Is America better off now vs a year ago?

[Nomad99 875]

38 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I get a little concerned about our relationships with other countries.  I don't like the idea of pissing everyone off.  The division of our citizens continues to grow and I find that to be a problem.

That will change....they are behind the curve. Look at how many countries in Europe & around the world are beginning to address the immigration issue....The dominoes will keep falling. The Muslim issue will be next.

[Hawkeye21 2,483]

1 minute ago, Strike said:

Then how did you come to the wrong conclusion that in every country on Earth the people are pissed at us?

Social media.  I read from independent reporters and see posts from people all over the world.

Before you say it, yes, I know that is not always an accurate representation of what's going on in the world but I think it's better than watching the news.  I take it with a grain of salt.

[Ron_Artest 2,856]

3 minutes ago, Strike said:

Nope but you do your TDS you.

Unlike you, I believe in facts, data and the truth, and I always provide sources to back up everything I post.

https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-01-22/maduros-removal-from-power-reignites-the-battle-for-tps-among-venezuelans.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/venezuela-opposition-what-next

[Hawkeye21 2,483]

6 minutes ago, squistion said:

Yes he did but no one believed him or voted for him for that reason.

Trump campaigned on affordability and bringing prices and inflation down and he has done neither. 

 

How many years has he been President since elected?

[squistion 2,757]

Just now, Hawkeye21 said:

How many years has he been President since elected?

When did Trump say he was bringing prices down? Wasn't it on Day 1? 

[TBayXXXVII 2,706]

37 minutes ago, squistion said:

Anyone who says we are better off obviously hasn't done any grocery shopping or noticed that the price of groceries, along with just about everything else, has gone up since Trump took office. 

That's your local government's fault, not Trump.

[Strike 6,181]

4 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

Unlike you, I believe in facts, data and the truth, and I always provide sources to back up everything I post.

https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-01-22/maduros-removal-from-power-reignites-the-battle-for-tps-among-venezuelans.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/venezuela-opposition-what-next

I can't read your first link.  It comes up with some pop-up in Spanish (I assume) and won't let me in.  The second link says nothing about how the Venezuelan people feel about us.  So much for your sources and data.  And no you don't ALWAYS provide them.  Liar.

[cyclone24 1,995]

30 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

A couple points of contention from your list:

Our military wasn’t a threat? That’s crazy.

Your 401k likely went up by a larger percentage year over year the two years prior to last 

Of course we are a threat, but under Biden, we were viewed around the world as baby crap, soft. 
North Korea was constantly threatening South Korea, constantly threatening Taiwan. Iran was a massive threat to the Middle East, countries were flooding across our border because they knew there were no ramifications, and Russia was literally taking over new land. 
 

401(k) and investments overall? No.

i’m not sure how anybody’s investments would’ve not gone up at a better rate this past year

 

 

[cyclone24 1,995]

13 minutes ago, Nomad99 said:

That will change....they are behind the curve. Look at how many countries in Europe & around the world are beginning to address the immigration issue....The dominoes will keep falling. The Muslim issue will be next.

This. 

[Hawkeye21 2,483]

9 minutes ago, squistion said:

When did Trump say he was bringing prices down? Wasn't it on Day 1? 

Yep, but I didn't believe that like I didn't believe Biden would cure cancer.  I don't the majority of Trump voters honestly believed it either.

[Ron_Artest 2,856]

1 minute ago, Strike said:

I can't read your first link.  It comes up with some pop-up in Spanish (I assume) and won't let me in.  The second link says nothing about how the Venezuelan people feel about us.  So much for your sources and data.  And no you don't ALWAYS provide them.  Liar.

From the link that you "can't" open...

“The capture of Maduro did not mean the end of the dictatorship. The repressive apparatus remains intact,” states Helen Villalonga, president of the human rights organization AMAVEX. Villalonga explains that after Maduro’s capture, the Venezuelan National Assembly issued decrees granting “broad powers to the Armed Forces and state security agencies to persecute, detain, and punish those who celebrated or supported the U.S. military incursion.”

