[Hoot Gibson]

You could turn any conversation to politics couldn't you? I could tell you my girlfriend broke up with me and you'd blame the government. It's 9% now if I'm thinking right?

Just a tad over 9%. What is wrong with discussing politics in a political thread, and if you don't like discussing politics then why criticize those who do in a political thread?

Ideally, we could discuss economics without bringing politics into the conversation. Once the government starts meddling in the economy, which it does every day, politics and economics become tangled together. When Obama and the Democrats decide to triple or quadruple the annual budget deficit, it affects all Americans, whether you want to admit it or not.

I have no idea how old you are but when I was in my mid 20s, I bought my first house. Those were the days when the media reported the "misery index" on a regular basis. If you don't think that politicians screwing up the economy is worth discussing, wait until you are faced with mortgage or car finance rates pushing 20 percent with double-digit unemployment and inflation rates.

At some point, your threshold for pain will be reached and you will care that a socialist president is sitting in the White House messing with your paycheck and your family's security.