Or at least what it should boil down to. Are you better off than you were four years ago? If you think you are then most likely you will vote for Obama. If you think things are worse now than they were four years ago you will probably vote for someone else. Personally I think things are at least as bad as they were in 2008. Fuel prices have close to doubled and much worse than not being able to drive our vehicles as much fuel prices have driven the price of everything much higher. Did a Big Mac, fries and a drink cost $6.00 four years ago? Did your clothes cost as much? Was your cable bill $150+ and that's without HBO or Showtime? I know it's not Obama's fault specifically but that's what the President is there for. To take credit for when things are going good or to take the blame when things aren't so good. That's so the people who are really running things can stay right where they are stumbling along without a clue regarding how to make things better. We would all be better off if everyone right up to and including the President recognised the need to take responsibility for their own actions and quit passing the buck. So, my fellow Americans, get out and vote and after selecting your choice for who gets to sit at the top think about who else you are voting for and make better choices.

---

Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Bob -- of course there is a bit of a hypothetical extension -- are you better off now than you would have been under McCain?

Please don't use a gas price argument -- that simply has no play here. The reason gas prices were as low as they were at the end of 2008 was that the global recession was in full force and demand world wide was down. I'm sure you know that and suspect you are playing that as a straw man argument.

Another set of questions would be.

Based on the campaign so far, do you believe that Romney would be more or less competent to handle the complexities of the office. Frankly, Romney has done a pretty miserable job of demonstrating competency.

Then of course there is another area to query. Would the policies suggested by Romney or Obama be better for the country at large (or if all politics is local, would their policies be better for you personally). It is a bit more difficult to decide here as Romney has been fairly cautious about details.

I think there is definitely a choice to be made here. I believe the 'better off' question is one component (with the complexities I suggested), but there are other components that are also very important as well.

There is a difference between what impact the choice we make in November really makes and what the average voter thinks that impact will be. I honestly think that Romney would the better choice but like I tried to point out who we pick for President isn't that important, it's congress that really runs things.

---

Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The problem with that hope is that the swing voter will look at Romney's success at shooting himself in the foot, multiple times, and say is that the state of the Republican party. And then vote for the other party, down to the level where they might know the candidates.

Fuel prices have close to doubled

B.S.-they were close to $4 in the summer in 2008, they are now again close to $4, but I do not recall them falling below $3 in the last 4 years. If they'd doubled in the last 4 years, they would not be $7-$8.

Did a Big Mac, fries and a drink cost $6.00 four years ago?

Just about, yes!

Did your clothes cost as much?

Pretty much.

I know it's not Obama's fault specifically but that's what the President is there for.

No, you have personal responsibility as well.

I liked the quote on the PBS News Hour tonight. A lady small business owner was asked which way she would vote, her reply was,
"As a small business owner, I'd vote for Romney because I feel that Obama wants to control my business, but as a woman I'd vote for Obama because I feel that Romney because he wants to control my 'business'."

Very clever

T.A.

Are you still hoping for change?

---

Gary, I am still hoping for more change.

I'd love to see the health care act modified to truly attack health care costs.

I'd love to see defense spending reined it.

I'd love to see don't ask don't tell eliminated (oh that's one's done)

I'd love to see a congress pass a legitimate immigration reform bill

I'd love to see a tax structure that doesn't favor the very wealthy.

I'd love to wall street regulation control scams.

I'd love to under water homes with mortgages truly dealt with.

I'd love to see Citizens United overturned.

Yup, I'm still hoping for more change.

Gary, I am still hoping for more change.

I'd love to see the health care act modified to truly attack health care costs.

Sure love it if it didn't mandate everyone sign on to private insurance which will go up 20% a year for the forseeable future.

I'd love to see defense spending reined it.

I'd love to see it spent on defense.

I'd love to see don't ask don't tell eliminated (oh that's one's done)

I'd love to see a congress pass a legitimate immigration reform bill

They are coming come hell and high water. Just declare at the border, give up finger prints, DNA, photo, a little cash to process the application and a clean infectious medical history and vaccinations.

I'd love to see a tax structure that doesn't favor the very wealthy.

Like Mr. Obama's campaign ad suggestion that investment income be subject to social security self employment tax?

Perhaps someone can define exactly what a non-favored structure is. And perhaps do it in a way they doesn't screw the middle class out of the meager little bit of investment income they can make. Maybe even index the AMT.

I'd love to wall street regulation control scams.

Easy, prohibit short sales, options and derivatives. Then the only reason to buy is for investment not speculation.

I'd love to under water homes with mortgages truly dealt with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania
Yes, Robin Hood for the foolhardy.

I'd love to see Citizens United overturned.

Everyone would.

Yup, I'm still hoping for more change.

---