# 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:** 28
**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:** [June 1, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/584 "2024-06-01T19:35:43Z")
No, but they _feel_ that Trump had better policies, and these feelings just popped into their heads, _totally_ independent of the organized effort to push that very same idea. And the fact that people get wet when they swim has absolutely nothing to do with the body of water they happen to be in at the time. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/585 "2024-06-01T19:36:18Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Guess this thread is moot then. I wouldn’t argue against that. The discussion has been interesting all the same. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/586 "2024-06-01T19:38:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And the fact that people get wet when they swim has absolutely nothing to do with the body of water they happen to be in at the time. Water was wetter under Trump! 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/587 "2024-06-01T19:39:25Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Unless there’s an essay portion on November’s ballot, it doesn’t really matter. **Crowmanyclouds** ’ point might kind of matter, at least a bit. Opinions are hard to change, but I’d expect unsupported ones to be a little mushier than supported ones. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/588 "2024-06-01T19:48:24Z")
And when they argue, say, that tariffs on Chinese goods punish China or a pipeline filled with Canadian oil intended for the open market makes America energy independent . . . I don’t know what to do with folks that are that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/589 "2024-06-01T20:22:06Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Water was wetter under Trump! > 🤪 Well, it was certainly cheaper under Trump. It was .99 a gallon and now it’s $1.39 a gallon. Which is more noticeable since it’s water. It’s not like the ingredients changed. The question is how noticeable is it to other people on a tight budget. I’ve noticed quite a few people walking away from their grocery purchase while staring at the receipt. I don’t know what they’re thinking about but it’s not likely to be about employment figures. Whether Biden is responsible for this doesn’t negate the perception that the economy is in distress based on the cost of living. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/590 "2024-06-01T20:24:52Z")
Magiver, can you clarify something? Do you think grocery prices factor into this to any extent? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/591 "2024-06-01T20:26:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Well, it was certainly cheaper under Trump. It was .99 a gallon and now it’s $1.39 a gallon. And it was cheaper under the President before him, and cheaper still under the President before _him_. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/592 "2024-06-01T20:28:32Z")
[![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Npo4BI+HL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Npo4BI+HL.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/593 "2024-06-01T20:32:56Z")
I’m old enough to remember when WTI went negative during Trump’s term. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/594 "2024-06-01T20:35:18Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Magiver, can you clarify something? Do you think grocery prices factor into this to any extent? Any prices people are regularly familiar with. The cost of fast food, groceries, gas. Any regular purchase that goes up. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/595 "2024-06-01T20:35:53Z")
Thanks. I wasn’t sure what your opinion was. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/596 "2024-06-01T20:46:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I’m old enough to remember when WTI went negative during Trump’s term. I’m old enough to remember Nixon taking a pasting over the oil embargo. When I was young gas was .25 a gallon and they filled the car for you along with a washed windshield… And I think it was Shell who gave away aluminum collector coins for kids. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/597 "2024-06-01T23:39:04Z")
Some people here are acting like the right wing spin machine is some all powerful force. Yes they make up things about the economy. They make up crap about everything else too. And most of it is ignored by anyone who isn’t lost to Maga. There is a current "scandal going around about a journal and shared bathing. It isn’t going to change anyone’s opinion on Biden. So why are they so much more susceptible to misinformation on economy. It is because it is reinforced by the reality around them everyday. Young people in aggregate hate the republican party. They know they are full of nonsense. They despise Trump. The problem is they don’t like Biden either. You are not going to make them like Biden more by complaining about the Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/598 "2024-06-01T23:58:11Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > There is a current "scandal going around about a journal and shared bathing. Current? That diary story is four years old. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/599 "2024-06-01T23:59:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Ooh - is it “Ignore it and accuse anyone who even mentions it of whining”? I think a little bit of that, along with the repetitive comments about how people think the unemployment rate is high, and we’re in a recession because the price of their cornflakes has gone up. (but just ignore the bullshit disinformation being spread to them 24/7 on all the media they consume.) ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/600 "2024-06-02T02:34:00Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Some people here are acting like the right wing spin machine is some all powerful force Nope. Nice strawman argument, though. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/601 "2024-06-02T05:30:18Z")
I think folks have been acting like the spin machine _EXISTS._ But nope. We’re told that the reason people think that unemployment is at a high, and we’re in a recession is that groceries cost more now. Like under past administrations, grocery costs had always gone down. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/602 "2024-06-02T05:38:56Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > We’re told that the reason people think that unemployment is at a high, and we’re in a recession is that groceries cost more now. Like under past administrations, grocery costs had always gone down. Well, no, but the level of inflation that we’ve seen over the past couple of years (particularly in 2022) was a level that we haven’t seen in the U.S. in decades, meaning that most people under 50 years old have no real frame of reference for it. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/603 "2024-06-02T13:12:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > the level of inflation that we’ve seen over the past couple of years (particularly in 2022) was a level that we haven’t seen in the U.S. in decades This, exactly. Worst inflation in this country since the late 70s. Which was a major factor in Carter not being re-elected. [U.S. Inflation Rate 1960-2024 | MacroTrends](https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/USA/united-states/inflation-rate-cpi#:~:text=U.S.%20inflation%20rate%20for%202022,a%200.63%25%20decline%20from%202018.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=29)