# Why can't Biden get more traction from the economy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 18, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736 "2024-05-18T13:12:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/343 "2024-05-22T02:10:39Z")
> [@SyncoSmalls](#): > > Biden: “America has been through a lot since COVID, and my administration has done a lot to keep the economy as strong as it can be throughout this time. Although I’m proud of the successes we have had in creating new jobs, getting wages up, and combating inflation—and the majority of the public is feeling positive about their financial position—_others still need help. My plan going forward is yadda yadda yadda_” Great minds think alike: > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “We’ve done a lot to rebuild our economy after 2020, and COVID. We’re creating jobs, and our economy is growing. But, I recognize that there are still issues – things that are hitting many of you in your wallets. The price of food, housing, and energy is still high, and even though wages have gone up, it hasn’t been enough to make up for that. Being able to buy your own home feels impossible for many of us. That has to change, and that _will_ change, and **here are my plans to change it.** ” ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/345 "2024-05-22T03:37:25Z")
He didn’t specifically mention COVID but he say that when he came into office, people were expecting the US economy to collapse, while we now have the strongest economy in the world, so COVID was the obvious subtext. I am really finding it hard to see substantial differences between what he said and what you wanted him to say. Maybe he emphasized one aspect more or approached issues from a different direction, or in a different order or had a different word choice, but you made it sound like he was completely off base in this interview, and I just don’t see it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/346 "2024-05-22T04:07:52Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > This may be accurate but is not particularly helpful. I was striving for accuracy over “helpfulness” since I don’t think anyone here is on Biden’s re-election campaign 😉 Not sure why you chose to drop a link to the Misery Index in under me admitting whatever but it was interesting. Forebodingly, no one won re-election with a rating as high as Biden’s with the exception of Reagan who came into office based on the inflation under Carter and then saw significant decreases during his term. I’m skipping Nixon for the obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/347 "2024-05-22T04:55:06Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Not sure why you chose to drop a link to the Misery Index in under me admitting whatever but it was interesting. Oooops! That was supposed to be a link to this [post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/218). I think I clicked the link button on your post but forget to copy it to clip board and instead copied a link that was on my clipboard because I had considered (but decided against) including it elsewhere in my post. I was not blaming you for any misery that anyone might feel. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/348 "2024-05-22T16:16:30Z")
Split this topic on May 22, 2024, 4:16pm UTC A post was merged into an existing topic: [SyncoSmalls trocking thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syncosmalls-trocking-thread/1001913/109) ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/349 "2024-05-22T11:37:07Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/109): > > Communication is an art and it has never been Biden’s strength. [Axelrod’s analysis of Biden’s weaknesses in this interview matches mine.](https://youtu.be/9ZYwcfHzRbs?si=f-JU8cvG7hswooYF) Biden is never a smooth interview and often gaffes. This was true even when he was much younger. I think he has to clean up things like “I inherited 9% inflation”, but otherwise Biden is gonna be Biden. The thing I actually liked in that interview was some combativeness, which shows he has a pulse. People need to see that in Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/350 "2024-05-22T16:13:02Z")
Something I thought of from another thread: suppose a very large number of people believed the country was in a recession, but the numbers didn’t justify that. Does that mean we really are in a recession, because an extremely large number of people’s personal financial situation make them _feel_ like it? Would that mean that the definition of recession should change? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/351 "2024-05-22T17:30:47Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Right. Because if there’s one thing that’s going to net votes for Biden this November, it’s telling people to be happy they’re not on food stamps. While Trump and his buddies talk taking away the food stamps and a myriad of other things. You might not need food stamps yourself but it shows a lack of empathy. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/352 "2024-05-22T22:01:16Z")
As mentioned earlier - it’s a vibecession. Everything is looking good for a significant majority of Americans, but they think EVERYONE ELSE is struggling. Can’t imagine why people would think that, given how people are complaining they can’t…_checks notes_…take a weeklong vacation to Mexico on JUST their big raise. Oh, and since it’s clear Biden is to blame for grocery prices - everyone hear how he lowered grocery prices at Target? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/353 "2024-05-23T13:02:52Z")
