Breaking News......

[bornaneer]

WASHINGTON, D.C -- Barack Obama finished his tenure as president with a 47.9% average job approval rating. He ranks below eight presidents and ahead of only three -- Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Harry Truman -- in Gallup's polling history.

Job Approval Averages for U.S.Presidents Since World War II

Kennedy Jan. 20, 1961-Nov. 22, 1963...... 70.1
Eisenhower Jan. 20, 1953-Jan. 19, 1961...... 65.0
G.H.W. Bush Jan. 20, 1989-Jan. 19, 1993...... 60.9
Clinton Jan. 20, 1993-Jan. 19, 2001...... 55.1
Johnson Nov. 22, 1963-Jan. 19, 1969...... 55.1
Reagan Jan. 20, 1981-Jan. 19, 1989..... 52.8
G.W. Bush Jan. 20, 2001-Jan. 19, 2009...... 49.4
Nixon Jan. 20, 1969-Aug. 9, 1974...... 49.0
Obama Jan. 20, 2009-Jan. 19, 2017...... 47.9
Ford Aug. 9, 1974-Jan. 19, 1977...... 47.2
Carter Jan. 20, 1977-Jan. 19, 1981...... 45.5
Truman April 12, 1945-Jan 19, 1953...... 45.4

 

[va87eer]

Selective fact selection -- you could be a modern news reporter!!!

The next paragraph:

"Despite subpar approval ratings for much of his presidency, Obama finished strong. His final job approval rating, based on Jan. 17-19 Gallup Daily tracking, was 59%. Only Clinton (66%) and Reagan (63%) had higher scores in Gallup's last measurement of their approval ratings, while Eisenhower (59%) and Kennedy (58%) had similar final ratings."

http://www.gallup.com/poll/202742/obama-averages-job-approval-president.aspx

 

[bornaneer]

Selective fact selection -- you could be a modern news reporter!!!

The next paragraph:

"Despite subpar approval ratings for much of his presidency, Obama finished strong. His final job approval rating, based on Jan. 17-19 Gallup Daily tracking, was 59%. Only Clinton (66%) and Reagan (63%) had higher scores in Gallup's last measurement of their approval ratings, while Eisenhower (59%) and Kennedy (58%) had similar final ratings."

http://www.gallup.com/poll/202742/obama-averages-job-approval-president.aspx

Are you disputing the Gallup numbers? I'll show the next paragraph since you missed it.

Obama began his presidency with approval ratings in the high 60s, among the best for a newly elected president. But by the end of his first year, his approval ratings fell to near 50% and dropped below the majority level early in his second year. After his first year, he received sustained majority approval only once more during his first term in office. Fortunately for him, that came during his 16th quarter in office -- around the time he was re-elected in the fall of 2012. Shortly after his second term began, his support dipped back into the 40s and did not return to the majority level again until his final year in office. His 32nd and final quarter job approval average of 55.7% was his third-highest as president.

 

[va87eer]

Are you disputing the Gallup numbers? I'll show the next paragraph since you missed it.

Obama began his presidency with approval ratings in the high 60s, among the best for a newly elected president. But by the end of his first year, his approval ratings fell to near 50% and dropped below the majority level early in his second year. After his first year, he received sustained majority approval only once more during his first term in office. Fortunately for him, that came during his 16th quarter in office -- around the time he was re-elected in the fall of 2012. Shortly after his second term began, his support dipped back into the 40s and did not return to the majority level again until his final year in office. His 32nd and final quarter job approval average of 55.7% was his third-highest as president.

Not at all. You were just very selective in the paragraphs you chose to include.

 

[atlkvb]

I liked the question Reagan asked when he was running against Carter in 1980.

"Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?"

For President Obama the time period is 8 years, but the answer is still the same as it was for Carter.


Nope.

 

[va87eer]

For me the answer is hell yeah. The stock market has nearly tripled in 8 years.

 

[atlkvb]

For me the answer is hell yeah. The stock market has nearly tripled in 8 years.

Well OK cool. But 95 million other Americans don't have any stocks, or a job. They disagree with you.

