Danospano said:
Sting2, yes I would be interested in where you get your statistics. I had a source, and you listed quite a few persuasive statistics, but they're meaningless unless you have proof from neutral sources.
The goal of the Iraq "war" was to secure Americans freedoms. This conflict has created more hostility from all corners of the world, because everyone who knows the facts know it was primarily a war for oil that benefits a small percentage of wealthy American's interests.
Why protest during the convention? I think the answer lies in why President Bush won't conduct a live interview, why he won't confront his critics or allow tough questions to be asked during press conferences and rallies. If the enemy ignores you, why not knock on their front door, ehh? If Bush answered the questions the American people are asking, perhaps he wouldn't be harassed to this degree.
By the way, I think this protest is beautiful and inspiring! Amen! I can't believe they've been passing Madison Square Garden for the past 4 1/2 hours and they're still coming! Holy Cow!
I get my economic statistics primarily from 3 area's.
1) Macroeconomics: Principles, Problems, and Policies
Thirteenth Edition
Authored by:
Campbell R. McConnell (Professor of Economics, University of Nebraska)
Stanley L. Brue (Professor of Economics, Pacific Lutheran University)
McGraw-Hill, INC. Copyright 1996
This book has a wide range of economic statistics for the United States for the years 1929 all the way to 1994.
2) The World Book Ecyclopedia publishes an annual Yearbook every year that has a substantial amount of statistics on all countries around the world as well as the key economic indicators for the United States. I often turn to these annual volumes to fill in the statistics from 1994 up to last year.
3) For the most recent economic statistics as well as comparisons with other countries, the Economist Magazine that comes out every week as these figures in the back. Economic statistics, on unemployment, inflation, etc are compiled on a monthly basis.
4) The United Nations "Development Reports" at
http://hdr.undp.org/ have all kinds of statistics for virtually every country in the world including its annual ranking for standard of living.
Oh and for the Herbert Hoover years that you claim are comparitive to the current economic conditions under George Bush lets look at the facts:
Unemployment: Hoover 24.9% Bush 5.5%
GDP Growth: Hoover minus 28.5%(the reduction in real GDP from 1929 to 1933)
Bush plus 4.8% ( the GDP growth rate for the 2nd quarter of 2004)
Inflation: minus 5.1%(Deflation) Bush 3%
Deflation is the opposite of inflation but is potentially more serious than inflation.
The United States and other member states of the United Nations have been involved for the past 12 years in attempt to get Saddam to fully comply with 17 United Nations Resolutions as well as the UN 1991 Gulf War Ceacefire agreement that authorized the use of military force against Saddam if he failed to meet the conditions and requirments of the above resolutions and ceacefire agreement.
Saddam NEVER verifiably disarmed of all WMD and failed to comply with a single UN resolution in regards to other matters as well. Sanctions, a weapons embargo, diplomacy, limited military action, had all failed achieve the requirments of the UN resolutions which included having Saddam verifiably disarmed.
Do to the impact on the security of the region and the world, and the failure of alternative means to resolve the situation, military action to resolve the issues became a necessity.
It is a fact that the Planet heavily relies on energy from the Persian Gulf Region. The Planet cannot afford to have its current energy supplies threatened with siezure or Sabotage. If such threats were to materialize the resulting situation would make the Great Depression seem like a picnic.
The abundent supply and free flow of oil, from the Persian Gulf, drives down the price of energy and benefits the poorest people in society the most! The Oil from the Persian Gulf keeps the price of energy down significantly and the people that benefit the most from low cost for energy are the people that have trouble paying for gas or heating their home!
Several Oil companies here in the United States would actually benefit from Persian Gulf Oil being reduced or taken off the market entirely. Supply and competition keep the price of energy low. Average people benefit as well as the economy when this happens to its greatest effect, not the oil companies or rich people in Washington. They generally like to see higher prices.
I actually do find your answer on why people are protesting at the convention to this degree to be a good and interesting one. I will acknowledge that the President has had less press conferences and interviews than recent presidents. Its still an open question though if the liberal left would be easier on him if he was in fact more open to a degree of their liking.
The people marching in New York City are not representive of most Americans and most would never even considering voting for a Republican. This is the liberal wing of the democratic party and if their not careful, they can hurt Kerry's chances of being elected president.