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So, where are you? Well off and don’t need to care about the economy? Employed but raises not keeping up with inflation? Laid off and looking? Given up on finding anything because all your buddies got the flipping burgers jobs before you?
If you feel “It’s the economy, stupid” is as important in this election as it was in ’92, which of the two candidates do you feel gets that fact and will actual do something positive about it? Not just rhetoric, but actually make you and the country better off four years from now?
Discuss amongst yourselves.
The statistics are grim: Inflation is at a 17-year high. Unemployment is rising. Foreclosures are spreading.
For many Americans, however, these figures are simply numbers. They are still gainfully employed and paying their mortgages. […] For others, of course, the picture looks much different. They are the statistics. […] There’s no question they are worse off than they were seven years ago.
Are Americans better off? It is one of the signal questions of the presidential election, and both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are asking voters to ponder it.
Could your family eat on $100 per week?
Four years ago? More like 25 — when Reagan and the conservatives decided to screw the middle class.
“which of the two candidates do you feel gets that fact and will actual do something positive about it?”
I haven’t seen policies forwarded from either that will improve the economy. So, it’s kinda mute.
Typical middle class family, two people working, less than 200000$ per year in NY (where that isn’t much):
4 yrs ago? – About the same.
7 yrs ago? – Better now, mainly due to owning a house and having a large equity in it that accumulated during the housing bubble (after all ups and downs we are now at twice the value)…
Way better off, but then I’m Canadian.
Eight years ago I thought life was safe – but there were men in my city about to kill thousands of civilians. Today their friends are all half way arround the world trying to kill our military. I’m much better off.
4 years ago about the same.
7 years ago much better off.
But then we make our own opportunities and don’t wait for the government to coddle us.
That pic defines perfectly well Heath Ledger’s last acting role and everyone’s nice to him just because he died.
yes and yes
Economically, my household is in better shape. Four years ago my wife got laid off her job, and both of us were looking at a very unhealthy job market. My wife snagged a good paying consulting job for probably a little more money, but now she’s spending her time traveling. Switzerland, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Alberta, always out of the country now. Two weeks there, (lately three, and sometimes four), and then one week home. But it’s better than not having a job.
But I’ve seen my rights take one hell of a beating, my communications can be tapped at any time without any kind of oversight.
I can’t claim that my country takes the high road because of its endorsement of torture and rendition.
And eight years ago, there seemed to be a booming job market, pages and pages of jobs in my field were in the Sunday paper. Now when I look I’m looking at single digit’s worth of column space.
I quit my job to get married and keep my new family in Florida where they had lived for 12 years, thinking that as soon as I wanted, I’d be able to find something down here, even at a lower salary due to the (nonexistent and so-called) cost of living adjustment. Yeah, no state income tax, but Ohio wasn’t taking $20,000 away from me either, and no savings that I could see at all for living in Florida.
Now I’m looking, the jobs have shrunk, and the wages haven’t increased — at all. They want years of experience here, years of experience in that, and they’re offering $16/hour. And way too many people going after that.
So yeah, compared to eight years ago, I’m really down.
4 years ago?
About even – maybe a little better. But 3 kids in 4 years sure doesn’t help anyone’s budget. I also didn’t realize just how much of an impact a house payment would have on my budget. But, lucky for me, my mortgage payment is just around $250.00 than what I was paying for an apartment 4 years ago. The maintenance and the “little” projects can get expensive though. Still, can’t beat the privacy, the tax break, and the equity. So, better off by a little bit.
7 years ago?
Way better off. My pay is almost twice what it was and I’ve accumulated a lot more “stuff”. Although I am up to my nostrils in debt. So, come on Obama, win this thing already and change the Bankruptcy laws for the better again 🙂
#9
Eight years ago we were entering into a recession, so I doubt it was a booming job market.
To be honest, asking someone whether they are better off than seven or eight years ago is an unfair question. It would be hard for anyone to answer that in the negative.
I would bet that four years from now most people will be about the same as they are now or worse depending on what the next President does. There won’t be an Internet boom to pick up the economy this time.
I’m wealthier that 2% of the population, no debt, everyone in family is healthy so I suppose I’m better off.
But it’s not just about me nor just about now.
4 years? worse. 7 years? worse. And back when Bill Clinton was president, life was good.
I still have a good job and my health, but the whole country is falling to pieces.
