Are you better off than you were four years ago?

[EarlG]

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: MARCH 13, 2020

The News Roundup For March 13, 2020

As the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic this week, hundreds of schools closed nationwide, millions worked from home, and the toll of the disease continued to rise.

Large events are being cancelled and the NBA, MLB, and NCAA have all suspended or postponed their seasons. Wall Street suspended trading twice this week after stocks plunged and crude oil prices dropped. On Thursday, the U.S. stock market tumbled 10 percent – its worst percentage drop since the 1987 crash.

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/815472710/the-news-roundup-for-march-13-2020

Trump declares national emergency – and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures

President Donald Trump said Friday he was declaring a national emergency – “two very big words” – to free up $50 billion in federal resources to combat coronavirus even as he refused to take personal responsibility for administration failures early in the outbreak.

The announcement was part of a raft of new measures Trump hopes can bring a roiling health crisis under control after a week of market seesaws and major disruptions to everyday life.

As he sought to project an air of competence, Trump denied there were missteps that some health experts say have aggravated the crisis.

“I don’t take responsibility at all,” he said, insisting problems that led to slow test-kit distribution were the fault of previous administrations. “We were given a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations and specifications from a different time.”

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/donald-trump-emergency/index.html

[marble falls]

1. And it will be progressively better once we give Biden/Harris a solid working Congress.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Hell yes. We are better off now than 4 years ago at this time.

Both health wise and financially.

When the Stock Market was taking a nose dive, my husband moved a substantial amount from the Market to Money Market accounts to avoid losing what investments we did have. Since the Market has been on the upswing, he had our Investment planner move monies back. Our IRAs are showing gains. We still have some money in Money Market accounts just to be sure.

Health wise, we both survived COVID with little to no symptoms due to the vaccines and boosters that followed. Joe Biden has seen to that.

[2naSalit]

3. Yup.

[KarenS]

4. yes.

[TSExile]

5. Of course!!

If there was one silver lining to the pandemic, it was that it got TSF out of office. Had 2020 been a normal year, he probably would've been reelected.

Covid showed that he could not or would not rise to the occasion in a crisis. He WANTED people to die. Not only is he a RAPIST, his lack of response in the pandemic and his minions terrorizing cops on 1/6 proved that he is a MURDERER. He will always have blood on his tiny hands.

[doc03]

6. I bought a new car on March 14, 2020, two days later everything was locked down

because of COVID. I remember tailgating outside fast food restaurants for lunch. The regular sit-down restaurants were all
closed, the malls and big box stores were closed. Gas was cheaper because nobody was buying it and oil companies were paying anyone that would take it off their hands. I saw my retirement savings drop by 10s of thousands. Today
the US has the hottest economy in the world, inflation is down, unemployment has been at 50 year lows for two years straight.
I have recovered all the losses in my retirement accounts and last year I made more on my investments than any other year.
I saw a MAGA post on Facebook a couple days ago saying if Biden gets re-elected we would go back to lock downs, crashing stock markets and unemployment. They just repeat the lies over and over and 1/2 the people will believe them.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. Yes!

And I'm better off now than I was before Covid hit. The economy is in much better shape now than it was in 2019.

I asked this question to DUers a couple weeks ago:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218745572

72% are better off than before Covid
15% are worse off
12% are about the same

[Torchlight]

8. I remember March 2020 well.

Feb. 18, 2020: "A lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April. We're in great shape, though. We have 12 cases — 11 cases, and many of them are in good shape now."

Feb. 24, 2020: "We have very few people with it. But the people are getting better. They're all getting better."

March 4, 2020: ""We lose thousands and thousands of people a year to the flu. We don't turn the country off."

Mid March 2020, "“So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning."

In our office, we had an I-Can't-Grow-a-Beard-But-I'm Trying-Anyway hipster intern running around the mailroom asking, "Am I the only one who thinks everyone's making a bigger deal out of this than they should...?" on a daily basis. Last I heard, he was going to get the garage band back together and make it big-time.

