Economy is for the Democrats
American voters are convinced that the stock market and the economy is a strength of the Republican party. While some Republicans grudgingly admit that the Clinton era was time of unprecedented prosperity for the nation (indeed, for the western world), they attribute that to chance. And they may well suggest that Bush Jr now has to deal with mess left over from the previous administration.
However, as Carol Vinzant points out in a Slate magazine article, both the stock market and the economy generally have historically done significantly better under Democratic presidents than under Republicans.
The article says that since 1900, "Democratic presidents have produced a 12.3 percent annual total return on the S&P 500, but Republicans only an 8 percent return." Furthermore, from 1929 to 1987 (and 2002!) serious Bear Markets have been a hallmark of Republican presidents. This is not limited to the stock market, but is true about the economy as a whole. "GDP growth was 5.4 percent for Democratic presidents and 1.6 percent for Republicans."
This author eagerly anticipates a rebuttal from the Republican side. However, a strong case is made for claims that market downturns are helped, if not caused, by the massive deregulation associated with Republican presidents, and far-rightist politics generally.
10:09:59 AM 
|
