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CTYankee 1620's avatar

Once again, each president inherits a different set of circumstances. These are very deceptive graphs as they are each based on different sets of circumstances that were inherited by each president. Probably not a good exercise for fair reporting. Yes, each president will be judged based on perceptions of how they are performing based on the economy they inherited (i.e. Regan 1 with high inflation brought under control by a Jimmy Carter appointee, Paul Volker, was resoundingly relected. ). While Volker still receives most of the credit, Regan’s moves to open up international trade and lower consumer costs is under appreciated. Perhaps we can come up with better benchmarks.

Rick Newman's avatar

Acknowledge your point. I say that all the time in stories. The president has a lot less control over the economy than people think (or he wishes he had). But three rejoinders. 1. Voters blame or credit the president whether he deserves it or now, so these charts do reflect how voters think. 2. Since we're cutting off all the data at 15 months, to be consistent with where Trump is at in his term, they don't tell the full story of any presidential term. But they will after 48 months. Wait for it! 3. Is there a BETTER way to show the economy under each president? I've been thinking about this for more than a decade and this is the sum result of what I can come up with. Everybody has an opinion about which president was best for the economy. I'm trying to bring some data to the argument. Not settle it with finality.

CTYankee 1620's avatar

Let me noodle on it. I think he deserves the bad grade, but for other reason. It is definitely hard to come up with a stable barometer of how presidents are performing based on a short assessment period.

Freddie Baumgartner's avatar

I just care about them because,i feel like i grew up in a different world than i am in now.

Pete Wilton's avatar

I know a few 3.5+ Engineering students struggling to find internships… hopefully the graduating Nuke E in my family gets the promised offer from last summer

Rick Newman's avatar

Makes you think maybe we should build our own economy from scratch

Pete Wilton's avatar

Hmmmm

I’m continuing to see growth of IT and HR resource houses turning scores of jobs into outsourcing work

No longer do 200-1000 person companies maintain a large IT staff just a minimum in-house folks for new PCs… but if you want MS Word or Adobe, that goes to an outside company…

Past companies outsourced software QA to India or China… no benefits needed

Not only are we not manufacturing things here, we are off-shoring or consolidating white collarish work

CTYankee 1620's avatar

Electric Boat in Groton, CT is looking for those qualifications.

Double-A's avatar

Love this objective analysis! Kudos to you and David Foster!

Rick Newman's avatar

We love doing it thanks for the note

Freddie Baumgartner's avatar

I do not care what you call it K-Shaped economy or what but the majority of American's or finding it very hard to pay their bill's.If you think the baby boomer generation can keep the country from going into a recession then think again.The money they leave behind will go fast because,i do not think a lot of the new generation really no what work is all about. Do busy playing on the computer's.I no that sounds harsh but, social media is taking over and. the media just want's to play games.Just saying! God Bless.

Rick Newman's avatar

Freddy your constant reminders about the people struggling at the lower end of the K land on open ears. Valid reminders of what real working people are dealing with thanks!