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Are you better off now than 4 years ago?

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Posted by: barry2952

Are you better off now than 4 years ago?

How about your relatives? Are they better off now than 4 years ago?

Barry

Posted by: MonsterMark

Will you be alive 4 years from now? Will your relatives?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

Are you better off now than 4 years ago?

How about your relatives? Are they better off now than 4 years ago?

Barry

I am a little better off, and I would have been much better off if not for the attack on 9/11.

Posted by: barry2952

Monstermark,

Instead of lip service, please answer the question. How is your stock portfolio? What happened to your retirement fund? How much more money do you have in the bank. Do you have more or less debt?

Barry

Posted by: Sifrino3

4 years ago I was 14!

So, YES!

Posted by: pepperman

from a personal stand point i am better off, as for the relatives some are.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

Monstermark,

Instead of lip service, please answer the question. How is your stock portfolio? What happened to your retirement fund? How much more money do you have in the bank. Do you have more or less debt?

Barry

Ok, I'll play the game that was played out by Bill Clinton 12 years ago.

My wife's and my stock portfolio was crushed thanks to the Clinton stock bubble. And to top it off, my kids portfolios were wiped out. 9/11 continued to send the stocks crashing. To add insult to injury, my kid's portfolios were held by Strong Funds, which was rocked by the owner scandal. My 1st child was born in '95. 5 years later, the fund was worth less than the amount invested. I guess that is all Clinton's fault. Since then, the portfolios has risen during the Bush Administration. So I guess that goes to Bush for credit.

I admit I am a miffed I didn't fully participate in the tech runup. I was too busy running and investing in my own businesses to take advantage of the bubble created by un-educated investors entering the market to participate in Internet euphoria. I missed stealing alot of money from innocent people.

I have doubled my investments in my businesses and carry alot more debt.

But, to answer your question, people should look in the mirror.

We enjoy historically low interest rates
We enjoy historically high property values.
We work less man-hours to buy our cars and usually own more than one.
We own more than 1 TV.
Almost all of us have computers.
Gas is still cheaper than 20 years ago factoring in the rate of inflation.
Our cupboards are filled with the latest sugar creations.
The Crime rate is the lowest in 30 years.
More kids are going to college than ever.
We have a cell phones that allow us to carry on senseless conversations with our friends or talk to someone clear across the globe, in seconds.
We continue to make great strides in medicine in all fields, with many cures on the way.
The liberal mainstream media is being neutured by the Internet and Cable TV.
The Russians are becoming our allies.
Democracy is advancing in the world.
Our military is the strongest in the world, which allows me to put my kids to bed at night, without doubting if they will wake up in the morning.
We have a Commander in Chief that has a clear vision and won't waver in the face of adversity.
And thank the good Lord we haven't been attacked since the cheap shot we took on 9/11.

This is the land of opportunity. Millions of people dream like Arnold did of coming here some day. If you don't have a job, take it into your own hands to solve that issue. No government program is going to do that for you.

So, in the end, I am better off?

If I'm not, it is only my fault and I only have myself to blame.

Posted by: Joeychgo

When answering this question, consider -

How is your health insurance?

How is your SS looking?

DO you feel safer?

How is your salary? Has it risen as you expected during the last 4 years?

How much are you spending at the gas pump?

How are your taxes looking for 2005? Take a look, most experts expect taxes will be higher....

How is your state doing? Is it financially healthy?

Now - I will put the whole question this way........

What has GW Done? What has he accomplished? In specific.... I know he's a romantic figure in a way, racing off to fight the terrorists with his 10 gallon hat, but what has he done?

You know, I was watching a show the other day about 9-11. THe show focused not on the events but instead on how our government handled the crisis. It was on PBS. What struck me most - was that GW did nothing that day. He was wisked off to here, then wisked off to there. The only real decision made by the administration was the order to shoot any aircraft that was unresponsive - that came from Cheny, not GW. What I saw in that show was how the 'systems' already in place snapped into action to protect the pres, vp, etc.

So I ask. What has GW done? You want me too vote for him? Tell me what he has done for me? What laws has he devised, what plans has he come up with to deal with jobs, health care, etc. SELL him to me. You dont sell a Cadillac by telling me BMW sucks....... And so far all I hear is Vote for bush cause Kerry is this n that.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

SELL him to me. You dont sell a Cadillac by telling me BMW sucks.......

I will sell you if and only if you agree to vote for Bush if I make a convincing argument for his reelection. But so far, what I have seen on the left is Anybody But Bush, without regard to the fact that people are willing to play Russian roulette with our safety and our sovereignty.