Furthermore, Villalonga points out that the Chavista government criminalizes deported Venezuelans simply because of the political perception that they are opposition members or because they were considered “collaborators” or “sympathizers” of the operation that put Maduro behind bars. Meanwhile, “central figures of power implicated in serious human rights violations continue to exert control over the state and its repressive forces. This confirms that there is no democratic transition and no minimum security guarantees for those who return.”

From the link you were able to open...

Armed militias continue to patrol the streets and search people’s mobile phones; a group of teenagers was detained for allegedly celebrating Maduro’s capture and only released a week later; and despite the regime’s promise of a “mass” release of political prisoners, nearly 1,000 people remain behind bars for having dared to criticise or protest against the regime.

“So far, state terrorism remains in place,” said Uzcátegui. “I still have doubts about the route towards a democratic transition. So far, the signals are very weak,” he added.

So as I said..

Venezuelans are happy Madura is gone but pissed that we essentially left the Maduro regime in place.

to which you replied "Nope", my statement is in fact true, supported by data above.

You can apologize for calling me a liar now.

[Tree of Knowledge 2,321]

It’s sad how some people are so accustomed to losing that they can’t recognize winning 

[Strike 6,181]

2 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

From the link that you "can't" open...

“The capture of Maduro did not mean the end of the dictatorship. The repressive apparatus remains intact,” states Helen Villalonga, president of the human rights organization AMAVEX. Villalonga explains that after Maduro’s capture, the Venezuelan National Assembly issued decrees granting “broad powers to the Armed Forces and state security agencies to persecute, detain, and punish those who celebrated or supported the U.S. military incursion.”

Furthermore, Villalonga points out that the Chavista government criminalizes deported Venezuelans simply because of the political perception that they are opposition members or because they were considered “collaborators” or “sympathizers” of the operation that put Maduro behind bars. Meanwhile, “central figures of power implicated in serious human rights violations continue to exert control over the state and its repressive forces. This confirms that there is no democratic transition and no minimum security guarantees for those who return.”

From the link you were able to open...

Armed militias continue to patrol the streets and search people’s mobile phones; a group of teenagers was detained for allegedly celebrating Maduro’s capture and only released a week later; and despite the regime’s promise of a “mass” release of political prisoners, nearly 1,000 people remain behind bars for having dared to criticise or protest against the regime.

“So far, state terrorism remains in place,” said Uzcátegui. “I still have doubts about the route towards a democratic transition. So far, the signals are very weak,” he added.

So as I said..

Venezuelans are happy Madura is gone but pissed that we essentially left the Maduro regime in place.

to which you replied "Nope", my statement is in fact true, supported by data above.

You can apologize for calling me a liar now.

So, nothing in either link that talks about how Venezuelans feel about us.  In fact, your own link says there are a lot who supported our efforts there.  So, as I said,  Liar.

[thegeneral 3,876]

9 minutes ago, cyclone24 said:

Of course we are a threat, but under Biden, we were viewed around the world as baby crap, soft. 
North Korea was constantly threatening South Korea, constantly threatening Taiwan. Iran was a massive threat to the Middle East, countries were flooding across our border because they knew there were no ramifications, and Russia was literally taking over new land. 
 

401(k) and investments overall? No.

i’m not sure how anybody’s investments would’ve not gone up at a better rate this past year

 

 

S&P went up significantly more in 2023, 2024 than last year. Dow Jones was essentially the same. Any index fund tied to those would have seen better returns in Biden’s last two years.

[TBayXXXVII 2,706]

6 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

Yep, but I didn't believe that like I didn't believe Biden would cure cancer.  I don't the majority of Trump voters honestly believed it either.

