Dear President Obama, DON'T RUN AGAIN.

[Sibirsky]

Why do you assume there would be a global collapse and the Worst Economic Depression?

Recovery would be organic, and much quicker. Government is slowing down the process.

Because that's what happened in Japan, except that Japan's economy isn't as big as ours.

So, the solution is to try the exact same policies as Japan?

[The Black Forrest]

Because that's what happened in Japan, except that Japan's economy isn't as big as ours.

So, the solution is to try the exact same policies as Japan?

What we are moving loan rates to zero?

[Gravlen]

So the Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman writes this piece about Obama's reelection campaign:

It seems that now his own hometown paper is saying DON'T RUN.

I haven't read the thread, but just to pick your nit:

The Chicago Tribune isn't saying Obama shouldn't run, Mr. Chapman is. You got it right the first time.

Also, unless the Democrats can find a miracle candidate, Obama is their best shot this time around.

[Dimoniquid]

It's ironic - the people who voted for him actually believed he could commit change. However, now, they want him out. Make a fucking choice, people.

[GeneralHaNor]

Because we know how the "Boom/Bust" cycle works, we had some boom, and we've been delaying the bust so long that it's threatening to rip a hole in the fabric of space time.

Essentially, the collapse of the housing market, plus the loss of medium wage jobs has lead to a situation where the Middle Class (the engine of the consumer economy) who had all their wealth stashed in their house and large loans against that property, are now upside down on their mortgage's. With their job aspects bleak (9.2% unemployment for the foreseeable future) most of which are low wage jobs, they won't be building wealth or spending anytime soon, there is no recovery to look forward to. just people taking every dime they make to keep the roofs over their head, while their children delay college to enter the workforce like the rest of the working poor.

The only difference being, at least they still have their Nice houses, and those Nice cars, that they'll be stuck in until they retire.

Only good news here, is that with so many foreclosures, the poor might actually be able to buy housing, if they can get a loan.

Thank the government for providing improper incentives.

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

[GeneralHaNor]

Because we know how the "Boom/Bust" cycle works, we had some boom, and we've been delaying the bust so long that it's threatening to rip a hole in the fabric of space time.

Essentially, the collapse of the housing market, plus the loss of medium wage jobs has lead to a situation where the Middle Class (the engine of the consumer economy) who had all their wealth stashed in their house and large loans against that property, are now upside down on their mortgage's. With their job aspects bleak (9.2% unemployment for the foreseeable future) most of which are low wage jobs, they won't be building wealth or spending anytime soon, there is no recovery to look forward to. just people taking every dime they make to keep the roofs over their head, while their children delay college to enter the workforce like the rest of the working poor.

The only difference being, at least they still have their Nice houses, and those Nice cars, that they'll be stuck in until they retire.

Only good news here, is that with so many foreclosures, the poor might actually be able to buy housing, if they can get a loan.

Thank the government for providing improper incentives.

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

[Sibirsky]

So, the solution is to try the exact same policies as Japan?

What we are moving loan rates to zero?

Stimulus plans. And the Fed funds rate.

[Ridicularia]

Because that's what happened in Japan, except that Japan's economy isn't as big as ours.

So, the solution is to try the exact same policies as Japan?

No, Japan continued government spending to artificially boost demand for a time, staving off the deeper depression, but without a full recovery. Eventually, the public and the government got tired of it, and cut spending. Japan then fell into its lost decade as the country returned to recession, and is only recently emerging.

[Sibirsky]

Thank the government for providing improper incentives.

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

Their solutions are worse than the problems.

[Sibirsky]

So, the solution is to try the exact same policies as Japan?

No, Japan continued government spending to artificially boost demand for a time, staving off the deeper depression, but without a full recovery. Eventually, the public and the government got tired of it, and cut spending. Japan then fell into its lost decade as the country returned to recession, and is only recently emerging.

No. The lost decade was full of deficit spending.

[Prubenia]

All presidents have a hard job

[Sibirsky]

Thank the government for providing improper incentives.

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

[Trotskylvania]

Just because someone doesn't believe in you fundamentalist, absolutist conception of economics doesn't mean they are illiterate.

Holy Celestia, I agree with Trotskylvania. Trotskylvania!!
But yeah, Ron Paul is batshit insane. A biblebashing isolationist überlibertarian who only cares about the US. No thanks.

You'll find I am a very agreeable person.

[Keronians]

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

Alright, so you like Ron Paul.

What parts of his policies do you like? I imagine that you aren't too hot on his social policies, right?

[Keronians]

No, Japan continued government spending to artificially boost demand for a time, staving off the deeper depression, but without a full recovery. Eventually, the public and the government got tired of it, and cut spending. Japan then fell into its lost decade as the country returned to recession, and is only recently emerging.

No. The lost decade was full of deficit spending.

