Why do people attribute economic indicators to a sitting politician.

Figures such as unemployment rate, wages, the price of goods and GDP are affected by many things: The global economy, federal Bank policy on interest rates, decisions by local politicians and constraints within a long existing political consensus.

That there is economic growth under Trump is not proof of sound decision making on his part. In the same way, the low price of gas under Obama was never down to him but due to the global collapse in crude oil price.

Economic indicators are the results of things lasting years or decades. They can be down to decisions by a sitting leader but you have to demonstrate how. Where is the causality?

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Northwest · M

Causality was a victim of the post-truth era, that we're living in now.

For instance, the current 4.1% US unemployment rate, did not happen on Jan 21, 2017. As in, we did not go from a 60% unemployment rate, as some of the SW'ers and Trump would have you believe, to 4.1% overnight. This was the recovery momentum started when Obama was President.

1.7/1.9 M jobs were created during President Obama's last 9 months in office.

1.3/1.4 M jobs were created during President Trump's first 9 months in office.

Causality? Sure, but try telling that to his supporters.

The DOW is in record territory, but if you look at the entire Obama presidency, the DOW went up 210% from the lows of the economic crash.

Translated into today's terms, if the DOW is at 65,000, if Trump is in office for 8 years, that would be what 210% growth looks like.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Northwest Yes itsbgood to talk details. A lot of people here one figure (that matches their world view) and repoost it. Little do they know or care whether it's out of context or even suspect.

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

Well believe it or not sitting politicians and their policies have a direct effect on the economy.

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thatscottishguy · 26-30, M

Wow resorting to insults. Hi katielass

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@thatscottishguy lol. 😂

You know I'm joking though.

thatscottishguy · 26-30, M

Sure

SimplyTracie · 26-30, F

I think it’s a reaction to Trump’s rhetoric. He says he will cut corporate taxes and big business and consumers react to that. But when it doesn’t materialize, everyone will be screwed.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Sniper No idea how 'white liberal guilt' is supposed to affect the economy.

Hasn't growth just continued from where Obama was anyway?

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Sniper Obama's tenure did produce growth and on the back of an inherited recession.

FCNantes · 22-25, M

Stupidity.

swirlie · 31-35, F

Because those same people have no idea what factors influence economic indicators. That is also why those same people voted for Trump, because they bought-into his rhetoric about running the country like he runs a business. Logic might suggest that the country would become rich like a business, but Trump's corporate businesses are failing big time, particularly his retail client base in lower Manhattan whom he rents retail space to.

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