A guy asked me one time if the country was better off now than before Bush. Before I could answer that, I had to establish what the country was like before Bush. This is what I compiled:
Let's first consider the condition of the country BEFORE Bush.
1) The President was impeached for lying under oath to the American public, on national television.
2) Terrorists attacks on the US go unanswered. USS Cole, World Trade Center, Various US troop and government locations around the world.
3) Major cuts in intelligence agencies. Rules put in place to prevent sharing of information.
2) Corporate corruption was going unchecked and thriving. Remember Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Arthur Anderson? ( Full list
HERE. )
3) The stock market experienced unprecented growth that can be attributed to an unhealthy technology/internet boom, along with the above corporate misconduct. A boom that was based on extremely poor business models for internet businesses that had no product and no profit. A boom that was based on inflated earnings.
4) The job market had crested during the last year of the Clinton era (2000).
5) The tech bubble burst in '00. Notice the drop in NASDAQ:
6) The Consumer Price Index was on the rise from '98-'00.
7) Employment Cost Index (mostly benefits) rose dramatically from '98-'00.
8) Import Prices rose dramtically from '99-'00.
Now, let's look at what happened during Bush's tenure:
1) Recession offically began in 2/01, 2 months after Bush took office.
2) World Trade Center attacks, 9/11/01.
3) Corporate scandals along with 9/11 fuels the recession.
4) To help spur the economy, Bush cuts taxes.
5) Tax cuts in mid '03 drops unemployment.
6) Record low interest rates fuel housing boom and economic recovery.
7) US attacks the Taliban and removes them as the official government of Afghanistan.
8) 3/4 of all major Al Quaida officers have been captured or killed, Bin Laden is still on the run.
9) US removes Saddam from Iraq after 12 years of sanctions/resolutions.
10) Columbia explodes.
11) Bush proposes a new space inititive, (although I admit is underfunded).
12) Lybia and Pakistan give up WMD programs and help with terrorism.
13) Oil for Food scandal that involves the UN and various anti-Iraq War countries.
14) Major intelligence failures identified in the CIA and FBI.
15) Gross National Product sees large growth since '03.
16) Over 1 million jobs added since '03.
So, to answer your question, is the country any better off than before Bush? I would say, No, it is not. Is that Bush's fault? NO IT IS NOT.
The real question could be, was the country in such great shape before Bush? I would say NO. (Actually, while digging all this info up, I was suprised at the economic indicators leading up to the recession.)
Could have Bush prevented many of the economic and terror tragedies during his tenure? NO.
Has Bush been able to limit the damage from these events? YES.
