Government

What’s the Real State of the Union? These Numbers May Tell

A day before President Obama delivers his third State of the Union Address, his political opponents are lining up their responses. Speaker John Boehner has already printed a pamphlet to back up his positions.

John Boehner Prints Pamphlet on Barack Obama State of the Union

It is doubtful that the President and the Speaker will see eye to eye on many things. Presented below are some basic statistics about the country. The numbers have been culled from a Washington Times Op-Ed from Joseph Curl

In the area of jobs and unemployment:

  • Unemployment currently sits at 8.5%. When Obama took office, it was 6.8%.
  • There are fewer payroll jobs in America than there were in 2000, and 40% of those are considered to be “low-paying.”
  • Also in decline, the self-employed. In the past six years, two million fewer people consider themselves to be self-employed.

In January, USA Today quoted GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on the unemployment problem since Obama took office:

“Three full years into the Obama presidency, and there are still 1.7 million fewer Americans going to work today than there were on Obama’s Inauguration Day.”

Adding to the problems employment plaguing the average American, the cost of living is on the rise:

The price of a gallon of gas when Obama took office was $1.68. Today, the average price of gas is up 102% to $3.38/gallon

Home energy costs have also risen substantially:

  • The average American household spends $1420 per year on electricity. The increase is about $300 per year.

Lifestyles have changed significantly too:

  • The U.S. Census claims that 146 million people, nearly half of the country is considered “low income” or living in poverty.
  • Median household income is down 7% over the past six years
  • 20% of the American men between the ages of 25-35 now live at home with their parents, because they have to do so.
  • Food Stamp use is at an all time high. 46 million people no rely on govt. assistance to get food into their homes, an increase of 14 million since Obama took office.

Thanks to the flagging economy, Americans have tightened their belts and cut spending on areas that would normally spark job growth:

  • In 1985, Americans bought 11 million cars. In 2009, that number had fallen to 5.4 million.
  • The average age of a car on the road in America is now 10 years. In 1990 – the average car was just 6.5 years old.

And then there is the subject of our revenue, spending and debt:

  • America takes in $2.1 trillion dollars each year.

$2.1 trillion sounds like big number until you realize how much we spend:

  • The latest budget says that we will spend $3.8 trillion.

Obviously we need to borrow money to play for the difference between our spending and our revenue:

  • When Obama took office in 2009, our debt was $10.6 trillion. Today it stands at $15.23 trillion and is on track to smash through the $6.2 trillion dollar threshold during Obama’s first term. That would be a record – one president amassing more debt than all of the presidents from Washington to Clinton COMBINED.

When it comes to the State of the Union, the country will likely hear many things from both the President and the GOP. Voters are perhaps best served by arming themselves with as many cold hard facts as possible.

H/T – Joseph Curl

Comments (56)

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  • argvan1823
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:03pm

    It is obvious none of this is Obama’s fault. The blame clearly belongs to George Bush.

    Report Post » argvan1823  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:59pm

    The state of the union is much, much, worse than they are admitting. There is a lot they aren’t counting. I, for one, have never been counted on the rolls of the unemployed since I lost my job, and I know of many others like myself. Our household income has dropped to about 25% of what it was when obutthead took over and that is what we are living on. And gas in my town is 3.59 per gal. for regular. Some places it is more.They don’t even count increases in food or energy in the inflationary index. K-1 fuel is up near 4.00 a gallon last I knew. Can’t afford to buy any. I keep the thermostat set at 46 degrees to keep the house from freezing. That is as low as it goes. We are now using a small wood stove and it is a good thing I grew a garden and canned food last summer. (Ooooops! does that make me a terrorist? Better watch what I say.) Pffffft

    And I know we are doing better than many many others. They are doing fundraisers in our state to help to buy fuel oil for elderly people who have no other way to keep warm and others who can’t find work. Then I think about the $ 4,000,000.oo Christmas VACATION the …….. in the white house…… (Oooooops! was that racist? the “white” house?) and I get angry. That would have helped to fill a lot of oil tanks for the elderly around here. $2000.oo designer sun dress…Phuleeeeez! Dey sur havin fun stickin it to us.

    Report Post »  
  • martinez012577
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:48pm

    This is a perfect reason to elect Ron Paul. Most of you say, he is right on the economy. Well he is. If we dont fix our economy our military will fail.

    We are borrowing money to rebuild roads and bridges in Afghanistan. We are the policemen of the world and protectors of countries that hate us. We need to wake up.

    Yes Obama is terrible. He is taking our freedoms( NDAA and SOPA ), he is taking our money ( with bailouts and deals like Soylendra ), and he is taking our troops lives ( constant and continuing wars).
    What you should ask yourself is, would your candidate fix this? Would Mcain have stopped this? If Bush or Clinton been in office would they have stopped this.

    If you answer it honestly, it leads you to only one candidate. RON PAUL 2012.

    Report Post » martinez012577  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:52pm

      And magic jellybeans will float in the air, lollipops are growing for the picking, and polkadot ponies are prancing in fields of clover.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • VicksVaporub
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:06pm

      @13TH IMAM

      Let’s not vote for Ron Paul and have bigger government less privacy more debt and more wars.
      Damn, you’re a genius son!

