# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Boudicca90](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boudicca90/32/16818_2.png) [@Boudicca90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boudicca90)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/137 "2024-05-19T21:28:00Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > So, there have always been people like you out there. Where do you live (state or metro area) and what do you do for a job? Love how you just dismiss my very real experiences with a “So?”, that kind of attitude doesn’t help things. I live in California and I live off of VA disability rated at 100%. I can’t work without having my benefits slashed, and would end up with less money in the end. ---
**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 19, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/138 "2024-05-19T22:01:46Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > So, there have always been people like you out there And presumably such people have always felt downbeat about the economy. Between “Biden 2024: Just Be Happy You’re Not On Fucking Food Stamps” and “Biden/Harris: So What? There’s Always Been Poor People”, I’m going to run out of space on my car’s bumper with all this great economic messaging. ---
**Author:** ![Boudicca90](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boudicca90/32/16818_2.png) [@Boudicca90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boudicca90)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/139 "2024-05-19T22:05:22Z")
Yep, the lack of empathy here is very telling. I guess the plan is to just gaslight us until we believe the economy is terrific! ---
**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:** [May 19, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/140 "2024-05-19T22:06:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > “Biden 2024: Just Be Happy You’re Not On Fucking Food Stamps” A bumper sticker slogan that you created. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/141 "2024-05-19T22:06:52Z")
> [@Boudicca90](#): > > Love how you just dismiss my very real experiences with a “So?”, that kind of attitude doesn’t help things. Just my $0.02. I did NOT read that “so” as a question or a minimization of your situation. I read it as the way many people start a sentence, particularly in _spoken_ English. And I mean _many_ people. It was a comma, not a question mark. To me, that’s meaningful. Could be wrong, but … ---
**Author:** ![Boudicca90](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boudicca90/32/16818_2.png) [@Boudicca90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boudicca90)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/142 "2024-05-19T22:09:30Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Just my $0.02. > > I did NOT read that “so” as a question or a minimization of your situation. > > I read it as the way many people start a sentence, particularly in _spoken_ English. > > And I mean _many_ people. > > It was a comma, not a question mark. To me, that’s meaningful. > > Could be wrong, but … I was summarizing his attitude there. It was absolutely what he meant. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/143 "2024-05-19T22:17:13Z")
> [@Boudicca90](#): > > I guess the plan is to just gaslight us until we believe the economy is terrific! I think the “plan” (narrator: there isn’t one) is to recognize that nobody has said “the economy is terrific”, and to recognize that not everyone is doing great… While at the same time seeing that the overall economic indicators for the country are positive, and have improved a shit - ton since Trump was at the helm. I recognize this is nuanced. But work with me here. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/144 "2024-05-19T22:17:40Z")
Don’t take a “so” as dismissive. It’s just how I talk sometimes. I wanted to get better understanding of your situation. And I will note that we’ve always had a very unequal society. It breaks my heart to see Veterans barely scraping by. I consider it a long-term problem that persists regardless of the macro-numbers. Some of you are overly sensitive. No dismissal intended. ---
**Author:** ![Boudicca90](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boudicca90/32/16818_2.png) [@Boudicca90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boudicca90)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/145 "2024-05-19T22:26:51Z")
I have doubts this is true given your attitudes throughout the thread, but okay sure. But no, our society has definitely become more and more unequal over time, and income inequality shows no sign of reversing course. > **[Income Inequality - Inequality.org](https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/)** > > Inequality in earnings between America's most affluent and the rest of the country continue to grow year after year. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/146 "2024-05-19T22:37:21Z")
> [@Boudicca90](#): > > I’m 39 and everyone I know in my generation including me are just struggling to keep our heads above water. You think they got it bad? I hear some folks can’t afford Mexican vacations or a trip to Disneyland. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/147 "2024-05-19T22:37:49Z")
People should vote for who they think will do a better job addressing their needs. If you think Trump will improve your economic situation and that is your most important issue, then by all means you should vote for Trump. ---
**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 19, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/149 "2024-05-19T22:48:33Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > If you think Trump will improve your economic situation and that is your most important issue, then by all means you should vote for Trump. Well, sure. But the thread is about why Biden is having trouble convincing people that HE will be best for their economic situation. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/150 "2024-05-19T22:51:07Z")
No, this is thread about why the supposed attitudes of supposed Biden supporters is causing people to not vote for him. Nothing to do with any actual economic message from Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Boudicca90](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boudicca90/32/16818_2.png) [@Boudicca90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boudicca90)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/151 "2024-05-19T22:51:21Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You think they got it bad? I hear some folks can’t afford Mexican vacations or a trip to Disneyland. I’m sure the reason they can’t afford them is Starbucks and avocado toast, right? 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/152 "2024-05-19T22:54:11Z")
I hesitate to give a “this is my experience which one might use to extrapolate why other similar people could feel down on the economy” example, but here it is: I’ve been on the market for a house for ~3 years. The combination of having some specific needs and an incredibly hot market have meant it’s taken a long time. After year 1 of the house search, I switched jobs and am now making about 70% more than I was before, and am able to turn that into maybe $10k of additional savings a year. When I got that raise/new job I thought “finally… I’ve got a great salary, and will be able to afford the kind of house we want.” Nope. The increase in income enabled us to afford close to (but not quite) the same houses we could have bought three years ago. That’s been a frustrating experience. I don’t blame Biden, but I absolutely feel like the “promise” of the American economy has been pulled out from under me. ---
**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 19, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/153 "2024-05-19T22:54:34Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > No, this is thread about why the supposed attitudes of supposed Biden supporters is causing people to not vote for him. From the OP: > [@survinga](#): > > How are we sitting here with 60+% of the public thinking we have a bad economy, and Biden is at fault? I don’t get it. It’s not about “Supposed Biden supporters”, it’s about the voting population as a whole and why 60+% are down on the economy. Unless you think 60% of the population is Biden supporters in which case, hey, great news for Biden! ---
**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 19, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/154 "2024-05-19T22:55:50Z")
Got any response to what Biden and Company are _actually_ saying to Americans? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/155 "2024-05-19T23:07:05Z")
> [@Boudicca90](#): > > I’m sure the reason they can’t afford them is Starbucks and avocado toast, right? 🙄 No clue. No one I know has money to burn at Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/156 "2024-05-19T23:11:15Z")
It’s standard retail politics. Every politician wants to take credit during a booming economy. “Our policies are working!”. When things go south, they want to act like spectators or blame the other guy. They have to thread that needle carefully. Is it “fair” to blame a president for even half of this stuff? Of course not, but as the saying goes “All’s fair in Love & War”. For my part most of it is a distraction. Presidents, and Congress even, just don’t move the scales that much. They can f&@$k a lot of things up, and they do, but a lot of the damage to the economy is done over the long term by regulatory agencies. This provides needed cover for politicians. 20 years ago something like 90 million people were on “food stamps”. Doubt that has improved since then. I don’t know how “unemployment” numbers are calculated but I’m sure they are pretty much nonsense on bath salts. Modern retail politics is geared towards bribing the public for votes, or tax cuts, etc etc. Old school elections revolved around good jobs to some degree. We don’t hear too much about that, or offshoring of industries. Unions were a hugely powerful political force. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736/157 "2024-05-19T23:16:14Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > After year 1 of the house search, I switched jobs and am now making about 70% more than I was before, and am able to turn that into maybe $10k of additional savings a year. The math seems weird, here. I presume you were making more than $14k before, right? So a 70% raise should mean that you can save a lot more than $10k more than you were before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-biden-get-more-traction-from-the-economy/1001736.md?page=8)