Liberal Forum

• Bidenomics reflects the metrics used, but it doesn't reflect the hardships of most Americans. Most Americans don't see nor are they experiencing a great economy in their lives. 
• The corporations are seeing and experiencing it. The CEOs and other corporate powers are seeing and experiencing it. They get to eat the fruit. The people are cleaning up the peels and rotten cores. 

Political pundits are scratching their heads trying to figure out why so many people report that they are feeling economic hardship at a time when many of the standard economic measures are strong. By most traditional accounts, the U.S. economy is in excellent shape. But the average American’s confidence in the economy has been plunging to numbers not seen since 2008.Our research on organizing to advance big, transformative change teaches us two insights.First, we need to help people make sense of their world, not tell them what to think. That means listening closely to people’s experiences. If they’re afraid they can’t pay their bills, we need to help them make sense of that lived reality. That starts by taking that lived reality seriously, not just telling people things are fine.When we listen to people, it becomes clear that aggregate statistics no longer reflect the reality most people live in. Unemployment may be low, but if you can only find work at low wages and irregular hours, things aren’t fine. Inflation may be dropping, but if your paycheck no longer covers your rent (the way we measure inflation doesn’t adequately capture housing costs), things aren’t fine. If you’re two percent better off than last year, but you were on the edge of disaster last year, things aren’t fine.Second, extreme inequality and massive corporate power have led to a crisis. In times of rupture, when old systems are dying out or becoming unstable, we can’t rely on business as usual. We cannot rely on policymaking as the sole or even the main lever for change. For instance, raising minimum wages has helped a lot of people with their monthly bills–but without a union, employers can still cut your work hours, discipline you, or fire you unfairly. The Child Tax Credit had a huge impact on reducing child poverty–but as many low-income parents suspected, it was only a matter of time before it was taken away. Corporations have more power today than they’ve had for over 100 years–or perhaps ever, given the amount of wealth and resources they control. The rules of the game are still skewed in their favor. They’ve raised the prices of our basic goods because they can. They’ve limited our housing supply because they can. They’ve refused to comply with basic employment laws because they don’t have to. We need to be changing the rules of the game so that corporations don’t have the power to increase profits at the expense of people and the planet or influence politicians to do their bidding.Working people can take actions such as strikes or boycotts to upset the status quo. But importantly, the gains must then be institutionalized in ways that permanently redistribute power towards workers, consumers, and the environment. Wins can be institutionalized by winning collective bargaining agreements, changing laws, or enforcing existing laws. There are key examples of progress. In 2023, the United Auto Workers (UAW) showed how when workers take disruptive, surprising action together, they can win massive gains. The Inflation Reduction Act included new changes to tax law and the ability to enforce them. New rulings at the

RebelGator » 05 Apr 2024, 10:14 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 10:14 am

Too long, they struggle with two words.

Democrats suck.

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 10:21 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 10:21 am

Especially @R. Suave  . 

Watch this: He will strike through everything. Follow up with a question where the answer is in the same material that he striked through. Thereby, making an *** out of himself...again.

Bidencrimefamily » 05 Apr 2024, 11:03 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:03 am

Americans will learn.that there economy is better under a democrat than republucan always. 

Democrats have created 96% of the jobs thos century.

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 11:09 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:09 am

Did CNN tell you to think that? Or was it Rachel Madcow?

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 11:09 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:09 am

Did CNN tell you to think that? Or was it Rachel Madcow?

sootedupCyndi » 05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am

Bingo!

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am

They are such sheep. They are even proud of it.

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:34 am

They are such sheep. They are even proud of it.

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 9:27 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 9:27 am

I know you progressives can't stand reading anything that conflicts with your narrow view of the world, so I'll break it down for you: 

• Bidenomics reflects the metrics used, but it doesn't reflect the hardships of most Americans. Most Americans don't see nor are they experiencing a great economy in their lives. 
• The corporations are seeing and experiencing it. The CEOs and other corporate powers are seeing and experiencing it. They get to eat the fruit. The people are cleaning up the peels and rotten cores. 

Ok? Now shut up. 

https://fortune.com/2024/01/08/narrativ ... s-economy/

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 9:27 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 9:27 am

I know you progressives can't stand reading anything that conflicts with your narrow view of the world, so I'll break it down for you: 

• Bidenomics reflects the metrics used, but it doesn't reflect the hardships of most Americans. Most Americans don't see nor are they experiencing a great economy in their lives. 
• The corporations are seeing and experiencing it. The CEOs and other corporate powers are seeing and experiencing it. They get to eat the fruit. The people are cleaning up the peels and rotten cores. 

Ok? Now shut up. 

https://fortune.com/2024/01/08/narrativ ... s-economy/

*rippy38 » 05 Apr 2024, 11:42 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:42 am

Bidenomics is a classic example of "it looks good on paper, but sucks in application".

What's happening is the rich are getting richer, and the "middle class" is getting closer to poverty level.

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*rippy38 » 05 Apr 2024, 11:42 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:42 am

Bidenomics is a classic example of "it looks good on paper, but sucks in application".

What's happening is the rich are getting richer, and the "middle class" is getting closer to poverty level.

​​​​​

Bidencrimefamily » 05 Apr 2024, 11:44 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:44 am

Domestic spending is up. 

Wages are up 

We could always go back to Trump amd lose jobs and have inflation go up again if you want. 

And oil companies going out of business in record numbers. And farmers having to be bailed out again..

Bidencrimefamily » 05 Apr 2024, 11:40 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:40 am

Just because the right wing goes around and tells people that their situation sucks doesn't mean it's true. 

Domestic spending is up 

Meaning people got money to spend. 

Wages are up. 

Just because stupid people believe right wingers doesn't mean anything.

LowIQTrash » 05 Apr 2024, 11:47 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:47 am

While I absolutely agree with your conclusions, let’s dial back the Time Machine 2-4 decades…if Bush or Reagan or whomever was in office, and this same complaint was lodged, you would reply “bootStraPz”

And don’t even deny it…I’m 98% certain you held that view (even though I didn’t read your posts ‘til sometime last year)

The only reason you’re agreeing now is that it’s gotten so bad that even flagrant, fake numbers can’t obscure reality anymore

Are you disavowing your former political self?

Vegas » 05 Apr 2024, 11:58 am » wrote: ↑

05 Apr 2024, 11:58 am

According to Americans, all of this is false. Period. They are the ones experiencing the economy and hardships, not the metrics.