Recession

[gtrpimp76]

The ONLY way they are going to be able to stop it is if they cut the price of gas! When the public sees a drop in fuel prices, then they will feel better about the economy and spend more money. I don't care how much they lower this, or lower that...I want fuel prices to drop, then I will be comfortable spending my money on other things!

EXACTLY!!

Why the slumping economy? Well, when Americans are forced to spend more in gas than they currently make income wise, they're gonna be forced to prioritize spending habits on necessities.

If gas prices went back down to $2/gal or less, that would EASILY help afford me the opportunity to spend more on other things...like mods and upgrades for the bike.

 

[shean1]

The ONLY way they are going to be able to stop it is if they cut the price of gas! When the public sees a drop in fuel prices, then they will feel better about the economy and spend more money. I don't care how much they lower this, or lower that...I want fuel prices to drop, then I will be comfortable spending my money on other things!

EXACTLY!!

Why the slumping economy? Well, when Americans are forced to spend more in gas than they currently make income wise, they're gonna be forced to prioritize spending habits on necessities.

If gas prices went back down to $2/gal or less, that would EASILY help afford me the opportunity to spend more on other things...like mods and upgrades for the bike.

The goverment cannot lower the price of gas becuase it does not set that price,the free market does. The government however does place hefty taxes which vary from state to state on every gallon.. To tell you the truth even if states and the fed stopped collecting so much tax per gallon, I do belive the gas companies themselves would just raise the price and collect additional "profit" left on the table when the taxes were removed.

Keep in mind that the demand for gas is only going up from here, not back down, mostly due to Asia and China's heavy demands. The days of $2.50 gas as well as $50 or $60 a barell oil are long gone.

 

[cosmo]

Cap,
Your personal observations may be correct for your geographic locale however, if you want to know how the restaurant is really doing you'll have to ask the owner about his actual receipts.
The traditional definition of recession is flat or negative growth for 2 consecutive quarters. The desperate/immediate moves by the Fed and the White House would indicate to me that they have seen the most recent numbers (as yet to be released/fudged) and made a determination that we are in trouble, possibly BIG trouble, and are taking action.

 

[shean1]

Cap,
Your personal observations may be correct for your geographic locale however, if you want to know how the restaurant is really doing you'll have to ask the owner about his actual receipts.
The traditional definition of recession is flat or negative growth for 2 consecutive quarters. The desperate/immediate moves by the Fed and the White House would indicate to me that they have seen the most recent numbers (as yet to be released/fudged) and made a determination that we are in trouble, possibly BIG trouble, and are taking action.

Excelent points cosmo... You can best beilve with the Feds rate cuts (and) talks of a stimulus packeage on BOTH side of the isle in congress you can best belive that they have forcasted economic info that all of these moves are based on..

Bottom line is things are going to get a little rougher in middle america before they get better. Here in NYC we tend to be be the last place for a real economic slow down to show, simply based of the outrageuos wealth apparent all around and sheer numbers of people..

 

[cosmo]

<div class="iF-Passage"><div class="QUOTEHEAD">Quote:[/Quote]<div class="QUOTE clearfix"><span class="quoteBegin"> </span>
Here in NYC we tend to be be the last place for a real economic slow down to show, simply based of the outrageuos wealth apparent all around and sheer numbers of people..[/quote]

We see it here on the left coast FIRST. Its been obvious, at least to me, for at least a year.

 

[bigoltool]

Building more refineries would help in the short term to lower the cost of petroleum distillates, but long term we really do need to face the facts that oil is not going to last forever. As it does run low we will inevitably be paying ever more for it as time goes by. You have to be a complete fool to not accept the fact that we are turning our planet into a greenhouse at best. If we could only get more people to ride motorcycles the problem would be that much simpler. The new bikes are faster, more economical and greener than ever so enjoy!

Something has got to be done to shore up the trade imbalance with China and others who use the US as a dumping ground for their worthless low cost crap, which inevitably winds up in our ever expanding landfills or makes our kids sick. China needs to step forth and take its place as a super power and share the responsibility with the rest of the global leaders instead of feeding off of the rest of the planet like a giant parasite. If you don't buy here you don't sell here.

Make all of the illegal aliens in the US Citizens or at least find a way to make them pay taxes like the rest of us. That alone would stop a lot of them from coming here in the first place. When I was in Mexico a few years ago I was talking to a local who told me that 10% of the population in Mexico pays 90% of the country's taxes. They don't pay taxes there and then they come here and don't pay them here either so we taxpayers bear the burden regardless of which country they are in.

Remember that we are in a war. I wish we weren't, but we are. Most of our elected officials voted for it and have since decided that it was just too much of a political liability to support it any longer leaving GW to burn for it. Bush is no genius but he is the dude driving the bus for now. The sooner we can get out of this one the better but I have simply not heard a rational way to do so without allowing the whole damned thing to implode once we leave and we will just be back in ten more years doing it all over again.

I most assuredly don' t have all of the answers but we sure as hell need to get somebody in office to at least start asking the right questions.

 

[cosmo]

<div class="iF-Passage"><div class="QUOTEHEAD">Quote:[/Quote]<div class="QUOTE clearfix"><span class="quoteBegin"> </span>
When I was in Mexico a few years ago I was talking to a local who told me that 10% of the population in Mexico pays 90% of the country's taxes[/quote]

About the same as it is here actually. Fact is there are millions of U.S. citizens who not only pay no income tax, they get a check in the mail (earned income credit). They will also be getting the "rebate" if/when it happens.

