Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Looking at some of the answers made me think.

I am much better off than 4 years ago. I have gotten myself out of debt, have a great job. My husband and I were able to buy a house. His business is growing. Life is good.

We have a MUCH better health care plan now as well.

The economic rebound is a direct reflection of his business doing better.

In my OLD job, it was a loosing prospect with no growth. When the economy tanked, the work went away. Even as it got better, we found that clients were holding VERY firm to the purse strings. It was a 350 person company all over the US.

I will say that I credit this administration (Obama) with turning the economy around (slowly) and helping me get me a better job (people hire when they are doing well), and to help build my husbands business.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

We were able to refinance under the HARP program, saving us $600 a month. So I give the government credit for starting that program. It will make a big difference for us.

The economy was never going to recover quickly, regardless of who was President. I think of it like trying to lose weight- you don't get fat overnight, so you won't get skinny overnight either. The mess we are in was a long time coming and it will take a long time to fix.

I see great signs where I live- new businesses opening in empty storefronts, more new businesses building new structures.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I agree that the economy was not going to recover quickly regardless of the administration. I honestly don't understand people blaming Obama for the state of the economy and saying it's so terrible when a lot of factors ARE better and there is NO silver bullet.

We're doing better and it's in large part due to the fact that the economy has improved

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I blame the inability of the two major political parties to compromise. The finger pointing, name calling and bs need to be always right on BOTH sides gets the whole country stuck in the mud. No one party has the 100% right answer for everything. Thinking that's the case is naive at best. But a liberal aknowledging a conservative as possibly correct is a foreign concept.. and a conservative telling a liberal "Hey.. you may have a point there.." seems almost taboo.

I honestly feel that noone in goverment genuinely seems to have the best interest of the country AS A WHOLE in their motives. And it's sad to me because we're falling apart here.

ETA: I don't see a tremendous amount of REAL improvement in business. Our unemployment rate is still over 9% in NY, small businesses are failing left and right and the building trades are in shambles. Healthcare costs and the cost of insurance has SKYROCKETED to a point where many businesses can no longer afford to contribute the same amount they had been, and employees are sharing larger and larger chunks of their salaries. Salaries have nosedived, but the cost of living has increased dramatically.. maybe I'm blind but I don't FEEL the impact of the improvements.

Message edited 10/2/2012 12:18:01 PM.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I blame congress.

I think they should all be fired and have term limits.

I drove around my old areas while visiting NY and I was sadden to see all the closed stores, restaurants etc. It has only been 3yrs.

Personally though... that stupid "Make Work Pay" thing nearly killed me. I have never had to pay taxes before to the govt, yet now I do. And I make a LOT LESS money. I have a house now and yet I still pay? Only major change I have is I'm not taking a college class (because duh, I can't afford it) but I do have childcare now.

I don't see any hope at all. As a matter of fact it just keeps getting dimmer and dimmer. I'm that middle class being shoved into the poverty.

my mantra is fire congress!

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I think most major problems in this country are the direct result of a selfish greedy lazy inept inefficient corrupt despicable Congress. Both parties.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Yes, it is honestly bc of the corporate bailout that we are better off.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Posted by DumpsterBaby

Posted by Pumpkin1

Posted by Xelindrya

I have never had to pay taxes before to the govt, yet now I do. And I make a LOT LESS money. I have a house now and yet I still pay?

These statements have me really confused. You never had to pay taxes? And why would owning a home mean you shouldn't have to pay taxes?

Me too

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Posted by DumpsterBaby

Posted by Pumpkin1

Posted by Xelindrya

I have never had to pay taxes before to the govt, yet now I do. And I make a LOT LESS money. I have a house now and yet I still pay?

These statements have me really confused. You never had to pay taxes? And why would owning a home mean you shouldn't have to pay taxes?

