Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?

[AngraMainyu]

Don’t sweat it. I just graduated because of life circumstances like yours and having to work as well. I pulled off 23 credits along with a job last semester to just get it over with. You’ll get there. Plus being older is always a plus in your academic track.

[WorldWatcher]

@FlameHeart

I was a freshman in college during the spring of 2016, when I first joined this site. Now, my education has been delayed at least two years due to surgeries and trauma (medical and otherwise).

Now, I’m supposed to be out of college, and in my first year of graduate school, but I’m still a Junior. I’ll be a Junior again this upcoming Fall, when I take my Intro to Research course. It is only then will I progress academically. (I’m just embarrassed that I’m still in college I guess. Don’t mind me).

FH,

Don’t be embarrassed. Stuff happens.

I enrolled in college in the summer of 1983, finally graduated fall of 1996.

(No there is no typo there.)

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.WW

[Chris]

@H_Arendt

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

The Unemployment rate is now at about 16%-17%, which is still very high.

Hassett also expects the US unemployment rate, due to be published next month, to soar to 16-17%.

US economic forecast: GDP could plunge 30%, 17% unemployment, says Hassett

[H_Arendt]

@Bodecea

@H_Arendt

@Roxiebelle

The pandemic aside, heck yeah I’m better off, the whole country is better off.

I love your argument.

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

If Donald Trump had been Captain of the Titanic no doubt you would have been telling us to ignore the ship tilting and the shortage of lifeboats and focus on how well the band is playing “Nearer My God to Thee”.

I guess all lives DON’T matter…as long as we are doing well financially.

Finance does seem to have become the measure of all things.

[H_Arendt]

@Chris

@H_Arendt

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

The Unemployment rate is now at about 16%-17%, which is still very high.

Hassett also expects the US unemployment rate, due to be published next month, to soar to 16-17%.

US Economic Forecast: GDP Could Plunge 30%, 17% Unemployment, Says Hassett

Real unemployment rate soars past 20%—and the U.S. has now lost 26.5 million...

I know there are different ways to measure these things. I was relying on Fortune, which no one here can fault for being a left wing publication.

Whether the number is 16% or 20% it is far higher than most of us would wish for. When the question is posed of whether people are better off than four years ago. In May 2016, the unemployment rate was 4.8% so that suggests 12-15% of Americans who are unlikely to believe they are better off, and an even higher number if you consider those who depend on that group of unemployed citizens.

[WuWei]

20% sounds better.

[IBC]

I’m better off. But not because of anything government did.

[markdido]

@H_Arendt

@WuWei

@H_Arendt

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

@H_Arendt

Donald Trump

And there we have it.

Why don’t you disagree with what I said rather than creating a quote out of whole cloth?

Why don’t you join the discussion about whether you’re better off now instead of heading off into he weeds and bloviating?

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?

I love your argument. If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off. If Donald Trump had been Captain of the Titanic no doubt you would have been telling us to ignore the ship tilting and the shortage of lifeboats and focus on how well the band is playing “Nearer My God to Thee”.

[DougBH]

I should clarify that I am better off economically than I was four years ago. However, I am four years older than I was four years ago.

[Optrader]

@H_Arendt

@Roxiebelle

The pandemic aside, heck yeah I’m better off, the whole country is better off.

I love your argument.

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

If Donald Trump had been Captain of the Titanic no doubt you would have been telling us to ignore the ship tilting and the shortage of lifeboats and focus on how well the band is playing “Nearer My God to Thee”.

Of the 86,400 seconds in a day, is there even one of them in which you aren’t consumed with hatred for Donald Trump?

[H_Arendt]

@Optrader

@H_Arendt

@Roxiebelle

The pandemic aside, heck yeah I’m better off, the whole country is better off.

I love your argument.

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

If Donald Trump had been Captain of the Titanic no doubt you would have been telling us to ignore the ship tilting and the shortage of lifeboats and focus on how well the band is playing “Nearer My God to Thee”.

Of the 86,400 seconds in a day, is there even one of them in which you aren’t consumed with hatred for Donald Trump?

Of course there are. Just as their are moments when your thoughts do not rest on his wonderfulness.

[H_Arendt]

@markdido

@H_Arendt

@WuWei

@H_Arendt

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

@H_Arendt

Donald Trump

And there we have it.

Why don’t you disagree with what I said rather than creating a quote out of whole cloth?

Why don’t you join the discussion about whether you’re better off now instead of heading off into he weeds and bloviating?

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? - #16 by H_Arendt

I was suggesting that assessing how one was doing “the pandemic aside” was basically putting one’s thumb on the scale.

When Ronald Reagan made that a centerpiece of his 1984 re-election campaign he had four solid years of accomplishments to point to.

[GWH]

Nah, he’s performed and is performing exceptionally. 60% says so.

Thank you, Donald J. Trump, for making these past 3 years the best years of my life.

Also, thank you for guiding the US through this time of crisis. I’m glad it’s you!

[tnt]

Worse off, but only because of COVID.

About the same before the crisis.

[H_Arendt]

@GWH

Nah, he’s performed and is performing exceptionally. 60% says so.

Thank you, Donald J. Trump, for making these past 3 years the best years of my life.

Also, thank you for guiding the US through this time of crisis. I’m glad it’s you!

What is the source for your 60% number?

[mobiusptc]

ask me again in the fall.

[WuWei]

@H_Arendt

@markdido

@H_Arendt

@WuWei

@H_Arendt

If we forgot that 50,000 Americans are dead in a pandemic than we are controlling worse than any advanced nation, 20% unemployment and climbing and the economy in a shambles, then we are all better off.

@H_Arendt

Donald Trump

And there we have it.

Why don’t you disagree with what I said rather than creating a quote out of whole cloth?

Why don’t you join the discussion about whether you’re better off now instead of heading off into he weeds and bloviating?

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? - #16 by H_Arendt

I was suggesting that assessing how one was doing “the pandemic aside” was basically putting one’s thumb on the scale.

When Ronald Reagan made that a centerpiece of his 1984 re-election campaign he had four solid years of accomplishments to point to.

It would be if it was anything anybody did. As it is, it just happened. I am better off now than if it had happened 4 years ago.

[SixFoot]

@Konssurvative1

Flame…don’t ever be embarrassed because you are in school after all of that. So you are a little older than others…My wife never finished college, went back to school when she was 37. Got that degree, and is a teacher. In fact she is a finalist for teacher of the year in our corporation. It may be the dad in me…but I don’t ever want to hear you say it’s embarrassing to be in college because you are older. GOOD FOR YOU FOR KEEPING ON!

[vaard]

i am better off now than i was at the start of trumps term…

i was better off at the end of obamas term than i was at the start…

i was better off at the end of bushs term than i was at the start…

i was better off at the end of clintons term than i was at the start…

[SixFoot]

Same, except for the start of Bush’s first term. I was definitely worse off in 2000 than I was in 1999. It likely wasn’t Clinton’s fault either.