Are you better off now than you were in 12/08?

[JDPriestly]

This is the question that Americans will be asked to answer in the next presidential election. So, I'm asking you now: Are you better off now than you were in December 2008?

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. Same salary so I guess that makes me less well off considering cost of living increase?

Glad to have a job with good health insurance.

[Cid_B]

2. Military member here...

so better...

[robinlynne]

3. can't vote twice, yet there are 4 different questions in the poll....

[JDPriestly]

33. Sorry. I'm not good at making polls.

But, I hope you asked yourself the questions. I think these are the questions that voters will be asking in 2012, and I think Democrats especially Obama need to know what the answers are going to be and campaign accordingly.

Frankly, if I were Obama, I probably would not run again if it turns out the answers are going to be very negative. (Which they might be. I don't know for other people.)

[robinlynne]

40. There is only one thing I find better than the BUsh era. I am no longer afraid

to fly on an airplane and have my books examined. I was always afraid during the BUsh era. now I'm simply angry. Everything else has gone downhill. health is worse, finances are worse, hope.....

[BeFree]

4. More angry

In 08 I had hope for progressive change. I am angry that we have not made the progress this country needs.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Things are much tougher for me financially.

I am living on the bubble, and the increase in food, fuel, and utilitiers is really pushing me to the breaking point. Plus I haven't had a raise in years. :(

[JDPriestly]

34. A lot of Americans will vote or stay home based on this issue.

Obama has not done well either with dealing with the issue or with dealing with how people feel about this one.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

71. I simply do not understand the incredible --

lack of focus from him on this issue; it is foolish both politically and practically. I cannot imagine economic/political advisors so out of touch that they wouldn't convince him that job creation should have been his number one priority the past 3 years. What O is paying at is political suicide.

[FSogol]

6. Unrec. Are you encouraging everyone to vote repub because we aren't better off?

:shrug:

[defendandprotect]

16. If we vote for Obama who are we actually voting for -- a Dem or a Republican?

Obama has adopted a GOP agenda --

Over and over posters repeat that we need to move the party to the LEFT --

That they are shocked with Obama's GOP agenda --

When posters say they are not going to vote for Obama because he is too far to

the right, what in heavens name would cause you to think that they'll be voting for GOP?

[emulatorloo]

32. First you have remember DU is a bubble, and represents a minority viewpoint

In the same way that FreeRepublic represents a minority viewpoint. Most liberal Dems in the real world would find your claim that "Obama has adopted a GOP agenda" as ridiculous as "Obama is a Keyan Socialist."

[defendandprotect]

43. Perhaps you don't understand the nation's support for Social Security and Medicare?

Or that 80% of the public want an end to the wars --

Or that 76% of Americans -- 83% of Catholics -- want MEDICARE FOR ALL --



We need two strong anti-war candidates in 2012 --

Sen. Bernie Sanders or Alan Grayson would do it --

or maybe Tom Hayden for VP -

[emulatorloo]

51. I think you are living in a bubble of rumor and innuendo

In this deal

- Obama is pushing for tax increases for the Rich and closing corporate loopholes
- Those who claim Obama is pushing for benefit cuts to medicare and social security have nothing but Rumor and Speculation. I have seen cost cutting discussed by Obama. There is a difference between cost control and benefit cuts, and you know that as well as I do.

You are making a lot of assumptions that are based on Speculative Op-Eds and bloggers whose job is to create controversy.


-Republicans want no tax hikes, and they want The Ryan Plan, That's their bottom line.

[Dawgs]

59. Except WH admitted that Obama floated idea of raising Medicare age.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/07/12/266334/white-house-confirms-obama-floated-idea-of-raising-medicare-age-the-single-worst-idea-for-medicare-reform/

Or does that not count?

[ChiciB1]

64. Regardless Of How You Look At What IS Actually Going On, I'm One

who is quite SICK & TIRED of the game playing. Floating or not floating? Is something going to happen or NOT happen?

Having to TRY to figure out what is meant to be a float or something actual is very un-nerving to me. Say what you mean, mean what you say. A suggestion by innuendo is simply game playing to me.

What is going on in this country shouldn't be played this way and I'm thoroughly fed up with it. I do realize that this kind of stuff has been going on for decades, but right now there is just too much on the line. This economy sucks and all the trickery by BOTH sides is nothing less the MEAN!

