How has your life changed in the past four years?

[prolesunited]

Include whatever you feel is relevant.

[tk2kewl]

1. I got married and my salary decreased by 40%

and my wife's income only makes up 2/3 of the reduced income

[Sabriel]

2. I had a kid and someone stole my president

Have you seen him? I mean, them?

[Vincardog]

3. I have been out of work for the last 3. I used to be an educated middle

income worker with a bright future. Now I am an unemployable IT worker with out of date job skills and no prospects. Thanks GEORGE.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Because of this site, I've met some really, really good people.

So, I can say that George W. Bush's "Presidency" has had at least ONE positive outcome.

I've met some people that I hope remain friends for life.

[RockaFowler]

5. Let's See

I got married on the same day the counting stopped here in Florida.
I lost a high paying job.
We got 2 beautiful puppies.
My husband hasn't had a raise since we got married.
We have a nice SUV.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. Mmmm

since 2000? I entered my 30s, I have been promoted, and I have had a couple of microscopic raises (I'm not griping, but they haven't exactly kept up with higher health coverage costs, higher car insurance, higher gas and food prices, etc.).

I've gone from only voting to being EXTREMELY politically active.

I officially became a Democrat in 2000 (was kinda third party before that, but never rethug).

We bought this house in 2001.

I've been watching the world go crazy and our country go down the toilet.

[AlCzervik]

7. my husbands company is outsourcing like crazy

so now he travels all the time so he doesnt get to see us much and that sucks. My Grandfather died and i've had a very tought time with that and my town has gone from blue to red.

[Deja Q]

10. All thanks to the so-called 'party of family values'

:-(

[MADem]

8. For the worse

Property taxes UP.
Cost of living and all bills UP.
Income not keeping pace.

Something had to give, and it did. I really think hard now before I buy anything. I am not part of the great GOP consumer society. I travel less and am more likely to go by car than plane (I'm on the enemies' list, for no discernable reason except, perhaps, because I am a Democrat, and tire of the hassle).

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

[medeak]

9. besides local freepers crowing louder than ever before

no physicians taking medicaid patients as state has no funding for it. Very few taking medicare pts as well.

Higher property taxes, gas, power, sewer, water fees through the ceiling.

[tedoll78]

11. Well..

I graduated from Ole Miss with a BA in Political Science.

I was declared to officially be in remission from my testicular cancer.

I moved in with my partner of 8 years in Austin.

I found only really crappy jobs with that degree.

I found a seasonal job with the IRS and collect unemployment from August to February each year.

I began looking for another career path and enrolled in a radiography program (graduate next August!).

I had my first (and hopefully only) kidney stone three years ago. Ouch.

I made some really really really great, really politically intelligent friends.

I realized that, with life being short and all, I want to live closer to my parents in New Orleans.

I fell very homesick in 2002. Still am.

I'm very angry with our nation; I was hopeful at some point.

I am bored and frustrated right now. Ready to graduate and move.

[auntAgonist]

12. Let's see...

In 2000 I was living in Canada, contemplating a move to the USA. By March of 2000 I was married to my wonderful husband, who I met ONLINE, and moved to the USA. It was THEN that I started to REALLY learn about politics in America. We purchased a home in early fall of 2000, both were able to find jobs fortunately. (He moved from CA to MI when I moved from Ontario to MI) We've been able to hang on to those jobs but neither has seen much of a raise at all. WE are thankful for the work we have. Renovations to the house have been put on the back burner because we really don't know what the future holds. We worry constantly for the state of our country and the people who live here. We are still reeling from the shock of the last election and wonder like the rest of you what the future holds. We've seen our health coverage cost go sky high, we had no choice but to change Dr's when Mcare pulled out of our county, and THEN our DR dropped us because, get this... We hadn't been in to say hello in a while and he's overburdened with patients. I guess we should have visited him while we were healthy. Now that my husband is very ill, we can't find a DR! sheesh. Anyway, for the most part living in the USA is good. I miss home so much though. hmmm I guess I am home though, .. maybe it's a mindset , maybe?

[mcscajun]

13. Well, now...

...let's see:
I had expectations in 2000 of being able to retire at 55-60 (somewhere in there); not lavishly...but just not to have to go to the big bad corporate place no 'mo. Only reason that was even an option is it's just me...no spouse...no kids, no pets. Then the stock market tanked and took 50% of my portfolio down the toilet. But, that's okay...I still had a good job, was finally making a decent salary and I had time to make it up...so I wouldn't retire until 65-67. I was disappointed but not alone...most folks saw their silly dreams go up in the bust that year.

Working in the Wall Street area in NYC, I saw the writing on the wall after 9/11 (I'd also seen the towers ablaze without a TV screen interfering) business turned bad...but somehow...I was still semi-afloat. By the end of 2002, I was thinking ahead to 2003, when I planned to do expensive yet badly needed home repairs and buy a new car...I've been driving the same Saturn since Dec. '95 and had been saving for it. Wasn't gonna be fancy...was even thinking Hybrid there for a bit.

Well..the Bush economy had other plans for me: in early 2003 my department's work got offshored to an Indian firm, and we were all laid off. Since then, I've been doing as our President said..."retraining and going to community college" (even though I already have a Bachelor's Degree) to prepare for new challenges...oh yeah: Bartending, substitute teaching, and retail. Ain't nobody gonna take on a 53-year-old high-priced techie when even domestically they can hire a kid to work for half my price...and internationally...a third.

So now I have a fair amount of time on my hands to worry about the coming theocracy and domestic armageddon...and resigned to a long life ahead of scraping by and working indefinitely at low-paying, uninspiring jobs while I watch my house crumble around me. Many thanks to BushCo for my exciting new life. Oh...and I'm still driving the Saturn.

[madison2000]

14. I lost everything

I was laid off from my job as computer technician for a software company in March 2001. It took me 14 interviews and 16 months until I found another job. During the 16 months I had some unemployment compensation, but 5 months with no income at all. I devastated my savings accounts and retirement accounts. I worked part time in a convenience store. I paid for rent and utilities on credit cards and built up thousands of dollars of debt. I finally found a job, but this one had much lower pay and no benefits. I worked there for 16 months and then found a somewhat better situation that did offer benefits. I was laid off at the end of August and have not found another job.

My credit is ruined. I pinch every penny, but since so much of my income goes to pay back old debt, I cannot catch up, much less get ahead. I have lost everything materially speaking, and since the election I am losing hope.

[prolesunited]

15. I'm so sorry to hear these horrible tales

of job loss and debt.

[gollygee]

16. I became a mom

Dh got a really great job during the labor shortage (remember that? Thank you Prez. Clinton!) He still has it, thankfully.