Has the Past Eight Years Been Bad for You?

[RidgwayCO]

Tuttle8, as far as I know, there is nothing in NAFTA that prevents us from buying ethanol from Brazil. Congress is the body that has prevented such purchases, probably to protect corn-growers in Iowa (where the first caucuses are held...).

I agree it makes no sense to use corn for energy production when cheaper alternatives are readily available. And today we're seeing the cost of diverting corn from food production to energy production.

Can you say "unforseen consequences"?...

 

[fourdogs]

I think your question is not exactly to the point. Maybe it should have been is your quality of life better now than it was 8 years ago. For many many Americans the answer is no. Everything has increased over the past few years 100% to 300 % Look at copper, steel, food, gas, clothing. If the prices haven't gone up, you can bet there's less product and made cheaper.

Most of the people who post here are doing reasonably well, as evidenced by their apparent free time, and the amount of luxury money it takes to feed their gun habit....

My opinion is that many Americans are hurting, and FAR worse off than they were 8 years ago.

 

[mountainclmbr]

In order to get people to give up our current system (capitalism), people need to be convinced that things are terrible, there is despair, no hope for improvement, etc. Only then will they be willing to destroy capitalism and take the radical decision to accept Marxism. Saul Alinsky spells it out very clearly in "Rules for Radicals". It is the job of committed leftists to make sure that people believe things are that bad. I think some of the Democrat moves to block new drilling for oil is intended to actually make things bad too.

 

[grymster2007]

The past eight years have been very good to us. We lost my mother-in-law to cancer, but otherwise the family has been healthy and that is the most important thing. Financially, we’ve done very well indeed, with our already comfortable income rising 150%. We married off both kids and our son and daughter-in-law (mid-twenties) have just overtaken us income-wise. Our daughter and son-in-law (early twenties) are also doing very well.

My wife and I both came from broken homes with little money and neither of us finished high school. But through hard work, perseverance and living in a country where those attributes can pay off, we managed what we wanted; for our kids to have stable family lives and good educations.

I don’t attribute our success so much to the Bush Presidency as I do to the hope, promise and opportunity of America. Attributes that I believe are in decline and won’t be helped much by either candidate.

I understand there's a modicum of luck involved in our success and I'm sorry some of you have worked just as hard and have had less pleasant experiences.

 

[fourdogs]

The downturn in our economy and society is very complex, and really two separate yet interrelated issues. The rise of a middle class in developing nations, specifically India and China has drastically increased the demand for raw materials and energy. We cut our throats long ago being lured by the cheap prices of products made in China. Now it is difficult to not find products made in China, and they ain't cheap anymore. It's not too late to turn things around, but it's going to be a long road. What we can do is buy American whenever we can.

Now the decline of our society......that's a more complicated topic.

 

[doug66]

No complaints

I live in a very rural part of the world, but I'm not a farmer. There aren't many high paying jobs within 40 miles. Most people around here don't give a second thought about tough economic times our country is having, because its always been tough around here.
The up side is: low crime rate, low cost of living, 10 min. drive in any direction you are in the sticks.
It's all good here, I got a job that I don't hate. My wife has a job she likes and it pays great. The kid is working and is going to community college.
I don't have everything I want but I have everything I need.

 

[miboso]

Correction, NO re-elected Nagin, LA elected Jindal. I believe that the former guv decided not to run.

 

[RidgwayCO]

"In order to get people to give up our current system (capitalism), people need to be convinced that things are terrible, there is despair, no hope for improvement, etc. Only then will they be willing to destroy capitalism and take the radical decision to accept Marxism. Saul Alinsky spells it out very clearly in "Rules for Radicals". It is the job of committed leftists to make sure that people believe things are that bad. I think some of the Democrat moves to block new drilling for oil is intended to actually make things bad too."

Mountainclmbr, your post is one of the most lucid and thought-provoking that I've ever read. Thank you!

And I might have to read "Rules for Radicals", just so I know what the Marxists are up to...

 

[Hawg]

The last eight were better than the previous eight.

 

[Shane Tuttle]

Thanks for the correction, miboso. Kathleen Blanco did in fact refrain from running for reelection. Nagin is another story...

