Ask yourself this: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

[Cain]

I like to have these polls occasionally in order to take the pulse of our politics forum.

[Cleon]

Personally, yes, I'm better off now than I was four years ago. That has nothing to do with Bush, though, and certainly doesn't mean I approve of his job performance.

[Cain]

A typically hysterical NYT reading, anti-Israeli/anti-Semitic, looney left, NAMBLA-loving, baby-killing, fedora-wearing, "fair-trade" coffee swilling, moonbatish hate-America-firster. Now off you go; be a good liberal and spend your Bush tax cut on more booger sugar and gay black pornography.

[Charlie Monoxide]

Since I've been working fairly steady in the last 4 years (it's amazing how a divorce will suck you dry), and there's now money in the bank.

Still, I feel the Bush administration should have found a cure for male pattern baldness by now, and maybe AIDS and cancer as well ....

Charlie (more money, less hair) Monoxide

[Amapola]

My business is struggling. People don't have any "extra income" to spend on jewelry. Or in some cases they have it, but are too scared to spend it. Most of the people I see are middle class to upper middle class, with a few of the upper class thrown in, and they are kind of worried about where the war is going, what will happen in the world etc. When I go to shows I hear people tell me things like, "I'd love to buy that, but my husband got laid off and has not worked for 16 months." I guess some areas have economic recovery, or anyway that is what I am TOLD, but I personally do not see it in my business, and do not hear it from my customers.

As a joke, not something I would ever do in real life, I have considered putting up a sign that says, "If you voted Republican, buy something from me and PROVE the economy is booming."

[hammegk]

Originally Posted by Cleon

Personally, yes, I'm better off now than I was four years ago.

Me too.

Quote:

That has nothing to do with Bush, though,

The tax cut helped, & the economy just keeps rollin'. And no significant terror attack in the US.

Quote:

and certainly doesn't mean I approve of his job performance.

It's devolved to an ugly situation -- Iraq, NK, Iran, etc; Medicare/SS bs; SpyGate; but who would have done better? Kerry? Hilary?

[Tmy]

Better how? Financially??? While I am making more money at my new job, I sure do spend alot of gas.

[aerosolben]

Originally Posted by Tmy

Better how? Financially??? While I am making more money at my new job, I sure do spend alot of gas.

That reminded me that I just read this:

Forbes recently released a new top 2000 companies list. ExxonMobil tops this list in three of the 4 categories that are used for measurement (revenue, profits, and market value), driven largely by a huge jump in revenue (24%) and record profits due to high oil/gas prices. In fact, 6 of the 10 most profitable companies are oil and gas companies.

Here's the link:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0417/111.html

[Cecil]

I certainly am. I'm three weeks away from a degree instead of 4 years and three weeks. I now have my pilot's license. Plus, I'm making three times what I was 4 years ago.

As for Bush? Well... he seems to like us more now that we've elected Harper (*grumble* *grumble*). And he makes for some funny headlines. I'm sure glad he's not running our country though.

[corplinx]

If you look at how the american economy has grown for the past 40 years, "are you better off than you were 4 years ago?" is a pretty rigged question.

It was a nice question to zing Carter with, but ultimately it was just that.

[Mephisto]

Originally Posted by Amapola

My business is struggling. People don't have any "extra income" to spend on jewelry.

It's the same south of you in LC, Amapola. People don't have money for art either (and the ones who DO, only buy "sofa art"). The "economy is doing great," but everyone is paying MORE for school tuition, utility bills, medicine, medical treatments, of those who ARE employed only a few seem to be working in relatively "permanent" careers instead of menial jobs "while they wait."

I've always wondered why the income of large corporations is always the gauge by which we measure how prosperous our country is? If the richest 1% of Americans are getting the largest tax cuts, AND they're typically the owners and CEOs of these corporations how can they NOT claim the economy is doing well?

[billydkid]

You really ought factor in your personal liability for the massive national debt when determining how well off you are.

[Whoracle]

I think most people who aren't self employed will typically be doing better financially as they gain more experience and get promoted and raises and what not. If they do end up worse because they work for an American car company or something that doesn't have a whole lot to do with whatever adminstration is currently in charge.

I know you aren't a Republican so I see it as odd you would phrase the question like this. It makes it seem like that if you are doing better it's a credit to this administration and everybody needs to stop bitching about it.

