Can plummeting consumer confidence help the GOP?
I think I’m officially even more jaded than ever before. Looking over the most recent consumer confidence report findings, all I can think of is: “Gee, isn’t this convenient?”
The recent turmoil in financial markets coupled with the run-up in gasoline prices may have contributed to consumers” heightened sense of uncertainty and concern.
I realize that it would be a stretch to assert that our Powers That Be somehow orchestrated the dip in the Chinese stock markets that triggered the avalanche of terror in the stock market. (Although, at this point, I will believe that they can and do control almost everything.) But the increase in gas prices certainly makes me raise an eyebrow. Seeing that the market was going crazy and that oil would likely skyrocket as a result, you’d think that the Powers would step in and perhaps provide some sort of relief so that we didn’t get hit hard at the gas pump. Just something to hold our hands and tell us everything is okay. The sky isn’t falling, the damage in the market will be controlled, etc.
Instead, they let oil do what it does best: panic and skyrocket. And I realize that government intervention in markets is down-right ill-advised, but you’d think that with the way the Reps are losing the popularity contest right now, they’d want to do everything they could to make people think they’re safe and sound with the old GOP.
But then I started thinking. Maybe this is exactly what the White House and the poor, outnumbered Republican Congressmen want. Maybe they want the economy to go to shit the minute that the Dems take over. Let’s ignore the fact that the economy has been teetering on the brink for quite some time. Let’s ignore the fact that the housing bubble basically burst while the Reps were still in power. Let’s just focus on who’s in power when we’re actually feeling the effects of past decisions.
If we could just focus on the shit-tastic economy, maybe we’ll forget about Scooter Libby, the Attorney General’s mishaps, Jack Abramoff, and all the other bad stuff that’s gone down. Heck, maybe we’ll be so worried about our own economy that we’ll stop bitching about our troops in Iraq! Hey, America, how can you possibly worry about foreign policy when your wallets are being deflated?
And then, I calm down and realize that I’m officially a conspiracy-theory spouting loony.
I didn’t really see much of a conspiracy stated there. Perhaps it was your conscience getting the better of you, but you did go into how complicated the causes are with these things. That these things might end up being convenient for the Republicans is an observation, not a conspiracy theory.
I want to say that I doubt anyone would be so stupid as to blame the Democrats for the turmoil, but I’m usually too optimistic about people. I will say that I think the average American at the moment is fed up with our leaders in general, both parties included, and is likely to attribute miscellaneous problems to “those damn politicians” rather than one party. That the Repubs got beat down in the previous elections was as much attributable to them being the majority and therefore more responsible (in the minds of the public) as to anything else. Which is also why the presidential candidates are so interesting this time around, people want something different.
That termy guy. said this on March 27th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I’m glad I didn’t come off as “left-wing screwball” as I felt like I was heading with this post. I kinda cut myself off because I was afraid of sounding a bit too much like Mongrel.
I think you’re probably right about being too optimistic in thinking that the Democrats won’t catch flack about the economy tanking under their watch. I was speaking to my boss about what he perceived people’s outlooks on the economy to be (because people’s expectations for the future have impacts on the real estate market), and he actually said “Well, the market just had a big scare, and the Democrats are in office promising tax cuts and spending a lot, so I think there’s a lot more pessimism now.” Basically, he said that because the “Spendicrats” are in office, the economy will tank. So much for rising tides raising all ships.
I also was trying to decide if I even wanted to bring party into this rant, or just kind of shake my fist at the governmental institution in general. Although I’m registered as a Democrat, I identify as an Independent, so I feel a bit dumb picking sides here. I just know that, in general, I’d rather see the Dems win if someone has to.
I agree that people want something different. I’m hoping that the Fat Cat parties won’t resort to the same tactics they used in 2000 to bring Nader down and force people to vote in party lines, by saying if you vote independent, you’re wasting your vote and helping “the enemy” win.
brandie said this on March 27th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Gas price waaaaaahhhhh…..
Shut up! Just shut up and let the 1/2 naket lady pump her gas…. Fucking liberals
r3dw0rm said this on April 6th, 2007 at 4:00 am
GOD DAMN YOU FOR NOT LETTING PEOPLE POST HTML!!!!!!!!!
link to 1/2 naked lady pumping gas is here http://www.bestbosoms.com/galleries/ftv/2006-07/carli1/part2/carli_ftv_13.jpg
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!@@!!!111!!@!#!!!
r3dw0rm said this on April 6th, 2007 at 4:02 am