It’s the question at the heart of this year’s presidential election: “Are you better off than you were in 2008?”
The answer is, of course, no. At least it’s no unless you’re an Obama or one of their “inner circle”; you know, all those affirmative action winners.
I was thinking about this question yesterday and, personally, I was quickly able to come up with the following. As Obama prepared to take office:
- I was paying around $1.50 for a gallon of gasoline. Just this past Friday, I paid $3.79/gallon; a 152% increase in cost.
- At the end of December 2008 I had over 20% equity in my home. Today my mortgage is underwater by 25% or a net investment loss of 45%.
- The monthly budget-plan gas bill for my home was $110; today it is $124 or an 11% increase in cost.
- The monthly cable/internet bill was around $90; today it is $118.00 or a 31% increase in cost.
- A standard order from one supplier cost $112; today that same order costs $164 or 46% more.
- A 3-pound bag of shelled walnuts cost under $10; the other day the same bag cost nearly $20 or twice as much.
My income, on the other hand, has increased by some 3% annually, though I pay more each year towards my employer-provided health care plan so the net increase is correspondingly less. And while I’m extremely grateful to have a good job that I really enjoy, when the average cost of things has gone up over 60% since Obama took office, there is no way to say my life is any better now.
And there are millions of Americans sharing the same leaky boat in which I find myself; most of whom want nothing more than for this behemoth of government to slink back under the slimy rock from which it crawled and let us get on with the business of pursuing our own happiness instead of being forced to work hard so the politicos latest pet “victims” don’t have to.