Hi All! So much of the news the last few months has been quite heavy. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I thought about what I was going to write about today. I decided I wanted to search for good news from all different sources so we can take a bit of a break from the heavy. It’s not “hiding” from it. But if you only immerse yourself in the heavy stuff, it will effect your health both physically and mentally. So, make sure to take some breaks from the heavy news and read about some good things at least once a day.
OK. Off my soapbox and onto some good things that are happening, both politically and otherwise.
Economy
Most Americans are actually better off financially than before the pandemic. This is backed up by actual empirical facts, even if the polls don’t reflect it. Simon Rosenberg, a trusted pollster from 2022, believes the reason for that is that the wrong questions are being asked. So even though in someone in their personal life they are doing better financially, when they are polled they say the economy is not doing better. Here’s an interesting piece on this subject:
Most Americans are Better off Financially Now that Before the Pandemic
From the piece:
Most Americans depend on their paychecks to pay the bills. When there’s inflation, those paychecks do not go as far. Of course, if the paycheck increases, people can keep up. They may be angry, but most can pay the bills.
Wages have caught up for most, and the biggest gains have been at the bottom. That positive turn of events hinges on this year, in which inflation decreased and median wages grew steadily. Any analysis that excludes 2023 is misleading.
Politics & Polling
We may be starting to see the effects of the improving economy in polling. From the recent Economist/YouGov Weekly Tracking Poll:
-
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way things are going in your life today? Satisfied 64%, Dissatisfied 35%
-
How happy would you say you are with your current job? Great deal/somewhat 80%, A little/not at all 19%.
-
Do you consider yourself paid fairly or underpaid in your job? Paid fairly 56%, Underpaid 38%.
-
Do you think your family income will increase or decrease in 2024? Increase 45%, stay the same 41%, decrease 15%.
And you can not ignore the fact that in elections since 2018 through the most recent one 3 weeks ago… Democrats are winning in big ways due to our stance on social issues and due to, in no small part, all the work the Biden Administration has put in to rebuilding the post-pandemic economy. All the good is finally not only flowing to the top as it has been for a very long time.
Even though I talked about polling above, I advise you not to look at these daily polls a year out. Remember, President Obama was trialing Mitt Romney by 12 points in some polls at the same time in 2011. The only poll that matters is the one that happens in November of 2024. It’s better to look at polling averages and not single polls. And, of course, the media is going to trumpet the most outlandish outliers because they want a “horse race”. But, this is not a normal election between two normal candidate.
My best advice is to WORK HARD to get out the vote when the time comes. From phone banking, text banking, postcard writing, etc. Also, talk to the people in your life, especially those who are on the fence. Keep touting the accomplishments of this administration because, sadly, our media is lacking in that capacity.
More random good stuff:
This is proof that every vote matters! The Democrat won in the recount by 1 vote!
Amy Carter at her mom’s service:
Beautiful tribute from the White House:
More Student Debt Relief!
Now for some political funny stuff.
There was a Santos balloon in DC… LOL!
Love it! Her book is doing very badly, BTW.
Now just some fun!
OK… That’s all for now. Chat away!