I think anyone who calls it a “vibecession” is incredibly out of touch with what is like to be a young adult in this economy. People are moving out of homes later, buying houses later (or never), having kids later (or never) and have way more debt. The traditional path to the American Dream is effectively dead for this generation. These aren’t feeling this is reality. The biggest danger for Biden is coming off this out of touch. Young people do not like Trump, but they are not going to be inclined to support someone who brushes away the systematic challenged they face, largely caused by these prior generations, as vibes. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/354 "2024-05-23T13:34:49Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > I think anyone who calls it a “vibecession” is incredibly out of touch with what is like to be a young adult in this economy. People are moving out of homes later, buying houses later (or never), having kids later (or never) and have way more debt. The traditional path to the American Dream is effectively dead for this generation. As someone not of that generation, I have as much empathy I can for the situation you describe. I’d urge those voters to consider Biden’s ongoing efforts to reduce student debt, and the GOP’s ongoing efforts to block them. It’s not enough, but it’s _something_. But I have very little empathy for people of my age and professional status who complain that the economy is miserable because inflation hit 8% for a few months. I can remember the double-digit inflation of the 70s and am aware of the truly catastrophic inflation that wiped out entire populations’ savings in nations such as Zimbabwe and Argentina. If you think Biden’s doing a bad job because gas costs $4/gallon, get some fucking perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/355 "2024-05-23T14:01:47Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > I think anyone who calls it a “vibecession” is incredibly out of touch with what is like to be a young adult in this economy. People are moving out of homes later, buying houses later (or never), having kids later (or never) and have way more debt. The traditional path to the American Dream is effectively dead for this generation. These aren’t feeling this is reality. Oh please, that’s my situation, too. But I don’t ascribe MY situation to EVERYONE’S situation and cry about the bad feelings it brings. Because the numbers (reality) say that’s not the case. If you feel like the economy is shit because your situation is shit - that’s a vibecession. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/356 "2024-05-23T14:43:22Z")
Nothing I described was about people’s individual situation. The average age of a person buying a house is higher then it ever has before. That is an economic statistic not a feeling. And it is a statistic that tells a story about why the younger generations does not agree the economy is great. Hey look we screwed your generation but things are great for the rest of us is not a very compelling argument. I do think Biden has done a good job and he doesn’t need to convince me to vote for him. But he does need these votes to win. And he has done some things to help, like student loans, but even those plans tend to be designed to help people well out of college and not younger adults. It isn’t an easy problem, given the limits of Biden power, and the tendency of the electorate to blame whoever is in charge, but it is what he needs to do. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/357 "2024-05-23T14:59:00Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > The average age of a person buying a house is higher then it ever has before. First-time buyers? (Asking for clarification.) Otherwise, I would expect that to go up just due to the rising of the median age. Part of the issue is that the most salient factor in terms of making it easier for people to buy houses - zoning - is out of the President’s control. Instead, politicians have to cater to the wishes of loads of suburbanite homeowners who have a vested interest in keeping housing prices in general and their houses in particular going up in value. Throw in private equity investors throwing money at existing properties to turn them into rentals rather than investing in new construction, and you have a political-economic cauldron of perverse incentives. I keep telling people around here that if they really want to do something about our homeless population and associated problems, they need to vote in favor of more housing - but people don’t want apartments in their backyards. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/358 "2024-05-23T15:33:33Z")
Yeah sorry first time [buyers.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/average-homebuyer-age-millennial-data-realtor/) And I’m not saying Biden is at fault on this or the other issues, but if you are asking why Biden isn’t getting more credit on the ecomony, there are are some very real challenges facing millennials that is going to color their views on how things are. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/359 "2024-05-23T22:00:36Z")
Check it out, it’s apparently a selective recession. [Recession Outlook: 'Selective' Downturn Is Here As Low-Income Households Struggle](https://www.businessinsider.com/recession-outlook-economy-hard-landing-jpmorgan-forecast-low-income-wealth-2024-5) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/360 "2024-05-23T22:41:50Z")
A lot of that analysis is based on answers to polls though, and polls have also revealed that half of Americans think unemployment is at a record _high_ and the stock market has _fallen_. > **[Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession – and most blame Biden](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/22/poll-economy-recession-biden)** > > Exclusive Harris poll for the Guardian shows 55% believe economy is shrinking, in troubling sign for president’s re-election bid So, I will accept that it’s true that people at the bottom have gotten the raw end of the deal, as they always do. It’s also true though, that a lot of people are being seriously misinformed. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/361 "2024-05-23T23:02:01Z")
The other thing is that being employed and being **well** -employed are totally different things. You can be fully employed at a minimum wage job, with your debt worsening by a thousand dollars every month. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/362 "2024-05-23T23:51:32Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > So, I will accept that it’s true that people at the bottom have gotten the raw end of the deal, as they always do. It’s also true though, that a lot of people are being seriously misinformed. This is what we’ve been saying all along in this thread. People are extremely mis-informed in this country, and this is the uphill climb that Biden has. There are legitimate situations where people are struggling. But geez, when I see that people think we’re at record high unemployment…it makes me weep for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/363 "2024-05-24T00:16:21Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > People are extremely mis-informed in this country, Mind if I fine tune that just a bit? “There is an organized group deliberately misinforming the people in this country” You can have the best built car in the world driven by the world’s top driver, but that car goes nowhere if someone steals the tires and pours sugar in the gas tank. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=17)