Yeah, no one did.  People voting for Trump knew that he meant that his plan was to start working on reducing costs, on Day 1, not that it would happen on Day 1.  Everyone knows what he meant.  Far leftists like to pretend they didn't know, so that they can gaslight, like what @squistion is doing.

[supermike80 2,206]

Just now, TBayXXXVII said:

Yeah, no one did.  People voting for Trump knew that he meant that his plan was to start working on reducing costs, on Day 1, not that it would happen.  Everyone knows what he meant.  Far leftists like to pretend they didn't know either.

They're silly.  Again, emotions.  

[thegeneral 3,876]

Just now, supermike80 said:

1 minute ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Yeah, no one did.  People voting for Trump knew that he meant that his plan was to start working on reducing costs, on Day 1, not that it would happen.  Everyone knows what he meant.  Far leftists like to pretend they didn't know either.

They're silly.  Again, emotions.  

But Biden literally meant he would cure cancer!

[TBayXXXVII 2,706]

Just now, thegeneral said:

But Biden literally meant he would cure cancer!

It's called "pointing out hypocrisy".

[Strike 6,181]

1 minute ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Yeah, no one did.  People voting for Trump knew that he meant that his plan was to start working on reducing costs, on Day 1, not that it would happen on Day 1.  Everyone knows what he meant.  Far leftists like to pretend they didn't know, so that they can gaslight, like what @squistion is doing.

Yep.  Even Artest's poll, on this TDS infected bored, shows 2/3rd's of the people thinking things are better.  And I'd bet half the people voting no are just aliases of Artest anyways.  

[squistion 2,757]

2 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

Yep, but I didn't believe that like I didn't believe Biden would cure cancer.  I don't the majority of Trump voters honestly believed it either.

Most of those who voted for Trump apparently did believe that.

https://navigatorresearch.org/2024-post-election-survey-the-reasons-for-voting-for-trump-and-harris/

Exit Poll: Reasons for Voting for Trump and Harris

Among 2024 voters, the state of the national economy and the level of inflation were seen as reasons to support Trump by double digits. 

[posty 2,876]

19 minutes ago, squistion said:

When did Trump say he was bringing prices down? Wasn't it on Day 1? 

Wasn't that also the same time frame as stopping the Russian/Ukraine war?

[supermike80 2,206]

Just now, TBayXXXVII said:

It's called "pointing out hypocrisy".

Every single politician in the history of politics has said things to get elected that they ended up not doing, or were unable to do.   But for liberals, the only time they care is when it is TRUMPPPPP

[Hawkeye21 2,483]

2 minutes ago, squistion said:

Most of those who voted for Trump apparently did believe that.

https://navigatorresearch.org/2024-post-election-survey-the-reasons-for-voting-for-trump-and-harris/

Exit Poll: Reasons for Voting for Trump and Harris

Among 2024 voters, the state of the national economy and the level of inflation were seen as reasons to support Trump by double digits. 

Ok.  So they all believed prices would drop on day one but no one believed Biden was going to cure cancer.  I see some bias here.

[thegeneral 3,876]

1 minute ago, supermike80 said:

 

2 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

It's called "pointing out hypocrisy".

Every single politician in the history of politics has said things to get elected that they ended up not doing, or were unable to do.   But for liberals, the only time they care is when it is TRUMPPPPP

 

This board’s political talk is primarily two sides of the same coin over and over again

[supermike80 2,206]

1 minute ago, thegeneral said:

This board’s political talk is primarily two sides of the same coin over and over again

Oh it sure is.   Never changes.  

[thegeneral 3,876]

2 minutes ago, supermike80 said:

Oh it sure is.   Never changes.  

It’s oddly entertaining.

[Ron_Artest 2,856]

11 minutes ago, Strike said:

So, nothing in either link that talks about how Venezuelans feel about us.  In fact, your own link says there are a lot who supported our efforts there.  So, as I said,  Liar.

Again, here is what I said..

Venezuelans are happy Madura is gone but pissed that we essentially left the Maduro regime in place.