Posted by: Joeychgo

and what I have seen from the right wing whack jobs is "Anyone but Kerry."

Posted by: 92 Arizona Towncar

Actually, I am better off... The dot-com era bankrupted the company I was working for, I was laid off... Two days later I had another job, not because of some "program" that was just passed through congress but by me pounding the streets at 8:00 A.M. and going to every single company I knew existed and handing them my resume... Ever since then I've had a raise every six months and a substantial raise two months ago... I get sick and tired of people who whine about not having jobs... There are jobs out there, but you may not like what they are paying... Working at McDonalds sucks, but $5.50 and hour is better than $0.00 and hour... Would I work for that much? Yes, I would, and I have, not at McDonalds, but at Pizza hut as a driver, Convenience store, and a fwe other places...
I have more money in my portfolio now then all 6 of the previous years... Some of it may have been luck, right place at the right time, but I know a lot of it has to do with educating myself BEFORE I invested in anything, and not just throw money everywhere then get pissed off that I lsot everything...

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

and what I have seen from the right wing whack jobs is "Anyone but Kerry."

Isn't that a beautiful thing!

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

When answering this question, consider -

How is your health insurance?

Premiums have gone up, co-pays have gone up, coverage has gone down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

How is your SS looking?

From the mouth of Greenspan, like crap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

DO you feel safer?

Not with the target GW has painted on the backs of all of us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

How is your salary? Has it risen as you expected during the last 4 years?

My raises have been way below par, while my performance appraisals have been steady or improving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

How much are you spending at the gas pump?

Alot more than 4 yrs ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

How are your taxes looking for 2005? Take a look, most experts expect taxes will be higher....

Haven't checked, but I expect that it certainly won't be any lower than last year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeychgo

How is your state doing? Is it financially healthy?

Unsure, but if it is healthier I'd have to credit the tobacco company windfall and the trial lawers.

My IRA has recently recovered from the losses sustained over the last few years, but I credit that to the fact that the majority of my portfolio is tied to company stock and the company has done an excellent job of managing itself (sell-off, acquisitions, new contracts... mainly from foreign countries).

I have been able to ride the re-financing wave as interest rates dropped, however LOW interest rates are NOT an indication of a healthy economy. It is the fed's way of keeping the economy from crashing. Another fact that escapes the dilusional GOP.

Posted by: mespock

2 years ago I was hit by an insurance increase. I now earn less than I did 4 years ago.

I have not had a raise in 4 years. Still my gas bill has gone up, and my heating bill has sky rocketed.

In education we now have a plan that tries to measure students like businesses every quarter. It considers every student is the same and can be evaluated in the same manner, and set up many students to fail. It takes away the ability of the teacher to be creative in their lessons and has administration telling teachers to teach to a test so they look good and can get their aid. Assembly line schools are what it calls for.

I don’t feel safer, and I see more fear in the larger cities. I see hatred towards another ethnic group. We have enough of that in this country.

My wife is at the Kerry Rally in Madison right now. My Daughter has gone with her. If you want to hear feelings from the heart listen to my 16 year old daughter discribe what she sees our current administration as. This is a child who is very self-minded and is not persuaded by who she is around but by what she sees.

Posted by: Katshot

I'm in a unique situation since even though my business tanked right after 9/11 (an auto repair shop that was geared to the local livery industry) as did much of the local livery businesses, my wife's family has a successful textile manufacturing company that just happens to do a lot of Government work, specifically for the DOD. So even though we lost a lot with my business, we've made a pretty good comeback. It just sucks that I used to be one of the top technical people in the Livery/Fleet industry, and now I'm working for my wife. Oh well, at least I'm able to help the family now instead of just myself and my reputation.
Reading the previous posts here has only proven my belief that our country will never soar like an eagle until we dump the 2-party system. Too many smart people, wasting WAY too much time and money on their own agendas, or those of their "party" rather than actually making real strides to improve the lives of all Americans. You know, the taxpayers!
As for the Bush vs. Kerry issue, I see Bush as a kind of Don Quijote, out chasing terrorists instead of windmills though. On the other hand, Kerry has allowed his campaign to lose serious momentum because he has surrounded himself with idiots. Does Kerry have the ability to lead the country? Good question, I'm affraid we'll never find out now. I was hopeful though until recently.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katshot

I'm in a unique situation since even though my business tanked right after 9/11 (an auto repair shop that was geared to the local livery industry) as did much of the local livery businesses, my wife's family has a successful textile manufacturing company that just happens to do a lot of Government work, specifically for the DOD. So even though we lost a lot with my business, we've made a pretty good comeback. It just sucks that I used to be one of the top technical people in the Livery/Fleet industry, and now I'm working for my wife. Oh well, at least I'm able to help the family now instead of just myself and my reputation.

