You said — “I agree - I think a lot of this crap is manufactured by the press. Shopping was hella crazy here in St. Louis. Amazon posted yesterday it had it’s best Christmas season ever...I’m not seeing all this doom and gloom.”
The problem I’m having with a lot of the comments on Free Republic is that although they *do* represent what people see, in the places where they are at — they are only anecdotal accounts and they do not bear on the economy in general.
I mean, there are reasons why one shopping center can be crowded and busy at the time I’m there, while another person found another one almost vacant. There are a variety of reasons which could have nothing to do with the overall economy — and on the other hand — they could have something to do with it.
The problem is — I don’t know what anecdotal account is representative of the true state of affairs.
Furthermore, when someone does try to bring in some “overall data” about “something” (it doesn’t matter what issue, actually), it is “discounted” by those who disagree with it, while those who agree with the data “confirm” it.
Thus, even the “data” (when presented) seems useless to many FReepers, depending on which side you’re on when saying it. And thus, even “data” is not used.
So, in the end — all that happens on Free Republic, with certain posters — is that “one’s political stance” is the filter and gateway that determines whether anything is true or not. It’s never true if it disagrees with “political stance” (whatever one’s stance is, and in many different subject areas).
Thus, all that is *actually established* — here, would be “political correctness” about what one *should think* — no matter what the accounts are and no matter what the data is...
That’s very unfortunate for Free Republic. It seems to be becoming less useful as a tool for discovering what the “real situation” is — i.e., the “truth” of the matter — regardless of “political correctness”...
It's no different than our regular 'FReeper on the Street' reports on other subject.
Why are comments from FReepers all over the US not reflective of the economy?
I find them very helpful.
I agree.
You really think that there is a source of information available that is not pushing somebody's agenda? Please tell me where?