One war in 1 country vs 2 but I think that was inevitable. There is nothing Obama has done IMO that has changed the economy. I think this is what you'd see and are seeing from just sitting around and doing nothing. I'm an independent that votes both ways (rarely vote ind though) but I haven't see one thing that makes me think he's earning his money except in the foreign policy arena...I have to give him some props for that. Economy though and am I better off? Fail.
Guys. Not helpful really. Maybe he's lying, maybe he's not. His frustration is real enough, and let him post it. Most of Obamacare takes effect effect in 2014, but whatever. No need to namecall.
I'm about the same. My retirement account has doubled, in essence, which is nice. My wife has had some nice raises for her scientific research work, which is fine. Housing market has rebounded big time in SF, which also helps us economically, a lot. Both of our careers are very fine-tuned to this election, because Obama has been pro-science, while the Ryan budget, on paper, is decidedly anti-science. I doubt the Ryan budget would ever get a real up/down vote though; it's pretty radical all around, so I think people are turning it into a boogeyman of sorts.
The truth is the President cannot alone do much for the economy. In Obama's case though while I don't think all credit should go to him but I do think his policies averted a complete collapse. I personally didn't support the bank bailouts or the auto bailouts but given the dire news we were hearing about another great depression it does seem like those were avoided. At the same time I am highly skeptical of Mitt Romney's promises to create more jobs. I don't think he will lead to disaster but I doubt his proposals alone will improve things.
One concrete issue with ObamaCare that will take affect in 2013 is the amount you can contribute tax-free to you Healthcare FSA. It was limited only by your company in 2012 and will be $2500 in 2013 (providing a company's fiscal year starts 01/2013). This could result in a significant tax bite for folks who fully used this account. That being said, since there is now an IRS imposed limit of $2500, they should fix it so that if you don't use the full $2500 you can roll the excess over into an IRA or 401K plan rather than lose it.
I doing much better than I was 4 years ago. New job, new house, a couple of new kids, a little money in the bank....It's ironic, as much as I espouse the free market, I would have lost my job 4 years ago if not for TARP. And none of this would have been possible. Who'd have thunk it? The only area I'm NOT better off in is that 4 years ago, I was actually able to watch the Rockets on TV......... Thanks, Obama.
I'm better off than I was 4 years ago. I dunno how much of that is due to the government or the President though. Still government hasn't impacted me negatively enough to vote against Obama.
I'm better off, but that's how it should be. I don't think Obama had anything at all to do with my personal financial situation and I'd be in essentially the same place had McCain been president. I expect to be in a marginally better situation 4 years from now under either Obama or Romney. So, I'm really not voting my economic self-interest.
Most definitely not...but I can't it all on Obama. Kind of hard to be better off 4 years ago when everything was paid for, now I am on my own and I have to pay ALL of my bills, I am definitely much worse off...haha
I think it was the TARP that everyone rags on that kept this country from imploding. Maybe the best thing Bush ever did (I know that's not saying much and I did not vote for his on his 1st or 2nd term nor did I vote D - I wrote in because that is what my conscience told me to do). I truly believe Obama could have / should have done more. He had the banks and the auto industries in a tight spot. Instead of pushing GM to make the all-electric cars why not give loans/subs to create H stations and push the GM and Chrysler to make H cars. So much more promise in those cars and creating those stations would create more jobs. I believe that people would be all over those cars and once they take off, it would set even more stations to be built. Ideas like that. Each president has their good and their bad but Obama best thing he has done has been foreign policy. His US policy gets an F IMO. I don't see anything that he's done in 4 years to help the economy and we are deeper in debt than ever. Yes most of these problems were created by Bush and the whole free reign of banks to do what they please but someone needs to step up and fix the !@# and I haven't seen that from Mr Obama. Mitt - I don't know if they would work but they are something. And like you say - it will take more than just Mitt to make his stuff happen. Personally I think the whole 2 party system is broken right now. I don't know if either party could get anything done even if its the right thing for fear of making the other party look good. I don't believe in Mitt but ironically I am looking for change.
On the whole we are better than we were 4 years ago? What qualifies as better? More money? Less taxes? More government or less government assistance? Something else?
Yes, but not thanks to our government. I have the same job, more or less. I've just gotten paid more to reflect my education and experience.
Am I better off than 4 years ago? -I am currently unemployed. -I pay more at the pump. -My stock portfolio has seen wild swings but is overall down from 4 years ago. -I pay higher health premiums. -I pay higher auto insurance premiums despite a clean driving record. -My rent is higher. -When I was employed, my company was struggling and raises/promotions were not forthcoming. -Drilling on land I have mineral rights on did not commence because of the inability to get the oil transported which the Keystone pipeline would have helped. My brother in law has lived in Colorado since '08. Still hasn't found work. Definitely worse off.
