A question

[megashark]

What aspects of life in the US have improved since the Bush administration took over?

(Oops- not sure that meets the "debate" format, so I'll rephrase, but the phrasing may make it sounds like 'fightin words'.)

Has any aspect of life in the US improved since the Bush administration took over?

 

[katerkat]

My husband got a raise! (He's military, so Bush gave it to him...) So our quality of life is a little higher now that it was. We can now go to dinner and a movie two more times a month than we could before. So we're supporting the local economy because of this.

 

[Bob NC]

Originally posted by megashark

Has any aspect of life in the US improved since the Bush administration took over?

Yes. Children now have a president they can look up to and respect.

Children can watch the news about their president without learning about oral sex and adultery.

 

[DawnCt]

Americans now know that they have a president that they can trust to defend and protect the Constitution because he takes his job seriously. The Armed Forces can respect their Commander in Chief.

 

[Chuck S]

Hmmm, while I'm sure that some folks have gotten pay raises, many others have lost their jobs. Those retirees that saved and invested for their future have seen their income from dividends and interest fall drastically - never mind the value of the principal invested in the stock, reducing their buying power and general welfare as a group. Wasn't there a promise of help for medicare recipients with prescriptions? Oh, and the "Big" 1% raise in Social Security was eaten up by increases in medicare premiums. Prices for necessities, like energy, have risen dramatically.

 

[JimB.]

Those retirees that saved and invested for their future have seen their income from dividends and interest fall drastically - never mind the value of the principal invested in the stock, reducing their buying power and general welfare as a group

And this is President Bush's fault.......................... how?

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by Chuck S
- never mind the value of the principal invested in the stock, reducing their buying power and general welfare as a group. Wasn't there a promise of help for medicare recipients with prescriptions? Oh, and the "Big" 1% raise in Social Security was eaten up by increases in medicare premiums. Prices for necessities, like energy, have risen dramatically.

I sold most of my equity shares prior to the decline of the Dow, which slid during Bill Clinton's presidency. I am still not paying as much for oil and gas as I was when Clinton asked Opec to slow the production of oil so that prices would increase and allow poorer nations to pay off their debt at the expense of the American taxpayer. I also look forward to keeping more of my hard earned money in the form of tax cuts.

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by megashark
(Oops- not sure that meets the "debate" format, so I'll rephrase, but the phrasing may make it sounds like 'fightin words'.)

Has any aspect of life in the US improved since the Bush administration took over?

Economically, no. I graduated from Baylor in May 2002, and I have yet find a JOB! Therefore, I am now applying to graduate programs. Foreign policy, my gosh, the world will hate and despise us even more after his term is up.

diane

Don't blame me I didn't vote for him.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by DawnCt
I I am still not paying as much for oil and gas as I was when Clinton asked Opec to slow the production of oil so that prices would increase and allow poorer nations to pay off their debt at the expense of the American taxpayer.

Funny, we Texans, at least in San Antonio, tracking the price of gas, proved that the price per gallon is higher than ever. Oh, and isn't one of Bush's ideas to reduce social security and Invest in the Stock Market? Yeah, I see how much profit is in that. Remember, Bush and his advisors recommended we NOT sell our stcoks and assets as a way to encourage growth and investment in the economy and American business...where are the rewards?


BTW, Dawn, did that $300 tax refund make a BIG difference in your life? I think I'd rather have kept the national debt down.

And no, Bush (or any president) isn't solely responsible for a bad economy...the original posters question was "Has any aspect of life in the US improved since the Bush administration took over?" Not whether he was directly responsible. If Clinton were to "blame" for everything going on, wouldn't you think Bush could have improved the overall picture in 2 years?

 

[JimB.]

Diane -

Just curious. What's your degree in?

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by JimB.
Diane -

Just curious. What's your degree in?

BA in history and speech pathology. Hopefully, by the time I get my master's in Speech Pathology I'll have a good-paying job. Both speech path and audiology will be in high demand, so I won't have to worry too much about my future. On the news the other day someone reported that the # of our senior citizens will skyrocket-that is great news for me I just hope that I get into grad school!

diane

 

[katerkat]

*shrug* I graduated in June 2001 and I've had no problem finding THREE jobs. And two of them in a business where hiring is almost frozen!