[Wednesdays]

20. Look for Mr. "I-Can't-Grow-a-Beard"

to show up sometime on HermanCainAward or SorryAntiVaxxer.

[MontanaMama]

9. Better on every level. eom

[dobleremolque]

10. Yes. I just got back from the pharmacy

where the copay on one of our medications dropped from $168 to $45 thanks to Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.

[PatSeg]

11. Oh much, much better off

And that is in pretty much every respect. The peace of mind of having competent people in the White House alone is a god send, but financially things are much improved.

[beaglelover]

12. Yes.

[Auggie]

13. Yes

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Oh HELL yeah!

[kentuck]

15. Oh, hell yeah!

Trump's last year was an unmitigated disaster, led by his incompetence.

[kimbutgar]

16. I was in Disneyland in Arnhem for my husbands 60th birthday

They had announced Disneyland was closing. I remember the crew members were sad and were nervous. New went on more rides that day than the previous two. In the elevator at our hotel a little girl was crying that she couldn’t go to Disneyland because it was closing starting Saturday the 14th.

[niyad]

17. Oh hell yes!!!

[KS Toronado]

18. Let him take Slim Pickens place in dealing with Russia.

[Rebl2]

19. Yes

[Niagara]

21. Hell Yes!!

That orange clueless incompetent sick fuck messed up a responsible and reliable plan of action by President Obama and his entire administration.


Somewhere on DU there is a screenshot of a tweet by Joe Biden calling out TSF (I believe in October of 2019) for undermining the entire plan of action and dismissing the people who were on top of the responsible plan of action. If someone could find it and share it, that would be great!


It's a tragedy that TSF was even allowed to be anywhere near the WH to begin with. I will do everything in my power to keep TSF from obtaining that position ever again.

[Justice matters.]

32. The statistics of his criminal negligence are a disgrace.

The "richest" country numbers compared to Canada's responsible (based on medical science) ones:



Close to three times the death toll per 100K!

And the corporate media moguls want him back?

[Niagara]

46. Thanks for the stats, Justice!

Here on DU, we already knew that a colossal amount of people were going to lose their lives from Covid.


The stats that you provided are much appreciated!

[Attilatheblond]

22. Better now. Vaxed to the max, can go out in relative safety. My turncoat Senator is leaving. Inflation slowed massively.

I no longer require 'smelling salts' weekly to deal with sticker shock at prices of basics at the grocery store. My meds are a LOT less and the local yahoos sporting Confederate battle flags on their 'blowing coal' pickup trucks have dwindled down to rare sightings.

My daughter got a better job in an industry that is taking back ground lost from the Trump fiasco years. And it is safe for her to enjoy some outside interests again. She has met some great people who share her values and she takes joy in helping with worthwhile projects with the public again, being vaxed to the max herself.

The Biden Admin stimulus checks helped climb out of some financial stress, as small as that stress was for a retiree with a paid off mortgage. I KNOW it really helped a lot of younger people with families and see them smiling, participating in events and letting their kids 'play ball!' again. (If you can, check local Little League and Pop Warner schedules, then take in a game, it will do your soul a lot of good to see kids playing and parents investing time in their activities.)

Kids are in classrooms and on playgrounds rather than inside, trying to do their growing in the dim glow of computer screens. Kids are being kids again. This is a major improvement!

My older acquaintances are a bit calmer. Their faces are not frozen in expressions of fear and defeat. Hell, we are all feeling safe enough to have meetings to do a lot of political organizing and actions! That REALLY shows we are doing better. Geezers are back at it, registering voters, carrying legislative petitions, holding strategy meetings and knocking on doors, engaging in GOTV efforts. Some are even running for local elections, so energized they are now! The local MAGA clowns in office around here are an endangered sub-species. Some are under indictment, and many are running scared from voters. It's looking better around the local environment.

Now, if I can just keep the old vehicle running until I stop, my life stays pretty comfy, if simple, now. I am grateful for the changes. Gratitude manifests in a better state of mind/body. I see it in everyone I encounter, save the few who persist in being miserable due to their conditioned hate of 'the other', be the other DEMs in general or people of different tones or traditions.