Tuttle8, as far as I know, there is nothing in NAFTA that prevents us from buying ethanol from Brazil. Congress is the body that has prevented such purchases, probably to protect corn-growers in Iowa (where the first caucuses are held...).

I'm no expert in the field of NAFTA concerning the rules of trade. But, from what I understand, it doesn't allow free trade with other countries unless they're a bodering country con. Enter Mexico and Canada. If we do trade with other countries that aren't part of NAFTA, then I believe tariffs, taxes, fees, etc. are to be levied. How about that price of gas, now?

Can you say "unforseen consequences"?...

Actually, I don't buy it for a minute that our govt. didn't see the "unforseen consequences". My belief is that they used it for political gain and to appease the bunny huggers that something was actually being done about or environment.

 

[Intune]

Danzig-

I realize that when I enlisted I swore to serve my country and I am proud to do so. But when I enlisted it was with the trust that my service wouldn't be abused. I am prepared to give my life to defend my country, my fellow Americans, and our liberty...but being asked to sacrifice my marriage and my family is crossing the line into abuse.

Hmm, when did you enlist? Did you re-up? Were you married with children before you enlisted? Have you ever heard the saying, “if the Army wanted you to have a wife they would have issued one?” Is the service asking you to sacrifice your marriage & children or is it your wife?

My marriage did not survive the Army. I served under two Presidents (Carter, Reagan) and took this oath-

"I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD."

I was fully prepared to die for my country and figure that since I came out relatively unscathed and in full retention of life & limb, that I would consider it service rendered and move along smartly.

This is my third time in Iraq..and my fifth time overseas in the last eight years.

What is your MOS? Are you Special Forces? The reason I ask is that when I served, the only unaccompanied tour (in addition to war zones) for Combat Arms was Korea for 18 mo’s. Can you share some sort of deployment location/time line?

Thank you for your service.

 

[whippoorwill]

Doing well, thank the Lord. Most of us frequenting this board can't (shouldn't) complain. I imagine there are at least one or two starving Ethiopians who wouldn't mind trading places with us. Probably sounds corny, but it's true.

What does that mean? The Democrats and the Republicans have both done a lousy job of running our nation. And they will continue to do so as long as so many of you keep supporting them.

First - What's your alternative?

Second - Thanks for serving! I pray that both you AND your marriage survive AND flourish! KIds need their mom and you in the picture in the future.

 

[divemedic]

I love how people love to complain about the WOT, yet many in this country (in the fall of 2001) not only wanted the war, but wanted us to use NUKES, for crying out loud. Then our short attention span ADD attitude took over, because our people do not have the tenacity to stay with anything. (Me? I have always felt the WOT was silly- a war on an act?) Then there are those who will cry that their homes have lost 20% of their value in the last 2 years, ignoring the fact that home prices nearly doubled over the 6 prior years. (a home worth $169,000 in 2000 would have sold for $247,000 in 2007)

In 2001, I went back to college and finished my degree. I now have 2: Emergency Medicine and Emergency Management.
In 2000, I made $40K. In 2008, I will make $82K. The wife and I together will make over $125K. (Am I one of the evil rich people that should be taxed?)
In 2000, I lived in an apartment with 2 roommates. In 2008, I own a home. (Is my wife a roommate? )
In 2000, I was driving a 6 year old car with 90K miles on it. In 2008, I own a 6 month old truck with less than 7,000 miles.

I think I am doing better economically. Sure, what I did had a lot to do with it, but I credit this country for giving me the opportunity and the freedom to succeed. (I also had the opportunity to fail- life is what you make of it.)

Of course, my father passed away in Biloxi in 2005. I would give it all up to have him back again. I miss him each and every day. In that way, I am poorer today than I was when he was with us.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

in 2003 my father and i opened a small business
in the past 5 years that has grown to a multiple locations

 

[Shane Tuttle]

Of course, my father passed away in Biloxi in 2005. I would give it all up to have him back again. I miss him each and every day. In that way, I am poorer today than I was when he was with us.

Well, divemedic, I must say there's another mark on the calendar. [On this day, I agreed with divemedic...]

