Are you better off now than before Bush took office?

vc1111 · 10-05-2005, 07:44 PM

Inquiring minds want to know.

badshotbob · 10-05-2005, 08:05 PM

HeyVC, how many musky you landed this year? Is it now good musky fishing?

Sorry, on to your question....

Yes and no.

Yes because I'm gainfully employed, got a raise last month, have my health, beautiful wife and brand new daughter. Money isn't exactly my friend these days, but I feel blessed.

No because I see people losing their jobs every day due to foreign competition. I am alsopaying $3.10 for diesel fuel, which really puts a hurtin on my wallet driving 2,000 miles per month. I for one do not attribute this as a blame Bush situation, although I'm not certain he's doing a darn thing about it.

Good question.

vc1111 · 10-05-2005, 08:23 PM

16 this year, which is about 12 behind last year at this time.

Badshot, you do some serious mileage. Is that all work or work and pleasure combined?

badshotbob · 10-05-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: vc1111

16 this year, which is about 12 behind last year at this time.

Now that's GOT to be Bush's fault.

I have never heard nor met anyone that catches as many musky as you, unreal.

Quote:

Badshot, you do some serious mileage. Is that all work or work and pleasure combined?

That's strictly driving to and from work. If I take the family to either parents' house, do a little hunting or fishing, run up north a time or two, I'll add another 8-10,000. Yep, I drive a ton. Partially a reason why I have a diesel truck - hope to put a billion miles on it.

North Texan · 10-05-2005, 11:39 PM

Worse, based on tuition and my salary. I work part-time and go to school. My current salary comes close to meeting my living expenses, but nowhere near covering tuition. When I began college in 2000, my tuition was $1800 per semester. Four years later, it was $3200. Somehow, my salary didn't keep pace. Now, in law school, tuition was around $12K last year and nearly $13K this year. Gas has gone up tremendously. My rent and utilities are up. And my salary hasn't changed much.

In 2000, working full time during the summer would pay tuition, and part time would pay the bills. Now, part time and summers just pay the bills. There's nothing left in the kitty for tuition.

CalHunter · 10-06-2005, 04:55 AM

Yes.

Deleted User · 10-06-2005, 05:40 AM

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underdog · 10-06-2005, 05:42 AM

I retired at a relatively early age the year Bush took office. I'm 20 pounds lighter, my blood pressure is down 30 points and stress is almost non-existent. My net worth is greater, Although I still work a little I have enough time to enjoy family and the outdoors. I have no debt on anything I own. And you know what? George Bush doesn't have a dmaned thing to do with it. I worked hard, saved money, lived within my means and always had a plan to retire while I was young enough to enjoy it.

This is looking like a pity party where folks blame their plight in life on Bush.
But if you want to measure Bush's performance, look at the economic indicators like employment, GDP, GNI, home ownership, etc and they indicate most Americans are better off than five years ago. I credit W's tax cuts with revitalizing the economy after 9/11 and the tech stock bust.

In fact I favor more and making them permanent. I'm at the point that I think starving government is the only way to make it more efficient. Congress and the President lack the resolve to cut pork from the budget. Most of the time I think Bush is a lot smarter than folks who consider themselves smarter than he think he is. The tax cuts have generated more total tax revenue and W has been able to accomplish most of his legislative agenda by allowing both Dems and Repubs to grease it with enough pork to get it passed.

kevin1 · 10-06-2005, 05:48 AM

About the same .

NT , if my tuition rose at the same rate yours did I would find a way to change schools to a less expensive one . There's no excuse for it to nearly double over that short a period .

Tazman · 10-06-2005, 06:11 AM

I will be honest and say that Bush, Clinton, & Bush Sr. had no real direct effect on my life style with a possible exception of taxes and even then not major. Now Reagan was different story![:@]Of course one must understand that I work for a Defense contractor in the DC area so unlike much of the nation many of the policys and actions of the feds has had very little if any impact on me.