[Cain]

I'm surprised a lot of people took the topic title so literally, as it was said tongue n' cheek. I mean, of course it doesn't make sense to compare how one is doing now versus four years ago, not least of all because Bush was president four years ago!

Also, in spite of the natural expansion of the economy etc., people tend to compare their sense of long-term financial security. In 1998 and 1999, prior to the stock market meltdown, young, highly eduacated, upwardly mobile yuppies were seduced by strong economic expansion and hypnotized into a state of unrestrained euphoria. Even if now, nearly ten years later, they're making more money, living in bigger homes, etc., -- that is to say, objectively better off -- they might not count themselves as better off.

[Mephisto]

Originally Posted by billydkid

You really ought factor in your personal liability for the massive national debt when determining how well off you are.

Good point, and be sure to carry it over to determining how well off your grandchildren are as well. If the people making all the money aren't paying the bills, it's going to take awhile for the disappearing middle class to do it.

[Cleon]

Originally Posted by hammegk

The tax cut helped, & the economy just keeps rollin'. And no significant terror attack in the US.

The tax cut did not affect me substantially. The economy--well, personally, I'm skeptical of any claims of economic performance based on the presidency. I don't give Clinton credit for the 90s boom, I don't blame Bush for the recession(s), etc.

Quote:

It's devolved to an ugly situation -- Iraq, NK, Iran, etc; Medicare/SS bs; SpyGate; but who would have done better? Kerry? Hilary?

Binky the Clown would've done better than Dubya. Personally, I still stand by my Nader vote. Kerry is a schmuck.

[Cain]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060407/...ed_republicans

Quote:

•Just 36 percent of the public approves of Bush's job performance, his lowest-ever rating in AP-Ipsos polling. By contrast, the president's job approval rating was 47 percent among likely voters just before Election Day 2004 and a whopping 64 percent among registered voters in October 2002.

• Only 40 percent of the public approves of Bush's performance on foreign policy and the war on terror, another low-water mark for his presidency. That's down 9 points from a year ago. Just before the 2002 election, 64 percent of registered voters backed Bush on terror and foreign policy.

• Just 35 percent of the public approves of Bush's handling of Iraq, his lowest in AP-Ipsos polling.

Just 30 percent of the public approves of the GOP-led Congress' job performance, and Republicans seem to be shouldering the blame.

By a 49-33 margin, the public favors Democrats over Republicans when asked which party should control Congress.

[Crossbow]

I am much better off now than I was four years ago.

While that is great thing for me, it does not mean that I approve of Bush. In fact, I dislike Bush just as much now, if not more, as I did four years ago.

[Upchurch]

It's a very complex question. Better in what respect?

I'm now married, which I wasn't four years ago. That's better.

I earn more money, which I worked my butt off to do. That's better.

My country is at war/in occupation of a foreign country. That's bad.

I don't feel like we've made very much progress against Al Quida(sp?) and have been, in fact, distracted from it by this Iraq business. That's bad.

I guess it comes down that I feel like I'm better off personally, but my country is worse off.

[FreeChile]

Well, my health does not seem to improve over time. So I would say, No, I am not better off. But I don't even expect it to be regardless of who gets in power. However, the question as to whether I will be able to better finance future health issues for me and my family remains open and my inclination is very pessimistic.

In spite of being a relatively well paid professional, I still can't afford to buy a house. I can't afford to get furniture for my present home. And this is after trying hard to accomplish it. Also, I recall that my mother, a single parent, having much less education and income than me, was quite capable of doing both when I was young.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by Upchurch

It's a very complex question. Better in what respect?

I'm now married, which I wasn't four years ago. That's better.

Well, that's because of Bush.

Quote:

I earn more money, which I worked my butt off to do. That's better.

Again, mostly Bush.

Quote:

My country is at war/in occupation of a foreign country. That's bad.

Clearly the blame here goes to the terrorists, Saddam, and Democrats. As Hannity likes to say, "Terrorism, Despostism, and Liberalism".

Quote:

I don't feel like we've made very much progress against Al Quida(sp?) and have been, in fact, distracted from it by this Iraq business. That's bad.

Sorry, my friend, but we're fightin' over there so we don't have to fight them over here. Bush's plan is unfolding brilliantly.

Quote:

I guess it comes down that I feel like I'm better off personally, but my country is worse off.

As the Colbert says, go with how you feel. Don't over think this stuff; personally identifiable interests outweigh aggregated statistical interests.