      Report Post » VicksVaporub  
  • Outlaw_Josey_Wales
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:48pm

    I want a republican in the white house when the united states economy collapse and the whole system needs to be restarted.

    Report Post » Outlaw_Josey_Wales  
    • EchoHawk
      Posted on January 24, 2012 at 5:23pm

      That would be the most likely scenario… a republican in the White House.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:47pm

    Real state of the union – massive train wreck in the happening.

    Obamas state of the union – delusional fantasy of lies, corruption, and cronism making things better on the road to serfdom.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • bereal
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:45pm

    With our debt fast approaching $ 16T; could it be that is the purpose by both side, to implement a new world currency? Hey, eight years ago who would have believed what’s happened today? Just trying to think outside the box where in.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:44pm

    .
    What’s the Real State of the Union?

    Well with Obama’s Butt print all over it, Kinda Chitty…….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:41pm

    When did Obama start caring about the facts. This dismal frailer we have for a president will just make them up as he goes merrily along, right? Man what a good strategy that is for getting re-elected just make up facts and blame the problems on everyone else. Wow where have I herd that before? What’s wrong with this song http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_9134749

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:39pm

    Look at all those racist code words in those stats lol

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • NEUTRON
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:36pm

    It’s mind blowing to see how many numb skulls still support this bastard of a POTUS. Truely sickening!

    Report Post »  
    • LIBS-ARE-DINGLEHEADS
      Posted on January 24, 2012 at 4:19am

      Check out Newser.com. FULL of liberal retards. I go in and bash away. I love skewering these turds with unvarnished facts. Their heads blow off like “Scanners”.

      This is one reason why Obangnyi has a shot at re-election; tossers like these idiots.

      Report Post » LIBS-ARE-DINGLEHEADS  
    • EchoHawk
      Posted on January 24, 2012 at 5:29pm

      I don‘t give Obama particularly high marks and the republican controlled congress get’s even lower marks, however what is hysterical is what the republican party has come up with to run against Obama, you idgitts haven’t got a clue. HAHAHAHAHA

      Report Post »  
  • BobatTREB
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:32pm

    Obama, the artistic orator, will tell us we need more government, taking money from the evil rich. Even though most people in the top 1% were not there 30 years ago; Steve Jobs wasn’t, Bill Gates wasn’t, none of the rapper/businessmen from the ‘hood were. The people in the ‘classes’ in this country travel back and forth in the classes. Today, many struggling, were middle clas or even upper middle class. Many who are no longer struggling, were struggling years ago.
    More government and someone to blame the problems on, like the 1%; gives us a government with more power such as arose in Europe in the 1930′s.

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:30pm

    Let make minimum wage $ 50 per hour… Give food stamps to 100% of the people, give everyone free healthcare and a government job and a Chevy Volt… Then we can all live happily ever after…

    Report Post »  
  • Phoneguy
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:30pm

    Boehner and Obama are cut from the same cloth, but this is good food for thought, if people only gave a crap. How is your food storage doing? Ha

    Report Post » Phoneguy  
  • ImMadAsHell
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:29pm

    This is why ImMadAsHell……. No more Obama and Her Excellency Queen Michele, America must vote these people OUT of the White House

    Report Post »  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:29pm

    Numbers sumbers Obama to big to FAIL.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:28pm

    Numbers smumbers Obama to big to FAIL!

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • mccracken
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:25pm

    Out out stay out you obozo!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:25pm

    On a side note, check out the photo of John Kerry, on Drudge… Two black eyes and a broken nose, looks like Theresa hit him in the face with a frying pan…. What a douche bag !

    Report Post »  
  • REPUBLICANINCALI
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:24pm

    I have a feeling he will say that on Dec. 21st.

    Report Post » REPUBLICANINCALI  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:23pm

    All this — and the Republicans won’t take on Obama directly.
    They will pull a McCain and “Be nice” for fear they might get called a racist.
    And then they will lose the election
    And then we are screwed

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
  • REPUBLICANINCALI
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:22pm

    Who ever wrote this needs some rest. Typo’s everywhere.

    Report Post » REPUBLICANINCALI  
  • VermontPatriot
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:20pm

    End the Foodstamp Presidency!

    I’d prefer Ron Paul over any of the Big Government Boyz,
    but when it comes time, ABO 2012!

    Report Post » VermontPatriot  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:26pm

      Folks, this hasn’t been about a bunch of politicians who are idiots and have run us into the ditch by accident. This is about full-blown, deliberate, all-out treason, by people who are enemies to us and hate this nation. If there was any justice in the world, we would all be watching trials going on for the people in Washington, with subsequent executions.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • martinez012577
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:52pm

      You think Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, Mcain, Obama, Bush, or Clinton are any different?

      Report Post » martinez012577  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:20pm

    Any Body But Obama, in november 2012!

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • TheObamanation
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:18pm

    My response to that … is … wait for it … wait for it … BALONEY ! … If that doesn’t work … It’s … It’s … It‘s Bush’s fault … That’s enough work for one day … I have an early tee time in the mornin’.

    Report Post » TheObamanation  
  • mamawalker
    Posted on January 23, 2012 at 6:09pm

    Which is why we have to get this man out of our White House!!!

    Report Post »  
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