Reading the previous posts here has only proven my belief that our country will never soar like an eagle until we dump the 2-party system. Too many smart people, wasting WAY too much time and money on their own agendas, or those of their "party" rather than actually making real strides to improve the lives of all Americans. You know, the taxpayers!
As for the Bush vs. Kerry issue, I see Bush as a kind of Don Quijote, out chasing terrorists instead of windmills though. On the other hand, Kerry has allowed his campaign to lose serious momentum because he has surrounded himself with idiots. Does Kerry have the ability to lead the country? Good question, I'm affraid we'll never find out now. I was hopeful though until recently.

Some good points there Katshot.

RANT ON...A business owned me before I sold it and now nobody owns me. I don't have to worry about sexual harrassment lawsuits, the EPA leaning on my back, the government penalizing me thousands of dollars if our tax reports were even a day late.

I'll bet most of you guys who sit here and whine about the bad economy and jobs, etc. have never owned your own business. Had the pressure of making payroll weekly, (of course I had to do it weekly because my employees were incapable of managing their money for 2 weeks), making sure the doors were open at 6:00, and all the machines were working, and on and on.

Go work for yourself and then see the other side of the coin. Everybody wants to sit back and collect the automatic paycheck, whether they do a good job or not, whether the company is making money or not, they just want their damn check and it had better be there at the end of the week or there will be hell to pay. But heaven forbid, if the owner actually makes money, then he's a rich s.o.b. I know lots of guys that own businesses that see their employees as the biggest liablity, when they used to be their biggest asset. No wonder everybody is out-sourcing jobs. But you'll never hear this from the mainstream media. RANT OFF!

To be able to spend time with your kids is one of God's great gifts. Take advantage of it everyday. I am with my kids from son up till son down and would not trade it for the world.

The liberal media and the 527's have been slamming Bush for over a year. It is amazing to me that he is still standing tall. He has been in the kitchen and can take the heat. Can't say the same for Kerry. Everything in Kerry's past indicates he would have (past tense intentional) been a terrible President and Commander in Chief, so I won't lose any sleep over him not making it. The guy slit his own throat writing the glorification book and trotting out his buddies.

Posted by: SC_Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kbob

I am a little better off, and I would have been much better off if not for the attack on 9/11.

same here... I'm a bit better off than I was 4 years ago.

and to answer Joey's post about social security... I'm no more nervious about it now, than I was 10 years ago

back in school, my economics teacher put it very bluntly "no one in this room will be recieving Social Security when the time comes... better invest in some 401K's"

Posted by: barry2952

MonsterMark,

You were in the wrong business. I have been in business for 27 years and while I agree with you about some of your employee issues, many are resolved by spreading around the wealth.

I have attained a level of age and wealth that no longer requires large infusions of cash. I'd rather give it to the employees than waste it in double-taxed business profits. I see a lot of hostility and disconnection in the work place because there is such a strong barrier between the haves and have nots. Not only monetary, but in aspects of their jobs that pertain to power.

I also respectfully disagree with your outlook on the economy. My state, Michigan, has had the largest manufacturing job loss of any state. 160,000 jobs that were paying an average of $48,000. are never coming back. It's that giant sucking sound I heard about a few years ago.

High unemployment and low interest rates have devastated the market that my business services. I am in the lighting maintenance business servicing commercial properties and apartment complexes. I own bucket trucks and other high reach equipment.

My apartment customers are suffering from artificially low interest rates. People are buying houses left and right leaving a 15% vacancy rate. Most of the partnerships that own these complexes need 95% occupancy to make money. These customers have become slow paying and hesitant to do the smart business move in favor of stretching out their expenses. Many have no money to spend. They are also hit by high unemployment. Personal bankruptcy rates are very high and many renters are uncollectable.

The commercial building industry and our church and school customers are hurting big time. Drive down every street and every fourth storefront is vacant. Malls are closing down or being torn down in favor of big-box strip malls.

In my case my company's gross sales were $1.2 million a year for 5 years running right up until the current administration took office. The last four years sales haven't topped $800,000.

I only got half of GW's tax cut benefit because I had to cut my salary in half to insure the health of the company. I had to lay off an employee for the first time in 27 years of business. My unemployment rate jumped from 2% to 8%. I've certainly fired people but this is the first person that's left due to lack of work. My insurance costs for health care and vehicles skyrocked. My bucket truck gets 6 mpg. I can't pass these cost along to the customer because I would loose further business.

