Most Americans Say They’re Worse Off Under Obama, Poll Shows

More than 50 percent of Americans say they are worse off now than they were two years ago when President Barack Obama took office, and two-thirds believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, a Bloomberg National Poll shows.

The survey, conducted Dec. 4-7, finds that 51 percent of respondents think their situation has deteriorated, compared with 35 percent who say they’re doing better. The balance isn’t sure. Americans have grown more downbeat about the country’s future in just the last couple of months, the poll shows. The pessimism cuts across political parties and age groups, and is common to both sexes.

The negative sentiment may cast a pall over the holiday shopping season, according to the poll. A plurality of those surveyed -- 46 percent -- expects to spend less this year than last; only 12 percent anticipate spending more. Holiday sales rose by just under a half percent last year after falling by almost 4 percent in 2008.

www.businessweek.com...

It was Reagan that popularized the idea of whether one is better off under one administration compared to another. It was Bill Clinton who declared that it was "the economy, stupid"

It probably has always been so that Americans have voted their pocketbooks, but now that idea is a political philosophy embraced by both sides of the aisle.

Obama hasn't done everything wrong in his administration, in my judgement, but he has failed to connect with Americans as president in the way that he did during his campaign. His hard left supporters are angry with him. The unions are having second opinions and a sluggish economy is giving everyone the heebie-jeebies. The Democrats in Washington are in a virtual revolt over the tax bill. Let's face it. Things aren't looking that good.

Wikileaks, which is a word I'm getting very tired of, is creating political tension across the globe by themselves, but now that an army of knuckleheads linked together are effectively, for a while anyway, crippling the season during which most businesses make up for losses throughout the rest of the year, there could be an exacerbation of economic woes that could threaten world stability and create more government intrusion into web traffic.

George W. Bush's administration was hit very hard early on with the 9/11 attacks and the resulting war against terrorists and their strongholds in the middle east. Katrina also created fertile ground for his detractors to malign him and his administration beyond all reason.

Obama's challenges have been somewhat less spectacular. His detractors, who were his supporters, are angry for his not being far enough to the left. He has not ended the war fronts in the middle east and air travel has become a veritable nightmare as Americans pay the price of Islamofascist terror.

Now Americans are beginning to reject the "it's all Bush's fault" excuse for the economy and putting the responsibility in Obama's lap.

Platitudes got Obama elected, but platitudes are not the stuff of leadership.

Although, I am not an Obama supporter or apologist, I have been rooting for the man. He is after all the Chief Executive, the Commander-in-Chief, and the "leader of the free world," if such a thing even exists anymore. His successes to the extent that they reflect the best interest of the nation are our successes.

We may not agree with all of his policies, but we can and should give our support to the things he genuinely accomplishes in the causes of freedom and liberty.

As mentioned before, the Christmas season is an essential component of the American economy. Without brisk business during this season, most small businesses would have to fold up.

Now this economic life vest is being assaulted by supporters of a real-life Lex Luthor, who with his legion of minions is shutting down essential conduits of commerce and jeopardizing the world economy, political stabilty, and domestic tranquility.

And whom do you think will take the fall?

Well, traditionally, it's been the man at the helm.

Polls are often dismissed by politicians, even though they all monitor them closely.

This most recent poll, I think, represents a demonstrable sea change that could only be alluded to before.

America has endured and triumphed over some very difficult times, but now, the whole world seems like a house of cards and someone needs to step forward with true leadership skills to help quell the storm, as it were.

Will that person be Obama? Will he sustain the image of the US presidency as the "leader of the free world" or will things continue to deteriorate under his watch until the number of Americans who are worse off now than before reaches even higher levels to the extent that they will vote for anyone but Obama?

The man has a lot on his plate and his "friends" list seems to be dwindling.

Is this the perfect storm?

He hasn't done anything wrong?



At the moment, he's struggling with 'climate change'.

climate change. How could anything be more important than this?

www.bbc.co.uk...

Originally posted by starless and bible black
He hasn't done anything wrong?

Did I say that?

