Five years.
In some ways, it is hard to think back to what things were like five years ago. But a stroll down memory lane is worthwhile, especially as we roll into next year.
What were things like five years ago?
Five years ago, it was December 2006. In November, the mid-term elections had been held. They had been a disaster for the Republicans and were a sign of things to come.
Nancy Pelosi at the time promised, “partnership, not partisanship.” Of course, her first act was to strip minority party rights that Newt Gingrich had put into place in the House rules.
On January 3, 2007, the Democrats took control of the Congress and changed the direction of the United States.
On January 3, 2007, the Dow Jones closed at 12,621.77. The GDP for the previous quarter grew at 3.4%. The unemployment rate was at 4.6% and the economy had just set a record for 52 straight months of job creation.
When the Democrats took over in 2007, Barney Frank became Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee.
Today, the national unemployment rate is 9.1%. Our GDP for the last quarter was (for the moment) an anemic 2%, while Canada’s economy grew and a brisk 3.5%.
In 2007, five years ago, the Democrats took control of the legislative branch and drove the economy off the cliff. Obama can run against the Bush economy as much as he wants but the reality of life is the President can do many things, but spending and taxing decisions come from Congress.
The last time Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress, things were pretty good. The nation was at full employment and the economy was growing.
Barack Obama was in the Senate from 2007 until he was sworn in to office in 2009. He was a part of that majority that took America off the rails of prosperity and are now driving America to bankruptcy and poverty.
I could channel my inner Ronald Reagan and ask, “Are you better off now than you were five years ago?”
That is the question the Republicans need to be asking America.
Given the obvious answer, Americans need to be asking Republicans why they are not doing more to save this country.
Yes, Republicans only control the House of Representatives, but they can do something. They are not simply helpless passengers along for the ride. The House controls the purse strings. Unfortunately, we have the kind of leadership in the House today that we had in 2006. That was the kind of leadership that managed to lose control of Congress and give it to the Party of Treason.
Republicans are asking America to give them the reins of government again. There is no questions the Republicans can and will do a better job than the Democrats. But right now, we need something more than just a “better job.” We need innovative thinking and we need courage. We need Republicans with courage to cut the massive spending we are seeing in Washington and who are willing to make real cuts in government.
Meanwhile, it is worth asking, are you better of now than you were in 2006?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Edward Moses on -
I don't believe the Republcian is the oldest party on record. They were an offshoot of another party because the two parties in existence acted too much alike.
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Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on
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It seems totally impossible in America!
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Permalink Reply by American Infidel on -
Judson, great post. Yes, I was MUCH better off five years ago than today, because the entire country was much better off when Republicans, even mediocre Republicans, were in charge.
When my state, Florida, holds its Republican primary on January 31st, I will vote for the Republican candidate I feel has the best chance to defeat Barack Obama in November 2012. If my preferred candidate does not win the nomination, I will get 100% behind whomever the Republican candidate is, and work my butt off for that person. I will campaign for them like our future depends upon it, because it does. We must absolutely, positively defeat Barack Obama in 2012, and we must also work to ensure a Republican victory at ALL levels of government, particularly the House and Senate. We must take our country back, or lose it forever. After the nomination process is finished, the time for differences among ourselves will be OVER. We must, in the words of the first Tea Partiers, Unite Or Die.
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Permalink Reply by Phil McConathy on
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I know I am not as well off as 5 years ago. My retirement investment portfolio has shrunk by more than 25% and not getting any better. The costs of everything we buy is higher and our energy costs for everything is much higher and going even higher. Millions of Americans are unemployed with little or no chance for this to change until we get leaders in DC who actually want this country to succeed. As long as redistrubitive monetary policies and social justice ideas are in place and achievement is looked down in this country it will not return to the good old days of prosperity. November 6, 2012 is the day of reckoning for America. Do we want to remain a free republic or do we want to become another failed socialist country? The future of America is hanging in the balance. American's will decide.
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Permalink Reply by Roni Smith on -
A perfect candidate? There is an old Yiddish saying...Allus in Annin, Niestaw Becainin. Roughly that means "Every thing in one person, Nobody has.
Ronisue
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Permalink Reply by Dennis L on -
Five years ago my business was booming. Now its all but dead. All of my business associates are in a similar position. We don't count in the unemployment statistsics but a true analysis of the GDP should tell the story.
This is the worst business climate that I have expereinced in my entire life. Its not going to get better until we find a way to start manufacturing products here in the USA again. Corporate incentives may help but until the flawed Free Trade mentality changes, there is no hope for a return to prosperity. .
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Permalink Reply by Darrell Russell on -
The real question every one should be asking them selves is not how things were 4 years ago. The real question is. Can we stand 4 more years of this?
I don't think so and neither do the democrats but they still have a plan when all of this comes crashing down. They will rely on the UN and as long as they are the party of power will fill any vacuum that might exist with in the UN. For over 100 years the democrats have thought We the People are not smart enough to take care of our selves, especially our money and assets. Their ideal is to have every thing for the common so all will have the same. Their is a flaw in this. As long as they are the ruling elite they will not only live but many of their friends and relatives will also live off the collective but to a much higher standard.
Can you stand 4 more years of this?
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Permalink Reply by Dave Koch on -
Things will not ever change unless we rid this Country of the sorry Politicians in office today. They only care about their Lobby and Special Interests Groups that pad their pockets. We need Professional Business People in office who are willing to help redevelop America's future. The Corruption is so rampid that people just don't believe things can be cleaned up. Until we rid this country of Unions, Illegal's, those that want us DEAD which is those that want to enforce Sharia Laws upon us, Dept of Energy,Dept of Education and any other Dept that is trying to destroy our Future we might as well bury our heads up our buns. There is No future for America unless we clean up the garbage and American's get a Positive Attitude on doing what is right for our Future. We have everything to rebuild and to make AQmerica Great again, but until we rid this Nation of the Corruption from the Politicians to the Wall Street scumbags then we are dead in the water. It is time to care about America's future and not the rest of the World. We have to secure our Borders and build our Defense's up again to Protect and Defend America and NOBODY else.We have to quit giving away American jobs to Foreign workers also. If our men an women of our Military are going to die, let it be defending Our Borders and to be ridding this Nation of all those that do not belong here and those that won't live by OUR Laws and Our Language and Our FLAG. It is up to We The People to wake the rest of America up and to help fight for what was given to us by our Fore Fathers. God Bless America and our Troops.
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Permalink Reply by Victoria Kathleen Coots on
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Amen!!
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Permalink Reply by clarice davis on
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Good post....
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Permalink Reply by clarice davis on
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I also want to say, during the time o!@#$% was campaining, I kept wondering what CHANGE they wanted....now I know....still blows my mind....
Judson you kept it simple....good for you...
but we must keep getting t he word out that Congress then, under Bush was democrats....
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Permalink Reply by Don Folkers on -
We ARE better off now -- for only one reason. People are waking up to the internationalists in the leadership of both parties who belong to the Council on Foreign Relations like Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. One leader who is exceptional in his loyalty to the Constitution is Ron Paul.
Don Folkers
4 Mills Road
Newcastle, ME 04553
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