Obama 2012-Are You Better Off Than Four Years Ago?

[SparrowHawk]

Actually Regan increased taxes 11 times if I recall reading it correctly and he nearly doubled the deficit. Cutting spending alone will not solve the problem. Taxes need to increase a bit and the tax structure needs to be overhauled. Anyone who thinks it was only going to take two years to fix this mess is delusional. I am guessing another 5-10 at least. If taxes are not adjusted, even longer.

If we lived within the confines of the role of the federal Government as defined by the founding fathers we'd need no federal income tax whatsoever.

Show me one shred of Evidence that he raised the Federal Income tax? You can't because it doesn't exist. what he did do was very astute. He dropped tax rates dramatically to spur growth and over the remaining 6 of his 8 year term tweaked the system to take about half of the tax cuts back as the economy recovered and grew. At the end of his two terms there was a net cut in taxes.

The tax cuts under Reagan totaled just off 275 Billion and the increases were slightly less than 133 Billion or roughly half according to the Office of Management and Budget.

Under Reagan the debt grew about 1.6 Trillion. Add in the tax cuts and to be overly fair to Obama leave out the tax increases that gives 1.875 Trillion or approximately 1/3 of the debt accumulated over 8 years as opposed to 30 months.

Face it, you just can't polish a turd

 

[dapoes]

In Feb 2008 this article predicted the consequences we are suffering http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/article3412540.ece

Obama: is America ready for this dangerous left winger?
Listen to the rhetoric of Barack Obama ...

There was no shortage of proposals. He plans large increases in government spending on health and education. He wants to tax the rich more to pay for it. He is against companies using the opportunities of free markets to restructure their operations in the US. He is vehemently protectionist.

 

[dapoes]

Top 10 Obama Attacks on Capitalism

President Obama occasionally cozies up to the corporate world, especially during fund-raising time, and delivers a modicum of support for business. But have no doubt about it, this is a man who honors the power of government over the marketplace. Here are the Top 10 Obama Attacks on Capitalism:

1. Spread wealth around: This famous utterance—“I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody”—to Joe the Plumber during the 2008 presidential race, remains the saying that most succinctly sums up Obama’s worldview, that of a community organizer, which is that accumulated wealth is to be reviled and rectified through redistribution. Nothing could be more antagonistic to entrepreneurship, free markets or business investment than to have the government seize the rewards of sound economic decisions in order to try and engineer social equality.

2. Capital-gains “fairness”: During a 2008 presidential debate, Obama gave us another plank in his Socialist mindset by explaining his view on tax-policy fairness. When asked by moderator Charlie Gibson whether he would favor a cut in the capital gains rate if it led to higher revenues as it did during previous administrations, Obama said: “Well, Charlie, what I've said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness.” Seizing higher percentages of earnings from those who made wise investments is preferable to Obama even if it means less tax dollars for his precious government programs.

3. ObamaCare by any means: When battling for his signature health care legislation, Obama saw fit to carry out daily attacks on insurance companies. Even the liberal Washington Post called him out, with an article reporting: “The near-daily demonization of the insurance industry is an attempt by the White House to play to Americans' anxieties about the health-care system.” Typical of his attacks was a speech containing 22 castigations against the insurance industry, such as, “How much higher do premiums have to rise, before we do something about it?" We are still waiting, Mr. President.

4. Bondholders equal speculators: When negotiating the bailout of General Motors, Obama called the automaker’s bondholders “speculators” who were "refusing to sacrifice like everyone else." Apparently Obama’s definition of shared sacrifice didn’t apply to his campaign-backers at the United Auto Workers, which were handed partial ownership of the company saved from bankruptcy by taxpayer dollars.

5. Chamber of Commerce attack: Obama demonized the Chamber of Commerce during the midterm election campaign, accusing the business group, with no proof, of using foreign money to influence the elections. “Just this week, we learned that one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign corporations. So groups that receive foreign money are spending huge sums to influence American elections,” Obama said on the stump. “And they won’t tell you where the money for the ads comes from.” Going into campaign mode against corporate America with such silliness even had the New York Times complaining.

6. Class-warfare tactics: In January 2010, Obama stumped for the Massachusetts Senate campaign of Martha Coakley, asking the crowd to make a false choice: “When the vote comes on taxes, and there’s a choice between giving more tax breaks to the wealthiest few and corporations that ship American jobs overseas or giving them to the middle class and businesses that create jobs here, who’s going to be on your side?” We all know how well that campaign rhetoric worked, don’t we, Sen. Brown?

