[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Didn't we have double digit inflation and unemployment during Carter? How can anyone compare that to Bush's economy?

Simple. You just redefine the "misery index".

[Redcoat LI]

Simple. You just redefine the "misery index".

Another brilliant campaign item from the geniuses in KerryLand,that really worked well for him

Wishing does not make it so, Mr.Liberal columnist-man.

[arthurus]

Inflation will beincreasingly noticeable before the election because it is in the system. We have been inflating for a couple of years now. Up to now the extra dollars have all been washing out to Europe but they are coming back. It is not something that can be fixed quickly and the main reason for the Carter inflation (which was begun with Nixon) were the continuing attempts to bring it under control by short fixes and patches. When those fixes seemed to have no effect because it takes the whole 40 acres to turn this rig around- at least several quarters- more fixes were put in and ultimately made it all much worse.

The "devaluation" effected by W is the very stuff of inflation and we are beginning to feel it now. The price of oil will not come back down because the dollar is cheaper and it simply takes more of them to equal the same value that oil producers were receiving before.

Look at the prices in the supermarket. Most are climbing and the cheap storebrands are disappearing. The prices in the surplus bread stores are not so much less than in the Winn Dixie anymore and are higher than the grocery store prices were a few months ago. This is the beginning of it and all prices do not rise in the beginning. Computers are still cheap and cars have not gone up but they will.

If W's treasury and Fed take the necessary steps now to fix it, prices will keep going up right through the election before they stabilize and that will not gain W any advantage for November, so it will not be done. Fixing it after a W win will cause short term pain and appear to complicate the war effort so it will not be fixed.

Remember, W is a self avowed Keynesian, albeit a "conservative" Keynesian who will make the typical Keynesian errors (that are not errors to a "liberal" Keynesian because they keep the society off balance and easier to bring under government controls on everything.

If Kerry is elected he will replicate Carter in that his administration will pour fuel on the inflationary fire trying in futility to tinker and adjust the economy. It will cost him reelection but whatever the outcome in November we are in for 70s redux for a long time to come.