On the other hand, I fret a lot about the idiots who might still manage to throw it all away just to place their golden calf upon a throne. And I have become sadly cynical about the battle raging in our judiciary. The medicine for such cycinism is to engage in the aforementioned political activity. Do what you can. It will make things even better.

[Kaleva]

23. About to get same

Being on SSDI, don't have extra money to invest in the markets and eating out is a rarity so the lockdowns didn't affect us

[DLCWIdem]

27. Sorry for that

But If you had a disability you were probably affected in different ways.

[Kaleva]

30. The people who lost loved ones or had tough going...

are the ones I feel sorry for. My wife and I did fine

[JenniferJuniper]

24. Four years ago I couldn't find toilet paper in the supermarket.

[Kaleva]

31. I was thankful for being prepared for emergencies

and for my habit of buying in bulk when items went on sale . My wife and I didn't compete with others for scarce items.

[DLCWIdem]

25. Finally

The Repugs have been rhapsodizing about Trumps presidency for months.. I have been saying we should remind them how we were scrounging for toilet paper.

[BornADemocrat]

26. WAY better off

My selfish reason is I can retire early now if need be.

[IronLionZion]

28. Conservatives blatantly denying the pandemic back then

while US senators were busy selling off their stocks knowing that they would do nothing about the pandemic and coming recession.

[Mr.Bee]

29. Four Years Ago...

I was working part-time behind the counter in a face mask my last year working, having to argue with customers to wear face masks or one will be provided. Customers with their noses sticking out saying they couldn't breathe, using clear face-shields instead of face masks, and in MAGA regalia telling me it's their freedom not to do so. I heard practically every excuse in the book.
They were just not going to wear those face masks!

By the end of 2020, I had enough and retired at 66, just in time to receive Social Security. So am I better off than four years ago? You bet. But what an education I got about my fellow Americans and their selfishness!

[keep_left]

34. The behavior of the chuds during the pandemic really woke up...

...the sane Americans, that's for sure. It was a hard lesson to learn: fully 1/3rd of the electorate would sacrifice the rest of us, all because they couldn't get their slop at Applebee's (or whatever else they wanted). Not only that, but many willingly chose to go down online conspiracy theory rabbit holes about vaccines, Bill Gates, Fauci, etc. I lost a friend of more than 30 years to this crap.

[elocs]

33. I'm retired and things are the same for me, no better, no worse. n/t

[Mr.Bee]

35. I'm retired

and live on Social Security, but still have to come up with $200 a month to pay for private health insurance (plan F) that Medicare doesn't pay for, so please call your Congresspersons to support Bernie Sanders' Social Security Expansion:

[elocs]

36. I live on SS but being under the 100% Federal Poverty Level

I have one of those horrible Medicare Advantage plans where I pay nothing for Medicare, have vision and dental care, along with $175/month to help pay for food.

[Skittles]

42. yeah, they're stellar

https://www.statnews.com/2024/02/28/medicare-advantage-traditional-overpayment-patient-dissatisfaction-investors/

[chowmama]

37. Oh, hell, yeah!

Due to Covid, DH had to quit his job driving Uber; it was just too risky, given his health conditions and other people's general dickishness. So, loss of income there. He's been retired since.

There was a point we weren't sure that veterinary personnel were going to be classified 'essential'. I could have been out of a job, too. We were classified essential, and I still have a letterhead form my bosses gave us that was essentially a 'Permit to Travel to Work' - we weren't sure how closely such things were going to be enforced. I never had to use it.

Grocery trips were supposed to be once weekly and then find not much on the shelves. I had a list of what I needed, a second list of 'things to look to see if they're back', and also take advantage of anything I could actually get today and then either use or store. Meals were...interesting. Finances were also...interesting. We managed, but if I hadn't been allowed to work, if I'd had less food and supplies on hand (I have a pressure canner and a chest freezer and I've never been afraid to use them), I really don't know what we would have done.