7. Student-loan penalty for private sector: Obama laid out a new student loan program in his 2010 State of the Union address where those who choose a career in public service (working for the government) get special treatment over those who enter the private sector. "Let's tell another 1 million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10% of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years, and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service.” Do we really need more incentives for government workers?

8. Stop making money: It just pains the President when someone is successful in the financial world. During his campaign to pass the Dodd-Frank financial reform monstrosity, Obama let his true feelings show: "We're not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that's fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money.”

9. Boeing silence: That Obama doesn’t want to talk about the National Labor Relations Board’s Boeing action speaks volumes. The Obama-packed NLRB suit to deny Boeing’s attempt to open a new plant, creating jobs, in South Carolina because it is a right-to-work state strikes at the heart of our capitalist system. But when asked about the ruling, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: “We do not get involved in particular enforcement matters of independent agencies.”

10. Leave corporate America: Michelle Obama, during the 2008 presidential race, described her and her husband’s philosophy on the superiority of public service over the business world: “We left corporate America, which is a lot of what we're asking young people to do. Don't go into corporate America. You know, become teachers. Work for the community. Be social workers. Be a nurse.” Because, you know, community activists are so much more valuable than corporate leaders.

 

[Veritas]

CBS News / New York Times Poll
June 29, 2011

Who is most to blame for the condition of the US economy?

Bush Administration.................................................. 26%
Wall Street............................................................. 25%
Congress................................................................ 11%
Obama Admin........................................................... 8%
All the above............................................................ 7%​

Wall Street Journal / NBC Poll
June 15, 2011

How responsible is President Obama and his administration’s policies for the country’s current economic conditions?

Solely responsible ....................................................... 10
Mainly responsible ....................................................... 24
Only somewhat responsible .......................................... 48
Not really responsible .................................................. 16
Not sure .................................................................... 2​

How responsible is former President George W. Bush and his administration’s policies for the country’s current economic conditions?

Solely responsible ..................................................... 14
Mainly responsible ..................................................... 33
Only somewhat responsible ........................................ 43
Not really responsible .................................................. 9
Not sure ................................................................... 1​

 

[dapoes]

What do you except from your liberal MSM?

Last November's election was a clear indication whose fault it is for the mess we currently are experiencing. The blame Bush meme only worked for a few short months. It's all on Obama's shoulders now and there's no way for him to escape it. Thats the result of his socialist agenda being shoved down the throats of americans.

Everyone feels foolish for buying into the "hope and change" snake oil pitch.

You liberals better start stocking up on crying pillows. For the tears are gonna flow heavily when his presidency is over come nov 2012.

 

[dapoes]

What do you except from your liberal MSM?

Last November's election was a clear indication whose fault it is for the mess we currently are experiencing. The blame Bush meme only worked for a few short months. It's all on Obama's shoulders now and there's no way for him to escape it. Thats the result of his socialist agenda being shoved down the throats of americans.

Everyone feels foolish for buying into the "hope and change" snake oil pitch.

You liberals better start stocking up on crying pillows. For the tears are gonna flow heavily when his presidency is over come nov 2012.

 

[Veritas]

Since when is the Wall Street Journal liberal? :wacko:

 

[dapoes]

Since when is the Wall Street Journal liberal? :wacko:

If you seriously think people are happy with Obama and we are "on the right track" then you are seriously delusional. Last Nov was a wake up call. An historic wake up call with historic loses across all bases of the democratic field. Now if you still want to have your head stuck in the sand and try to wish it all away and convince yourself its not happening, knock yourself out. No one else is.

 

[dapoes]

What an idiot!

Obama Gaffe, Says Lincoln Bilt the "Intercontinental Railroad"?? :blink:

 

[700UW]

What an idiot!

Obama Gaffe, Says Lincoln Bilt the "Intercontinental Railroad"?? :blink:

At least he can spell, its built, not bilt, lol! Guess the village found what it has been missing, lol!

 

[dapoes]

At least he can spell, its built, not bilt, lol! Guess the village found what it has been missing, lol!

Nice try fanboy, it was spelled the same way he pronounced it.

Remember this little gem: Navy Corpse-Men?



This guy make Palin look like a genius.

 

[dapoes]

Heckavu job Barry! Heckavu job!

