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ALLEY CAT	Time for the revelation of some very interesting numbers: Two years ago Barack Obama was inaugurated as president of the United States . Are you better off today than you were two years ago? Numbers don't lie, and here are the data on the impact he has had on the lives of Americans: First figure > January 2009 price. Second figure > TODAY's price. Third figure > % of change Forth > Source of information. Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S. $1.83 $3.104 69.6% 1 Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) $43.48 $99.02 127.7% 2 Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) $38.74 $91.38 135.9% 2 Gold: London (per troy oz.) $853.25 $1,369.50 60.5% 2 Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL $3.56 $6.33 78.1% 2 Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL $9.66 $13.75 42.3% 2 Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob $13.37 $35.39 164.7% 2 Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall 7.6% 9.4% 23.7% 3 Unemployment rate, blacks 12.6% 15.8% 25.4% 3 Number of unemployed 11,616,000 14,485,000 24.7% 3 Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr= 12/10 prelim) 2,779,000 2,840,000 2.2% 3 Real median household income (2008 v 2009) $50,112 $49,777 -0.7% 4 Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10) 31,983,716 43,200,878 35.1% 5 Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10) 7,526,598 9,193,838 22.2% 6 Number of long-term unemployed 2,600,000 6,400,000 146.2% 3 Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009) 13.2% 14.3% 8.3% 4 People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009) 39,800,000 43,600,000 9.5% 4 U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings 5 9 n/a 10 Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10) 29.9 23.5 -21.4% 11 Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date) 140 164 17.1% 12 U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate 89.76 82.03 -8.6% 2 U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) 1,575.1 1,865.7 18.4% 13 U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) 8,310.9 8,852.3 6.5% 13 National debt, in trillions $10.627 $14.052 32.2% 14 Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history. This is a disaster. And remember 'who' controlled the U.S. Congress from 2006 until January, 2011. Sources: (1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury The list should include how many gallons of fuel were burned going around the world apologizing for our previous prosperity while we were being told to cut back and conserve all because we had been living too good.
heynow14	Apparently some people are doing very well under the Obama administration. Dow Jones 6547 2yrs ago, now 12233. Their investments in Gold,Oil,Corn and Sugar are doing well too. We are Winning the Future! ------------------
ALLEY CAT	quote: "Apparently some people are doing very well under the Obama administration." Not those looking for a job to keep their homes! Glad you noticed that the stock market is up,,,,we know you support the 'rich' democrats.
ed monahan	The stock market has really risen since the Nov. elections. Probably just a coincidence. lol
heynow14	Now Ed, thats what I call spin. ------------------
ALLEY CAT	Robert,,,,if it is, then he learned it from you, the SPIN Master!
ed monahan	quote: Originally posted by heynow14: Now Ed, thats what I call spin. Why would that be spin. IT is a fact the stock market took off right after the election. I can't say that the only reason is due to the election results. Everyone has to decide for themselves. I think folks got some confidence that things might work out, after all.
heynow14	Ed,I'm surprised Rich didn't correct you. DowJones closed 1/20/09 = 7949.09 Obama's inauguration day. DowJones closed 11/02/10 = 11188.72 Mid-term Election day. DowJones Closed 2/15/11 = 12226.64 Looks like the market really took off when he was sworn in and continues today. Go to www.dowjonesclose.com and check the FACTs for yourself. Or, you could just BELIEVE what you are saying is true. ------------------ This message has been edited by heynow14 on 02-16-2011 at 01:21 AM
Wayne Finch	The markets were also up during Hosnia Mubarak's reign. The market being up has zero to do with Obama being in power. The real thing that matters is investors attitude. Investors ALWAYS want less government, less taxes, and less regulation. This message has been edited by Wayne Finch on 02-16-2011 at 07:15 AM
BeWare	Robert I had decided to stay out of this particular discussion because the stock market is fueled by way more factors than who is President. But following your premise that it has to do with the President. The Dow closed on January 2 2009 at 9034.69 so the day he was sworn there was a significant drop from the start of the year. Was that because he took office? The day before the 08 Elections the Dow Closed at 9319.83 the day after the Dow closed at 9139.27. A slight drop but a drop none the less. Did it drop because he won? On January 2 2008 the DOW closed at 13338.23 The Dow still has not reached levels obtained during the Bush Presidency. http://dowjonesclose.com/2008.html Again this is just using your apparent theory that the President is the primary reason that the Dow rises and falls. Again I don't concur with this. This message has been edited by BeWare on 02-16-2011 at 11:47 AM
ed monahan	Robert, your numbers prove what I said. It went up $ 1038 in 3 months, from Nov until yesterday, about 350 a month. It went up around $ 3000 in 22 months, or less than half the rate since the mid-terms, about $ 140 a month.
heynow14	quote: Originally posted by BeWare: Robert I had decided to stay out of this particular discussion because the stock market is fueled by way more factors than who is President. ------------------