Is Everybody Really Worse Off? Certainly not...

[LuciferSam]

Interesting article about who has gained and who has lost during the duration of the Obama administration.


The unemployment rate was 6.9 percent when Obama got elected. It's 9.6 percent now. America has lost nearly 5 million jobs over the last two years. The economy is supposedly recovering, yet the huge stimulus plan from 2009 hasn't accomplished what Democrats said it would. Many Americans worry that prosperity is gone forever.

But the whole country isn't down and out, and if Obama were to ask voters if their lives have improved over the last two years, many could credibly answer yes.


Who's Gained And Lost Under Obama, So Far - Yahoo! Finance

 

[scooterbug44]

I am not worse off - mainly because when he was elected I didn't own a house (so obviously its value hasn't fallen), my 2 jobs were already well into a major downward spiral, and my portfolio had been hammered.

The bar wasn't set real high for me to do "better".

 

[30ashopper]

About the only complaint I have revolves around the cost of the health plan my employer provides. Their costs went up due to mandated coverage changes, which will negatively effect their bottom line and my future income.

My house has lost value, and is probably under what I paid for it, but I really don't blame anyone but myself for that.

 

[LuciferSam]

About the only complaint I have revolves around the cost of the health plan my employer provides. Their costs went up due to mandated coverage changes, which will negatively effect their bottom line and my future income.

My house has lost value, and is probably under what I paid for it, but I really don't blame anyone but myself for that.

That raises an interesting question. I'm not aiming this at you or anyone in particular. Which is more troubling, a massive financial loss due to your own missteps, or a small financial loss due to the government through higher fees and taxes? For me I would have to say the former, since a massive loss is more disturbing than a small one. These other things are nuisances that pale by comparison. What I'm getting at is I think a lot of people made major personal financial blunders and are now scapegoating the current administration for minor losses that are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Jdarg]

Why did our health insurance costs go up every single year, before health care reform? Before the mandated changes? Is my family the only one who experienced this?

We just always expected it, griped, then moved on.

At least this time there are improvements.

 

[LuciferSam]

I'm most irritated by conservatives with whom I've had conversations who insist that I don't have enough sense to know how much worse off I am personally.

 

[30ashopper]

That raises an interesting question. I'm not aiming this at you or anyone in particular. Which is more troubling, a massive financial loss due to your own missteps, or a small financial loss due to the government through higher fees and taxes? For me I would have to say the former, since a massive loss is more disturbing than a small one. These other things are nuisances that pale by comparison. What I'm getting at is I think a lot of people made major personal financial blunders and are now scapegoating the current administration for minor losses that are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

I'm sorry but I don't want government managing every aspect of our lives, constantly herding us like sheep around every rough edge and hard decision. If you extend that out you end up with a model similar to countries like France, where the citizens live with this sense of entitlement and a lack of individual responsibility.

This reminds me of a show I caught recently on HBO. Some sort of poetry slam with all these kids up on stage passionately expressing their feelings on current issues through poetry. It struck me that a system like ours breeds that kind of individuality, free expression, and passion.

People might think our system is broken and that we need to move to a more European style social model. I don't buy it, I think the more you move in that direction the more you lose in terms of what makes americans so strong and the country so great.

 

[beachmouse]

Our out of pocket health insurance costs went up 27% per year under the Bush2 administration.

We're better off now than we were in 2008, and we were better off in 2008 than we were in 2000. Started out adult life pretty deep in the hole because of college expenses and have gradually been getting out of there and then building over said hole since regardless of who's in the White House. More tortoise than hare, but we've made the conscious decision that being the tortoise makes more sense for us.

 

[SHELLY]

Downturn gave me an opportunity to get some good stocks at great prices...MCD @ $52 and change; KO @ $43.69; etc, etc.

Ditto for some fabulous travel bargains on cruises and state-side travel.

Heavy-weighted in cash going in and stocks going out so can't complain.

Did not get caught up in the preconstruction-contract-frenzy for dot.condoz or overpriced JOE "Fields of Schemes."

All-in-all, I can't complain. Feel kinda sorry though for the collateral damaged-folks who are struggling now as a result of the giant RE money-grab...and feeling happy for lots of folks who got their "comeuppance."

.

 

[scooterbug44]

I don't think we need an European social model, or whatever today's rhetorical buzzword is, but there were definitely some things about health insurance that needed to change.

I think everyone should be able to get affordable health insurance and I think I shouldn't have to pay MORE to offset the costs of those who don't take responsibility for their actions/lives.

And don't get me started on "European entitlement" - IMO Medicare, Social Security, and myraid other American programs make that a non-argument.