On a serious note, my father moved on in 2004. It's a very empty void. I'd rather live in a cardboard box for the rest of my life to see hime one more day. All I can say is live on with the principles he instilled in you. With that, he may be gone, but always living through you.

 

[Intune]

Of course, my father passed away in Biloxi in 2005. I would give it all up to have him back again. I miss him each and every day. In that way, I am poorer today than I was when he was with us.

Thank you dm, it puts many things into their proper perspective. Oct. 23, 1984 and I still miss him.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

I'm no Bush supporter so I'll state that up front.

I'll also state the that last 8 years have been no hardship for me. The stock market is down, but I'm not retiring any time soon. It will rebound.

My house value is down. I'm not selling and I bought a house with a mortage I can afford.

Inflation is starting to rise. I'm concerned about that and it will need to be brought under control.

Iraq? There was no reason to go there in the first place. We now have to exit and my guess is that the world won't be a safer place when we leave than it was before we went in. Time will tell, but history has shown that it is an unpredictable region.

My biggest concern with Iraq is the huge amount of debit we've incurred. Part of which is now owned by the axis of evil China.

My overall biggest concern with Bush is his handling of the Consitution. I don't think he gutted it, but he tried. Habeas corpus is back on life support but it was dead and buried for a while under Bush. The Patriot Act may not effect any of us, but, there are no checks and balances and I do have a problem with that.

Rather that type what others have said in my own words, I'll quote from Dipper who summarized it very well.

Civil liberties?? Yep, there are real concerns there to be sure--I think most of what's going on is scary.
As long as many Americans are fearful and are willing to give up anything " to be safe", we are heading down a path that won't be easy to backtrack on.

 

[mountainclmbr]

RidgwayCO,

Note that the use of the term "change" is not new at all. From the IBD article "Obama's Radical Roots And Rules" scroll down to find it at this website that has many related articles titled "The Audacity of Socialism". This article is Part 9:

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/series8.aspx

Or this is the link to go directly to the article:

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=303605575673142

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's choice of the word "change" as his campaign's central slogan is not the product of focus-group studies, or the brainstorming sessions of his political consultants.

One of Obama's main inspirations was a man dedicated to revolutionary change that he was convinced "must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, nonchallenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future."

Saul Alinsky, circa 1946: Like Obama, he wanted "change."
Sen. Obama was trained by Chicago's Industrial Areas Foundation, founded in 1940 by the radical organizer Saul Alinsky. In the 1980s, Obama spent years as director of the Developing Communities Project, which operated using Alinsky's strategies, and was involved with two other Alinsky-oriented entities, Acorn and Project Vote.

On the Obama campaign Web site can be found a photo of him teaching in a University of Chicago classroom with "Power Analysis" and "Relationships Built on Self Interest" written on the blackboard — key terms utilized in the Alinsky method.

Note that Alinsky (and Democrats in general too) do not trust people to make their own decisions. He actually seemed to hate the middle class. Notice Obama also giving speeches to graduating classes and imploring them not to strive for careers and middle class goals, nice suits, new cars...

 

[raimius]

The last 8 years have been a time of immense change for me, so I can't compare them without massive bias.

I can say that I have been mildly annoyed to see my investments going down rather than up. Fortunately, they are long term investments, so I am not truely worried.

I remember seeing gas for 96 cents a gallon. I am adjusting for gas prices, and can accept that.

As a military member, I am glad the Clinton era cuts are not expanding. The use/abuse of the military is concerning, but it is also how the world works. I can't make an objective assessment on that at this time.

I am concerned about what some have termed "the gutting of the Constitution." It has not affected me, but any government incursion into liberty should be closely monitored, something I don't think our system has done a good enough job of doing.


"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." --George Washington

...and I am glad the guy who said this is out of office:
"If the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution inhibit the government's ability to govern the people, we should look to limit those guarantees."
(Bill Clinton)

 

[FireMax]

Has the last 8 years been bad for you?

Only when I think about the loss of our privacy and civil rights, the building of government detention camps with no explanation, and a general assault on the freedoms of the American citizen. Other than that, the last 8 years have been just "peachy".