Me too

Message edited 10/2/2012 1:45:54 PM.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Our bills and grocery trips have gone up tremendously, not sure who to blame for that! Our income has doubled in 4 years, but so have our bills. We have kids, a house, and lots of bills we did Not have 4 years ago. I guess dh and I can only blame ourselves one good thing is bc the economy tanked , we were able to buy a house in this neighborhood. Few years prior, this area was untouchable to us

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Yes and no. We were able to refinance our upside down mortgage under the HARP plan so that was a help and freed up some money. But mostly we paid off some debt on our own and DH's career is just going fantastic (and thankfully is pretty secure too) and because of substantial raises and a great promotion we're much better off now financially. So mostly, at least for us, it didn't have too much to do with Obama, it was more my DH's hard work that's really paid off for us.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Posted by Paramount

Posted by DumpsterBaby

Posted by Pumpkin1

Posted by Xelindrya

I have never had to pay taxes before to the govt, yet now I do. And I make a LOT LESS money. I have a house now and yet I still pay?

These statements have me really confused. You never had to pay taxes? And why would owning a home mean you shouldn't have to pay taxes?

Me too

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe she is doing BETTER so her income comes to a place where she can now pay taxes, where she didint make enough before?

Message edited 10/2/2012 3:46:14 PM.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

In my situation we are worse off..getting better now but definitely not as good as we were 4 years ago. We started fertility treatments, my DH was laid off right after that..we used savings to pay for fertility treatments, then more savings during unemployment...we are trying to build all of that back up...but we've definitely had to start over in a lot of ways.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I am very close to being credit card debt free. We worked our butts off to get there. So in that respect we are better off.

However, I do blame government for some of our situations. All of these programs that are there to help people who are upside down on the mortgages are complete crap. The banks are under no obligation to do this for anyone and most banks just turn anyone who really needs the help down. I feel like Obama looked really good talking about these programs. However, not many people realize how fake they are. We bought our house right before the bubble burst. We have lost so much money on it that we have no equity. This is a 750 sq. ft. cottage that was to be our starter home. We can't expand or leave. We owe more that the house is worth. So, in that respect, we are the same as we were 4 years ago. And there is NOTHING we can do to change that. We are totally powerless.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

What about credit card reform act, which, among other things, banned credit card companies from imposing rate increases until after 60 days, required the application of payments over minimum to balances with highest interest rate? I think that is the most helpful piece of legislation passed in recent history.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Posted by Xelindrya

Posted by Paramount

Posted by DumpsterBaby

Posted by Pumpkin1

Posted by Xelindrya

I have never had to pay taxes before to the govt, yet now I do. And I make a LOT LESS money. I have a house now and yet I still pay?

These statements have me really confused. You never had to pay taxes? And why would owning a home mean you shouldn't have to pay taxes?

Me too

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe she is doing BETTER so her income comes to a place where she can now pay taxes, where she didint make enough before?

owning a home gives you a tax credit. What I wasn't expecting was the Make Work pay credit which sunk me into not having paid enough taxes. So i paid the IRS. the next year, i still paid taxes. I dont know how this means im doing BETTER. I have lot less take home pay less to work with and I now owe uncle sam? no way. I let uncle same take his piece of the pie (we claim 0) why should I OWE more?


ETA: I no longer claim Zero. Screw uncle sam. its my money. if I have to pay you anyway, I'll use it as I see fit. As a matter of fact this year I've gone three months without paying a single penny to the federal govt. I switched it back and im suffering again. I can only hope to make it through the rest of the year. Then again I'm now going to work a second job.. just to get back to a level of breathing room.

I guess youre right (not sarcastic) I must be doing well to not YET be back on my mortgage or loans. I do travel so I should be grateful? but at the same time, 4yrs ago i did all the same things making a lot more money with a higher cost of living and still didnt owe taxes. So how did that change?

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I was better off four years ago...

I had a great job making SO much more. My health insurance was cheap and I had PPO- the best out there.

Now, we are homeowners which is a plus for us that houses are down and we were able to get a home that was in fantastic shape for a steal but....

I was laid off in March of 2009- when the market plummeted. I got a job 6 months later which is where I am now making much less. DH gets less overtime. Our insurance premiums have gone up 20% in the past 3 years.

I am sorry but I want the GOP back in office, STAT!