They were the first ones to ever use quantitative easing, IIRC.

[GeneralHaNor]

Oh I do, trust me on that, this is entirely their fault

However in this case, I'm gonna let them "fix it" in much the same way you demand that someone who wrecked your car pay for the repairs., Or demand that a child clean up after itself.

I honestly believe we don't have the individual capital to handle this problem, I certainly don't.

Again, I'm not arguing with you, I agree.
However I am personally unwilling and indeed unable to bear the alternative at this time, the solution is of course bad, the alternative (long-term market correction) is worse (only in the short term)

[Ridicularia]

No, Japan continued government spending to artificially boost demand for a time, staving off the deeper depression, but without a full recovery. Eventually, the public and the government got tired of it, and cut spending. Japan then fell into its lost decade as the country returned to recession, and is only recently emerging.

No. The lost decade was full of deficit spending.

At various points, true, but it's complicated. Actually, here's a good link to a presentation by Richard Koo about the Japan's lost decade and its relation to the current US recession.

EDIT: damn link.

[California Terra Prime]

Not so much. If they were, the traditional democratic special interests (unions, civil/human rights groups, ect.) would be HAPPY about his policies, which they are NOT. Hell, in 2008 the banking sector was his biggest contributors and they were so happy with his policies that they have since then donated about 90% of their political contributions to the GOP, and talk about him like he is the devil

People change their minds. And his policies get watered down by the rest of the Democrats and the GOP.

That makes NO sense

If he did the bankers' bidding, they wouldn't be throwing all their money at the republicans, that should be simple to understand
If the republicans helped water down his "pro-corporate" policies, then the corporations wouldn't be backing the GOP
If he was a slave to the big money interests, he wouldn't be described as "anti-business" by the right
If he was a union stooge, why not try to pass EFCA back when it polled well and dems had supermajorities in both houses?

[Minnysota]

He'll LOSE the election.

So blame him for the weak state of the economy.

lol'd

[Lubyak]

I consider myself a libertarian, and I tend to lean towards the Republican Party....and the problem is that right now? The far right is on the upswing. People like Michelle Bachmann (who's thankfully practically a dead candidate now) and Perry are relying far too much on supercharging the Republican base rather than appealing to the center. To be honest? They represent the part of the Republican Party I despise.

On the other hand, I'm currently supporting Huntsman, who seems the most moderate and sane of the Republican candidates. While part of me sympathizes with Ron Paul, I tend to disagree with him on foreign policy, and that's big enough that I'd rather vote for someone else.

In the end? Assuming someone like Huntsman or Johnson get the nomination, yes I'd prefer they win. If Bachmann or Perry get the nomination? Please don't leave Mr. President. I'd rather take 4 more years of Obama than 4 years of Perry or Bachmann.

[The Rich Port]

He'll LOSE the election.

So blame him for the weak state of the economy.

Funny joke is funny.

[Ashmoria]

So the Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman writes this piece about Obama's reelection campaign:

It seems that now his own hometown paper is saying DON'T RUN. Now I beg the question to NSG.
Opinion (to come in compliance): I don't care. He's not in my party. Let them fight it over.

Should the President keep running or should he RAGEQUIT?

mr chapman is wrong

the president has no reason not to run. he is more popular with his base than bill clinton was in '95. he has an extremely weak field of republicans running for their nomination.

mrs clinton would not do a better job.

but he should consider changing out vps. not because biden is bad at the job but because he is too old to run in '16. obama should consider putting andrew cuomo up instead.

[Galla-]

Yes. Republicans are batshit insane.

Ron Paul and Gary Johnson are not batshit insane.

Obama on the other hand, is economically illiterate.

This.

My vote is for Ron Paul tbh.

[Sibirsky]

Alright, so you like Ron Paul.

What parts of his policies do you like? I imagine that you aren't too hot on his social policies, right?

Most of them.

His social policies are better than the Democrat or GOP ones. Although, still too authoritarian.

Things I think that should be legal, the GOP wants to remain illegal. The Democrats want to let people vote for them, which means they remain illegal in many states.

While I agree with the Democrats that the government has no business telling people what they can or cannot do in the privacy of their own homes and bedrooms, I also think it is no business of peoples' neighbors to decide the same.

[Wilgrove]

What did they call that back in 2008? "Concern trolling?" Thinking that Clinton would have magiced away the problems is as stupid as thinking that Obama was going to be able to magic away our problems.

Bet you five bucks that Clinton would've gotten us the public option. Bet you five bucks that Clinton wouldn't have filled the Stimulus and Jobs bills with tax cuts. Bet you five bucks that when it comes to the Debt Ceiling debate, Clinton would play hard ball with the Republicans. Clinton has balls, Obama doesn't. When your country is in a political chaotic mess that it's in now, you don't need Fluttershy, you need Rainbow Dash.