"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

[kentuck]

Come November, that is a question that will surely be asked.

As a nation, the answer would have to be "Yes".

Because four years ago, we had lost almost 4 million jobs in the last six months of 2008. In January of 2009, the month that Barack Obama was sworn in as President, we lost 750,000 jobs in one month!

Also, the economy was in shambles. The banking system was in deep trouble, not just in America, but around the world. They housing bubble had burst. We were in the middle of a Great Recession. Even Republicans were scared shitless.

So, if someone asks if the country is better off now than four years ago, the answer would have to be a resounding "Yes!".

[Scuba]

1. I personally don't like this as a method of determining my vote...

No, I'm not better off. But I'd be a hell of a lot worse off without Barack Obama as my President.

Besides, it ain't just about me.

[kentuck]

2. A lot of individuals may be worse off...

But as a nation, judging by the numbers, we are much better off, in my opinion.

[Tennessee Gal]

3. The question being asked is: Are YOU better off now than you were four years ago?

I don't believe anyone is asking about the nation. I do believe the nation is better off and certainly much better off than if McCain/Palin had been elected because they would have continued the failed policies of W. That is a point that should be made strongly.

[lunatica]

4. Absolutely if you really think about it

President Obama has actually managed to reverse the downward direction of this country that Bush created in spite of the Republicans' best laid plans. We may not have come as far as we might have under better circumstances, but we're going in the right direction again.

The Bush and Obama domestic policies are the polar opposites of each other. Bush took us back a century and Obama has brought us back into the 21st Century.

[seabeyond]

5. no, i am not. and i know, if i elect a repug i will be much worse off

in so many different areas.

really it is a bullshit question for the non thinking.

[kentuck]

7. I tend to agree with you...

But I only offer this as a political response to the bullshit question. The numbers indicate the nation is better off now than at that moment in history 4 years ago. We have no way of knowing how much worse it could have been for us personally or for us as a nation if that downturn had continued for a longer sustained period of time?

[seabeyond]

8. true all that. the thing, cost of living has skyrocketed and wage hasnt moved

to buy groceries alone is amazing, compared to not long ago. not to mention all the rest. people are doing without, going in debt where they hadnt before, or dipping into savings to make up.

the reality is we are doing worse.

then again, hubbies business has picked up and appears stronger and expanding and things are looking good there.

but it does not translate to us doing better.

[bluestateguy]

6. yes I am

So if some snide asshole asks me that question in a sneering tone of voice I will be happy to give him an honest answer.

[pscot]

9. Personally? No.

But things could be worse, and probably would be if the GOP was in complete control. I can recognize the lesser of two evils as well as the next person.

[FarLeftFist]

10. Yes.

[GoCubsGo]

11. No, but I recognize why.

The same assholes who threw me under the bus have been backing up and running me over again and again. If they are allowed to completely run the show again, there will be no hope whatsoever that I'll ever recover. I am watching my career circle the bowl as it is.

[dickthegrouch]

12. No I'm not, but it's the GOPs fault for obstuctionism

Obama did the best he could with a bad hand and cheats and liars and obstructionists who think their pledges to do just that are worth it to guarantee their votes in November. I *really* hope their pledges and rigidity cause their downfall.

[RebelOne]

13. No. At least I had a job 4 years ago.

I was laid off from the publishing company where I had worked for 13 years. Because of advertisements falling off, the company had to downsize the staff, which included me.

[Bobbie Jo]

14. Immensely.

Too many details to mention here, but suffice it to say my family is in a far better place now.

[sad sally]

15. Heard on this a.m.'s tv talk that the campaign slogan is "will you be better off 4 years from now,"

echoing once again the philosophy of never looking at what was done yesterday.

[hoosier_lefty]

16. yes.

Four years ago, May 6 2008, my job was in jeopardy. The stock market was dropping energy prices were climbing.
The real estate bubble was about to burst and most knew it. The rest of 2008 was absolute hell. The pressure at my
place of employment grew, layoffs and threat of more layoffs. terrible. I survived several waves of layoffs because of 15 years
of service.
At the end of Feb. 2009 I lost my job. Deep in debt with no high school diploma I faced impossible odds. I spent
my mornings going to GED class, and afternoons searching for a job. In June I passed the GED, with honors. I interviewed for several jobs, turned a few down because of low wages. In October of 2009, on the verge of bankruptcy I landed a good job.
I now make over twice as much as I did before, nearing six figures. The place I work is hiring, and so are other factories in
the area. My debt has dropped by 30% and at this rate I will be debt free in a few years.

Am I better off than I was four years ago? Yes !

If the republicans would get out of the way and at least try to compromise we all would be better off.

[hfojvt]

17. unfortunately, I gotta say no

Perhaps I am personally better off in terms of finances, but four years ago I had hope. Four years ago, I thought Bush policies could be rolled back. I thought government could work for "we the people", for the bottom 60% - if we elected the right people. I feel worse off now because I can no longer believe that.

