HELL IN A HANDBASKET: LIFE UNDER A DEMOCRAT CONGRESS

Democrats running for office this year complain a lot about America and the cost of living.  What might surprise you is that most of the backsliding in the American way of life has happened while Democrats control the U.S. Congress.  Below are a few key examples:
                                                                           

 

Inauguration Day 2001
(01-20-2001)

Election Night 2006
(11-07-2006)

New Dem Congress
(01-04-2007)

Latest Figure
(Oct-2008)

Gallon of Gas

$1.46

$2.22

$2.30

$3.72

Loaf of Bread

$0.98

$1.14

$1.15

$1.38

Gallon of Milk

$2.85

$2.99

$3.07

$3.89

Dozen Eggs

$1.01

$1.35

$1.55

$1.85

Cong. Approval

50%

26%

35%

12%

Dow Jones Average

10,588

12,157

12,481

8,578

Stock Market Wealth

$15.401 trillion

$17.002 trillion

$17.002 trillion

$15 trillion
(est)

Net Worth

$39.551 tril

$55.943 tril

$56.806 tril

$55.993 tril

Per Capita GDP

$33,403

$44,640

$45,173

$47,708

Inflation Rate

3.7%

2.0%

2.1%

5.4%

Unemployment Rate

4.2%

4.5%

4.6%

6.1%

Real GDP Growth

-0.5%

2.1%

0.6%

3.3%

Average Wage

$28,700

$33,980

$34,320

$35.960

Dollar vs. Euro

0.95

0.85

0.83

0.68

Sources:
Department of Energy
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ibid.
Ibid.
Gallup
CBS/NY Times poll
Yahoo Finance
Federal Reserve Flow of Funds
Ibid.  Figures are in 2008 dollars.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ibid.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Yahoo Finance