Joe Scab nailed it on the head re: today's economic numbers:

[Atman]

"UNBELIEVABLE!"

Yes, Joe. Literally, unbelievable.

Basically, the best economy in years. Well, four years to be exact, which isn't saying much when you consider where we were four years ago. And I'm sure they'll revise the smashing 166,000 jobs number downward once they've milked the headlines. But supposedly, even WAGES are increasing faster than inflation. If that isn't the ultimate tip-off that they're lying through their teeth to give the Republicans something good to campaign on, I don't know what is. How's your salary doing? How are those grocery bills? Which is growing faster? Do you believe BushCo or your own lying eyes?

I think I figured out the wage number, though. It's the Bill Gates theory. All Bush's CEO buddies are making astronomical salaries, which brings the "average" up for everybody. I don't see any other way they can be claiming wage increases are outpacing inflation. No way in hell. Just watch...all these numbers will quietly be revised downward in a week or two, quiely, while some other Britney distraction is plastered all over the news.

"UNBELIEVABLE!" Joe has never been more correct!

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[dmallind]

1. Not sure which index you mean but

isn't it normal to use median rather than mean incomes for these things - which would greatly reduce the impact of the already very low number of massive earners?

[Atman]

2. What is normal doesn't necessarily count with BushCo

We already know they've rejiggered the entire way they figure the numbers. Maybe they've changed the way the calculate wages, too. I just responded to another thread in which it was stated that wages are down. Someone is full of crap, and given BushCo's track record in the LIE department, I'd guess they're simply playing with the numbers. They have to give the party something to run on. What else have they got? We denied your kids health care? We're about to invade another non-threatening country? We've destroyed the planet? We've made enemies of every nation on earth? Those aren't big vote getters.

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[Atman]

3. No comments, eh? Surprising.

Every day I've been watching the news and they're talking about the impending recession, inflation, poor wages not keeping pace, etc...but today we get an absolutely stellar report. You'd think it was a gold rush or something. Curious.

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