 

[bornaneer]

Not at all. You were just very selective in the paragraphs you chose to include.

Yes I was.....but I think people that post the final number are as well. I think an average measure better is than one snapshot.

 

[va87eer]

Yes I was.....but I think people that post the final number are as well. I think an average measure better is than one snapshot.

That's a valid point but if I was going to post I'd likely post the whole article and let people make up their own minds.

 

[va87eer]

Well OK cool. But 95 million other Americans don't have any stocks, or a job. They disagree with you.

Yep. And when the question is directed as it was I give the answer for myself.

 

[WVU82_rivals]

Since Obama took office, 13 million more Americans have become dependent on food stamps, with the numbers now hitting a record 47 million — about a third more than when he was sworn in. In 2007, there were 26 million recipients. Spending on the scheme has more than doubled just since 2008. The explosion of the program, along with other welfare schemes, has resulted in countless commentators and critics labeling Obama “the Food Stamp President.”

The Census Bureau's announcement that the U.S. homeownership rate has declined to 62.9%--the lowest rate since Census began tracking the quarterly figure in 1965.


Donald Trump's Entirely Correct -- There Really Are 96M Unemployed Americans
JAN 13, 2017 @ 08:23 AM
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timwors...96-million-unemployed-americans/#3eb9f84d4d98

 

[bornaneer]

For me the answer is hell yeah. The stock market has nearly tripled in 8 years.

Good for you......My life has been almost equally good across the Presidency's of all those men in my adult life. No complaints for Obama's term. The only bump in the road was during Carters term.

 

[countryroads89_rivals]

No way Obama finishes behind W.

 

[WVPATX]

For me the answer is hell yeah. The stock market has nearly tripled in 8 years.

Too bad the 93M out of the work force don't have your portfolio
Too bad the 45M Americans that live below the poverty line don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 100M Americans on welfare don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 27M Americans that are working only part time don't have your portfolio

The rich got richer and most others did not share in the benefits. The Feds zero interest rates and QE programs did wonders for the rich.

 

[bornaneer]

No way Obama finishes behind W.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/202742/obama-averages-job-approval-president.aspx

 

[atlkvb]

Yep. And when the question is directed as it was I give the answer for myself.

I feel 'ya Bro....that's why we have elections. Rock on Dude.

 

[va87eer]

Too bad the 93M out of the work force don't have your portfolio
Too bad the 45M Americans that live below the poverty line don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 100M Americans on welfare don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 27M Americans that are working only part time don't have your portfolio

The rich got richer and most others did not share in the benefits. The Feds zero interest rates and QE programs did wonders for the rich.

Very true. Our system is such that if you have money it's easy to make money. If you look at wealth growth, the first xx is the most difficult where xx could be 10k, 100k, 1M or any amount. As the amount grows it gets easier and easier.

 

[bornaneer]

Very true. Our system is such that if you have money it's easy to make money. If you look at wealth growth, the first xx is the most difficult where xx could be 10k, 100k, 1M or any amount. As the amount grows it gets easier and easier.

You have a better "system"?

 

[WVPATX]

Very true. Our system is such that if you have money it's easy to make money. If you look at wealth growth, the first xx is the most difficult where xx could be 10k, 100k, 1M or any amount. As the amount grows it gets easier and easier.

The fed's easy money policy, money printing lead to much of Wall Street gains. We are going to pay for this down the road if Yellen can't achieve her much touted soft landing.

You have to have money to make any money in that kind of environment.

 

[va87eer]

You have a better "system"?

No. I've worked to some extent in about 20 countries and would take our system over any other.

There are some Scandinavian countries that have a higher standard of living by the common metrics that judge standard of living but I prefer our much lower tax and more individually driven model. I do think there are some things we could borrow from their approach but in small and careful doses.

 

[bornaneer]

No. I've worked to some extent in about 20 countries and would take our system over any other.

There are some Scandinavian countries that have a higher standard of living by the common metrics that judge standard of living but I prefer our much lower tax and more individually driven model. I do think there are some things we could borrow from their approach but in small and careful doses.

