Anti-Bush activists hope to single-handedly sway economy

The New York Sun | March 16, 2004 | Josh Gerstein

[syriacus]

Some of President Bush's detractors have hatched a plan to make mischief with the country's economic statistics in order to influence the upcoming presidential election.

An e-mail outlining the scheme was posted Friday on a newsgroup run by the Yahoo Internet portal. The message, bearing the subject line "October surprise -- BEAT BUSH," encourages Bush opponents to use their power as consumers to send economic indicators lower just before the November election.

"Don't buy anything in September. Buy what you must have in August. September should be a month to fast and meditate for peace. Peace is not possible with Bush in office," the message said...

[syriacus]

I hope some Freeper has access to a digital version of the Sun. If no one posts a digital version here, I will continue to transcribe the hard copy I have

[cripplecreek]

That keeps popping up. I hope the SEC is paying attention because i believe its highly illegal. I equate it to economic terrorism.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If we're at a point where the government can compel us to spend or else, it is those who support such policies who have terrorized our country.

[NeonKnight]

The extreme leftists who would take part in this action have no economic power anyway. I sort of resent that they would use their welfare checks in such a political, mischievous manner though.

[verity]

I urge all those who support this concept to embark on a month-long fast - including all liquids [except hemlock].

[syriacus]

That keeps popping up

Is there a version on FR already?

The article is very long and I'm only a middling typist.

I'd like to know the article is on FR someplace, so it can be read and word can be spread.

[MrB]

I don't think it will have much impact, especially because they "stock up" the month before.

It does go to show, however, that the 'rats are willing to do harm to the USA in order to attain power.

[cripplecreek]

George Soros weilds considerable power as do the hollywood elites who follow him. How about Bill Gates, is he on welfare?

[Peach]

Write letters to the editor about this form of home-grown terrorism. Let people see what the leftists are all about. It doesn't have to be a detailed or long letter, but write it.

Here's the good news about the economy; this was published in a newspaper Sunday:

Despite the Democrat’s mantra that the economy is in trouble and that over 2.3 million jobs have disappeared, the truth is considerably different.

There are two primary measures of unemployment. The Department of Labor conducts a monthly Household Survey, which has always generated the official unemployment rate used by the government. This official survey shows 2.4 million jobs have been added to the work force between November ’02 and February ‘04. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts its payroll survey by phoning businesses. It is unprecedented to use the BLS unemployment statistics when discussing America’s unemployment rate and yet this is where the Democrats are getting their 2.3 million lost jobs figure.

For example, had the unofficial BLS survey been used in the mid-90’s, we would have had a 12.8% unemployment rate using the same methodology. Instead, in 1996, the unemployment rate was 5.6%, the exact same rate as we have today.

The government began collecting unemployment data in 1939. Since that time, there has never been positive job growth two years after a recession ended. Never.

Other economic indicators are just as good:

-- The number of working Americans, 138.5 million, is a level never previously attained in our history.

-- The percentage of families living in poverty today averages 9.4%, a decrease of approximately 1.1% from the 90’s.

-- Home ownership is currently 68.6% which is an increase of 1.1% from the 90’s.

-- A manufacturing survey released in February showed US factories boomed at their highest level in 17 years. The Institute for Supply Management reported more and more factories were reporting hiring although it has not yet shown up in government employment statistics. Manufacturing makes up nearly one-fifth of the US economy.

-- The combined net worth of all US households is $44.4 trillion, the highest ever achieved.

-- Consumer prices (inflation) increased just 1.9% last year.

-- The stock market has advanced 45% in the last 12 months.

--The gross domestic product, the total goods and service produced in the US, increased in the 3rd quarter last year at an annual rate of 8.2% after inflation and 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Growth in the 90’s averaged a little better than 3% annually.

-- The wealthiest five percent of our population pays more than half the taxes, while people at the bottom half pay just 4% of all taxes in the country. Economists credit the recovering economy to the Bush tax cuts as opposed to what an increased regressive taxation on the nation’s wealthiest would have had on the economy.

-- The average wage of American workers is currently $15.40 vs. $11.80 during the 90’s.

Despite 9/11 and the over $500 billion it took out of our economy, it appears the economy is booming.

I will leave it to the reader to speculate why the media seems driven to repeat unchallenged the Democrat’s unemployment numbers and constant derision of the US economy.

[syriacus]

If we're at a point where the government can compel us to spend or else, it is those who support such policies who have terrorized our country.

It will only get worse, if this scheme is successful.

[jackbill]

This was mentioned this morning on CNBC. Mark Haynes said that the Commerce Dept. said that in order to move an index by one percentage point, they would need a "shift" of $3 billion.

[NeonKnight]

Reread my comment. I said "The extreme leftists who woul take part in this action..."

The people you just mentioned will spend as much money in October as they did in September.

[syriacus]

More of article:

"Economic data for September will be reported in October. If nothing is bought and unemployment goes up, in September the data will look bad. Bush will have some explaining to do," the e-mail said.

The posting also appeared to encourage employed and unemployed Americans to file jobless claims, in order to embarrass the administration.

"File with the unemployment office. The unemployment rate is a make-believe number," the message said. "If you are lucky enough to be employed, just sign up with the placement service, you may even get a better job."

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[Gunslingr3]

That keeps popping up. I hope the SEC is paying attention because i believe its highly illegal. I equate it to economic terrorism.

I equate the overuse of the word terrorism to terrorism. What's illegal about some granola snacker buying his September groceries in August instead?

[syriacus]

Did Haynes talk about attempts to tamper with the unemployment numbers?

[cripplecreek]

"I equate the overuse of the word terrorism to terrorism"

So what are you saying?

[Gunslingr3]

So what are you saying?

That by calling every fruit loop who decides to not go shopping for one month a terrorist you do an incredible disservice to the word. Quit it.

[jackbill]

Did Haynes talk about attempts to tamper with the unemployment numbers?

Yes. Apparently the message was for people to sign up for unemployment, even if they were working. Sounds a bit looney - and possibly a felony.

[BikePacker]

hope the SEC is paying attention because i believe its highly illegal. I equate it to economic terrorism.

Boycotts are not 'economic terrorism'.
Or do you suggest we legislate that folks must make $X.XX worth of consumer purchases a month?