[public]

[paralinguistic]

Right, so. I am aware that this journal is normally full of me talking about things that don't particularly matter. However, there has been something that's troubling me lately, and I thought I'd get it out in the open! And yes, it is about politics. British politics, American politics. Somewhat more surprisingly for my flist of late, it is also

Comments

[w0rdinista]

FWIW, fiscal policy's pretty darned important to me. I just. Don't discuss politics on my LJ.

To split hairs, though, if I may -- according to my Econ book, a recession has to last "two or more consecutive quarters" for it to be labeled a recession (which is roughly six months). But this might be a UK/US difference in definition, and if so, I'll just shut up. It doesn't negate the importance of what you're saying, it's just, as I said, hair-splitting.

[paralinguistic]

It's been going on longer in Britain than in America, I do believe. We've had this situation for a bit now, and it is being routinely labelled the recession. Also a lot of my post is based on economic prediction as well. :( Thank you for the clear up, mind you! To be honest specifics didn't really matter so much as "ARGH I AM REALLY ANNOYED AND WORRIED AND WOE :(" when I wrote this (Economics student I am not, irritated "I cannot have my job back when I come back home :(" bank worker I am) and now I am all chilled out and kind of "eheeee I feel better".

[w0rdinista]

Ah, well that makes sense then. I just didn't want to sound like OMG UR WORDING IS ALL WRONG AND RAAAR. It was just sort of a... a mental ping for me because I got my MBA in December and always like using the stuff I shoved in my head.

But, hey! I'm glad you're feeling better. That's what LJ is all about.

[paralinguistic]

... actually that may be a hole in my knowledge because it doesn't necessarily make sense to me that our economic climate would take the downturn first when our economy is effected by yours ...

... hang on lemme check this

[tatooine]

Wow, I hope you don't have any company stock.

Also, Americans don't vote on the economy. Rather, they vote very poorly. There was an article (which became a book) several years ago called "What's the Matter With Kansas?" that sort of touches on the issue. I'll quote Wiki, since it's been a long time since I touched the article:

[Frank] finds extraordinary irony in working-class Kansans' overwhelming support for Republican politicians, despite his belief that the laissez-faire economic policies of the Republican party are wreaking havoc on their communities and livelihoods for the benefit of the extremely wealthy.

... instead, people vote on "'explosive' cultural issues, such as abortion and gay marriage"! tl;dr the culture wars have hijacked a lot of political discourse. Just look at how all the talk around Sarah Palin has to do with her family and her religion rather than running a state.

[paralinguistic]

Company stock is in the family, my father's interested in that sort of thing. I don't quite know how much he's lost but it is a lot. As in surplus of thirty thousand dollars a lot. But it's the same for any UK investors at the moment. Everyone is losing money.

To be honest, I think voting on the cultural issues is important. But it really is only half the story, and it worries me that Americans - and a lot of British people - don't even contemplate the financial policies beyond "are they cutting taxes or not".

[llamrei]

I remember that article! I had to read it in class. I remember it saying for a lot of people in Kansas it was all about whether or not a candidate was pro-life. If they aren't, forget it. Frustrating, to say the least. /:

[jeva_chan]

... instead, people vote on "'explosive' cultural issues, such as abortion and gay marriage"! tl;dr the culture wars have hijacked a lot of political discourse. Just look at how all the talk around Sarah Palin has to do with her family and her religion rather than running a state.

This. One reason I can't stand to keep track of the politics of today is because they don't focus on the issues that need focusing on! Okay, yes. We need to know where the candidates stand in the cultural issues and such. But what about foreign policy? Domestic policy? What the fuck do either candidates plan to do if we do backslide into a Depression?

I really am on the fence about both candidates until they can give me straight answers on those issues because they really haven't been touched on a whole lot.

[paralinguistic]

I do enjoy lidl, mind you.

[boxlawyer]

h-hahah yeah. STORYTIEMS.

I lost my job over this stuff. SO YEAH. I'm watching the American election and going :(

[boxlawyer]

NOT MY CURRENT ONE. but my one before that.