How can knowledge of economics can be utilized at the polls?

little D: How can knowledge of economics can be utilized at the polls?
A knowledge of economics would make us wiser when it comes to making decisions about who to elect as our leaders. Can anyone give examples of how your knowledge of economics can be utilized at the polls? How would you decide on whom to vote for next time?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Julian
I think if people had a good grasp of economics, even economics 101 they would better understand who would help our country and who would not. But there is a philosophical difference. Do we want a stronger democracy? If so a stronger middle class is the answer, therefore Obama or Hillary are by far the answer. If you want a stronger fascist government run by corporations in bed with the oligarchy, then McCain is your guy.

What people don’t get is that if you are 100% pro freemarket AND you don’t manufactor anything in your country (because corporations are loyal to their profit, not their country of origin) then your economy will fall apart. This is the republican stance and as the last 30years have proven it destroys the middle class, brings the corporations into government policy (they become indistinguishable which is the very definition of a fascist governemnt)

The only way to get corporations to stay in this country, to get manufactoring jobs back, new industries and markets, is by fixing NAFTA & GATT, regulate the corporations and reinvest in local communities, sustainable markets — these are democratic policies.

Edit in response: You have to look at more than GDP, you have to look at unemployment percent, inflation, value of the dollar, SINGLE avg income, percent uninsured, education levels, percentage in poverty, etc — these all factor into what a strong and growing economy is. Just because your GDP rises does not mean the countries wealth has grown and it’s better overall — it may mean that a small percentage got MUCH richer, while the rest got much poorer, yet it is still looks like growth if just looking at GDP — that’s not a stronger economy.

Answer by trovalta_stinks2
I would vote for the party that has a record of higher growth: Democrat.

McCain on the other hand has admitted on video to knowing little about the economy.

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HERE’S WHAT I DID:
I got the inflation adjusted GDP numbers from the BEA. I took the percent increase over 4 year intervals. I then ranked them from best to worst. Out of (((18))) 4 year intervals, the supply siders Reagan and Bush Jr ranked 8th, 12th, and 16th.

1 FDR (40′-44′) ______74.69%
2 FDR (32′-36′) ______34.62%
3 LBJ (64′-68′)_______21.81%
4 TRUMAN (48′-52′)__21.00%
5 JFK (60′-64′)_______19.86%
6 FDR (36′-40′) ______19.32%
7 CLINTON (96′-00′) __17.87%
8 REAGAN (84′-88′) __ 15.98%
9 CARTER (76′-80′)___13.67%
10 CLINTON (92′-96′)__13.53%
11 IKE (52′-56′)_______13.45%
12 REAGAN (80′-84′) __12.63%
13 NIXON (68′-72′)____12.38%
14 IKE (56′-60′)_______10.91%
15 FORD (72′-76′)_____10.62%
16 BUSH JR (00′-04′) ___ 9.03%
17 BUSH SR (88′-92′) ___8.81%
18 TRUMAN (44′-48′) __-9.04%

EXAMPLE CALCULATION

1996, 8,328.90 inflation adjusted billions of dollars
2000, 9,817.00 inflation adjusted billions of dollars

PERCENT CHANGE = (9817.0/8328.9 – 1.0)*100.0 = 17.87%

Answer by Sarah C
If you know anything about economics then you know that a free market (right wing) economy will always outperform a command (left wing) economy. Therefore the choice is pretty straightforward.

Answer by larrydaffern
My knowledge of economics has benefited me in my calculations of the time, gasoline and other considerations involved in voting versus whether my vote makes a difference in whether either candidate will really change anything. It’s first a matter of whether I should vote and then for whom I should vote.