There are many other words that could be used to describe it all, but ALL of it has caused me a great deal of angst and DEPRESSION!

My husband and I are doing better than some friends/people I know, but that does NOT mean we are doing well. The cost of everything has gone up and our incomes have stayed the same. I was really shocked at the cost of a gallon of milk recently which was $3.68 and there was a tag below it saying I was saving .10 by buying it at that store.

While the focus is mostly on gas, there are so so many other things that have gotten more expensive by more than just a little. I mentioned this in a post the other day. The cost of 34 oz. of "run of the mill" coffee at Publix was $15.49 and I couldn't believe it. I watch all the time for the "buy one, get one free items" which Publix is very good at. So when I see items on sale I try to stock up right then if my budget permits it. I also buy groceries each month through Angel Food Ministries and find they actually do have good food and have expanded their selections since I began using them.

Still, I'm not happy with the amount of work I have to do just to go grocery shopping. I've stopped buying anything I DON'T really need, and if I find something needs replaced I will either go to Habitat For Humanity, garage sales or thrift shops. There ARE good deals to be found there. But even Goodwill has raised their prices! It's tough to make it anymore, and I also try to find "side" work to supplement our income like cleaning, gardening or mowing lawns for others. Well, my husband does the mowing, but I do a lot of weed pulling and trimming.
:grr: :nuke:
:banghead:

[ChiciB1]

65. Correction... I Hate Seeing My Mistakes. Should Have Been...

nothing less than MEAN. If there are others, oh well, I'm mad.

[defendandprotect]

63. Obama has already ended COLA's -- and extended tax cuts for the rich ... that's "rumors" ... ?

:rofl:

It's over --

[Ikonoklast]

88. Mr. Obama cannot and did not change the COLA.

No president has that power.


You do not understand the mechanism if that is what you believe...or it is just more deliberate misinformation posted by you.

[defendandprotect]

91. Obama obviously understands the gimmickry of the mechanism ... Dems and Obama ...

have done nothing but attack safety nets --

rather than helping seniors and the poor --

What I understand is that one of the last things this country needs is any more

corporate decision making such as Obama has given us since the election --


We need a true liberal in the White House -- someone like Sen. Bernie Sanders

or Alan Grayson --

and two strong anti-war candidates -- maybe Tom Hayden for VP!!

[Ikonoklast]

103. Mr. Obama will be re-elected.

Bernie Sanders supports this president.

Grayson? No accomplishments to speak of, couldn't even hold his House seat.

Hayden?

Really? I mean, that's a joke, right?

[defendandprotect]

108. Maybe --

[JDPriestly]

79. With you, defend and protect, but in this "poll" I am just trying

to find out where DUers are in terms of assessing their current situation.

I wish Obama would do something similar.

He may have polling going on, but he could run into a huge backlash if Americans are feeling squeezed and lack confidence in his governance in 2012 (not far off).

Obama's handling of the Social Security Trust Fund issues is absolutely the stupidest politics I have ever seen in my lifetime. Just idiotic. I can't fathom what he and his aides are thinking.

[defendandprotect]

101. Actually, think it's a good poll -- but we need even more understanding of this depression....

And, imo, it has been a depression from the first to the last --

If you saw Galbraith's comments to the commission, you note he points to the

reality that the banks/investments associations brought about this financial coup --

and he further points to the need for investigation and REREGULATION --

None of that has happened in any effective way --

Which is the problem of corporate money in the Dem Party -- especially the Koch money

via the DLC which changed the agenda of the party and its outlook -- and its candidates,

including our presidential candidates.

Continuing influences of "New Dems" and "Third Way" -- and other corporate/fascists on party.

Also obviously has bought a lot of SILENCE from Dems on issues they should be speaking out

on -- and programs/safety nets they should be rallying for!


Every DU'er and every SENIOR should see Galbraith's comments -- *

After all, let's remember it was Obama who set up this farce --

while Dems in Congress voted against it!




Coming back to your poll -- the plight of those seniors on Social Security is not only

being ignored by Obama/Dems but as Galbraith pointed out new cuts would be "brutal"

and against all common sense.

