what's the point?

Misery...really?

From this article:

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is set to release a study Monday that his campaign says will show President Bush's economic record as one that increased "middle class misery."

The study (although clearly a political stunt), may have some value in pointing out some serious flaws in Bush economic policies. It formulates into a somewhat official study something which most people have noticed over the past few years. Salaries stay constant (or go down), while costs of living rise. While I'm clearly not an economist, this probably isn't news to most people. Where I really think the problem with this lies, is with its name. The Misery Index? Really? Don't you think it's a bit offensive to people who really live in misery? I mean, is it troublesome to pay an ever increasing percentage of my income towards cost of living expenses? Yes of course it is. Does this make me a) feel miserable or b) make my life miserable. Not even slightly. Misery is people working minimum wage to support 4 children. Misery is the solider in Iraq who's scared for his life and the paltry benefits he or his family will receive in case the worst happens. Misery is the people in Iraq who just want to get on with their lives, who thought that maybe being rid of a dictator would be good, but now they're not so sure. I hate politics. I'll still vote for Kerry though.