Well then. It seems I've stirred up a hornet's nest with this one. I'm hearing from people who I hadn't heard from in eons.
One one hand someone made the valid point that going around touting gloom-and-doom will shake the confidence of consumers and investors. This is true - monetary systems used globally are based on the confidence that the declared value on a piece of paper will be backed by the issuing government, and stating one's doubts in the GDP of the country could have a negative effect on this system.
HOWEVER, recognizing doubts could also have a POSITIVE effect on the system also - if consumers and investors see an administration acknowledging current issues with the economy AND THAT SAID ADMINISTRATION IS PUTTING IN PLACE POLICIES AND PROPOSALS TO COUNTER-EFFECT ANY NEGATIVE INFLUENCES, they will stay the course - and confidence in the system can grow. Bush could have given an address to the nation to reassure the public, encouraging them to rally together in these hard economic times, AND put forth some ideas for congress to act on - such as creating new jobs by upgrading the current infrastructure, challenge large urban areas to implement aggressive plans to update and expand public transportation, be a more vocal advocate of nuclear power plants, etc. - rather than just throwing money at the problem. Not that I mind my $600 check, but it was used to help pay for necessities such as rent, utilities and food rather than buying luxury items to stimulate the economy - a scenario that has been seen and heard throughout the nation.
Over the past eight years Bush has shown over and over his steadfastness of ignoring the truth: the fudging of facts by his advisors that lead to the invasion of Iraq, Donald Rumsfeld and his numerous cock-ups, New Orleans, and now rising gas prices. His deliberate avoidance during a press conference in February of predicted $4 a gallon gas prices is a classic Bush modus operandi - pretend the problem doesn't exist and act oblivious....to the obvious. His latest statement is clearly irresponsible when companies such as American Airlines, Citigroup, GM and Bank of America are announcing large job cuts.
Right now I think Bush realizes that his last term as president has been a complete and utter failure, and he is coasting through these last months hoping they will be incident free, focusing instead on doing 'PR tours' around the globe. He's already being called 'the worst president EVER in the history of the United States' (not my words, but a phrase quoted far too many times in the media) and he just doesn't want to add mismanagement of the economy to that legacy - so he pretends all is well.
His approach is downright arrogance and ignorance.
Now, I need to get on top of my TALLER soapbox and address those who predict the downfall of the U.S. - it's never going to happen.
Why?
Americans have proven time and time again their ability to rise to challenges that affect their way of life, using 'American ingenuity amongst other things to conquer crisis. They have taken higher petrol costs and a weak economy as a challenge, and quickly adapt to a new way of life. Persons riding bicycles, and having 'stay-at-home' vacations, trading in gas-guzzlers for hybrids - these are examples of them adapting to change. The previous 'fall of empires' has historically resulted when a nation comprised of indigenous people try to take over the world - the U.S. is made up of a collective of non-indigenous people who came to this country for a better life, and their differences is what makes the U.S. strong and sets them apart from invading empires of the past.
So, don't write 'U.S.' off yet - we'll adapt, then you'll have to adapt to 'U.S.'. After all, "resistance is futile"........
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