Mr. Obama has been known to proudly declare that the recession ended in June 2009. Thank goodness for that because, if we didn’t know any better and judging by recent GDP numbers, we’d assume that the economic downturn was still going strong. The current administration (and we use that term loosely since it seems they aren’t actually administering to anything) has taken to pointing at an increase in the overall GDP of the nation as evidence that the bailout/stimulus program is working. The problem with all this proclaiming and back patting is the recession is not over, Americans still can’t find work and you’re looking at the wrong damn numbers anyway!

The scary thing is that if you look behind the curtain you see that the private sector of the economy is actually getting smaller. The only reason the GDP has increased in aggregate is in response to the gargantuan influx of government spending that is being financed with debt. So, here’s the scenario, in a nutshell. The government increases the national debt by borrowing more money to plow into the economy in an unholy attempt to “inflate away” the recession, while the private sector sinks deeper and deeper into the mire. Business’s aren’t hiring or spending money and workers can’t find jobs.

Does this sound like an end to any recession you’ve ever heard of? The recovery, if you can stop giggling long enough to call it that, appears only as progress when compared to the depths of the recession. No, Mr. Obama, the recession did not end in June of 2009. It’s still cooking along while you’re getting elbowed in the face at pickup basketball games. We sometimes wish someone had thought to elbow you in the face when you hit the “print” button on the government currency press, or at least slapped your hand aside and said, “No, Mr. President! Bad idea.”

Unfortunately, the “real” economy is slowly being overtaken and replaced by entitlement programs and rampant government spending of money we don’t have on things we don’t need. Anyone in the mood for a cup of tea (party that is)? We hear it tastes different than your regular brand. All we can say is keep buying income property when you can, financed with long-term, fixed-rate debt, of course. It’s the only way you’re going to have the proverbial pot to pee in at the end of the day.

The AIPIS Team

Flickr / jencu