Me? Nope. You?
Research From DNC Ad: “Better Off?”
Anderson Cooper Voiceover: “Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were 8 years ago?” [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]
John McCain: “I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off – because we have had a pretty good prosperous time.” [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]
CG: “Household Income Down $1,000”
Median Household Income:
2000: $49,192
2006: $48,023
[Joint Economic Committee Fact Sheet , 8/29/2007]
McCain: “With low unemployment.”
CG: “Unemployment Up”
Unemployment Rate
January 2001: 4.2 percent
March 2008: 5.1 percent
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, March 2008]
McCain: “Low inflation…”
CG: “Highest Inflation in 17 Years”
Annual Inflation Rate
1990 6.1
1991 3.1
1992 2.9
1993 2.7
1994 2.7
1995 2.5
1996 3.3
1997 1.7
1998 1.6
1999 2.7
2000 3.4
2001 1.6
2002 2.4
2003 1.9
2004 3.3
2005 3.4
2006 2.5
2007 4.1
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Historical Data,]
McCain: “A lot of good things have happened.”
CG: “Gas Prices Up 200%”
Retail Price Per Gallon:
Jan 1, 2001: 141.6
Apr 14, 2008 339.7
[Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices , Energy Information Administration]
McCain: “A lot of jobs have been created.”
CG: “1.8 Million Jobs Lost”
January 2001: 6.0 million unemployed
March 2008: 7.8 million unemployed
[Bureau of Labor Statistics The Employment Situation, March 2008]
McCain: “I think we are better off overall.”
Voiceover: “Do you feel better off?”
Voiceover: “The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.”
My personal situation is much better than it was in 2000. Maybe it’s just me.
Yep.
Instead of just 1 job’s wage taking care of things, the same job I have had for the last 5 years,(with annual raises I might add), I now have to be working or looking for, a 2nd part time job to supplement the primary job.
Some folks maybe better off, since Ut has a very high employment rate and job market, but in general for the rest of the U.S., things have all gone to hell in a hand basket, and that little hand basket is not getting out of hell any time soon.
Speaking from a self employed perspective, absolutely not better off.
My income is dependent in a very large way on other people having jobs, feeling secure in their jobs, and feeling secure in the future of their own business.
They don’t.
Typical Democratic agenda, using FACTS to make a point! Where is the feel good rhetoric?! Where is the need to blame people who are different from you?! Where is the waving American flag?!
Eight years ago I was still in high school…here is what I remember: lower gas prices, having health insurance, friends and neighbors getting quality jobs.
Here is what I know now. I have a college degree that cost more and more every year to get, having no permanent job and certainly no health insurance, the fear that my friends may die in a war, and having to save my pennies to pay for gas.
Overall things are worse. A vote for John McCain is a vote for four more years of rising inflation, environmental damage, continued unrest in the international community, and a general decline in this nation.