Now are you trying to say that Venezuelans are happy that the Chavista regime is still in place and do you have any sources that support that and contradict my sources?

If not, then you need to apologize or you'll be proven to be full of sh1t.

[squistion 2,757]

9 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

Ok.  So they all believed prices would drop on day one but no one believed Biden was going to cure cancer.  I see some bias here.

They believed his policies to bring price down would start on Day 1, not that they would see it instantly on grocery shelves. lol. 

Show me any poll, just one, where people said they voted for Biden because they believed he would cure cancer. Just one.

[supermike80 2,206]

2 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

It’s oddly entertaining.

Its comforting, like a warm blanket.

[HellToupee 2,434]

48 minutes ago, squistion said:

But wasn't Trump elected in big part for his promise to bring prices down on Day 1? Isn't that what people voted for?

We voted to close the damn border get all of the bad hombres out of our country 

[MDC 8,319]

All the problems we had last year are the same or worse, only now we have the nonstop embarrassment of a toddler POTUS and his reality TV clownshow admin.

Winning.  

[HellToupee 2,434]

Just now, MDC said:

All the problems we had last year are the same or worse, only now we have the nonstop embarrassment of a toddler POTUS and his reality TV clownshow admin.

Winning.  

Embarrassment.

[squistion 2,757]

12 minutes ago, HellToupee said:

We voted to close the damn border get all of the bad hombres out of our country 

We know racists like you did, but the economy, affordability and bringing down the cost of groceries etc., was as important or more important to most Trump voters. 

[Hawkeye21 2,483]

9 minutes ago, MDC said:

All the problems we had last year are the same or worse, only now we have the nonstop embarrassment of a toddler POTUS and his reality TV clownshow admin.

Winning.  

What about illegal immigrants and crime?  Are those worse?

[Strike 6,181]

16 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

Again, here is what I said..

Venezuelans are happy Madura is gone but pissed that we essentially left the Maduro regime in place.

Now are you trying to say that Venezuelans are happy that the Chavista regime is still in place and do you have any sources that support that and contradict my sources?

If not, then you need to apologize or you'll be proven to be full of sh1t.

1)  Nothing in your links blames us for their current regime.  So, even your own statement is wrong.

2)  You were responding to my assertion that the average Venezuelan isn't pissed at us.  If you're saying you responded to my post not meaning to refute my point but to go off on a tangent, ok.  I guess we're done then since I don't care about the point you want to discuss.

So no you won't be getting an apology from me.  Your links don't even support your statement.

[Strike 6,181]

14 minutes ago, MDC said:

All the problems we had last year are the same or worse, only now we have the nonstop embarrassment of a toddler POTUS and his reality TV clownshow admin.

Winning.  

You think our open border is a continuing problem?  TDS.

[MDC 8,319]

12 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

What about illegal immigrants and crime?  Are those worse?

I haven’t seen any comparative crime states from 24-25. Given that Trump is now underwater on immigration along with every other issue, folks obviously don't like how he’s going about deportations. 

[Strike 6,181]

2 minutes ago, MDC said:

I haven’t seen any comparative crime states from 24-25. Given that Trump is now underwater on immigration along with every other issue, folks obviously don't like how he’s going about deportations. 

1). Not sure this is true.

2). POLLS!!!!!  

[MDC 8,319]

8 minutes ago, Strike said:

1). Not sure this is true.

2). POLLS!!!!!  

1) Is crime down? I didn’t make the claim.

2) Most folks don’t like how Trump is handling immigration.

3) Are you always such a twerp?  

[Strike 6,181]

Just now, MDC said:

1) Is crime down? I didn’t make the claim.

2) Most folks don’t like how Trump is handling immigration.

3) Are you always such a twerp?  

I'm specifically talking about your claim that Trump is underwater on immigration.  I'm not sure that is true.  If I'm being a "twerp" it's only because your posts are dripping TDS and making false claims.