Even Bush* can't explain his economic policy.

This is an excerpt from the speech (sic) he gave in Niles, MI the other day. I have highlighted the part he seems to have tried to skip past, because it is Shrubby admitting his economic policies make no sense. (Go ahead and take the Tylenol now before you start reading.)


"And the final point that is really important for people to understand, by going back to school and learning new skills, his pay is a lot better. You hear a lot about productivity in our society. A productive society means that a worker is able to do more in a less period of time than before. And therefore, the more productive your society -- your economy becomes, the faster it has to grow in order to increase the job base.

See, if you got one person being able to put out more widgets than before, you need demand for more widgets to grow in order for somebody else to find work. And that has created a short-term problem for us in the economy. We're overcoming it now because the economy is beginning to pick up. But a productive society is an important society for the future because -- you know why? People's standard of living goes up. The more productive a society is, the most likely it is people are going to be able to have better wages and better earnings. The more productive a society we have in America, the more likely it is we're the leader in the world."

http://www.georgewbush.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=2535
(jeez, am I even allowed to post that link in here??!!)

OK, me again. I mean, that's the rub, right? Trickle down assumes that demand will somehow magically appear. Butch*, I mean Bush*, admits the assumption, gives no reason to expect it to occur, and moves on to more gibberish.

What a tool.

That's about 1/2 of one coherant thought there.

Now here's an economically-ignorant question... since we are more productive, that line is true, right? (the one in bold?) So what do we do about it?? I mean, if 2 people with 50 computers can now do the work of 52 people (or more)... how do we solve that problem?

how will demand ensue? Most consummers can't afford stuff anymore...

Where's my Scotch?????

...it's just telling the truth that he can't do.

"Mah plan? To make me and mah family and mah pals rich as all get-out and make sure we stay that way. What'd yah think, dummy!"

We want debates!
We want debates!
We want debates!
:bounce:

What is this we need Demand stuff? You are quite correct in that he doesn't know anything about either his economic policies or economics period. Without Demand there is no reason for Supply. That simple fact has them scratching their heads.

trying to this....I read it 5 times and still don't understand what he's trying to say. Is it that we need to increase productivity in order to restart the economy - classic supply-side economics - or is he saying there is a lot of production and now we just need to wait for demand to catch up?

also, it would seem that he doesn't understand the difference between "productive" and "efficient" - did he mean: "A society means that a worker is able to do more in a less period of time than before."

BTW: I love in the transcript the interlacing of things "audience members" shouted out:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Four more!

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We're behind you, Mr. President!

I guess the AUDIENCE MEMBER: Where are the WMDs or AUDIENCE MEMBER: I lost my job and have no health care because of your policies...were somehow left off the recorder.....

Q Mr. President, my name's Christine Van Landingham (phonetic) -- and I have the privilege of working with 120 senior citizens in these three counties who volunteer as foster grandparents in our local schools, and each and every one of them, touching the hearts of many, many kids. What my question to you is, this year that program funding saw a cut in federal funding. How do you propose to support those programs, and more importantly, those volunteers?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, was it cut at the federal level? It was? Well, it's what you get for trying to make sure the deficit gets cut in half. I think it's very important for you to continue to work and calling on people to volunteer. These are volunteers. The good thing about volunteers, they don't cost much. I don't know the specifics about your request, but I'll look into it.

HA! You go gurl!!

each time I think I've heard him say the dumbest thing, he lowers the bar even more.....

"...funding saw a cut in federal funding..."

"Well, was it cut at the federal level?"

christ almighty, he doesn't even know what is being told to him.....

"...it's what you get for trying to make sure the deficit gets cut in half."

makes sense, cut a million or so here from social programs but spend BILLIONS on war and tax cuts - even with a "gentleman's C" at Yale, the basic concept of numbers and arithmatic must have gotten into his thick skull, no??

"The good thing about volunteers, they don't cost much."

no comment....brain bursting....must drink to forget.....

:argh:

Ever hear about the Peace Corps? Almost all volunteers. We spent lots of money on that.

he has to explain it to his audience ? I noticed today in his interview with the Arab station he said the word " systemic " and then went on to explain what the word means. What an idiot.

what has been explained to him only recently....its clear he doesen't really understand what it is he's saying, just like someone being asked to explain a book when all they read was the Cliff's Notes.

...as if it were something you would read in a beginners econ textbook. I wanted to say econ 101 but it probably is more high school language that he is using. The use of widgets is especially telling. The only time we talk about widgets is when we are trying to explain economics. His explanation while technically correct is disjointed and not on point. But it sounds good to people who failed to graduate from high school which would be: The republican base, maybe?

Productivity means that fewer workers are able to produce more stuff. This has produced "short-term problems" in the economy, since there aren't enough people to buy all the widgets being produced by fewer and fewer workers. Economic growth must pick up, so as to ensure that there will be enough people to buy the widgets built by the ever-more-productive American worker.

In addition, productivity (i.e. fewer workers producing more and more stuff ever more efficiently) must continue to increase, so as to insure a prosperous future for all Americans. This will also guarantee higher wages and earnings for the productive American worker.

What the FUCK?!?!?

I could throw a handful of carpet tacks down an Electrolux hose and hit the on switch for a better explanation of economics.

...and screwing it all up because he doesn't understand how it works.

a. Tax cuts for the rich, a part of which they'll give me as a kickback for my re-election campaign.

b. The starvation of the federal government to result in the elimination of the New Deal.

c. Corporate welfare.

d. Corporatist government (also known by its uglier name of fascism).

e. Media consolidation in the hands of a few buddies so that the people won't know what they're doing.

Pretty simple, Bush. What's the problem explaining THAT?

... I loathe it when he constantly says "See" "See" "See".

It's as though he can't even understand himself.

gaud, my haid herts. He doesn't say anything, about anything with any substance. I'm so tired of hearing "I have a plan". jeeez 5700 jobs in michigan makes me so proud of his stewpid ass.

"The economy grew so much under Clinton that we couldn't keep up that rate of growth. In fact, we went into recession. But that can't last forever. Trust me, this won't all go to rich Republicans, honest. And a higher GDP means we can afford more weapons."

But of course, he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge Clinton did a good job, so he has to murder the English language instead.