Of course, NONE of this makes any sense in regard to the deficit because Social Security

has nothing to do with the deficit --

and MEDICARE FOR ALL would SAVE the government money -- while creating 2.3 million jobs!


Further -- we have a minimum of 15% unemployed when we acknowledge the long term unemployed

who no longer get benfits. Additionally, the number may be as high as 21% when we consider

those who are working part time rather than full time -- and those who are working jobs they

are overqualified for.

When we look at a figure of 21% we are able to understand far better what is actually

happening in the nation --

We also have to better understand the family's ability to cope --

I would suspect that working parents were once able to help grandparents -- while probably

also helping their children. And many variations of that!

Many families are being sapped by trying to help kids who have lost jobs --

or where college expenses have escalated -- many reasons.

Much more expansive than we realize, imo --





Wrote this mainly for My Journal as I know you're aware of all this --

Here's the link to Galbraith's comments --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1469619



:)

[Javaman]

19. That's not even germain to the question.

are you better off or not?

pretty simple if you ask me.

If people can't ask that question, then what are we supposed to do? keep our heads in the ground? never utter a discouraging word?

Things are crappy, that is a fact. Impossible to hide that fact.

[JDPriestly]

38. I am asking the question that was asked by Republicans in previous

elections against sitting Democrats. These are the kinds of questions that will win or lose the re-election campaign.

Frankly, I have big doubts about Obama's re-electability. And if he can't be re-elected, we need another candidate.

Time to start getting realistic about Obama and his chances for re-election.

He has handled the deficit issue very, very clumsily and managed to anger a lot of people.

So, we have to ask these unpleasant questions about Obama.

Obama is not the sum of the Democratic Party. Far from it. He needs to understand that voters will vote their family's status. This is an up or down vote. Obama, you helped me. Obama, you hurt me. That is what most voters will think about. Am I better off now, or was I better off before? Is my house as nice? Is my marriage as good? Is my job as good? Is my school as good? Are my neighbors as well off? Do I have more or less access to healthcare?

It may not be fair, but those are the questions Americans will be asking.

And the big one: Am I more secure or less secure than I was four years ago?

That will be a stopper for seniors thanks to Obama's caving on Social Security and Medicare.

[robinlynne]

42. who said anything about voting republican?

[Javaman]

68. It's the tired fall back answer for people that hate

inconvenient questions.

[daa]

54. I think the point was "It's the economy stupid". Always was

always will be.

[JDPriestly]

80. Yes. Although environmental issues influence our sense of

well-being too. I am not happy that after Fukushima, we continue to rely so much on nuclear. We are courting our own disaster. Sooner or later these nuclear reactors (which are aging) will show us who is boss. And we are not going to like our new boss -- those of us who survive for long.

The earth can only handle so many nuclear accidents.

[JDPriestly]

78. No, I'm trying to get Democrats to focus on voters' problems

Right now, as usual, the Republicans are setting the agenda.

We need to change that trend, find out what is on voters' minds and respond accordingly.

And the first step is to find out how our neighbors and friends are doing. Are they happy with what is going on?

Then we need to find out whether people are happy with Obama?

With their Congressional representatives?

What changes do people want?

I'm seeing Obama playing defensive constantly during his administration. He needs to get on the offensive. He will never get the American people behind him if he continues to focus on the deficit instead of pointing out that the first priority is to get Americans back to work.

His big problem is that his initial stimulus plan was too heavily stocked with tax cuts and had too few real job programs.

America is not working. And Obama will get the blame.

I would like to see that turn around. Obama's willingness to cut Social Security and Medicare is absolutely the worst campaign move he could possibly make. It is idiotic.

[bdamomma]

95. can you all imagine if McCain was President.?????

god forbid, thank goodness for small mercies.

[BlueIris]

7. I went with "more afraid." I do not believe there is anyone flying the plane.

I see no one leading the U.S. government in any constructive direction, and am afraid we're going to crash into the proverbial mountain soon.

[Javaman]

15. You've hit upon something that I stated a while back.

there seems to me to be a lack of a grand overall plan. We just get reactionary "fixes" to problems.

While I don't believe we are completely "rudderless", I do believe that the sails have certainly been shredded. And rather than fix them, our elected official just stare up at them wondering what to do.

[defendandprotect]

24. There is a "grand overall plan" ... same it has been for 60 years.. destroy NEW DEAL programs...

to sufficiently weaken the public -- reduce incomes --

complete control of government by the rightwing.