I was not as hard on the man as some might be, in an effort to maintain objectivity, but I did outline some very fundamental errors on Obama's part.

reply to post by GradyPhilpott


I agree things have been more difficult. Almost all of the small businesses in my area have closed down and now all we can do is buy from Wal Mart. Dont get me started with them! But anyways there has been so much money handed out to other Countries to help them and not enough here to help us.

People are stupid with short memories. Obama has been in office 2 years, what did people expect him to do? We just had 8 years of Republican fiscal policies that have destroyed this country. Obama came into office and actually lowered taxes for a lot of people, and after 2 years, everyone is just screaming "YOU FAIL OBAMA". Wait til Americans get another Republican president in 2012 and the economy gets EVEN worse with Republican supermajority, they will still find a way to blame it on "the liberals".

Worse off under Obama.. but 10,000 times better off than under Bush.

but thats a null and void point, why?

Because Obama isn't a real president just like Bush wasn't a real president. They aren't there to do 'good' by the American people, They are there to satisfy big business, the military industrial complex, the bankers and that's about it.

The American president isn't a president, he's a CEO and he takes care of his shareholders.

... so polls like this are an obvious stooge.

IF, and thats a big IF the American president was really elected to serve and do the peoples will you would have seen

1. An investigation into 911 and Iraq
2. Bankers being absolutely demolished in the courts
3. Oil companies being absolutely demolished and torn apart
4. Middle and lower income tax levels minimalised while CEO and large corporate incomes heavily taxed
5. Infrastructure upgrades, ie schools, hospitals, roads and police stations
6. Troops would be removed from Iraq, Afghanistan and Japan.
7. Julian Assange would be given an American medal of Freedom
8. Dick Cheney would be brought to trial, as would George Bush and Paul Wolfowitz
9. America would apologies to the people its tortured
10. You'd see the president at public rallies allowing regular Joe 6- packs to question him.


I'm not saying this HAS to happen for the president to be considered real, im saying this is what a real president would do, because its whats in the best interests of the people.

Originally posted by Agit8dChop
Worse off under Obama.. but 10,000 times better off than under Bush..

Can you support that figure?

I'm better off under Obama, but it has nothing to do with Obama.

We're talking economics here.

Are you 10,000 times better off now than under Bush?

Do you know anyone who is?

I mean someone must be, but who is it?

How do you corroborate such a statement?

In case you didn't notice, your response had nothing at all to do with the subject of the OP, except your first sentence, which isn't even qualified in economic terms.

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott

Originally posted by Agit8dChop
Worse off under Obama.. but 10,000 times better off than under Bush..

I mean someone must be, but who is it?

Wall street? Bank of America?

Obama promised change* and all we see today is a form of socialism coming in. the rich are getting tax breaks and richer. I cant say obama is part of wallstreet running congress, maybe they threatened him too...work with us or be JFK"d ..or he is scared to confront them for change..who knows. People are scared right now, if tis not he job issue, its the FED printing money that will cost us or our kids in the future...at least under Bush, as much as i hate to say it..tje job market and businesses grew na grew and grew. it wasnt until bush was leaving offfice, we saw all these monopolys and outsourcing going on. But at least, yuo could go to college and be waht you wanna be* not pick n choose a safe haven of a future job.
IF JFK is obamas hero* as he stated, then yuode think wede see huge changes, via the military complex being downscaled dramtically, the CIA downsized. Under Roosevelt, 1940's..the upper 1% payed 90% of the taxes, and stil had wealth. that tax money, payed fopr highways, hospitols, roads, damns, railroads, ect ect...think about that today* tax the upper2% now is it? take the financial burden off city and its residents, sot axes remain low, and thier should be plenty of money to go around, tot ake care of the city..and who kknows* neighbors might start takling and looking out for eachother agian, cleaning up drug infested neighborhoods, that would promote inner city positivity* many avenues in my opinion, for business and the people!
but alas, i mostly see obama as just another grand puppet being used absued and told what to do, like some stray dog on aleash with a dominant owner* heal heal do what i say or esle what a letdown

Wall Street?

I don't think so. It's up since the crash of September of 2008, but those whom I know whose retirement has been negatively affected by the stock market are struggling.

Bailed out banks, maybe.

However, this poll was given to individuals not corporations.

And remember, I'm not saying that the results are written in stone.

