The Economy: Could it get worse?

The economy is stalled, Obama’s approval ratings are sagging. The Gallup organization is wondering whether it is going to have to use negative numbers to measure Congress’s approval ratings.

Could things get worse?

As the Pessimist says, “Things are never so bad as they can’t get worse.”

This Labor Day, I’ve labored to find some humor in our sad state of affairs.

So time for a comic moment of relief, and since we can’t blame him for conditions any more (or so political wisdom says), here is a quote from memory lane. Just to remind us of where we were and why we’re here, a quote from President G W Bush, 24 February 2001:

“My plan reduces the national debt, and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that we’re going to run out of debt to retire.”

I guess that was just politically speaking – a little spin for the party faithful.

But maybe there is yet hope! Maybe his plan hasn’t fully taken effect yet – I think Congress has kept the Bush tax cuts. Maybe this is the year they’ll reduce the debt.

And just to add a little more humor, 3 days after promising to reduce the debt on 27 Februrary 2001 GW gave us this Bushism:

“My pan plays down an unprecedented amount of our national debt.”

Ah, those were the days and we thought they’d never end. Playing down the national debt became a political pastime in America. Now we are paying for all that pleasure.