"the economy" doesn't mean you:

In the State of the Union speech, like in other venues, Bush talks about all sorts of things that help "the economy", implying that if "the economy" is robust, you will benefit. Some examples from the speech:

• We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy -- even though this economy could not function without them. All these are forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction -- toward a stagnant and second-rate economy.
• ... our economy grows when Americans have more of their own money to spend, save, and invest. In the last five years, the tax relief you passed has left $880 billion in the hands of American workers, investors, small businesses, and families -- and they have used it to help produce more than four years of uninterrupted economic growth.
• Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds our laws, reflects our values, and serves the interests of our economy.

"The economy" is the sum of everything, much of which goes to the wealthy. Bush's frequent use of this aggregate measure is a way of avoiding the reality that for most of us, there has been very little growth.


posted by Quiddity at 2/01/2006 07:28:00 AM