Agree.....we can always improve. I am now of the belief that the politics of our country is really holding us back and has become a real impediment to progress.

 

[va87eer]

The fed's easy money policy, money printing lead to much of Wall Street gains. We are going to pay for this down the road if Yellen can't achieve her much touted soft landing.

You have to have money to make any money in that kind of environment.

It's amazing that the dollar has continued to strengthen despite the fed policies. It's more an indication of the weakness of other economies than the strength of ours unfortunately.

 

[atlkvb]

Very true. Our system is such that if you have money it's easy to make money. If you look at wealth growth, the first xx is the most difficult where xx could be 10k, 100k, 1M or any amount. As the amount grows it gets easier and easier.

It's sure better to have money and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

The Government's got your formula figured out on income taxes. It's easier for them to take when for every extra dollar you earn, they're going to get at least the first 25 cents of it...sometimes even more. You don't miss it, that's why there's no yearly bill they send you after you've made your haul. You'd freak out if they did it that way.

So they nickle and dime 'ya for the year, then if you're lucky they tell you that you didn't owe everything they just spent the past year confiscating from you and they let you have a small piece of it back and you're suddenly happy.

Only problem is it was yours to begin with and they just kept it all away from you until you filed you returns and they decided you didn't owe anymore. Sometimes it works in the reverse and you still have to pay at the end of the year because they claim they didn't take enough from you....

That's when you get really pissed.

 

[WVPATX]

No. I've worked to some extent in about 20 countries and would take our system over any other.

There are some Scandinavian countries that have a higher standard of living by the common metrics that judge standard of living but I prefer our much lower tax and more individually driven model. I do think there are some things we could borrow from their approach but in small and careful doses.

Unrealistic comparison with Scandinavian countries. They are incredibly small, homogeneous countries. We are vast, ethnically diverse, culturally diverse, we have a huge standing army helping to defend freedom around the globe, much higher crime, much higher immigration levels, etc.

Very, very different situations and comparisons are simply not viable.

 

[WVPATX]

It's amazing that the dollar has continued to strengthen despite the fed policies. It's more an indication of the weakness of other economies than the strength of ours unfortunately.

Rising interest rates plus the likelihood of 4 more rate hikes certainly plays a role as well.

 

[va87eer]

Agree.....we can always improve. I am now of the belief that the politics of our country is really holding us back and has become a real impediment to progress.

It really is holding us back. The polarization is not healthy and prevents intelligent discussion. Ideological arguments are mostly bs and prevent finding the real solutions that can be implemented.

Parenting skills and standards of personal accountability have degraded in alarming ways.

 

[va87eer]

Unrealistic comparison with Scandinavian countries. They are incredibly small, homogeneous countries. We are vast, ethnically diverse, culturally diverse, we have a huge standing army helping to defend freedom around the globe, much higher crime, much higher immigration levels, etc.

Very, very different situations and comparisons are simply not viable.

I know.

 

[va87eer]

It's sure better to have money and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

The Government's got your formula figured out on income taxes. It's easier for them to take when for every extra dollar you earn, they're going to get at least the first 25 cents of it...sometimes even more. You don't miss it, that's why there's no yearly bill they send you after you've made your haul. You'd freak out if they did it that way.

So they nickle and dime 'ya for the year, then if you're lucky they tell you that you didn't owe everything they just spent the past year confiscating from you and they let you have a small piece of it back and you're suddenly happy.

Only problem is it was yours to begin with and they just kept it all away from you until you filed you returns and they decided you didn't owe anymore. Sometimes it works in the reverse and you still have to pay at the end of the year because they claim they didn't take enough from you....

That's when you get really pissed.

We usually adjust our payments so that we are paying at the end but not enough to have a penalty. I don't want them having my money all year.

 

[va87eer]

We usually adjust our payments so that we are paying at the end but not enough to have a penalty. I don't want them having my money all year.