 

[Charlesbusa]

I don't think we can get gas to drop in price.  We get it cheaper than most already.  The problem I have with the price of gasoline is the record profits that the oil tycoons are making.  All the arguments about refineries and crap, a bunch of bullsh#t as long as they continue making billions in PROFITS.

Another thing that would help that hasn't been mentioned is stop printing soo much money!  Probably because of the war, but the treasury is printing out so much money from thin air that it has made the dollar almost worthless.  Just stop printing for a couple years.

And as far as the banks are concerned, fu#k them.  I refuse to feel sorry for the guys when they make over $2500+ a month on me alone.  The banks have plenty of money coming in and if they spent more than they can make, deal with it like the rest of us.

 

[WWJD]

I'm with the CAP on this one. I see new strip malls popping up all year long - even while traveling to various parts of the country - and businesses filling the new spots. same type of thing. until this progress comes to a dead stop, we're doing fine

 

[bigoltool]

I'm with the CAP on this one.  I see new strip malls popping up all year long - even while traveling to various parts of the country - and businesses filling the new spots.  same type of thing.  until this progress comes to a dead stop, we're doing fine

The problems are that in most areas no real industry is coming in. They are constantly being turned into retail outlets, restaurants or other such frivolity's but without industry how can an economy thrive? I always wanted to know how this was possible.

 

[SD1300]

I love it when they announce that gas is going up further... I particularly enjoy watching the soccer mom going around town in her 6500 lb suv that gets around 8 mpg. You know the one, they have the little white stickers on the back that represent the parents, 2 kids and a dog.

I have a neighbor that has 2 kids and they have a Nissan Armada, a Dodge pickup (a big one), and they are both not over 2 years old. AND he crys about the gas prices.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for folks that buy these things when they are trying to keep up the lifestyle image and don't really need them.

Perhaps we can ask Sean Penn to have Chavez lower the price of crude next time he's over there kissing his

. Then again, if he thinks it's so good over there let's ask him to stay.

  Sorry, I get carried away!!! I do believe it will get worse before it gets worser though~

 

[Charlesbusa]

As for the boarder, its time to line it with troops with orders to allow no one across who doesn't go through boarder crossing procedures.  Protect our country from possible terroists who can just walk accross and help the immigration problem at the same time.

Then make the illegals that are here already, pay taxes(become citizens) or get out.

 

[Charlesbusa]

<div class="iF-Passage"><div class="QUOTEHEAD">Quote:

<div class="QUOTE clearfix"><span class="quoteBegin"> </span>
When I was in Mexico a few years ago I was talking to a local who told me that 10% of the population in Mexico pays 90% of the country's taxes[/quote]

About the same as it is here actually. Fact is there are millions of U.S. citizens who not only pay no income tax, they get a check in the mail (earned income credit). They will also be getting the "rebate" if/when it happens.[/quote]
I'm all for reducing "help"(money given) to people who are living off the rest of us instead of paying into the system like the rest of us.

Get out and work, make some sacrifices, ...

 

[cosmo]

<div class="iF-Passage"><div class="QUOTEHEAD">Quote:[/Quote]<div class="QUOTE clearfix"><span class="quoteBegin"> </span>
I particularly enjoy watching the soccer mom going around town in her 6500 lb suv that gets around 8 mpg. You know the one, they have the little white stickers on the back that represent the parents, 2 kids and a dog. [/quote]

My favorite is the V-10 powered Ford Excursion with the "No Blood For Oil" bumper sticker.

 

[captain]

Someone tell me what the statistics show for what the percentage of the country is funded by small mom and pop businesses vs large companies... The last time that I saw that number it was overwhelmingly small business overshadowed the big businesses....

HELP !!

 

[cosmo]

What do you mean by "funded"? Direct tax revenue or total revenue (payroll tax etc.)?

 

[skoti]

Another thing that would help that hasn't been mentioned is stop printing soo much money!  Probably because of the war, but the treasury is printing out so much money from thin air that it has made the dollar almost worthless.  Just stop printing for a couple years.

The problem with this is that the bulk of the money that is brought into existance in a given year isn't printed money. It is loaned into existance. Banks are allowed to loan far more than they have on tap, and charge intrest on that money that was just created. There is no physical paper, gold or anything to back the money other than a promise to pay it back.

They would need to raise interest rates to curb borrowing. However, inflation it is not the only factor informing the Fed's decisions on interest rates. They are probably lowering interest rates to provide liquidity to the US financial markets and stave of a meltdown.

With that US dollar where it is and the fact that the Fed is lowering interest rates is a major sign of a financial crisis.

 

[runeight]

Just remember, any tax credit given to you is income you have to report next year.

Yup, taxed again on money you paid tax on already.


r8

Did you get the PM I sent you the other day?

Yes, and thanks again.

r8

 

[runeight]

You can forget about new refineries. Get rid of tree huggers and the bogus EPA then you might get something done.

I read somewhere that it would take 10 years alone just to push the paper work through the EPA for a new refinery. Oil companies are not going to waste the time building here. Even the old ones would cost to much to bring up to EPA specs.

r8

 

[cosmo]

The Indian tribes should think about getting into the refining business. After all, there are only so many gambling dollars to be chased but a non-stop demand for hydro-carbons.