If it looks like a duck... hmmm... Obamania? LOL It's not going to matter...neither candidate deserve the position.

Economics -- to most people as useful a course of study as ancient Bulgarian literature -- is really the study of human behavior. This kind of behavior is labeled “emergent” -- meaning it is a large-scale pattern that emerges spontaneously out of the interactions of numerous individuals each independently following a more local program. (In the case of the economy, this more-local program is the perceived self-interest of each of the millions of people within the economy.)

Because of the huge number of factors involved, and the constant feedback of one factor on another, predicting emergent effects is as difficult as predicting next year’s hurricanes. This is why economists follow so many indicators, do so much math, and often end up wrong anyway.

But there are times when the economy is not a purely emergent effect -- when the behavior of a significant number of individuals is effectively coordinated by an outside force. A prime example is the final ending of the Great Depression by World War Two. During the Depression, deflation and unemployment created an emergent cycle of fear and uncertainty that undermined investor and consumer confidence. The ensuing reductions in spending, investment, and risk-taking lead to further deflation and unemployment.

The needs of national crisis and war brought this cycle to a sudden and non-spontaneous end. The unemployed were drafted or put to work in support of the troops. The hard break in psychology and behavior (aided by propaganda) then helped to prepare the way for the return of confidence and economic growth following the war.

This presidential election year may prove to be another example of economic tone and human behavior being determined by war and propaganda. The war in this case is the American equivalent of the modern civil war: a presidential election. The propaganda will be spontaneously offered up by the mainstream media in support of their favored party.

Highlighting economic (and other) bad news anytime it can be pinned on a Republican incumbent (or his successor) has been standard procedure in the left-leaning media for decades. They exaggerated the mild, brief recession of 1992 into “the worst economy in fifty years”. No one really believed that the economy was worse off then than it was, say, during the late 1970’s. However, facts mattered little and were only a starting place for much somber “reporting” in support of Bill Clinton’s gloomy talking points. “Talking down” the economy to bolster a Democrat challenger is nothing new.

And several factors could make this year’s talking-down much worse than usual.

Unlike 1992, this economy faces real and significant structural problems. Housing prices have crashed, lending has contracted, the dollar has been halved, oil prices have soared, and food prices have been biofueled up to recent highs.

All these issues have taken a huge toll on consumer confidence, pushing it -- and the stock market -- to the lowest levels in years. And consumer confidence is precisely what is targeted by exaggerated election-year doom-mongering from the mainstream media. Given the already anemic state that confidence is in, it may not take much hyperbole and rant to send it into a tailspin -- especially since the media will have much better ammunition to work with in such an already worrisome economic environment.

Another factor that could make this election into an economic disaster is the amazing amount of pent-up hate and disdain that much of the media has for George W. Bush. It doesn’t matter to them (or other Democrats) that he is not running for re-election and that John McCain is a very different man, with his own policies, and no great personal love for Bush. The left sees this election as a reactionary holy war -- a chance to “take back” the country from a hated, demonized (and plainly incompetent) figure. Self-restraint will likely not be in fashion for Democrat journalists between now and November -- especially when compounded by the third factor pointing toward a coming propaganda war against the American economy -- Obamamania.

Obama’s greatest support comes from two distinct groups. One is upper middle-class, college-educated white liberals -- or as I like to call them -- “journalism majors.” The other group is blacks -- the favorite victim class of journalism majors. It should be no surprise then that Obama is being hailed as something akin to a reincarnated hybrid-idol, Martin-Luther-John/Bobby-Kennedy-King. For the mainstream media, Obama will be the most instinctively protected presidential candidate in history. He will be above criticism, a sacred cause, and a personal mission for many journalists.

Together, these factors could combine to ensure that this year’s economy is no random and autonomous event. The economy will very likely be wounded deeply by the media, so that Obama can ride its limping form to the White House. Even if good economic news were to occur in the next few months, I can’t imagine that it will be reported by most outlets.

Most politicians have to actually get into office to cause a severe recession. Obama (and his supporters) may cause one as collateral campaign damage before a single vote is cast.

The future is never certain, but this may be one chapter in which the script has been written and the actors will deliver their lines predictably.


Sorry...the site...

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27325#continueA

... and you wrote this?

This is why I hate politics. Many is the time they create problems so politicians can look good as they "fix" them. (Kinda like a lot of the Iraq problems. Not all, but many.)

It's all a popularity contest. Although i suppose when push comes to shove it doesn't really matter what the public thinks. Congress will vote in whoever will hook them, and/or their sponsoring corporations, the most.