A funny tax story.....we lived in the most bureaucratic country in Europe...renowned for mounds of paperwork. Our tax return there was 4 pages. We were in US for 2-4 weeks each year that we lived in Europe so had to file here as well. Our US tax returns were 74 (Seventy four!!!!) pages.

 

[WVPATX]

It really is holding us back. The polarization is not healthy and prevents intelligent discussion. Ideological arguments are mostly bs and prevent finding the real solutions that can be implemented.

Parenting skills and standards of personal accountability have degraded in alarming ways.

Agree. Parenting skills are a big issue. In fact, I have 5 daughters and many many of their friends have parents who are simply too busy with their own lives to care about those of their children.

Another huge issue is out of wedlock birthrates. No one wants to discuss this because they think it is racist. But it is happening across all races except for many Asians. In the African American community upwards of 70% or more of children are born into families where the father is absent. Hispanic rates are lower at 53% and whites lower still at 33%, but way above historic averages and a huge problem for all these races.

Study after study has shown that kids of single parent families have higher drop out rates, higher rates of crimes, drug use and incarceration rates.

Children need to get off to a great start at home to have a real good chance at success. It's actually a pretty simple formula. Stay in school. Get good grades. Don't have a child until your married.

This will be mocked by some, but it is factual. And the very first politician that saw this emerging problem was a liberal democrat from New York, Patrick Moynihan who wrote a prescient report in 1965.

 

[atlkvb]

The fed's easy money policy, money printing lead to much of Wall Street gains

This is just another reason we have to get this economy moving because unless we start adding substantially to real GDP all of those dollars lying dormant are going become quite worthless if they aren't put to work in an expanding economy.

We're really sitting on a powder keg that could blow and make 2008 look like a bad day at the nickel slot machines.

 

[atlkvb]

A funny tax story.....we lived in the most bureaucratic country in Europe...renowned for mounds of paperwork. Our tax return there was 4 pages. We were in US for 2-4 weeks each year that we lived in Europe so had to file here as well. Our US tax returns were 74 (Seventy four!!!!) pages.

Unreal.

 

[atlkvb]

In the African American community upwards of 70% or more of children are born into families where the father is absent

Hispanic rates are lower at 53% and whites lower still at 33%, but way above historic averages and a huge problem for all these races.

Study after study has shown that kids of single parent families have higher drop out rates, higher rates of crimes, drug use and incarceration rates.

Children need to get off to a great start at home to have a real good chance at success. It's actually a pretty simple formula. Stay in school. Get good grades. Don't have a child until your married.

This will be mocked by some, but it is factual. And the very first politician that saw this emerging problem was a liberal democrat from New York, Patrick Moynihan who wrote a prescient report in 1965.

All true, all sad, and I'd argue all of it was entirely predictable with the Left's War on Poverty. Fast forward some 50 years later, and the results for Blacks and other poor folks has been nothing short of devastating.

What's maddening is rather than being held accountable to answer for this abject failure and all the wasted Billions from the Nation's treasury, the Left is given a pass and not asked to explain this colossal boondoggle, instead the Media allows them to argue for more or that not enough was spent!

I say it's time to try something else, cause this business model doesn't work, and won't work.

 

[WVPATX]

All true, all sad, and I'd argue all of it was entirely predictable with the Left's War on Poverty. Fast forward some 50 years later, and the results for Blacks and other poor folks has been nothing short of devastating.

What's maddening is rather than being held accountable to answer for this abject failure and all the wasted Billions from the Nation's treasury, the Left is given a pass and not asked to explain this colossal boondoggle, instead the Media allows them to argue for more or that not enough was spent!

I say it's time to try something else, cause this business model doesn't work, and won't work.

You and I are both in business. If we had a problem this profound the first thing we would not do is throw more money at the problem. We would figure out the root causes of the problem and began attacking there. Unfortunately, the root causes of these problems are not being attacked at all.

 

[atlkvb]

You and I are both in business. If we had a problem this profound the first thing we would not do is throw more money at the problem. We would figure out the root causes of the problem and began attacking there. Unfortunately, the root causes of these problems are not being attacked at all.