My stock portfolio was worth almost enough to retire on. I lost 50% of its value and only 20% of that has recovered. I'm told I'm doing better than most.

I will survive because I have no debt. I have a credit line that gets paid off a couple of times a year, but I have no long term debt.

How am I better off than I was 4 years ago?

Barry

Mark II convertible

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

You were in the wrong business. I have been in business for 27 years and while I agree with you about some of your employee issues, many are resolved by spreading around the wealth.

I have attained a level of age and wealth that no longer requires large infusions of cash. I'd rather give it to the employees than waste it in double-taxed business profits. I see a lot of hostility and disconnection in the work place because there is such a strong barrier between the haves and have nots. Not only monetary, but in aspects of their jobs that pertain to power.

With all due respect, I realize you were addressing this to Bryan, but if I may interject an opinion. This sounds an awful lot like socialism. This does not promote investments and a capitalistic society. The US is where we are today economically, technologically, medically, and socially (and more) because of democracy and capitalism.

Posted by: barry2952

I'm not saying that I should make the same thing as my secretary. My salary is 5 times hers. All I'm saying is that employees pay much closer attention when they reap the benefits of their efforts. This is not Socialism. This is paying people enough so that they don't have to worry about money. This is paying enough to have the luxuries that a working class person should have. This rewarding of effort comes back to me twofold.

How much money do I need? Spreading it around a little buys loyalty and performance. That sounds pretty capitalistic to me.

Barry

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

How much money do I need? Spreading it around a little buys loyalty and performance. That sounds pretty capitalistic to me.

I agree with that. But it's not up to me to tell anyone how much is enough. Most employers want to be fair with their employees when it comes to pay.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

I'm not saying that I should make the same thing as my secretary. My salary is 5 times hers. All I'm saying is that employees pay much closer attention when they reap the benefits of their efforts. This is not Socialism. This is paying people enough so that they don't have to worry about money. This is paying enough to have the luxuries that a working class person should have. This rewarding of effort comes back to me twofold.

How much money do I need? Spreading it around a little buys loyalty and performance. That sounds pretty capitalistic to me.

Barry

I'll address your prior post later because there were so many points I want to comment on.

I am proud to say that in the 15 years I ran one of my businesses, only a few employees ever left on their own and didn't come back. Many, many times, people would leave with little or no notice to go work for the guy "down the street" that was paying 10 cents more per hour. How was that fair to me? Then again, when they asked to come back, I let them because sometimes you need to see if the grass is greener.

Once "I" was sued for sexual harrassment because I did nothing to "prevent" an atmosphere that led to inappropriate comments by one employee to another. The government stepped in to say that the day of 2 consenting adults having a particularly vulgar conversation was unlawful. Consenting adults. The women I had in the factory would make comments that would make a grown man blush. But if a guy said something back, watch out, here comes the EEOC and the lynch gang. When I was threatened with a suit because an employee thought they had contracted the crabs because they sat on a company toilet seat, that was another straw pulled from the camels back. Government over-regulation has led this country to have an inferior competitive position in relation to the rest of the developing world. The Democrats will never address this issue of over-regulation. They will continue to add more and more. With 2 more lawyers looking to take over the White-House, tossing tort reform out of the window, American business can ill afford the body blow that Kerry and Edwards would deliver. The result will be the continued loss of American jobs.

I have 6 companies. I now look to outsource 80% of my business to overseas sources. If I can buy a machine that can replace 'x' number of employees with a 2 year payback, I write the check. Simple as that. We need to figure out how to make employees an asset again, not a liability or all we are going to be is a shopping mall and burger flipping society.

Posted by: hottweelz

I'm MUCH better off than 4 years ago, but mostly because OF 9/11 ... bought my house at the right time (immediately after) and my company (on wall st) helped rebuild the damage FROM 9/11 but this year has certainly been the best, the past 4 years has been good to me.

Posted by: barry2952

Well, good for you. You are in the minority.

Barry

Posted by: mespock

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katshot

Reading the previous posts here has only proven my belief that our country will never soar like an eagle until we dump the 2-party system. Too many smart people?, wasting WAY too much time and money on their own agendas, or those of their "party" rather than actually making real strides to improve the lives of all Americans.

You know, the taxpayers!

As for the Bush vs. Kerry issue, I see Bush as a kind of Don Quijote, out chasing terrorists instead of windmills though. On the other hand, Kerry has allowed his campaign to lose serious momentum because he has surrounded himself with idiots. Does Kerry have the ability to lead the country?Good question, I'm affraid we'll never find out now. I was hopeful though until recently.