"The fundamentals of the economy are sound"

[Colin]

What do you mean by fundamentals? Are you talking about the international macroeconomic system that has developed after the end of the Bretton Woods system? If that is the case the so-called "Washington consensus" and vaguely monetarist fiscal policies are pretty well cemented now and these economic fundamentals, the basic way in which the international market operates, is sound and has been since the stagflation crisis of the late 70s.

I really don't know what else fundamentals could mean. By saying no to this, incredibly vague, statement one could be stating that there are problems in certain areas, inflation being a major issue in my mind, but the overall system is sound or "the collapse of capitalism is imminent". What are the "fundamentals of the economy" it's overall shape and function? Individual functions such as unemployment, inflation or consumer confidence? A gut reaction to the statement, more of a "we're in a recession of course nothing is sound" type of response.

Then again considering this is jfern I'm guessing this is some random quote taken from some right-wing personality that he put up to a poll to show how out of touch certain political elements are.