The last 8 years have been a miserable hell for the United States.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
My family is doing better now than 4 or 7 years ago, because we got rid of all our debts.
Worse off. I took a $10,000 a year pay-cut from four years ago, $5,000 a year less than seven years ago. Paying 100% more for “benefits”.
I don’t forsee things getting better with our system of Demi-cans and Republi-crats.
If your answer has anything to do with anyone other than yourself, you don’t get it and you may as well take every dime to the casinos.
Yes and statistics would say on average everyone is. I especially like #3’s comment about their house doubling. If they paid 20% down that means they made 500% on their investment. Wow, the economy sucks under Republicans. And the depression the Dem’s talk about has not been documented yet and probably won’t be this quarter either. Maybe later.
No.. I’ve lost 65% of the buying power in my retirement funds during the Bush years. Bring back the Clinton who knew how find capable people who could manage an economy.
I fared well because I didn’t drink the Republican Kool-Aid, I saved my money for 15 years and bought a house with cash.
I still am screwed by the GOP because of high fuel costs so I’m not better off no matter how well my personal finances are. I’ve missed out on 4 years of cost of living wage increases due to tight budgets, something that was unheard of during the Clinton era when pay raises came like clockwork.
Its silly for those to claim the democrats are the same as the republicans. They must have been asleep these past 8 years or something.
Even for those of us whose financial position has improved, the question is a little like asking if we’d rather have 100 shares of stock in a company that is struggling, or would we rather have 200 shares of a company that is on the verge of bankruptcy?
Underlying fundamentals still matter.
I am doing much better than I was 4 or even 7 years ago. I have doubled my buying power, and my income has gone up 40% and 200% respectively.
Then again I have not made dumb decisions in life, have made sure to collect as little debt as possible (only my house), and above all else I do not lease my lifestyle. If I can’t afford it, I don’t buy it and I don’t go around having kids I cannot afford.
GPS, iPods, iPhone, DU, HD Blu-ray, 1 TB storage, Vista, did I mention GPS?…
Can life get any better?
RBG
#16 Joe
“If your answer has anything to do with anyone other than yourself, you don’t get it”
Joe I don’t get it. My last three jobs went overseas. I do, and always have went to work every day and work(ed) hard, I’ve invested heavily (time and money) in education (two associates degrees, working on a bachelors, +well developed vocational skills). What am I “not getting”? I would appreciate any advice you’re willing to give.
#18 – Qsabe
>>Bring back the Clinton who knew how find
>>capable people who could manage an economy.
What you said.
#18 “Bring back the Clinton who knew how find capable people who could manage an economy.”
You mean the Congress under Clinton?
Documentary on TV right now about the political split in the USA. Red Stater claims “Its not the economy, its values!!”
But every year I have less money and less physical stamina. Its a one way trip. So, other than a deeper self-awareness, all metrics are down.
Better off, but I’m Canadian, and we’re somewhat isolated from the American economy. Not totally, of course, but at least our tax money isn’t paying for a stupid and stupidly expensive war.
Just think how different the American economy would be if your president wasn’t wasting billions in Iraq?
$100 buy a lot of McDonalds fries!
#3
$200,000 per year??
I would MOVE out, and start your OWN company. ALOT of places cheaper then that. I know places you could live for 7-10 years on that. INCLUDING RENT.
You could start your own company, and probably SELL your service BACK to the corp you are working for, and make EVEN MORE money.
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AT this time, WORSE.
Im on disability, and $700 per month SUCKS. If I make $600 I loose most of my benefits.
In the last 10 years, I have had increases of about 2.5% each year.
Bills have gone up over 30%.
Water bills(no increase in water use) has gone up 50%.
Gas has doubled.
Food costs? up about 40%
I wont go into Car insurance.
RENT?? dont make me Laugh.
Basic wage. LEAVE it ALONE.
It only forces business to RAISE prices, as most of the employees in the stores are at BASIC WAGE, and the BOSS will NOT take a PAY CUT.
CUT the profit margins.. CUt from the TOP..
We have companies in MAJOR cities that could MOVE, to another location and CUT COSTS UP TO 90%. and they could LOWER wages(from the TOP) as they are in a LOWER COST OF LIVING AREA..
Hell yes I’m better off! My credit limit has more than tripled! Seriously, I have watched our net worth drop 14% in the last 4 months. I don’t call that very encouraging. I don’t care how the government plays with the numbers, everything is costing more and income is stagnant.