Exactly! Not only that PAX, but we would be demanding detailed accounting analysis and budget reviews on why our tremendous expenditures and outlays are showing such poor performance results or rates of return. Something ain't right with this business plan, and before we spend another dime we need to either make major adjustments in our product deployment and marketing strategy or scrap the whole business model and develop an entirely new product or marketing program!

Good grief.

 

[torontoeers]

A funny tax story.....we lived in the most bureaucratic country in Europe...renowned for mounds of paperwork. Our tax return there was 4 pages. We were in US for 2-4 weeks each year that we lived in Europe so had to file here as well. Our US tax returns were 74 (Seventy four!!!!) pages.

5 to 6 pages here, and I have a reasonably diverse portfolio...and I find it cumbersome to say the least, so much so that I now pay a solid fella under the table to do it ( former Revenue Canada employee :wink...and he works wonders...although by the sounds of it I have it easy compared to 74 pages !!! I honestly can't even comprehend that lol!

 

[atlkvb]

74 pages !!! I honestly can't even comprehend that

I'll bet even Trump would like to see THAT return!

 

[va87eer]

5 to 6 pages here, and I have a reasonably diverse portfolio...and I find it cumbersome to say the least, so much so that I now pay a solid fella under the table to do it ( former Revenue Canada employee :wink...and he works wonders...although by the sounds of it I have it easy compared to 74 pages !!! I honestly can't even comprehend that lol!

Good choice! We had the good folks of E&Y doing it. Fortunately my wife is an accountant too and she found most of their mistakes, which were substantial!!!

 

[palencia]

WASHINGTON, D.C -- Barack Obama finished his tenure as president with a 47.9% average job approval rating. He ranks below eight presidents and ahead of only three -- Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Harry Truman -- in Gallup's polling history.

Job Approval Averages for U.S.Presidents Since World War II

Kennedy Jan. 20, 1961-Nov. 22, 1963...... 70.1
Eisenhower Jan. 20, 1953-Jan. 19, 1961...... 65.0
G.H.W. Bush Jan. 20, 1989-Jan. 19, 1993...... 60.9
Clinton Jan. 20, 1993-Jan. 19, 2001...... 55.1
Johnson Nov. 22, 1963-Jan. 19, 1969...... 55.1
Reagan Jan. 20, 1981-Jan. 19, 1989..... 52.8
G.W. Bush Jan. 20, 2001-Jan. 19, 2009...... 49.4
Nixon Jan. 20, 1969-Aug. 9, 1974...... 49.0
Obama Jan. 20, 2009-Jan. 19, 2017...... 47.9
Ford Aug. 9, 1974-Jan. 19, 1977...... 47.2
Carter Jan. 20, 1977-Jan. 19, 1981...... 45.5
Truman April 12, 1945-Jan 19, 1953...... 45.4

Does it count in rating that he sent $221 million to
Palestinians on his last day in office?

 

[moe]

Too bad the 93M out of the work force don't have your portfolio
Too bad the 45M Americans that live below the poverty line don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 100M Americans on welfare don't have your portfolio
Too bad the over 27M Americans that are working only part time don't have your portfolio

The rich got richer and most others did not share in the benefits. The Feds zero interest rates and QE programs did wonders for the rich.

One item from your list....
First of all, many people would be surprised to discover that there is no one program called “welfare.”

The word “welfare” refers to a number of different government assistance programs that provide help to Americans struggling with poverty in distinct ways. SNAP/food stamps, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Need Families (TANF), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), tax credits for working families, and Social Security are just a few programs under the welfare umbrella.

Despite how commonly used these programs are, most people are unaware of how their daily lives are affected by government assistance.

In fact, many people who complain the most about the “evils” of welfare are actually receiving it themselves—in some form or another. They just don’t realize it, because they don’t know what welfare really entails.

Confusion about welfare is not a new thing. Stereotypes about recipients have played a crucial part in politics and propaganda for decades, fueled by class warfare and racist ideology. And the only real way to get folks to stop spreading misinformation is to educate them.
https://groundswell.org/7-lies-about-welfare-that-many-people-believe-are-fact/