This is corporate/fascism --


Same as it was when it brought Hitler and Nazis to the world --


Rise of the Fourth Reich -- which, btw, can only rise on political violence --

and we've had 50 plus years of it here in America !!

[Javaman]

27. Good point.

sad, but a very good point.

[defendandprotect]

31. Actually ... you could say it goes back to the very setting up of the nation --

Elites understood that democracy and equality were the enemy ---

but they understood they had time to destroy the experiment with democracy

and equality for all --

Thom Hartmann was mentioning the other day -- I didn't hear all of it -- that

Thomas Jefferson had observed that in setting up our government they made sure

that democracy would never rise again!

Our Constitution is schizophrenic in its declarations --

and there has been too much room permitted for dishonest men to take control.



Capitalism is a primary tool of wealthy/elites --

a system intended to move the wealth and natural resources of a nation from the

many to the few --

and of course Christianity -- often used tool of wealthy/elites --







Patriarchy -- and its underpinning =

Organized Patriarchal Religion -- and its economic invention =

Capitalism =

The Unholy Trinity

[robinlynne]

48. i belive the poster was spekaing of the Dems' overall plan.

[ChiciB1]

66. OR Steering The Ship! Will We Hit The Iceberg Sooner Or Later?

For me, it's not IF but WHEN! I am very worried and fear for the future and I KNOW I'm not alone by a long shot!

[LWolf]

8. I am worse off financially, professionally, and physically

since I can no longer afford to use my health insurance, premiums having skyrocketed well beyond the usual yearly increase. I can't afford the deductibles and copays.

I've taken pay cuts every single year.

Meanwhile, the corporate ed deform pushed by Duncan/Obama is destroying my profession at a rate unprecedented even under GWB.

[defendandprotect]

25. -- rec

[Tatiana]

29. [phone]

I completely echo your sentiments.

I never thought I would see the teaching profession so denigrated as I have under a Democratic President.

I am MUCH worse off, and that's an understatement.

[Warpy]

9. I'm a capitalist parasite these days

so I'm one of the few who is much better off.

However, I've seen my own purchasing power eroded greatly. Since I've been drawing a flat amount over the last 5 years and putting the rest into the portfolio, I've seen a decrease in my rate of savings from that flat amount due to massive inflation.

Still, the investing class has been very well taken care of by this administration.

It's just high time the rest of the country started to see some benefit or the whole house of cards is going to fall again as the consumer driven economy continues to weaken.

The top can't prosper for long unless the bottom is prospering. I grew up with people who survived the Depression so I learned that lesson a long time ago. The billionaires today seem determined to repeat history and learn it the hard way.

[JDPriestly]

45. Warpy, sounds like your answer is no to the Are my neighbors

better off? question.

And you sound like a person with a lot of empathy for others. I wish more financially comfortable Americans understood this like you do.

We are all in the same boat. And if treated with respect, most Americans will work very, very hard.

The problem is leadership. We choose our leaders. That's the best system on earth. But when a few greedy people edge in and take advantage of the openness of our methods for choosing our leaders, we have to carefully understand how the process works.

These questions will be asked over and over by the folks out of power wanting to get in for 2012. Democrats need a strategy to deal with the questions and the answers that will be most commonly elicited.

And I don't see from Obama's responses regarding the deficit negotiations any strategy at all in terms of answering or explaining and dealing with the likely answers to these questions. These are the questions that will decide the 2012 election.

[Warpy]

75. The real irony in all this is that capitalist parasites also do better

when their taxes are higher, their fellow Americans paid enough to live on in reasonable comfort and security, and the government has enough to spend on creating and maintaining infrastructure. Money only works when it's moving and when it's allowed to stagnate at the top and in corporate coffers, things are just not going to improve for any of us.

So yes, we are in the same boat, whether or not we know it.

[Javaman]

10. Well, let's see...

I still haven't gotten a rise since way before 2008. Bonus? LOLOL >wipes tear from eye< What's a bonus? All costs have gone up across the board, yet my income has remained the same.

Am I better?

Please redefine better.

I'm a better artist now, because I can't afford to do other things other things besides draw. (forget oils or sculpting - too expensive).

