Is this really as good as it looks or am I missing something?
And try to separate reality from ideology. In 1983, when the economy accelerated after the early 1980s recessions, some liberals were sure the numbers had to be wrong, given that it was obvious nothing good could come from the policies of President Ronald Reagan.In 2010, there were widespread forecasts by conservatives that the economy could not improve, that inflation was bound to accelerate and the dollar would collapse if the Fed foolishly pursued its policy of quantitative easing.
All those forecasts turned out to be wrong. Does that mean the forecasters were mistaken? Some would rather think it shows the statistics are being faked.
People here are the worst... 99% of them have no idea what is going on with the entire set of economic data. Much simpler for them to believe "Obama is faking the numbers." It's just ignorant and it makes conservatives look like rubes.
--meaning freepers we meet on the other threads ;)
Still, simply not knowing what's going on isn't the problem (imho) but instead it's how folks decide that some fiction really exists (examples: 'soaring federal hiring' or 'runaway hyperinflation' etc.). We're dealing w/ a toxic willful ignorance that's chosen a doom'n'gloom fantasy ahead of their own lying eyes.
That said, the word "worst" suggests there are other places where it's better. I've really looked at other political/economic forums online and my experience is that after seeing the competition I see the Freerepublic looking more like a paradise of illumined clarity. OK so having things worse elsewhere doesn't make willful ignorance here somehow good, but I'm saying that I'm grateful for the thinkers I've met here and I find the experience I get with our stuck-on-stupids comes in handy in my dealings w/ in-laws.
In the meantime, if you ever do come across another forum where posters actually check reality before ranting, please let me know...
Is this really as good as it looks or am I missing something?