August 03, 2004
The Economy After 4 years: Clinton vs. Bush
The LA Times has done a quick survey, so we don't have to:
Here's a link to the graphic.
Suffice to say, Clinton's first 4 years outshine Bush's by a mile. I have to echo Kerry and say: if Bush truly believes this is the best economy ever, and that to say we can do better is pessimistic, than 4 more years of that kind of delusional and cynical thinking is going to kill us!
The figures are called out in the extended entry:
Job growth: annual average (payroll survey):
Clinton: +2,835,000
Bush: -455,000
Economic growth (change in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product):
Clinton: +3.7% per year
Bush: +2.5% per year
Inflation (change in consumer price index):
Clinton: +2.8% per year
Bush: +3.4% per year
Median household income, change:
Clinton: +1.7% per year
Bush: -1.6% per year
Number of Americans in poverty (average change per year):
Clinton: -800,000
Bush: +1.5 million
Number of Americans without health insurance (average change per year):
Clinton: +145,000
Bush: +1,885,000
Federal surplus/deficit (annual average):
Clinton: +$5 billion
Bush: -$350 billion
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau, White House Office of Management and Budget, National Assn. of Realtors.