America Then and Now – Obama Policies Have Put America at Risk

In 1980, President Ronald Reagan asked the American people if they were better off after nearly four years of President Jimmy Carter. The answer was an obvious NO! If you listen to President Obama you might think all is well in America. We all know better. The chart below shows just how bad things are. I encourage you to review and share with others.


Thanks,
Walter Jones



America Then and Now – Obama Policies Have Put America at Risk

America Before President Obama Took Office and Now


                                               Before               Now               Change

Number of Unemployed1        12.0 Million      13.1 Million          +9%
Long-Term Unemployed2         2.7 Million        5.6 Million       +107%
Unemployment Rate3                   7.8%               8.5%                +9%
“High Unemployment” States4      22                    43                  +95%
Misery Index5                             7.83               11.46                 +46%
Price of Gas6                            $1.85               $3.39                 +83%
“Typical” Monthly Family
    Food Cost7                          $974                $1,013               +4%
Median Value of Single-Family
    Home8                               $196,600           $169,100            -14%
Rate of Mortgage
       Delinquencies9                  6.62%               10.23%             +55%
U.S. National Debt10          $10.6 Trillion      $15.2 Trillion         +43%


1 Number of unemployed in January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
2 “Long-term unemployed” means for over 26 weeks; data for January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
3 Unemployment rates in January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
4 “High unemployment” means having a 3-month average unemployment rate of 6% or higher. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “Extended Benefits Trigger Notice” for January 18, 2009 and January 22, 2012. http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2009/trig_011809.html  and http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2012/euc_012212.html.
5 The “Misery Index” equals unemployment plus inflation. For January 2009 and December 2012. http://www.miseryindex.us/indexbymonth.asp.
6 Average retail price per gallon, January 2009 week 3 and January 2012 week 4. http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG&f=W.
7 U.S. Department of Agriculture, values represent monthly “moderate” cost per family of four for January 2009 and November 2011. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm.
8 U.S. median sales price of existing single-family homes for metropolitan areas for 2008 and 2011 Q3. http://www.realtor.org/research/research/metroprice.
9 Residential mortgage delinquencies (real estate loans) for 2008 Q4 and 2011 Q3. http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/chargeoff/default.htm.

10 Values for January 21, 2009 and January 23, 2012. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np.