[CMClay]

[meyer]

There's a lot of events that took place during the limited time period that you have chosen to use in making your charts. For example, in 1994, Republicans took over the House if Representatives - an event which coincides with the sudden sharp upturn in financial indicators. Also consider the tech-stock and dot-com bubbles in the late 1990's. The growth was unsustainable, and there was bound to be a shakeup, but "artificial exuberance" did exist to a great extent. In short, in the late 1990's, we had a bubble based on speculative investments and the overuse of credit.

Also note the sharp drop in the stock market along with a sharp rise in unemployment that coincides with 9/11/2001. Although the small size of the charts makes it hard to show exact dates, memory recalls what a profound change 9/11 brought about in the spending and investment habits of people. It should be pretty obvious that 9/11 wasn't the fault of the present administration.

BTW, the first chart is more than a little deceptive in its design.

Anyway, with all that said, we still need to look at this issue. Our manufacturing has taken a downturn in the last couple of years and America must face up to the fact that we are pricing ourselves out of the business. But I will contend (IMHO) that it isn't wages that are the primary culprit, but over-regulation, excessive tort, and unfunded governmental mandates that are choking our business environment.

Dubya needs to do what Reagan started to do - Get the government off the backs of the people!