I'm a better gardener. Because I have to grow a portion of the food we eat to save money.

I'm better finding a great cheap book at half priced books.

I'm better at jigsaw puzzles that I buy from goodwill.

I'm better at sewing. I darn my socks and patch my work pants more often now.

I'm better at enjoying the world around me. I find sitting in my backyard and observing what little nature their is and really appreciating it before it all vanishes into a climate change drought or massive heat wave (like the ones I'm currently experiencing).

So I guess I'm better, but certainly not in the common wisdom sort of way. aka money is tight and getting tighter.

On edit: one more thing! I lost weight! Yup, I call it the crappy economy diet. I have no money to buy enough food, so I eat less! :) Win Win!

[JDPriestly]

47. Great answer. Someone complimented me the other day on having

lost weight. We eat our veggies first. Helps.

I think I would have to give the same answers to the questions as you.

Gardening, sewing, making do with a lot less. But then I do not have children who are trying to go to school.

I think the economy and the ongoing wars and excessive and misplaced security procedures are not going to help Obama when people start thinking about their own economic problems.

I favor a challenge even at this late date because I would like to change the direction of the party into something that really serves the interests of Americans, something more akin to the old-fashioned Democratic Party of FDR.

[Javaman]

67. Right there with you...

I'm tired of the status quo aka politicians taking us for granted or just plain forgetting about us all together.

and to add, I don't have kids either. I don't know how people with kids make ends meet.

Perhaps if there was a Democratic challenger, it would kick Obama in the ass enough to refocus on the plight of the people.

I can dream.

[JDPriestly]

83. Just the threat of a challenge might get some real change.

Geithner needs to go. He has totally failed Obama and the country.

[defendandprotect]

94. +1 --

Agree with you overall --

but doubt that Geithner has "failed" Obama --

These were people picked by Obama to do the job he wanted done --

haven't heard any protests from him about his team's actions --

least of all the destruction Arnie Duncan and Obama are doing to public

education, teachers and unions!!

Social Security should be doubled - and so should Minimum Wage -- if not tripled!!

Every $1 anyone had pre-Bush is now worth 50 cents !!

[bdamomma]

100. a democratic challenger but who???

any suggestions?

[FiveGoodMen]

11. Worse

Because now I know no one in DC is on our side.

No matter who wins, we're screwed.

[bigwillq]

12. I'm lucky to have a job.

But with salary staying the same and the price of everything going up, it's getting harder and harder to squeak by.
Many of the people I know seem to be doing worse. Many friends lost their jobs, many friends moving back home because they just can't afford to live on their own, or even with roommates. Tough times for a lot of folks I know.

[hobbit709]

13. Much less well off financially.

household income has dropped about 70%. Good thing I now only need $300/mo to cover taxes and insurance plus what all the other bills come to. My first summer electric bill came yesterday-$265. Of course it's been 100°+ practically every day for over a month already.

[JuniperLea]

14. I got a raise after skipping a year...

And I got a very good bonus, about 1/6th of my salary. We're opening another office and hiring more people... and I hope to get a really good bonus this year for being instrumental in setting up the new office space.

"Deep pockets and short arms" is how I'd describe the spending habits around here, making these changes all the more remarkable.

It's going to take time before we all feel it. It took BushCo 8 years to fuck us; it will take the Obama admin longer than two years to unfuck us. We're heading in the right direction.

[man4allcats]

17. I need a job.

Can you help?

[JuniperLea]

37. I can give you good advice...

I'm working with several employment agencies who are telling me that they are filling job orders hand over fist right now. I just hired a receptionist in Los Angeles and got several agencies involved... same story everywhere.

Get several agencies working for you, and make sure they specialize in the kind of work you're looking for. Make a list of their phone numbers and call them every other day or so.

[man4allcats]

56. Well at this point, anything's worth a shot.

Thanks for the tip.

[tammywammy]

18. I am better off financially, healthier and have a better job. n/t

[drm604]

20. There are 5 different polls here,

and none of them have a "the same" option.

[JDPriestly]

49. Sorry, can you make a better similar poll.

Or is DU just limited in terms of polling.

Really, I'm just trying to get people to think about how the election will go. These are the questions that will decide the outcome of the 2012 election.
Thus far, DUers are not feeling better off for the most part. And that suggests that the election will not go well..