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by Chuck S


BTW, Dawn, did that $300 tax refund make a BIG difference in your life? I think I'd rather have kept the national debt down.

"Has any aspect of life in the US improved since the Bush administration took over?" Not whether he was directly responsible. If Clinton were to "blame" for everything going on, wouldn't you think Bush could have improved the overall picture in 2 years?

I would rather have our combined $600. I feel I am a better judge of how to spend my money than the federal government. They have enough of our money. They need to learn how to spend less. I think that much of the impact on the economy rests squarely on Clinton's shoulders due to his foreign policy blunders.
He should have addressed Iraq, Korea, Al Quedao when it was in front of him but he punted it down the road to the next president. Now he is scrabbling around trying to create a legacy that doesn't involve scandal.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by DawnCt
They need to learn how to spend less.

And what about all the pork barrel policies the Republicans put through in this budget, like buying new drying equipment for tobacco farmers instead of developing new crops for them that will grow well in there area? The budget isn't Clinton's fault if Republicans designed it and passed it.

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by EltonJohn
BA in history and speech pathology. Hopefully, by the time I get my master's in Speech Pathology I'll have a good-paying job. Both speech path and audiology will be in high demand, so I won't have to worry too much about my future. On the news the other day someone reported that the # of our senior citizens will skyrocket-that is great news for me I just hope that I get into grad school!

diane

Hi Diane, for a very long time, speech pathologist have been in demand but in our area a Master's Degree has always been a requirement. Speech paths can pretty much pick any age group from birth to three, pre school, school age (habilative) to rehabilitative. A BA is history is "nice" but without a teaching certificate, I am not sure in what area you thought you would be marketable.

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by DawnCt
Hi Diane, for a very long time, speech pathologist have been in demand but in our area a Master's Degree has always been a requirement. Speech paths can pretty much pick any age group from birth to three, pre school, school age (habilative) to rehabilitative.

Do you really think I am that stupid not to know my own field? See www.ASHA.org

A BA is history is "nice" but without a teaching certificate, I am not sure in what area you thought you would be marketable.

You can do more with a history degree than teach. For instance, I'm thinking about looking into the State Department or the Park Service.

IMO, it's very sad that GWB can't focus on rebuilding the economy and creating more jobs. Instead, he thinks our #1 priority is toppling Saddam Hussein, instead of focusing OBL and the economy. JMHO.

diane

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by EltonJohn
Do you really think I am that stupid not to know my own field? See www.ASHA.org



You can do more with a history degree than teach. For instance, I'm thinking about looking into the State Department or the Park Service.

IMO, it's very sad that GWB can't focus on rebuilding the economy and creating more jobs. diane

The State Department or the Park Service? It sounds like you want GWB to create a government job for you. How about the private sector? Tax cuts create real jobs. Regarding Speech Path. I would think you would know about what is required which is why I am rather puzzled that you would have expected to secure a job in that field.

 

[bsnyder]

We can argue the economic issues til the cows come home and not agree on who did what and when.

But hopefully we can agree on Bob's post - that it's a relief not to have to hear about interns in the Oval Office. Whether you voted for Clinton or not, I hope no one thinks that was an aspect of life that improved during the Clinton Administration!

 

[Demosthenes]

Originally posted by EltonJohn
Do you really think I am that stupid not to know my own field?

Are you sure you want her to answer that?

You can do more with a history degree than teach. For instance, I'm thinking about looking into the State Department or the Park Service.

Oh yes, there's always government work.

IMO, it's very sad that GWB can't focus on rebuilding the economy and creating more jobs. Instead, he thinks our #1 priority is toppling Saddam Hussein, instead of focusing OBL and the economy. JMHO.

Humble?, maybe; naive?, certainly. Even if you don't like what he has proposed to stimulate job growth, he has been focused on it. And as for OBL, how many Al Qaeda attacks have there been since 9/11?

 

[grinningghost]

I'm just thankful that GWB was leading our country when Al Qaeda attacked us. If it had been Bill Clinton or Al Gore, the Taliban would have set up shop in Times Square by now.