Stock Market or jobs?

[SolaSaint]

I was listening to Juan Williams defend the Presidents comment "The Private sector is just fine" with stating how well the DOW and NASDAQ have done since 2009. It was pitifully funny.

However it does raise the question, what would most Americans say is more important to the economy, a rising Stock Market or creating jobs? I would say jobs but I'm no economist. What do you say?

 

[billwald]

It no longer matters what most Americans say, does it?

 

[SolaSaint]

Obviously true brother.

 

[Sapper Woody]

It no longer matters what most Americans say, does it?

And this answers the question how? Another second post de-rail by you. You're on a roll.

To the OP: The stock markets are an indication of how well businesses are doing profit-wise. If stocks are up, then the businesses are doing good. So, the statement, "The private sectors are doing fine" is in fact, true. However, it does not take into account the unemployed. The job market is hurting, and the only way to remedy this is growth. We rely too much on imports, and don't export enough.

This is why our economy is often compared to China's. However, their economic model can not exist without growth. Their entire economy relies on growth, whereas ours will work fine once we get to the level of sustainability.

 

[saturneptune]

Not always, but the market is generally an indicator of future job growth. The more people work, the more they buy and save, and stock value increases. The major obstacle to growth is government fix it schemes. It would be one thing if politicians were more concerned about the working citizens and the economy more than their reelection and clinging to tax dollars and poltical power.

 

[targus]

To the OP: The stock markets are an indication of how well businesses are doing profit-wise. If stocks are up, then the businesses are doing good.

Not always.

Many thing effect stock prices...

Speculation
Overseas operations
Lack of anywhere else to invest
False rumors
Interest rates
The money supply
The real estate market

In additional most businesses are not publicly traded so the stock market represents a relatively small portion of the economy.

 

[freeatlast]

I doubt that very many Americans even understand the stock market. Most would say jobs. However the truth is that if the market is down jobs are usually depressed, and if it is up that does not mean there will be jobs because the market can be artificially inflated as it has been for all this year.
While many Americans want jobs to increase the truth is that many will not take certain jobs when offered. What needs to be done is stop paying these long term unemployment benefits and force people to take what ever job they can get and that alone will have the effect of turning things around and yes many will have to move or do things that are not their first choice, like picking fruit or what ever else has to be done.

 

[InTheLight]

what is more important to the economy, a rising Stock Market or creating jobs? I would say jobs but I'm no economist. What do you say?

Creating jobs. Creating jobs means there is a demand for goods and services. It means consumption is occurring. People are buying and selling things and producers of goods and services are running short of people to make their stuff. More stuff is being made and consumed, more people need to be brought in to make more stuff. The money multiplier factor is in full swing.

A rising stock market is usually indicative of a growing economy but there are too many other factors that can affect the stock market. Growing jobs is a real, tangible indicator of economic health.

 

[billwald]

100 years, even 50 years ago people invested in companies that were well managed and sold a good product at a fair price. These days the stock market is a crap shoot played by high speed computers. The big players have their computer located in Manhattan because the microsecond it saves over a computer in Florida gives them an edge.

 

[freeatlast]

100 years, even 50 years ago people invested in companies that were well managed and sold a good product at a fair price. These days the stock market is a crap shoot played by high speed computers. The big players have their computer located in Manhattan because the microsecond it saves over a computer in Florida gives them an edge.

50 to 100 years ago the average person had nothing to do with the market as it was almost all big players. Today it is fed by retirement plans.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Around 60 years ago a traveling salesman tried to my grandfather to put $100 into some $1 stock in a fledgling company named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Unfortunately grandma talked grandpa out of it.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Around 60 years ago a traveling salesman tried to my grandfather to put $100 into some $1 stock in a fledgling company named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Unfortunately grandma talked grandpa out of it.

I worked with a fellow who retired from the military in the 1950's or early '60's. He had about $10,000 in savings. He called his aunt, who was known as a savvy investor and asked her for advice. She said, "There is a little company here in Texas named Texas Instruments. I believe it will do well."

