Hope and Change: By the Numbers
K. E. Campbell, at American Thinker, has done a great job of taking the nation’s economic pulse. Exactly two years after the inauguration, we no longer have to ask how this hopey changey thing is working out because, utilizing the resources of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, the USDA, the Census Bureau, the FDIC and more, Campbell gives us a rundown, by the numbers. I leave it to you to comment on what the numbers tell us. But I do think a soundtrack ought to accompany the presentation. Herewith, I offer the following data, accompanied by the mesmerizing prose of the maestro himself, President Obama:
“I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff, you have to change direction. That's what the American people called for in November, and that's what we intend to deliver.”
- Average Price per Gal. of Gas – From $1.83 per gallon two years ago to $3.104 today and increase of 69.6%.
“I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”
- Consumer Price Index –From 211.1 in January 2009 to 219.2, an increase of 3.8%.
“Since I'm the president and Democrats have controlled the House and the Senate, it's understandable that people are saying, you know, 'What have you done?'”
- Unemployment Rate – Started at 7.6% on inauguration day, now stands at 9.4%, rising 23.7%.
We need earmark reform, and when I'm President, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.”
- Total Number of Federal Employees (Excluding uniformed military) – Rose from 2,779,000 in January of 2009 to 2,840,000, an increase of 2.2%.
“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”
- Real Med. Household Income – Fell from $50,112 in January 2009 to $49,777 today, a decrease of 0.7%.
“If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.”
- Food Stamp Recipients – Jumped from 31,983,716 two years ago to 43,200,878 today, a leap of 35.1%.
“It's time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.”
- Unemployment Recipients –Increased from 7,526,598 in January 2009 to 9,183,838, an increase of 22.2%.
“Contrary to the claims of some of my critics and some of the editorial pages, I am an ardent believer in the free market.”
- Long-Term Unemployed – Exploded from 2.6 million two years ago to 6.4 million today, a whopping 146.2% increase.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
- Poverty Rate –Changed from 13.2% in 2009 to 14.3% today, an increase of 8.3%.
“I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.”
- National Debt (Trillions) -- Increased from $10.627 Trillion in January 2009 to a staggering $14.052 today, an increase of 32.2%.
Happy Two Year Anniversary, Mr. President.
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
Let's not forget 499 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan in 2010 - a 57% increase over 2009, when he should have pulled our troops from that benighted, medieval cesspit.
Edited on Jan 20, 2011 at 10:28pmJun '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
Thanks for posting this.
May '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
How much of this can be argued away by appealing to the claim that it was out of the administration's hands? This is precisely what Obama's team would do if faced with these statistics.
Edited on Jan 21, 2011 at 2:47amMay '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
Milton Freidman argued that the true cost of government included more than just taxes and debt interest but must include the cost of regulatory compliance as well. Given the 10s of thousands of regulations arrising from Obama Care, Frank-Dodd, EPA, Interior & the other govt. departments from the last two years, the tax increase (and corresponding govt. cost) on the American public has been huge.
Oct '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
"I’m just an old blue collar, semi crazy Road Scholar…" Thanks for the post, Dave. I especially like the juxtaposition of the quotes with the data, but Michael's point is valid.
Aug '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
In case any RNC-types are reading, Dave has provided you with the ad copy for a brilliant series of TV commercials.
May '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
Great job mixing those quotes in, Dave.
Meanwhile, Obama has appointed GE's Jeff Immelt to head "the new Council on Jobs and Competitiveness." Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't GE shareholders been hoping to dump Immelt for his less-than-stellar work as CEO?
As Drudge points out, this comes on the heels of government approval for a merger of GE, NBC and Comcast.
The President claims we're entering a "new phase" of recovery. At least we know the dim bulbs in our homes won't be the only ones.
Sep '10
Re: Hope and Change: By the Numbers
I wonder if many Americans aren't feeling that we have problems that are structural. Problems that are not being illuminated or addressed by anyone in the power elite.