Constant concern about the election, knowing that another Trump term would be the final nail in the coffin. Watching the economy tank. Wondering how many more would die. Hearing crazy people spout crazy word-vomit about science (which I know a little about) and realize that arguing with them could get me hurt or killed. Running into people who literally didn't care if I lived or died, but wanted my business. There are places I'll never go back to and people I'll never deal with again, even now that it's over. That's a deal breaker. You sons of bitches, you're never seeing my money again. I'll give it to people I actually like, instead.

[BigmanPigman]

38. 4 years ago I said out loud, "How will we get better?".

I said this after the 2020 election and Covid had us scared shitless and the fucking moron made it far worse. I said it to myself and I meant it sincerely. I really did not know how we would recover our health again. I felt helpless, scared and VERY, VERY, VERY ANGRY!!!!!I will never forgive or forget. Trump is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of American while he lied, cheated and got rich off of their deaths and drove businesses into failure, elders dying alone and no one knowing if we had a future as a country.

And the BS media is still doing both sides BS. MSNBC is all over the place from one week to the next...what BS! All they give a shit about is making Americans fearful and worried...bigger ratings, more $$$$ and another election going down the same path. Greedy corporate media is killing us as much as the GQP. Red wave one second, no red wave the next second. Polls are super bad for Biden, then polls are super good for Biden now. Next week they will repeat. And the next they will go back again. Fuck the media!!!⁰

[markodochartaigh]

39. I'm retired and on a fixed pension.

So, financially, I'm worse off. But I would rather scrape by in a democracy than live large in an authoritarian state.

[LoveMyCali]

40. I'm in fear that my company is going to lay us all off

and I'll be looking for another job at 62 years of age and my rent has increased so much over the past 3 years that I'm going to have a roommate for the first time in close to 40 years. However I don't wake up with a feeling of dread and impending doom every day.

[HariSeldon]

41. The federal govt. is no longer caging all the children they can at the border

Except that it would make Trump's re-election more likely, I'd give up the economic gains just for this one improvement. The fact our country did this changed my mind about how awful people can be We cannot let the country forget this crime against humanity.

[jaxexpat]

43. The better question: Are you better off than you would have been if Trump had won 4 years ago?

[texasfiddler]

44. I have plenty of toilet paper and I'm not afraid of ending up in the ICU on a ventilator machine.

So yes much better off. Plus, my 401k is kicking ass. Biden did that!!!

[bdamomma]

45. Joy Reid

did a summary of this question last night. 4 years since March 2020 with Covid who can forget, it was horrible. A million people died......sigh. Our medical community was on the brink of collapse. But they persisted. How do some people have short memories???? That TFS calling it a hoax. Pushing people to drink bleach???? WTF??? Not wearing masks????? I mean, everyone knows how bad it was. And they want this POS to ruin this country again?????

VOTE, VOTE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dulcinea]

47. In a word, YES.

The pandemic is over. No, COVID isn't over, & probably never will be, but fewer people are dying from it. President Biden is doing a good job. He just needs to get the credit for it. And that orange bag of rancid pigshit is under indictment & stands to LOSE yet another election. My family is doing well, too!

[BlueTsunami2018]

48. My mental health is better, that's for sure.

But with inflation, corporate price gouging and the like, I’m not really doing better as economically even though my work situation hasn’t changed.

That’s not President Biden’s fault, it’s the aftershocks of Тяцмр’s failures as a leader during the pandemic and GOP policy in general.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

49. How traitortrump exacerbated the pandemic...

Coronavirus: Trump’s botched response, explained - Vox

I'm A Doctor. The U.S. Response To Coronavirus Has Been Nothing Short Of Criminal. - HuffPost

The Ten Weeks That Lost the War: A Timeline of How Trump Lied, Bungled and Screwed America in the COVID-19 Crisis - The Bulwark

The Four Men Responsible For America's COVID-19 Test Disaster - Democratic Underground

Prestige Ameritech offered to make millions of N95 masks in Texas. The government turned him down.. - The Washington Post

Timeline of the Coronavirus Pandemic and U.S. Response

HERE IS THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC PLAYBOOK LEFT BY OBAMA: - Democratic Underground