He invested the entire amount in TI. When I knew him he was only working so he would not be bored ... he was a multimillionaire.

 

[InTheLight]

I have a friend that bought 1,000 shares of Apple when it was $19 a share. It closed at $572.19 today.

 

[billwald]

>50 to 100 years ago the average person had nothing to do with the market as it was almost all big players.

When I was a kid my (blue collar) father and grandfather invested in stocks. Back then the annual reports had "National Geographic" quality photos illustrating the business and I looked at all of them.

 

[SolaSaint]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm learning a lot about the economy in here. What do you all think the stimulus did for the economy, you know the 800 Billion input into the economy. Did this just prop up the stocks or did it create jobs, if it did where are they...were they all govt jobs? I'm confused.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm learning a lot about the economy in here. What do you all think the stimulus did for the economy, you know the 800 Billion input into the economy. Did this just prop up the stocks or did it create jobs, if it did where are they...were they all govt jobs? I'm confused.

It padded the pockets of the union bosses and political insiders.

 

[freeatlast]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm learning a lot about the economy in here. What do you all think the stimulus did for the economy, you know the 800 Billion input into the economy. Did this just prop up the stocks or did it create jobs, if it did where are they...were they all govt jobs? I'm confused.

This is an issue that President Obama gets a lot of flack on. One reason is that he over stated what the stimulus would do and then there was very poor oversight with the money. There is no question that it made some of the rich richer, but by doing so I believe that it also kept the economy from going totally down the tube. Because of what was happening at the time I really see no other alternative then what he did. While it could not be called a total fix, actually more of a patch, it was a partial save by bailing out certain financial institutions as well as some companies.

The problem is that it has created a false sense of security and this will all come to a head at some point down the road because of the massive debt and when it does it will be impossible to correct by throwing funny money at it. While I am not in favor of this President and his policies it is my opinion he did the only thing he could under the circumstances at the time. The congress, both Republican and Democrat, and past presidents including Ronald Reagan brought this mess about which actually blew up under President Bushes watch, but he dumped it on the current President. It is just the draw of the cards and we are now living on borrowed time before this house all comes tumbling down.

 

[SolaSaint]

Thanks free

 

[InTheLight]

This is an issue that President Obama gets a lot of flack on. One reason is that he over stated what the stimulus would do and then there was very poor oversight with the money. There is no question that it made some of the rich richer, but by doing so I believe that it also kept the economy from going totally down the tube. Because of what was happening at the time I really see no other alternative then what he did. While it could not be called a total fix, actually more of a patch, it was a partial save by bailing out certain financial institutions as well as some companies.

I think you are confusing TARP, the bank bailout plan under Bush, with Obama's stimulus plan (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.)

Obama's stimulus plan probably saved a lot more jobs than it created. Most jobs saved were teachers, firefighters, policemen, and construction workers (read union members). The stimulus plan also provided funds for infrastructure projects like highway improvement, bridge repair, wastewater treatment. Also 'green' projects like insulation of federal buildings, and loan guarantees to 'green' companies. There was a big chunk of money for Medicaid and money for extending unemployment benefits.

No Republican voted for the stimulus plan.

 

[freeatlast]

I think you are confusing TARP, the bank bailout plan under Bush, with Obama's stimulus plan (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.)

Obama's stimulus plan probably saved a lot more jobs than it created. Most jobs saved were teachers, firefighters, policemen, and construction workers (read union members). The stimulus plan also provided funds for infrastructure projects like highway improvement, bridge repair, wastewater treatment. Also 'green' projects like insulation of federal buildings, and loan guarantees to 'green' companies. There was a big chunk of money for Medicaid and money for extending unemployment benefits.

No Republican voted for the stimulus plan.

I understand the difference between the two and you are incorrect about no Republican voting for the stimulas plan. The republicans made it possible