I know I am getting flamed for this but I don't care.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

Better off 4 years ago. The cuts to medicare are hitting me hard. The healthcare legislation is killing us. Healthcare in the past 4 years, more so recently, have experienced large layoffs. I have no idea what is in store for us in the next few months, but all I know is it's getting nerve-wracking at work.

DH's boss is a small business owner. Overhead costs have been sky high due to inflated fuel costs and lack of business expansion. Buildings are empty. Lack of new construction. Businesses just overall want/need to cut costs. Taxing small businesses more will not help and something needs to be done about the fuel costs in the short term as well as long term. The cost of food goes up as the costs of transport goes up.

I think it's a combination of congress and the adminstration. I too would like to see GOP back in office. I know in a liberal state of NY, that is a minority. Oh well. I am happy for people who are better off now, but people need to look around...thats really not the majority. Just drive around town and see all the empty shops and office space. Look at the increase in homelessness and panhandling (legit or not). I'm sorry, there is no convincing me that this country is better off regardless of who is in office. If a GOP was in office now and I was looking at the same stuff, I would not vote him back in either. Just saying...

Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I think Congress is to blame (for a lot of it anyway). So many bills have been filibustered by the GOP. They made their agenda clear.

Message edited 10/2/2012 11:46:21 PM.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?

I've said it before and I know many will disagree but overtaxing the uber rich is NOT a solution and that is why President Obama must not be re-elected.
90% of construction on Long Island and all other metropolitian areas at this moment in time is funded by the uber rich. Either for the personal homes, vacation homes or because they are private investors in other residential or commercial building projects.
What that means is 90% of the tradespeople and all of the vendors and manufacturers that supply materials and products that are lucky enough to still be working would likely be unemployed as well if construction projects halt.

My DH builds super-lux homes for the "1%" from Southampton to Amagansett south of the highway only and he socializes with these people daily. They all say that if Obama is reelected and he succeeds in his plan to create the buffet tax or romney tax or whatever he decides to call it, they are done. They will take whatever money they have left and invest it in Costa Rica homes & projects or other countries where the US dollar still goes pretty far.
Since 2007 my DH has had no less than 10 men a week walk on to his jobsites and BEG for work. They tell him they are behind on their mortgage, they show him pictures of their kids, they cry. It is heartbreaking.
Not to mention the number of subcontractors he knows that closed up their businesses and moved off LI since 2008. The cost of running a small business here is unreal, especially in the trades. My DHs company pays approx $30,000 per year in workers comp insurance and they only have a handful of employees. That doesn’t include their liability policy or healthcare coverage.

The super wealthy pay their fair share by spending their personal money money at a pace the rest of us can't which fuels our economy and employs a huge chunk of people. Not to mention many of them have some form of ownership in mega corporations that also employ people. So yes I'm ok with them paying less taxes because they actually carry the rest of us.
Mr Obama's inability to see that is very upsetting to me.

In my field, dentistry I am FLABBERGASTED by the increase of people with community funded dental plans (medicaid) I have been in this field since 1987 and I have NEVER seen anything like this. I work with practices from Queens to Riverhead and all of them are flooded by phone calls from people looking to use these benefits.
As an example if an LI Dentist decided to take medicaid and an adult cleaning is usually $95, the dentist would get reimbursed $20. A proper adult cleaning takes at minimum of 30 minutes, anything less is neglect. The forms for these plans are the most laborious forms on the planet, it is a federal crime to submit them incorrectly, dentists and office managers have gone to prison for making mistakes. The average LI hygienist (that would perform the cleaning) gets paid $40 per hour, the average LI administrator gets paid $25 per hour and the average dentist pays $20 per square foot for their office lease. That includes no other costs; tell me how this is going to work?
Even DENTISTS are being put out of business by these programs.
Since last year I know of three dentists that basically closed the door to their practice and walked away.
There was a dental chair in the window of a pawn shop in bay shore last year!!!
Things are NOT better for most small business owners and I don’t think Mr Obama’s party really cares!

Message edited 10/3/2012 7:43:06 AM.

Re: Spinoff: If you are better or worse off than 4 years ago, do you blame/credit Obama/Congress?