Comments about ‘Feeling grumpy? Smattering of signs suggests national angst bottoming out’

American's prominent market economy is dependent on individual consumer spending decisions often manipulated for good or bad by billions of dollars of marketing advertisements as opposed to other countries less dependent on such market activity though this is changing somewhat. The socialist countries focus on necesseary goods and services that must be maintained and usually are maintained through a stable, sizeable individual taxes and government work, more immune to consumer spending.

The American market and the value of the dollar is remarkable a subjective, psychological value, its whatever the consumer is willing to buy it for. With the housing market in a tale-spin, a major source of stable real estate value has been destroyed. Stock market, an artificial human design of value, rises and falls also on human emotional guess work as to their worth based on imagined consumer demand and supply - its almost a magical event.

To base value on a market economy where the American consumer (many times uninformed) can be so manipulated by corporate businesses is a risky way to maintain an economy. We are seeing the results.

The slight recovery on wall street only means that it has begun to restablize and weeded out the major corruption and misadventures wall street has been generating for decades. Consumers have decided that save and spend is more to their needs and that using credit as income is not the wisest way to live. Consumers do not have expendable income anymore becasue business has forced consumers to wage levels that are well below poverty levels. Then business has been and still does use government assistance programs to supplement low wage jobs. Consumers have also decided that they don't need new cars every 1-3 years or keep what they have for longer periods of time. The throwaway consumers have learned that items have more usefull life and that personal needs are more necessary than corruptive borrowing. They are learning that having a few dollars in their pocket makes them feel good and spend less. They keep the credit cards in their wallets where they belong. Perhaps some new and better consumer laws are in order so they aren't left holding the bag and forced in to bankruptcy by debt.

Ridiculous that "hope" and "smiles" will pay our bills and 3 trillion national debt that Obama has racked-up in the first 100 days of his Presidency. The piper will need to be paid, the chickens will come home to roost and hyperinflation will set in, and then, unfortunately, all of the words of hope and 'yes we can" and smiling in the mirror just won't cut it. Time for common sense values of reducing size and cost of government and cutting taxes and empowering individuals; not feeding the beast of bloated federal government and control over our lives.

It's really galling for those of us old enough to remember Ronald Reagan and his optimism that helped guide the nation back to a booming recovery after 1992 -- that he was ruthlessly criticized by the liberal leftist media as being "out of touch" and "not grounded in reality." Now with Obama's "yes we can," and "hope," according to this article, that is a key part of a viable economic recovery strategy?? Oh, puhleeeze. The media's hypocricy is galling. I wish big smiley faces would pay my monthly bills. At least Reagan's policies led to paring down of government bureaucracy. The current buzz is all a distraction from Obama's real agenda of instituting socialism, bigger government, higher taxes and loss of individual control for all of us.

Obama's big HOPE from his campaign has now become a "faint glimmer". How the mighty have fallen,

Only 45 more months to Nobama day.

re mourning in America.

empowering the individual? New Orleans looks the same now as it did two years ago. NGO's are sending aid to 3rd world country USA... what are you talking about? The GWB legacy is poverty and international ridicule.

Obamas visibility IS helping the economy. For one, it demonstrates to the world America has a president now that CAN speak whole sentences, that wants to build rather than stomp about like a ranting three year-old.

Dear leadership ; the problem with New Orleans can't be helped with more government spending. We have appropriated over 2 billion dollars for Katrina clean up activities. We've rebuilt their hospitals, homes and roads. They've rec3evied more of our tax dollars after a disaster percentage wise than anywhere in US history. And to re-build below sea level!! You don't know what you're talking about. The problem with Louisiana was their Democratic Governor, Blanco, who was a total incompetent and removed from office the next chance that came. She wouldn't approve emergency declaration in advance of the storm! This blaming of George W. BUSH seems to be a mental disorder among some people who obsess about him. Why should we care what 3rd world countries think about the US? Obama went overseas last week and portrayed WEAKNESS and "Blame the US First" mentality. It's a return to the tired old Democratic play book of malaise and actually caring about what the United Nation demigogs think. As far as stomping and ranting like a 3-year old, when did that ever occur? Name one specific example?

It was the worst of times...

Where have you gone President Reagan ... a nation turns it's lonely eyes to you. We look forward to again rewarding productivity (lower taxes, less socialism & less government). We look forward to a "change" for the better -- a better president, a better congress, a better government and much better rewards for good, honest, productive contributions.

It can become the best of times.

"Has the angst bottomed out?"

No.

Whine and complain whine and complain, beat the same drum that lost us the elections. maybe someone will finally buy into our false rhetoric that has lost us the last two elections.