As you can see from the answers, how people feel about their own personal situation and that of people they know, especially the economic situations, determines how they feel generally about the political status quo.

I think the bad economy and the feeling that Obama has done too little to improve it or even to get people thinking about how to improve it (because he obviously can't improve it on his own) is causing all the in-fighting on DU.

How can we focus on winning in 2012 when we are all so unhappy about our personal situations? I cannot go out and campaign in this economy where the hope that Obama offered has been crushed everywhere you look.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. Financially better off, with the same job, refuse to live in fear and not into anger.

Overall, I'm not unhappy with my life and the direction I've taken it. :shrug:

Not exactly the best put together poll I've ever seen. Five topics and one vote doesn't work too well, you know.

[Major Hogwash]

22. Well, yeah.

I got that huge lump removed off of the end of my nose, and I've redecorated the bridge I live under, and I just celebrated my 121st birthday.

LoL

[arbusto_baboso]

23. Other: I'm about the same.

[Change Happens]

26. Yes, much better!

[petronius]

28. The better question, albeit harder to answer, is whether you're better off now than

you would be if Nov 2008 had turned out differently...

[JDPriestly]

50. It takes a certain sophistication to answer that question.

And Republicans are very good at framing things so that Americans will be so dizzy from propaganda that they don't think about what might have happened with Sarah Palin dancing around the White House.

People will ask whether Obama has improved their lives. And the Republicans will criticize Obama (easy enough to do in my view) and then brag about what they could do better.

So, your answer won't be on very many minds in 2012, fair as it is.

[petronius]

74. You're right, of course. I tend to veer toward the pedantic over the pragmatic,

but as a vote influencing issue, the "What have you done for me lately?" question will need to be answered if we want to keep Ds in the WH and Congress...

[rbnyc]

99. + 1

That's a fact.

It kind of reminds me of this little anecdote from my childhood.

When I was a kid I was eating in a restaurant with my grandma and I was eavesdropping on a conversation at the bar. A somewhat overweight man was talking about his diet and exercise program. He was explaining how he was only eating ice cream once a week instead of every night and how he was riding his bike for half an hour every morning. His friend said, "Yeah, but you're still fat." And he said, "Yeah, but imagine how much fatter I would be if I were eating ice cream every night and never riding my bike."

For some reason, I will always remember that.

Yeah, we have a hard time getting through each month and have given up a lot, but we really could be homeless - it's just a couple policy tweaks away.

[Erose999]

30. Better off financially but thats just because I worked hard and made an opportunity for myself and

got promoted. If I had stayed in the same job I'd be much worse off financially.

[JDPriestly]

52. Glad to hear that your efforts were rewarded. How about your neighbors?

Anybody foreclosed and disappeared? How is it going for your family?

Do you think any of them blame Obama for the lack of economic progress? Or do people feel he has done a good job?

Would you credit Obama with any part of your success?

Obviously we would probably agree that under McCain things would be worse, but how do you think other people will answer these questions.

We have a mix of answers.

But these questions will shape the Republican campaign, you can count on that.

[Erose999]

70. My family are not doing so well. Seniors are all anxious about their medicare and retirement. My dad

is trying to get his social security and VA straightened out (my mom passed away last month from Lou Gherig's disease). He's also got a PTSD claim from when he was in Vietnam (he's been having night terrors and stuff for 40 years). In his current situation he's barely paying the bills, and his home is due some maintenance/repair. He's now getting the last of the cleanup work done from the tornado that just narrowly missed the house about 3 months ago.

As for me, even though I'm doing marginally better I worry about my retirement. And I know that in my position of a state employee in the reddest of red states that my representatives in gov't are not looking out for my long term interests.

[JDPriestly]

77. I'm so sorry to hear about your dificulties. We DUers need to pull together.

We need real change. I'm going to attend the meeting of the Rebuild the American Dream group on July 17th in my area. Might be something you would like.

[emulatorloo]

35. Republicans have blocked every piece of legislation aimed at boosting the economy.

Many voters are aware of that. More voters will be learning about that.

[JDPriestly]

55. Hopefully. But Republicans probably have a strategy for dealing with that.

And Obama is playing right into their hands in my opinion.

I can't see much of a Democratic strategy at this point at all. That is part of the reason for the poll.