It is my belief that Americans are beginning to put the responsibility on Obama and that bad Christmas sales made worse by Anon, could drive a wedge between Obama and Americans that is not ideologically based.

reply to post by GradyPhilpott


I disagree, your post mentioned

1. Bush
2. Obama
3. 911
4. Wikileaks
5. Freedom and prosperity

Your post mentioned people being worse off under Obama, doesnt that entitle me to assume your referring to the previous presidents? IE Bush?

So why do they think they are worse of under Obama?

I happen to think the people are worse off under Obama, but they were even WORSE off under Bush, and it will continue to cascade in the next president making it 'worse' because of what the President actually stands for.

therefore my post is totally relevant, but i wont bother adding to the topic if your going to reply like that purely because you don't like the substance of my thoughts.

Although, I am not an Obama supporter or apologist, I have been rooting for the man. He is after all the Chief Executive, the Commander-in-Chief, and the "leader of the free world," if such a thing even exists anymore. His successes to the extent that they reflect the best interest of the nation are our successes.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! The real Obama

Originally posted by ziggy1706
Obama promised change* and all we see today is a form of socialism coming in. the rich are getting tax breaks and richer. I cant say obama is part of wallstreet running congress, maybe they threatened him too...work with us or be JFK"d ..or he is scared to confront them for change..who knows. People are scared right now, if tis not he job issue, its the FED printing money that will cost us or our kids in the future...at least under Bush, as much as i hate to say it..tje job market and businesses grew na grew and grew. it wasnt until bush was leaving offfice, we saw all these monopolys and outsourcing going on. But at least, yuo could go to college and be waht you wanna be* not pick n choose a safe haven of a future job.

How old are you? Because this is not how I remember history, and I lived through it. The economy has been in the toilet a long time, and outsourcing started late in Clintons presidency, not Bushs. The economy stunk ass all through the Bush years. They passed the "Bush tax cuts" which were supposed to stimulate business by letting people "keep their money, and they will invest it in their businesses and create jobs!"

Well 10 years later, and no jobs have been created.

IM 35* yeah the economy has been in the toilet for some time, but not like it is now!
ever since reagan was president, Reed, i think was his name chariman for Meryl lynch, was telling reagen to hurry up, what to do and so on* so maybe not wallstreet, CEO's form big banks is a better terminology* so was the guy under Bush..who took the $700 billion bailout agianst publics vote not to do so

It's surprising why Americans persist in ranting and raving at whoever is at the helm of affairs. It's probably in the genes. All presidents have been hammered and that, needless to say, includes Obama.

But my question is, Is there at present an American statesman who would be able to carry everyone along or do better than Obama? If so, who's the man? Let's face it. The fact is there are no statesmen left in the Us of A to fill that chair.

To those who say they're worse off under Obama, If YOU were voted to power as president, would you have done any better? So stop cribbing and hollering. Of course, 100% Americans want Nirvana, holed up cozily in the gardens of Eden. But that's not going to happen and never will, whoever is at the helm. So just lie down and enjoy it with the hope that things would eventually improve! Americans have had too much of a good life. Not a bad time to check out what the other side looks like!

As usual, I agree with you totally Grady. Obama walked into what was probably the most difficult presidency in recent history, with the US economy in near total collapse and everyone looking for a miracle. But he's passed the point where he can blame the previous administration, 2 years is long enough to see the effects of his policies and the economy has done nothing but stagnate and the housing crisis has gotten worse. His base supporters are disillusioned, becoming angry and frustrated while his detractors sit back and say "I told you so". It is indeed setting up to be the perfect storm.

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott
We may not agree with all of his policies, but we can and should give our support to the things he genuinely accomplishes in the causes of freedom and liberty.

Such as? What has he done to defend freedom and liberty? Looks just the opposite to me.

Originally posted by aching_knuckles
Obama has been in office 2 years, what did people expect him to do? .

His job. Defend the constitution of the United States. Not seeing it though.

Originally posted by Agit8dChop
Because Obama isn't a real president just like Bush wasn't a real president. .

They certainly aren't the ones running things, are they??
And the little corner of things they do get to do ... they all just mess up.