As president Bush gets ready to leave office, how did we get into our current mess?

Question

with so many economic things being the worst in 18 years, worst in 31 years,. worst since the great depression etc....and so many records being set that are not the kind of records you want to be setting...how did we get started down this wrong path that even 75% of americans agree that we are on...and what do we do to get back on the right path and do the things that had made the USA so so successful since the end of world war 2 and even earlier?

Answer 1

It has nothing to do with the President, it has to do with the general mentality of people, and don't expect it to get any better.  Here is an example, people don't want to drill for oil, but they think gas costs too much.  You can't have it both ways, either you want less gas, the result of not looking for more (which drives the price up) or you want more gas (which drives the price down) - blaming someone else (the government) won't change it (and by the way, I am not saying that either position is wrong, but thinking that you can be for both IS). On that same topic, saying that the government should force us to buy smaller cars, when we already have the option of buying smaller cars on our own makes no sense either (it really means that we want SOMEONE ELSE to be forced to buy a small car or that we are not smart enough to do what we think is right on our own) .  This is what is wrong and it's going to get worse, so get use to it.

Answer 2

Our congress spends faster than they can tax us!  The average Americans have tightened their purse strings, I think it's time our elected officials do that with our tax dollars.  

Answer 3

The current mess was mostly caused by the repeal of the Glass-Siegel Act (leading to erosion in the FIRE economic sector (finance/insurance/real estate) and the invasion of Iraq which led to the oil crises and infaltion.

A study of our path detailing the history leading to the current situation is explored in the book "Limits of Power" by Andrew Bacevich.

Answer 4

Bi-partisan politics..plain and simple..ever since Bush came into office it has been the democrats plan to sabotage every effort Bush has tried to do...from inserting ridiculous provisions inn bills to undermining the war.

Answer 5

Partly Bush, Partly Congress, and the rest the American public who doesn't give a d**n.

Answer 6

oh please. nothing is a 'mess' constructed by GBush.

people should be making the white house and crawford tx a pilgrimage to pay homage to the man who wasn't afraid to protect the us.

what diverted us from the path of prosperity was the left...insisting on failed socialist protocols in every aspect of life and government.

Answer 7

You are paying too much attention to the doom and gloom mongers in the main stream media.  Look at your own personal situation.  If you are employed and are making enough money to live on, that is a good thing.

If you have money, now is the time to buy stocks.  

Answer 8

The rise in gas prices and the crash of the housing market are to blame, both of which Bush has little control over.  Predatory lenders, ignorant home buyers and the greedy nations of OPEC are to blame.

Answer 9

Yes it is Bush's fault. The Iraq war for one and the relaxation of the usury laws in 2005 the other. This allowed banks to squeeze higher  interest payments out of people who were less likely to be able to pay it back. In other words, stealing from the poor to give to the rich.