Numbers can be fun. We can go back to 1994 before the Republican Congress was elected and compare those numbers to the ones you site to see the positives. We can do this throughout our history and as long as we restrict the years within certain cycles we can conclude whatever we want, right?

I prefer long term trends. We are currently in a 20+ year period of sustained growth with low inflation, low unemployment and multiple record highs in home ownership, the stock market and personal income. The individual cycles mean little compared to the overall trend.

>A little under a decade ago:
>
>1) Consumer confidence: Record High 1/16/00
>2) Gasoline prices in the United States reached an all-time inflation-adjusted
>low in February (1999), dropping to less than $1 per gallon nationwide.
>3) Unemployment Falls to 4.1%, Best in 30 Years
>4) Median home price $160,000, primary use to live in, not an investment vehicle.
>5) Tax rate for middle class 28%
>
>
>Since voting in a Republican President in 2000 we have seen:
>
>1) Consumer confidence plummet;
>2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
>3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
>4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
>5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
>6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
>7) Tax rate for middle class 25%
>
>The conclusion is clear, lower taxes are bad for the economy. :)
>
>Now why would anyone be surprised that people are more fond of the clinton years that the Bush years?
>
>
>
>
>>I got a similar email, in 3 parts, in which what you wrote was the 3rd. Here are the first 2.
>>
>>Part 1
>>A little over one year ago:
>>
>>1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
>>2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
>>3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
>>
>>Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:
>>
>>1) Consumer confidence plummet;
>>2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
>>3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
>>4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
>>5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
>>6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
>>
>>America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
>>
>>Remember it's Congress that makes law not the President. He has to work with what's handed to him.
>>
>>Quote of the Day........'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.' -- Barack Obama
>>
>>Part 2:
>>Taxes...Whether Democrat or a Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing.
>> www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
>>Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008
>>Single making 30K - tax $ 8,400 Single making 30K - tax $ 4,500
>>Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500
>>Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750
>>Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K - tax $ 9,000
>>Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750
>>Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250
>>
>>Both democratic candidates will return to the higher tax rates
>>
>>It is amazing how many people that fall into the categories above think Bush is screwing them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever. If Obama or Hillary are elected, they both say they will repeal the Bush tax cuts and a good portion of the people that fall into the categories above can't wait for it to happen. This is like the movie The Sting with Paul Newman; you scam somebody out of some money and they don't even know what happened.
>>
>>
>>The fact that both Dem candidates promise to raise taxes doesn't mean anything. The Congress is going to stay under Dem control, barring something dramatic, which means that the last 2 tax cuts are going to expire after 2010. This will be the largest tax increase in the history of the US. Plan accordingly.
>>
>>>I got this in an email today....