I voted for him the first time and the second time around I wrote in Ron Paul. Something scared me about him and it turned out he's trying to take away my guns, my taxes have gone up. He's involved in too many scandals now. His second term has for all practical purposes become a disaster. On the other hand he hasn't involved us in another war yet which I am greatful.

No.

My bike's older,.. my car's older,.. my house is older,...
...and I'm older...
... but, my President's not a foolish, awkward, inarticulate, twit...

It kinda' balances out... ...

My success or failure over the past 5 years, for the most part, has more to do with how hard I work than who the President is. He has taken more money from me and given to those he deems more worthy of it than I which pisses me off, but it was not so much that I suffered.

The European financial struggles have hurt our European division sales, but we are expanding in Asia to make up for it. Many parts of Asia are not infected with the semi-socialist disease that has spread over Europe. Like rats on a boat, that economic system of rewarding laziness has made its way to the US. You’d think we could look across the ocean at dying economies and do the opposite, but no;  for whatever reason, we think following Europe down the shitter is the way to go….

The future looked really bleak until recently. I’m hopeful his lies that are being uncovered now will pretty much neuter him the rest of his second term.  The future is the problem. Obamacare will be a disaster. Also, he gives most business leaders very little confidence that he’ll keep consistent and fair policies which is why business is sitting on so much money. They are afraid to hire people more so today than before and that’s before obamacare kicks in. Let’s hope the IRS, Bengazi and AP wiretaps end him now.

Bottom line is, for the most part, Presidents shouldn't have too much impact on your success or failure.

That question pre-supposes many things, and as such has very LITTLE value to me.

Who is president has VERY little to do with how my day to day life is. Pope hasn't changed my life much either. Instead, the president sets the stage for how my life may be in the future.

Taxes: pffft... the Reps were lowering taxes and still spending, and printing to make up the difference. The hope was to stimulate the economy ( this is all pre-2007). Well the bubble bust, so the tax stimulus was stupid anyway. All that happened was they took away the where W had lowered taxes pre 2007 back to "normal". Both sides are still supporting BB in the Fed to print vast amounts of money, so this is not a president or even a party thing. Once they slow spending then we all can look at dropping taxes.
Remember: printing money is a tax!

War: Still waaaaay too much US involvement in other peoples business. But I figure we got involved less with Obama than we would with anyone else. The bengazi thing, still upsets me.. I blame Hilary DIRECTLY.

Economy: This is tricky. Are we better than 2008? Yes, is it real? NO. Will there be much more pain at some point? YES. Would another president do it any different? NO. So how to rate Obama: he is doing what every other president has done since 1971... do what the bankers tell him. DO the bankers give a darn about the country? NO.  
If you are doing better now than in 2008, GREAT! But don't give the politicians any attaboys for it. What do I think the future pain will be? Inflation and lots of it for a protracted time. Such inflation may or may not culminate in other pains.. such as the dollar officially losing status as the global standard.

How would inflation affect you in month 1: simple... Under W. Bush the banks got usury laws nullified. They can charge up to 33% above the prime. Prime has no limit. So if prime goes to 10% ( pretty easy.. its been there before) then your CC rate is 43%. Did Obama do that? NO.

My first mortgage was at 10% for 30 years. Think about it. What I speak of.. I have lived. My current mortgage is 5.25% for 15. What will the next generation do when mortgage rates are 20% for 30 years. When cars are 30% for 5 years. How will the government pay its loans to china when the rates on the interest will be higher than GDP?  100% tax + more massive printing??  

When your in a hole and want out.. the first rule is .. STOP digging deeper! But the politician's have a plan.. keep digging and blame the next guy for trying to change course.  

Other: bah....blah blah blah the IRS is being mean to the Tea party.. get in line; the meanest ones to the tea party are the republicians. What new about that? Drones... the worse is yet to come... Internet tax.. big business and states want that money... Washington wants more authority... win win for everyone except those that love liberty and prosperity. Obamacare: I suspect bad times for a long while... but it may improve in 20 years ( I'll be dead before it does).

Economy: This is tricky. Are we better than 2008? Yes, is it real? NO.

How is the economy ‘better’ now than 2008; specifically?

What do  you mean by ‘is it real? No”

So how to rate Obama: he is doing what every other president has done since 1971... do what the bankers tell him. DO the bankers give a darn about the country? NO.

I’m always confused when I hear comments like this. The world was an awful, dirty and miserable place until capitalism freed the masses to move upwards. Until then, you pretty much stayed in the class you were born in. Capitalism has improved the health, prosperity and lifespan and everyone on the planet. For several thousand years, humanity remained basically stagnant. It wasn’t until the economic growth spurned on my  entrepreneurial activity raised everyone’s prospects. So in a sense, what’s good for business is good for all.

With regard to the question of whether we are better off than in 2008 that isn't the right question, rather, it is why did it take soo long to get to the point we are now at? I think when the true economic data comes out it will show we are in a stagflation coming out of a Depression. The conservative types, such as myself, will be inclined to say that had the spending been cut, taxes for business lowered and no massive bailouts or ultra-massive stimuluses we would be at near full employment in an economic boom.

Dane Allen wrote on 05/20/13 at 09:50:53:



As a fellow conservative... I agree but only to a point. In 2008, I was very much ready for an in EAGER anticipation of a repeat of 1980. Under Carter when inflation soared. I my expectation was that interest rates would rise.. I could invest my savings at the higher rate and reap my just reward over time. Instead ... interest rates were squashed and remain dead. Instead of individuals being able to invest... the FED gave money only to the banks (because there were no savers), who in turn made the money available to borrowers... the difference.. savers cannot participate in the system, only the FED and banks. Or to put plainly... retired folks with cash to save and who need a return on that savings as a source of income are being robbed. Interest is low ...not due to market forces .. but due the FED and banks. who is being hurt directly... retired persons. But that's only half the robbery. The other half of the robbery is the accumulation of debt that is being inflicted on the very young, who will be saddled with the repayment. So two groups, neither of which have good representation are being burdened. Had moderate interest rates been allowed, then all savers would be brought to the table and the QE would not be needed at ALL! But banks could not profit (as much) by doing so. Still there would have been pain. Inflation for sure... but that will come at some point anyway, NO ONE disputes it. The question is who will pay when. The longer we put it off the more it will hurt.