Are You Better Off Than You Were 4 Years Ago?

[deacon blues]

Sunday Democrats were asked this question and Maryland's governor, a Democrat, said no. Today Axelrod, Cutter, Biden and even this governor were all saying "yes".

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Sunday Democrats were asked this question and Maryland's governor, a Democrat, said no. Today Axelrod, Cutter, Biden and even this governor were all saying "yes".

No, is the correct answer. As a nation we are not better off, we are farther in debt, and make less money. Those of us who are employed are often working for less wages in a field other than what we trained for and this weekend marked the highest gas prices for this time of year ever.

[aegsm76]

Actually I am better off.
The stimulus and Obamacare were a windfall for my company.
Not to mention that I am now debt free, except for my mortgage!
I still oppose BHO, however.

[Cindy]

No, and it will be getting worse for our family in a month. Much worse.

[canam]

no

[Amanah]

My taxes, insurance, and cost of living are increasing but my company is not raising our salaries in proportion to the cost of living increase, so no.

[deacon blues]

Giving at church is lowest it has been in 12 years. Groceries are higher. Gas is higher. Everything is much more expensive.

[bbyrd009]

All the things you all mention made me
reconsider my position v the world; and
while my political views have radicalized
a bit, I guess, at least compared to the
very political, I am personally in a much
better place.

I've gone from about $40k 4 years ago
to $2k or so this year, should be $0
by 2015; all while my standard of living,
and eating, has risen considerably.
Barter! I mostly refuse $ now, and have
accounts wherever I patronize, with credit
on their books!

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

All the things you all mention made me
reconsider my position v the world; and
while my political views have radicalized
a bit, I guess, at least compared to the
very political, I am personally in a much
better place.

I've gone from about $40k 4 years ago
to $2k or so this year, should be $0
by 2015; all while my standard of living,
and eating, has risen considerably.
Barter! I mostly refuse $ now, and have
accounts wherever I patronize, with credit
on their books!

$40k in income to $2k? And $0 income by 2015?

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Amanah

My taxes, insurance, and cost of living are increasing but my company is not raising our salaries in proportion to the cost of living increase, so no.

Yes, I also paid more in taxes this year than previous years and higher insurance as well. Really everything is higher, and not just higher because of inflation---disproportionately higher.

Democrats are going to have a hard time this week answering that question.

President when asked to grade his four years as president was "Incomplete". That's not an answer American voters are going to go for. And blaming the Bush years isn't going to satisfy voters either. People want to know what the track record of the last four years means for the next four years. Reagan had the economy roaring back by 1984 and the election season. Confidence was restoring and people overwhelmingly reelected him. He won 49 states! He dealt with higher inflation and higher unemployment and higher gas prices (adjusted for inflation) than president BO has.

I think the biggest drag on the economy is the lack of confidence business owners have with this administration. When you believe that your costs are going to go up, Obamacare is going to make things more expensive, regulations make things more expensive, your business taxes are going to go up, your personal taxes are going to go up, you aren't going to hire and risk more money expanding and growing your business.

And then there's consumer confidence. People are keeping their older cars because they don't want to finance a new or newer car. They'd rather keep paying for repairs and maintenance than have a monthly car note. The stock for companies like Auto Zone is through the roof because people are doing this. That's just one industry. Many others like this are suffering for the same reasons because consumers aren't spending like they used to, for fear that the future isn't looking so secure.