[tnvoter]

18. yes

[eek MD]

19. 4 years ago....

4 years ago, we were talking about economic armageddon. The next great depression is how things were being referred to. The stock market was plummetting like a stone. Massive job losses were almost a daily occurrence. People's retirement savings being wiped out in a matter of weeks. All beginning under the watch of a REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.

The election happened in the middle of the worst part of the crisis, and since then we've been clawing our way out of a massive, massive hole (with almost no help from republicans who have salivated over slashing government jobs at every turn). I can guarantee that I'm much less skeptical of whether I'm going to be laid off tomorrow than I was 4 years ago. My company hasn't laid anyone off in two years, people have been jumping ship to take better jobs (nobody dreamed of quitting 3 years ago because the job situation was so dire). I got a measly pittance of a raise for the first time in several years. I'm working harder to cover for increasing workloads as customers use their equipment more.

Yes, we have a long way to go, but I think if we remind people of what the situation was like 4 years ago, they'll realize how far we've come.

[Zax2me]

20. Yes! But I know some who aren't.

A few I know quit looking all together for jobs they were trained for.
Some are retraining, school and what not.
A couple are doing nothing at all.
It can be very depressing.

[Tippy]

21. YES !

[TBF]

22. Yes personally we are but we are fortunate -

so many have lost homes & jobs. The crash was 2008-09 and I think we all know who is to blame for that (moronic drunk back at his spread in Dallas now) ... the question is whether the US people understand that given the time FAUX news has had to spread misinformation.

[FrodosPet]

23. Better than 2008, when I was staring at my second round of homelessness

Worse off than in 1998, when I was making $23 an hour with frequent overtime as a computer technician. After 14 years, I finally got back to 50% (not counting inflation - probably only 35% if I count it) of my 1998 income.

NO ONE should ever be forced to give up their career to help elderly relatives. If the government wasn't packed with penny pinchers, then Medicaid would cover long term nursing home care without demanding that people surrender their homes and savings.

So now I am a very tired man with a shaky ticker from the stress of being a 24x7x365 caregiver/prisoner and a trashed lower back from trying to move a paralyzed 200 lb man around every day.

[Lucky Luciano]

24. Yes, definitely. Maybe buy an apartment here in 2 years or so.

Last edited Sun May 6, 2012, 07:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Would have bought two years ago if things didn't go down the crapper. Lost five years of earning potential from the shitstorm. Would be earning 2-2.5 times more now if not for the recession, but still more than four years ago.

[HughBeaumont]

25. Absolutely. AND better off than 10 years ago, when Corporate Bewshit-O-Nomics took hold.

10 years ago is when my real-dollar salary progress stopped. Someone was enjoying the fruits of the Mortgage/Housing/Finance bubble . . . it just wasn't me. That's kind of the basis of Bewshit-O-Nomics - baffle them with a tax cut bone, since the puppet-masters had no intention of ever raising our wages.

Four years ago, when the Bewsh-abetted bubbles exploded as expected, my job was in jeopardy and I had just entered my second year of no salary increase. Then my place of employment was bought out after it failed.

Today, things are stable and somewhat safe and hiring is up, despite a few down spots. And I make $300 more a year in real dollars than I did 11 years ago. Granted, that's not much to go on, but it could be much, MUCH worse, and I know that.

[Zax2me]

26. Threads here aren't exactly reflecting 'YES' answers, though.

Borders and the FYE closed. so, there's basically no place to buy books or music there...i dunno, doesn't seem like a good thing to me...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002652279

Rents soar as foreclosure victims with tarnished credit, young workers seek housing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002651954

Why Johnny Can’t Pay His Student Loans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002652089

[kentuck]

28. Personally, I think most folks are still in the recession...

But, if the numbers of unemployed and the stock market had continued to decline from where they were in 2008 and early 2009, these same folks would be in much worse shape than they are today. "It could have been worse" is not a very good campaign slogan, but in this case, it is true, in my opinion.

[jp11]

27. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=620793

[pa28]

29. I know I work much harder for the same income.

That income covers less in terms of expenses than it did four years ago while the policy trends that created this economy continue largely in-tact.

I can't honestly say "yes" to your question for myself or for the nation as a whole. Matters would be worse under McCain and will be worse under Romney but I'm not going to tell people with a straight face that everything is coming up roses.

[Festivito]

30. Bank closures 2000: 2, 4, 11, 3, 4, 0, 0, 3, 25, 140, 157, 92, 17 :2012 Total: 458

In 2007 there is a peep.
In 2008 there is a rise and an election
In 2009 there is a deluge and a new sheriff
In 2010 it maxes out
In 2011 it clearly starts down
In 2012 the problem keeps dropping, a projection of the number of bank closings would be around 60-70 for this year.

Tell me you and I are not better off with Barack than George, and I'll vote to get you some mental help.

http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html
You have to do the math yourself.