decrease the surplus population, I suppose.

 

[GodLovesCats]

And then Trump reversed most of the Obama regulations and made it the greatest economy.

Reversing Obama's policies could only make it worse.

 

[hislegacy]

Reversing Obama's policies could only make it worse.

if accurate, why did reversing them make it get better?

 

[iluvatar5150]

if accurate, why did reversing them make it get better?

You haven't demonstrated that it did.

 

[GodLovesCats]

if accurate, why did reversing them make it get better?

The idea Trump made it better is not accurate.

 

[hislegacy]

The idea Trump made it better is not accurate.

I already stated how it is.