Obama’s Economists: ‘Stimulus’ Has Cost $278,000 per Job
The stimulus is now causing the economy to shed jobs.

Again, this is the verdict of Obama’s own Council of Economic Advisors, which is about as much of a home-field ruling as anyone could ever ask for. In truth, it’s quite possible that by borrowing an amount greater than the regular defense budget or the annual cost of Medicare, and then spending it mostly on Democratic constituencies rather than in a manner genuinely designed to stimulate the economy, Obama’s “stimulus” has actually undermined the economy’s recovery — while leaving us (thus far) $666 billion deeper in debt.

The actual employment numbers from the administration’s own Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent when the “stimulus” was being debated. It has since risen to 9.1 percent. Meanwhile, the national debt at the end of 2008, when Obama was poised to take office, was $9.986 trillion (see Table S-9). It’s now $14.467 trillion — and counting.

All sides agree on these incriminating numbers — and now they also appear to agree on this important point: The economy would now be generating job growth at a faster rate if the Democrats hadn’t passed the “stimulus.”

 

[SparrowHawk]

Here's a very good barometer.

Do you personally know more or less people that are on food stamps or unemployment then you did in 2008?

If the answer is "LESS" then waltz into the voting booth and vote for the current POTUS

If the answer is "MORE" then pick someone else who reflects your world/Domestic point of view.

IMO it really is that simple.

 

[dapoes]

Here's a very good barometer.

Do you personally know more or less people that are on food stamps or unemployment then you did in 2008?

If the answer is "YES" then waltz into the voting booth and vote for the current POTUS

If the answer is "NO" then pick someone else who reflects your world/Domestic point of view.

IMO it really is that simple.

Im sure they will come back and say something ignorant and stupid like "Obama created more jobs then Bush" totally ignoring the fact the with a low unemployment rate there naturally be little job creation...because everyone is working!

 

[SparrowHawk]

Im sure they will come back and say something ignorant and stupid like "Obama created more jobs then Bush" totally ignoring the fact the with a low unemployment rate there naturally be little job creation...because everyone is working!

LOL So True!

That's why you have to look "inside" the numbers. Debt, a Government run amok with over regulation & over spending, their insistence on picking winners & losers (GM, Big Labor @ Boeing, ethanol subsidies, etc), A health care plan that's tied up in courts in 26 states to date. Couple this with uncertainty over how these issues will be addressed (either pro business/individual or pro big government) has caused companies to keep their money in their pocket in order to wait and see what's next. Next up we have a failed stimulus bill that if you take the most aggressively rosey numbers from the Democrats to around $400,000 per job that pays on average $40K.

Just to rant a bit about the flawed logic and business as usual in Washington. By all accounts and figures we no longer "Make Things" as only about 16% of the GDP is Manufacturing and related. We are for better or worse an economy driven by consumer spending. So the economy hits the crapper and what does the Empty Suit do? Creates a mountain of debt through the so called stimulus, which enabled Washington to reward something like 8,023 of their closest friends with taxpayer money, often for dubious projects with little direct benefit to the everyday citizen.

OK before you read further pull out your pay stub and go to the line where it says "Withholding's" under Income tax. Write that number down and multiply it by the number of checks you get per year. Got that number now? As a nation we take in about 2.4 Trillion per year in revenue. Federal income tax is about a third of that or the same amount as the 800 Billion in Stimulus. That means that for one year every working man, woman and child would have had $xxxx extra to spend on consumer goods, get their financial house in order if they had foreclosure issues. For me the number would have been just over $12,000 which by accident just happened to be the amount I owed in credit card debt. Eliminating those monthly payments meant I'd still be able to pump an extra $4,000 per year into the consumer economy even after my credit cards were paid off. We didn't do that because none of Barack's Chicago Democrat Mafia would get a payday and that's really what Public Service is today, Get Elected! Get Paid and to bloody hell with everyone else.

If I were running against Obama, I'd get video in the Public domain of Clinton saying "It's The Economy Stupid" along with a few Reagan clips and My Voice Over Guy would say something very simple, "The greatest Leaders of our time agree, The Current President Doesn't" Then in big block letters come the word "Vote" then a new screen appears with voice over saying, "As if your job depends on it" then the candidates name followed my Clinton saying "It's The Economy Stupid". Using Clinton takes away about 2/3rds of the Class Warfare/Evil Republican play off the table and draws the Empty Suit into the arena where his ides will be shown to be as morally bankrupt as he has left us fiscally bankrupt