How did it happen

[Buzz]

If you will remember when unemployment under Clinton was 5.7% it was considered full employment but when it was 4.6% under Bush it was massive unemployment. Unemployment under Clinton averaged 4.8% and under Bush until 2008 it was averaging 4.7%. The largest layoffs in US history since the Depression occurred during the Clinton Administration. We maybe up for some massive layoffs this year so that W will take that title from Clinton.

Clinton gets a lot of good press and when the GOA numbers fro growth are adjusted to pre-Clinton calulation methods his numbers don't look as good.

The average over a period doesn't really tell the whole story as it relates to consumer sentiment. The unemployment trend has a lot more to do with how consumers are feeling. From their perspective, are things getting better or worse out there?

Look at the unemployment trend from 1989 until 2007. Things got progressively worse each year under Bush 41, then better each year under Clinton, then went back up during Bush 43.

http://www.miseryindex.us/URbyyear.asp?StartYear=1989&EndYear=2007

I still maintain that Clinton was just lucky in this regard, but it is what it is.

Consumer sentiment also got a MAJOR bucket of cold water from 9/11. Bush 43 has had a lot of unexpected crap come his way during his term.

[Guest mike45acp]

I think this is caused by teachers who are entitled to thier own views which are traditionally liberal but do not leave them at the door. All the kids hear is how good this guy is and how bad the other guy is without presenting any facts. It is a sad state of our educational system.

[DRM]

Just be thankful of one thing:

Regardless of youth activism prior to the election, VERY few of them actually make it to the polls on election day.

You know - a new World of Warcraft comes out that day, or they were hung over and slept in, or they just forgot...

[Guest Len]

That pretty much sums it up! +1.

It seems like this election cycle, Obama is the trendy choice. It seems that most want to be seen as being part of something that could change history. In the group of my friends and coworkers, I am definitely in the minority by having a conservative way of thinking. I honestly think that there are many younger voters who are saying that they are for Obama so that they are included in activities with the crowd, but come election day, their vote won't match their t-shirt.

[Guest Len]

Most economists regard anything at or under 5% unemployment "full employment" and anything over that as a significant number of unemployed. This is because there will always be people quitting, getting fired, not looking for work due to laziness, etc. It is also true that trends are probably more important than specific numbers at a specific time. Presidents get too much credit when times are good and too much blame when times are bad. The Federal Reserve has WAY more power over the economy than the President, unless he can get Congress to pass a really good or really bad bill.

The average over a period doesn't really tell the whole story as it relates to consumer sentiment. The unemployment trend has a lot more to do with how consumers are feeling. From their perspective, are things getting better or worse out there?

Look at the unemployment trend from 1989 until 2007. Things got progressively worse each year under Bush 41, then better each year under Clinton, then went back up during Bush 43.

http://www.miseryindex.us/URbyyear.asp?StartYear=1989&EndYear=2007

I still maintain that Clinton was just lucky in this regard, but it is what it is.

Consumer sentiment also got a MAJOR bucket of cold water from 9/11. Bush 43 has had a lot of unexpected crap come his way during his term.

[Guest Dean_JC78]

I see 3 pillars which are the cause. Education, News Media, and Entertainment Media. All 3 are in the tank for the Democrats and Obama in particular. With that sort of bombardment it is hard not to be swayed, especially if you are not very educated in the issues. As they grow up they will learn about the real world and come to see the light... at least many will.

The good thing about most of those kids though is they are flakes amd tend to not turn out to vote. The longer this all draws out, the more Obama is old news and an after thought to these kids. Especially now that he is predicted to win big, many of them might stay home not feeling the sense of urgency which can carry Cain.

When I think of how much the youth supports the DNC it reminds me of a quote by Ron Maximus "How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin." I think as kids they might read Marx but as they get older, they will come to understand it.

[K191145]

I have yet to see a McCain sticker anywhere on campus at Vandy...

Because the few that support McCain know their car would probably get vandalized there by Obama supporters. Tell me that ain't the truth.

[Oh Shoot]

I wonder why so many of our youth are for Obama....

Hey, I grew up with "don't trust anyone over 30" !!

Now that I'm sixty, I don't trust anyone over 70 !

- OS