Friday, October 29, 2010

Four Questions for Voters

This deserves wide distribution. From Jed Lewison at Daily Kos.

Questions:

1. What was the average monthly private sector job growth in 2008, the final year of the Bush presidency, and what has it been so far in 2010?

2. What was the Federal deficit for the last fiscal year of the Bush presidency, and what was it for the first full fiscal year of the Obama presidency?

3. What was the stock market at on the last day of the Bush presidency? What is it at today?

4. Which party's candidate for speaker will campaign this weekend with a Nazi reenactor who dressed up in a SS uniform?

Answers:

1. In 2008, we lost an average of 317,250 private sector jobs per month. In 2010, we have gained an average of 95,888 private sector jobs per month. (Source) That's a difference of nearly five million jobs between Bush's last year in office and President Obama's second year.

2. In FY2009, which began on September 1, 2008 and represents the Bush Administration's final budget, the budget deficit was $1.416 trillion. In FY2010, the first budget of the Obama Administration, the budget deficit was $1.291 trillion, a decline of $125 billion. (Source) Yes, that means President Obama has cut the deficit -- there's a long way to go, but we're in better shape now than we were under Bush and the GOP.

3. On Bush's final day in office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 closed at 7,949, 1,440, and 805, respectively. Today, as of 10:15AM Pacific, they are at 11,108, 2,512, and 1,183. That means since President Obama took office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 have increased 40%, 74%, and 47%, respectively.

4. The Republican Party, whose candidate for speaker, John Boehner, will campaign with Nazi re-enactor Rich Iott this weekend. If you need an explanation why this is offensive, you are a lost cause.

Update: More reading for the election.
Freedom Is Not Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose

The More Things Change

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your answer to one is flawed. That what happens when you quote gov't stats - in this case, BLS. Remove the 'L'. Real unemployment or U6 pegs the percentage at 22%. Research it a little before being so lazy as to quote only gov't stats beofre pumping up your Manchurian.

Enjoy the reign of Hopey Changey unicorn man. Didn't think that were many of you left out there. Not that the Repugnicants woould be any better. There is not a left/right paradigm any longer. Only politicos and banksters. Just take your head out of the sand and look around you. Start with the MBS/foreclosure fraud being committed by banks. Understand what TARP was really about.

The rest of your thining is absurd. DOW rising et al. That wouldn't happen if the printing presses for more phoney fiat currency weren't being flung about.

It seems that BS can be sold to the lowest bidder. Have fun with that. Obushma is endless source of entertainement, however.

Cheryl Rofer said...

I see that we've gotten a link at Zero Hedge. So welcome to those who are new to Phron.