So, the president apparently is getting a little lift in his popularity from the “improving” economy. If I was him, I wouldn’t be breaking out in celebration quite yet.

This is just a very small snapshot in time and does not reflect the economic dangers facing many people. I gather part of the slight change in what people think has happened with the economy comes from the decline in gas prices–but winter hasn’t hit in full force and so people aren’t looking at their home heating bills yet. Gas prices could still go skyrocketing up again if there is another surge in oil prices–a likely scenario as long as the war in Iraq drags on.

And, then, we’re not even talking about a possible steep decline in housing prices in 2006, the reaility that after the holidays people will once again be looking a very steep personal debt (twice what it was just ten years ago), wages that are still not keeping pace with productivity (that’s been the case now for a few years. Translation: you’re not getting what you deserve), and the eroding of the pension system.

As I pointed out, when people talk about an improving economy, the real question always must be: improving for me or you or who? When African Americans, for example, see unemployment rising into double digits, that isn’t an economy that anyone should be proud of or point to good poll numbers .