We can't just avoid the fact that these questions -- as answered by our neighbors and friends will decide the next election.

Nobody is going to vote for Obama because he tries hard to deal with the Republicans who are so difficult.

Nobody is going to vote for Obama because he is a president for all Americans and not partisan.

People will vote for Obama if they think he is doing a good job -- not a better job than the Republicans would have done -- and they will judge how good a job Obama is doing by how well they and their family and friends and neighbors are doing.

That's the reality. Obama does not seem to realize that how well grandma and grandpa are doing and whether they have to have help to pay for their medical care is going to affect how young people feel about Obama and how everyone votes in the next election.

Nobody seems to be thinking about the fact that grandmothers are going to ask themselves what Obama is doing about the environment really, what he is doing about jobs for her grandchildren and that grandma will not vote for him if it doesn't look like he at least has a plan other than the same plan the Republicans are offering which is cuts and austerity.

Why vote for a Democrat if you are going to get Republican policies?

[Dawgs]

60. Glad to see that you're admitting Obama is a Republican. n/t

[emulatorloo]

69. What an idiotic thing to say. Senate Republicans blocked legislation, not Obama

Senate Republicans and a handful of Blue Dogs voted against cloture time and time again. Obama does not have a vote in the Senate, you know that as well as anybody

[guitar man]

36. Getting worse every day

Flat wages for the last 5 years, had to drop health coverage, it became unaffordable, wife lost her part time job... zero help or relief in sight so far :(

[MilesColtrane]

39. I am making about the same amount of money.

And, I'm carrying a little less debt.

But, I'm two plus years older and still don't have health insurance.

Unfortunately, one of the groups I play with had to negotiate a new CBA in the middle of this economic clusterfuck.

We got a little more money, but ultimately less economic security as compensation was structured toward a "per service" basis and away from a minimum annual salary.

[nc4bo]

41. Took a few gulps of water, nearly drowned now mouth above waterline again.

The fall/winter look pretty dark and dismal. Hate looking that far ahead. It's goes part and parcel in the life of a non-union, AA, steelman in a really crappy economy, I guess.

ETA: No worse than 08. Business had been slipping around 06-07 after a major boom of business in previous years.

[JDPriestly]

84. You are a steel-worker. Meanwhile, we have to import a bridge

from China because we no longer have the capacity to big steel production jobs. It's pitiful.

[nc4bo]

106. My hubby's the steel man, I work the paper end but we're a team..

and it's horrible out here, just horrible.

The price of steel is out of this world and takes most of the profit since we tend to bid low just to get the jobs. No one wants to pay a fair price for what we do, it's the *who* we're doing most of our work for that puts us in that position but some work is better than none.

Can't build trailers because you can get them just as cheap or cheaper at Lowe's and Home Depot. Same with iron railing and iron fences especially with the price of the materials being so high. Even making those big grills from fuel oil units can't compete with the prefab stuff. :(

Motels/hotels aren't doing much upgrading but instead wait until they're just about ready to fail an inspection before doing needed work and the newer ones going up tend to be mostly the internal entrance kind where you don't need railings, same with pool fences, most of the pools are inside - leaves us out of business. Then of course there's that aluminum railing and plastic stuff (not so cheap but cheaply made compared to steel) that finishes us off.

Residential we only take if we're starving because people usually want something done for nothing.

I could just scream sometimes - just like lots of other people on shaky financial ground.

[Zorra]

44. I'm better off but it has nothing whatsoever to do with 2008,

except that I made some decisons that so far have seemed to work out well for me.

[defendandprotect]

46. kr

[fredamae]

53. @700,000-800,000 Plus Monthly Job Loss IN 2008

YES!

[Maru Kitteh]

57. I am better off and I have more hope for the future.

[damntexdem]

58. Inadequate answer choices:

better off financially, more afraid, angrier, mixed on health. And a lot less optimistic.

[GreenTea]

61. You Mean 01/09 (January 20th 2009) when Obama became President!

[JDPriestly]

85. Yes. December 08 is easier to think about.

[totodeinhere]

62. I am one of the lucky ones. I am fortunate enough to be better off financially.

But this just isn't about me. It's about everybody and so far the poll shows more worse off than better off and that is a crying shame. And who knows? The way things are going perhaps tomorrow I might join the ranks of the ones who are worse off. In fact we all might. I wouldn't say I am fearful because fear can be a destructive emotion. But I can say that I am definitely concerned about the direction that this country is going in and I can't see anything to do about it.

