The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest

[UncleBeer 244]

He waltz in the White House believing Solendra and electric cars were going to have a break-out in world wide demand we would roar into a Reagan Economy.

News flash: they're gonna try it again:

The U.S. Energy Department on Wednesday unveiled a plan for up to $4 billion in loan aid for renewable energy companies to help rejuvenate a program that faced harsh political attacks over past failures of federally subsidized projects.

The Obama administration’s draft plan would provide loan guarantees for innovative projects that limit or avoid greenhouse gas emissions.

It will specifically focus on advanced electric grid technology and storage, biofuels for conventional vehicles, energy from waste products and energy efficiency.

“We’re back in business,” Peter Davidson, executive director of the department’s loan programs office, told Reuters.

that is funny. when did we actually try using green energy to bring the economy back? when did that happen and fail?

Rip van Winkle (or Pinnochio). Are you really gonna make me put up all those links?

[Danno 1,228]

that is funny. when did we actually try using green energy to bring the economy back? when did that happen and fail?

Ahhh I'm thinkin you were not paying attention as all the money we dumped into those ventures "under performed" at best, in many cases the investment folded and the cash vaporized.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

you're wrong. the recession started under bush, picked up speed under obama, and has drug on due to his asinine policies.

it is YOU that is wrong. Demonstably so. And not surprisingly, I might add. The fact of the matter is that the US economy contracted 2% in Q3/08 and it contracted 8.3% in Q4/08. That was all solidly under Bush. The contraction then eased to 5.4% in Q1/09 and leveled off to 0.4% in Q2/09 before expanding again in Q3/09. It is clear from these numbers that contrary to your ridiculous claim there was no acceleration of the recession under Obama. Nor does your second ridiculous claim that the recession has drug on since hold water. The country came out of the receission in Q3/09 and has not since slipped back into a recession.

[decocker 7,198]

Ahhh I'm thinkin you were not paying attention as all the money we dumped into those ventures "under performed" at best, in many cases the investment folded and the cash vaporized.

still not proof that we have made the much needed change toward renewable energy sources and failed. you seem to think that obama hasn't met with the least bit of resistance either. you're long way off.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

You used a specific economic term: "depression". Maybe you should look that term up, as you don't seem to understand that it has specific meaning. It certainly wasn't a "depression". I'll pretend like you misrepresented the situation out of ignorance.

And, since VJ's feeble software blocked my "Reagan v. Obama recovery" graph, here it is again:

We're talking about Bush and Obama, not Reagan and Obama. It's like the GOP refuses to acknowledge those 8 years GWB was in office.

[JohnR! 5,495]

We're talking about Bush and Obama, not Reagan and Obama. It's like the GOP refuses to acknowledge those 8 years GWB was in office.

I think they are trying to erase it from their memories as quickly as they can.. as is everyone else...

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I think they are trying to erase it from their memories as quickly as they can.. as is everyone else...

I just find it funny that no so called conservatives want to even talk about Bush. If our country wasn't having issues before Obama took the helm, I can see it, but to them it's like we were living in paradise, then here comes this Muslim dictator...

[UncleBeer 244]

We're talking about Bush and Obama, not Reagan and Obama.

Look back on page 1, "smart guy".

[JohnR! 5,495]

I just find it funny that no so called conservatives want to even talk about Bush. If our country wasn't having issues before Obama took the helm, I can see it, but to them it's like we were living in paradise, then here comes this Muslim dictator...

It defies logic and it quite consistent with the hypocrisy that has defined the pos-TB GnOP: Before Obama there has never been a crisis or any other moment of hardship to our country. It all began with him, in 2009.

[UncleBeer 244]

still not proof that we have made the much needed change toward renewable energy sources and failed.

Ughh: gonna make me do this, eh?

The complete list of faltering or bankrupt green-energy companies:

Evergreen Solar ($25 million)*

SpectraWatt ($500,000)*

Solyndra ($535 million)*

Beacon Power ($43 million)*

Nevada Geothermal ($98.5 million)

SunPower ($1.2 billion)

First Solar ($1.46 billion)

Babcock and Brown ($178 million)

EnerDel’s subsidiary Ener1 ($118.5 million)*

Amonix ($5.9 million)

Fisker Automotive ($529 million)

Abound Solar ($400 million)*

A123 Systems ($279 million)*

Willard and Kelsey Solar Group ($700,981)*

Johnson Controls ($299 million)

Schneider Electric ($86 million)

Brightsource ($1.6 billion)

ECOtality ($126.2 million)

Raser Technologies ($33 million)*

Energy Conversion Devices ($13.3 million)*

Mountain Plaza, Inc. ($2 million)*

Olsen’s Crop Service and Olsen’s Mills Acquisition Company ($10 million)*

Range Fuels ($80 million)*

Thompson River Power ($6.5 million)*

Stirling Energy Systems ($7 million)*

Azure Dynamics ($5.4 million)*

GreenVolts ($500,000)

Vestas ($50 million)

LG Chem’s subsidiary Compact Power ($151 million)

Nordic Windpower ($16 million)*

Navistar ($39 million)

Satcon ($3 million)*

Konarka Technologies Inc. ($20 million)*

Mascoma Corp. ($100 million)

That was as of 2 years ago. Many more have failed since then. Shall I google them for you as well?

you seem to think that obama hasn't met with the least bit of resistance either.

And why shouldn't he? It's a technology whose time is yet to come. It's squandered taxpayer money in a time of economic crisis (thanx, preznit!).

Before Obama there has never been a crisis or any other moment of hardship to our country. It all began with him, in 2009.

No. Just no deliberate destruction 'til now.

[decocker 7,198]

That was as of 2 years ago. Many more have failed since then. Shall I google them for you as well?

google big oil and koch brothers for me. maybe you'll start to figure out why we can't get going in the right direction.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

This thread is stupid.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Look back on page 1, "smart guy".

Actually I did, I asked you a question in direct contrast to your statement about him. If we weren't in a slump to begin with and Obama put us in one, your outrage would be warranted. But since Obama came into a mess, how does that not fall on his predecessor?

[JohnR! 5,495]

This thread is stupid.

No, it is not! The socialist Canucks in the north are better off than we are and that is unacceptable. We must invade them immediately!! If we all make a run for the border they will not be able to stop us!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No, it is not! The socialist Canucks in the north are better off than we are and that is unacceptable. We must invade them immediately!! If we all make a run for the border they will not be able to stop us!

No, the OP is interesting, but now it is a bunch of people arguing about economics that have no clue about economics, and seem to make up history for whatever ends they see fit. Maybe next someone will argue that the US economy is just like balancing a check book, or talk about how the economy was good during WW2 and suggest we have some more wars.