Yes well... it's not our system that is bad it's those who run the info that corrupt our political process.

I think neither candidate deserves the office. This is the first time I felt this way..EVER!

Our SYSTEM is excellent... You are right, the media is corrupt. They all wanna make a quick buck too. People need to realize that they are part of the corporate world, and many have the same interests. The internet is one of the few places you can actually get quality info nowadays. But finding that info is tricky. And isn't the government looking into censoring the internet? If so, that's kinda a scary thought huh?

Are you referring to the court wanting to see something from the internet...to admit into court? I'm not sure?

There is another choice you know? I wish everyone would take a look at the Liberatarian candidate Bob Barr. For once the Liberatarian party is running someone who is actually intelligent, level headed, and has a real plan for the future of this country (instead of the usual nut-job). If Americans were truly fed up with the current bunch of politicians, we would send a strong message by electing Bob Barr as President, rather than either Obama or McCain. The bad thing is that most Americans are truly ignorant about the political process and will just simply pull the level on whoever has a D or an R next to their name without regard to whether they will actually do a good job. The only reason Obama is ahead in recent Polls is one, because the media wouldn't report it if he wasn't and two, because he is a smooth talker. Wake up American! Most ex-cons are smooth talkers, but that doesn't mean they are qualified to be President. I predict that if either Obama or McCain are elected the American economy will tank. Lets face it, in order to pull out of this mess we need a leader with real vision and the guts to do the things that need to be done to make things better, even if those things are not popular. Neither Obama nor McCain are likely do this.

I agree with you there. They are both scary to me. Actually it won't matter who wins of these two. So is there going to be another candidate on the ballot? Bob Barr? Isn't he a congressman from Florida?

I was hoping that Duncan Hunter would get the nod but he's too honest & ethical for the powers that be to back. He dropped out because of lack of funding.

Don't know how true this is but appearently China censors their internet somehow. They control what people can access, read and/or see. Also, it isn't a huge rumor, but it has been a rumor that the U.S. government was looking into something similar. This is why i phrased this all in the form of a question. I honestly have no clue. I don't know enough to believe or disbelieve any of this.

Yeah, BTW Bob Barr should at least make the debates interesting. He mentioned he was planning to bring up the North American Union, that congress is planning to do, but many people don't believe. (The union is supposed to involve open borders with combined highway systems, and economies. The amero is supposed to replace the dollar.) I hope he does bring this up. And unlike Obama or McCain, Bob Barr actually gets halfway specific about his views. I hope he does have a chance to debate. I'd like to see how Obama would handle a debate with someone of some intelligence.

Well I will DEFINATELY be staying tuned....

Yu know what? If the powers that be don't like our choice...we will see JFK all over again.

It's no wonder why God says money is the ROOT of ALL evil.

Obama’s greatest support comes from two distinct groups. One is upper middle-class, college-educated white liberals -- or as I like to call them -- “journalism majors.” The other group is blacks -- the favorite victim class of journalism majors. It should be no surprise then that Obama is being hailed as something akin to a reincarnated hybrid-idol, Martin-Luther-John/Bobby-Kennedy-King. For the mainstream media, Obama will be the most instinctively protected presidential candidate in history. He will be above criticism, a sacred cause, and a personal mission for many journalists.
================================================================

Most Obama supporters come from the age group 18-30! 68% of the voters in this age group are Obama supporters! Black and White Americans! all income levels!

He is tied with McCain in the 30- 65 age group. Black and White Americans! All income levels!

The only group that McCain leads in is the 65 and up age group! Who are mostly wealthy and mostly set in their ways and unwilling to change!
Race plays no significant factor!

This election cycle has seen a rise in Democratic voters with 58% of all registered voters Nationally saying they will vote Democrat, and only 36% saying they will vote Republican.
Less than 2% say they are leaning towards a third party candidate!

It doesn't matter who the president is. If the voting population doesn't like that person, they will elect the person who is on the opposite side. And when they get screwed by that, they swing to the other side.

People want change, but not too much change. They want new faces, but the same BS that comes with politics. There will never be a smart person in the White House who truly knows whats going on.

... and if that fails, you do a GWB2 and cheat!




Very true ... but not just the White House. Because really the President doesnt run the country, any more than the Prime Minister runs the UK.

It is all the backroom politicos who are secretary's to this under-secretary's to that.

The diplomacy goes on outside of the oval office.

But its all motivated by money.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah GO OBAMA..................HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ...........WHT EVER..........

...and folks! This is your brain on drugs!!!