[shanti]

72. worse off financially

but that is to be expected as i have retired since :shrug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

73. Worse off, so let's vote for more of the same.

We desperately need someone to challenge Obama.

Grayson! Sanders! Either one gets my vote in a heartbeat.

[xmas74]

76. I was in a lay off in Feb of 2009.

I now make less than half of what I did in Dec 2008.

times have been very tough.

[tabbycat31]

81. yes

And I now have a career that I LOVE.

[Rex]

82. YES!

But it took careful planning.

[TriMera]

86. I had a job in 12/08.

I was laid off in April of '09, along with everyone who worked for me. I looked for work until July of '10 and then gave up. I am luck that my wife, who was laid off at the same time I was, was able to find work again. That has allowed me to go back to school, but we live paycheck to paycheck with no safety net. I also just turned 45 and I have some chronic health problems, so my future employment prospects are looking pretty bleak. Oh, and I have no health insurance. So, I would say that I am worse off.

[Broderick]

87. I am not

And because of what I do, I expect it to some degree. The sad part is laying off an few employees the last year and restructuring pay etc etc. At least the doors are open and I can circle the wagons and keep things going. I made a lot more money working for other people in the past. Money is unimportant at this point. Keeping things going is. We will survive.

[dana_b]

89. unemployed, worse off

afraid and angry. whew.

[bluestate10]

90. Much better off. nt

[slackmaster]

92. Better. My net worth was about $0 in December 2008

Due to a divorce.

[bdamomma]

93. one question for everyone

do you think 8 yrs. of nightmarish bush regime lead us this way???

[RockaFowler]

96. I'm worse off, but I don't blame the President

We live in Florida. The Housing Bubble burst here big time. My husband is in Construction, ergo - no job now. Plus he worked for a real dirtbag Repuke who deserves to lose his business just for being a total and complete loser. More than anything I blame Bush and the Repukes here in Florida for creating this God-Awful mess. And I think a lot of people around here are getting that same feeling. Things were great for us until the speculators showed up and ruined the Housing Market. Things were great when we weren't forced to use nothing but Chinese shit in our homes (uhh Chinese Drywall is still a problem here).

My husband has been out of work for over a year. He doesn't blame President Obama for this. He puts the blame right where it belongs - stubborn Repukes. He even thinks it will get worse if we let them back in the White House - boy do I agree with that one.

[NNN0LHI]

97. Fuck a lot better off. Bush was still president then!

Not financially better off mainly due to my property taxes going sky high.

But I was unable to get a single good nights sleep for the entire 8 year term of rapture ready Bush.

I have not had that problem since Obama has become president.

I realize that many Americans were completely comfortable with the psychopath Bush as president. Enough to get him elected to a second term anyway. People tend to like a daddy figure like Bush. But I never did. That crazy religious talk from Bush was beginning to remind me of the Jim Jones death tapes from Guyana near the end.

I am much better now.

Don

[rbnyc]

98. Worse and here's why:

Health insurance premiums have increased.

Doctor co-pays have increased.

Employer cannot afford to give raises because of the percentage of health insurance premiums that they pay.

Prices of gas and food have increased.

Husband was laid off because his company cannot afford to pay staff because they are not being paid by client companies that can't afford to pay for services. Husband is piecing together part-time, temp and freelance work at severely reduced pay and no benefits.

If I did not have to pay for family health insurance and we had access to affordable health care, we would be fine even if my husband's income never improved. We would have money to spare.

[defendandprotect]

102. Health Care Crisis is certainly at the core of this attack on citizens by elites ....major weapon --

[MrSlayer]

104. Actually I've done a bit worse since 2008.

I missed four months of work in 09 and then four months this year. 2008 was a good year for me as were 06 and 07. But that's only because the Chimp's destructive policies hadn't really hit home yet.

[femmocrat]

105. Thanks to a good union job, I am better off.

We got a moderate raise in the latest contract, but we are paying more for health care. That's OK. At least we have it.

[OwnedByFerrets]

107. My dollar, which is the same as in 2008 is buying much less now.