Politics

‘Real News From The Blaze’: Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?

“Real News From The Blaze” Tuesday examined the current political discussion from the question Ronald Reagan memorably posed to the nation during his debate with incumbent President Jimmy Carter in 1980:  ”Are you better off than you were four years ago?”

In the show’s opening segment, the panel discussed whether we are better off than we were four years ago in regards to domestic policy.

When presented with this question, the Obama camp will likely answer-after a good bashing of the Bush administration–by pointing to benefits of ObamaCare and 28 straight months of private sector job growth.

The president’s critics can counter by alleging a failure to enact policy to curb an unemployment rate that has not been below eight percent since the month Obama took office; ballooning to ten percent in October 2009, a near-record 46.2 million Americans on food stamps, and one in five college graduates ages 25 to 34 still living at home.

We might be tempted to question the fairness of Reagan‘s soundbite as a measure of a president’s success, given that some administrations are confronted with once in a generation events like the attack on Pearl Harbor or 9/11. However, it should be noted that Barack Obama said himself in 2009: “If I don’t have this done in 3 years, this is going to be a one term proposition.”

Joined by Ben Domenech, the panel discussed the likely response from each side to “are you better off than you were four years ago?” domestically, and whether this is a fair measure for judging the president:

Comments (12)

  • dean29685
    Posted on July 22, 2012 at 9:02am

    Better off heck no 4 years ago I had a decent job but health issues forced me out (one year after my wife was forced out of the same company). Since I am a conservative, christian I think it was just little more than that. I am happier than I was but you can’t eat happy.
    Over the last four years I have seen the country I love become the cesspool of the world embracing
    every low lifestyle as good and every moral value as bad. Costs have skyrocketed and the progressives have become smug beyond belief.
    Now we are faced with another election of the less of two evils and I am afraid the end of the Republic.
    Nowhere do I see a shining example of someone who will stand up to the downward spiral except maybe Sheriff Joe. definitely not Glen Beck or any of the media.
    I will stand by my principles no matter what, and to those who think the coming destruction will help them get whatever they want I say see you at the wall.

    Report Post »  
  • kat747
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:35pm

    Absolutely NOT……food prices have gone up, gas prices have gone up and the house is worth 1/3 of what it was valued at in 2004.
    The value of the dollar is down.
    Thank you Democratic Congress in 2006 & 2007, thank you Barney Frank, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and thank you to that Middle East sympathizer in the White House.

    Report Post »  
  • VotersOfNY
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:00pm

    Actually I am, but only because I started paying off my credit and starting saving gold and silver in anticipation of Obozo destroying this country. I knew we would be doomed with a moron running this country so I started planning for it.

    I have no debt and lots of bullion. It isn’t worth much more than what I paid for it but if Obozo gets reelected, I expect it to be worth lots.

    Report Post » VotersOfNY  
  • rickc34
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:45am

    No not better off, and if Obama re-elected these will seem like the good old days.

    Report Post »  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 8:26am

    Are we better off than we were 4 yerd ago?

    BWHA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!

    Um… NO!
    Credit status dropped
    House bubble
    unemployment over 8% since when?
    - and that with people cycling out…
    you know… people who couldnt find a job and “timed out”?
    - oh and lets not forget the 99 week vacation for unemployment
    Latino gang bangers get a free pass to kill maim and work and suck the nation dry
    while the nation is labeled a rasicts if we try to question it
    BLACK AND WHITE tension by the way at all time high.
    blac on white crime… ok, they’re suppresed
    white on black self defense…. racists hate mongers
    fast and furious
    Obamas anti isreal campaign
    muslim power surge
    foriegn affairs hit the toilet
    and now were at what 15-16 trillion in debt?

    Nah.. im sure were better off… /sarcasm

    Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
  • Wolfgang the Gray
    Posted on July 17, 2012 at 10:47pm

    After 4-years of Obama, absolutely NOT better off!

    Also NOT more freedom than we had before.

    The only good thing Obama has done is show us who the progressives are by giving them the confidence to pull off their masks.

    Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
  • I Believe In American Exceptionalism
    Posted on July 17, 2012 at 10:33pm

    Absolutely not better off – the last four years have been a disaster for most people I know – especially the successful people who have been demonized for working hard, taking risks, and pursuing the American Dream. Words cannot express the depths of my outrage and I simply can’t wait until November.

    Report Post » I Believe In American Exceptionalism  
  • I SPY
    Posted on July 17, 2012 at 10:15pm

    Not even close. I’m living in a David lynch horror movie where any jerk off the street like obumer can be president of the greatest country on planet earth and then destroy it.

    Report Post » I SPY  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on July 17, 2012 at 10:14pm

    Well, one thing I DO know is that the Obama acolytes and the Ron Paul acolytes MUST be doing pretty well. They’re both willing to put (or help put) “that guy” back into office for another term.

    Liberals and Libertarians (Mostly Ron Paul supporters) are world renowned for their selfishness, self-importance and self-centeredness, so there must be SOMETHING that Obama has done that keeps these yahoos supporting him directly or indirectly…

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • Individualism
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:19pm

      nice job admitting your a collectivist commie and why don’t you watch the market instead of faux news than you would be well off.

      Report Post » Individualism  
  • scooter60
    Posted on July 17, 2012 at 10:14pm

    The question should be are you FREER than you were four year’s ogo. NO!

    Report Post »  

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