"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:38:14 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:47:12 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:



No, I don't think he's correct at all. We are in for some tough times
over
the next 2-3 years, but we will recover nicely. As bad as it is, it has
been worse before. Don't your remember the late Carter years, 20%
interest
rates, inflation and 11 percent unemployment?

I was ok then. 8% mortgage.
What I remember most is getting laid off my first IT job in 1982.
Along with plenty of others.
Ronald Reagan.
The highest unemployment rate since the great depression.
That's what I remember.
You know what say about when your neighbor gets laid off....

--Vic

Why is it that everyone remembers who was the president during a recession
but forget how we got there?

Because until you get hurt, it doesn't matter.
Like I said about if a neighbor loses his job, it's a recession, if
you lose yours it's a depression.
Same reason you always find something you lost in the last place you
looked for it. Huh? I take that back
Simply, it's Captain of the Ship. He should always take the heat.
Do you remember how it came to be that interest rates got so high
under Carter? Do you care?
Same with the Iran hostages. Carter's job to prevent it of fix it.
He didn't. That's why I voted for Reagan - once.
Reagan got no better consideration than I gave Carter.
He presided over the highest unemployment rate since the great
depression. I don't care how we got there.
What I remember is struggling to keep my kids warm while he and Nancy
danced in grand DC ballrooms.
And I'll never forget GWB biting his lips while a chunk of Manhattan
came down in flames. That shouldn't have happened.
That's how it works with me.
Besides, blaming others than those in charge is a feel good cop out
and usually just political bull****.
I didn't cut that Pueblo skipper any slack either for allowing the
capture of his ship.
When BO is inaugurated, he has the helm.
I won't cut him any slack either.
But, I admit, he won't care. Carter and Reagan didn't listen to me
either.

--Vic

That's all fine and good and certainly simplifies things. But it doesn't
help when trying to learn from history and past mistakes when trying to
avoid the same. I really don't think the analogy of a ship's captain's
actions and responsibility in a single incident (as romantic and traditional
as it is) compares with long term policies of a POTUS, the influence of
which extend well beyond their time in office. Nobody "finishes" the job.

Reagan inherited high inflation, a **** poor economy and a recession. Say
what you will, but he led us out of it through some smart maneuvering and
enabling of business. The old "he spent us into debt" seems moot
now-a-days.

The only thing I remember about Carter, nice guy that he is and all, was
that he also inherited a ****-poor economy from Ford. It turns out his
policies to invigorate the economy led to even higher inflation and interest
rates which eventually led to the "Reagan" Recession. I remember it well
because I left the Navy in 1977 and got a rude awakening over the following
few years about the cost of living and the "security" of civilian jobs.

Eisboch