Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?

Yet ANOTHER "debate".... UGH can I take any more? This presidential campaign has been INSUFFERABLE. I LOATHE it as it begins four years before it happens...campaigning and ads for easily one year .... I use my MUTE button ALWAYS. I will listen to no more propaganda ... it's simply suffocating and there is nothing you can do about it except mute it. There ought to be HUGE campaign reform. MONEY OUT OF IT and limit the commercials and the debates. Force people to read position papers of the candidates and KNOW what they are reading. as for me I'm a Democrat not because it ran in my family but because the issues are so defined. I will NOT be dictated to by ANY religious institution, I want government OUT of people's bedrooms and I want humane domestic policy. I believe government CAN when managed well help people. It helped me when I was young and it was life saving..hence I know who I will support and they always have a "D" after their name. I do not believe in austerity but I do believe military excursions MUST be totally limited. There is money okay but it simply depends on where one's values are and where it will be spent. I want it spent on thigs we desperately need domestically. I want big oil, big pharma, big agriculture and big any other corporation to fund their own darn businesses and I want REAL capitalism where MORE choice is offered to the consumer and not less! JOBS BACK TO THE US NOT OUTSOURCED TO CHINA!!!!

and YES, I AM BETTER OFF TODAY THAN I WAS SURELY FOUR YEARS AGO!!!

Yes we are we were verge of having no economy in 36 hours

Yes I am. No thanks to anyone but myself, and the Republicans who pushed through the Post-9/11 GI Bill in the Summer of 2008.

Chris L, are you aware that the 2008 GI Bill is called the Webb GI bill after the Democrat who sponsored it? And what about the American taxpayers who fund it? Do we deserve any thanks? I thank you for your service and am glad to support the GI bill with my taxes. We're all in this together.

I second that Gwendolyn!

Republicans give no one anything. They hold up money for the care of troops and if they had their way EVERYTHING would be taken away except for big pharma, big oil and big any other corporation. The little guy is pushed to the side of the road by them. They do NOT care about the 99% that is for sure. Republicans give you NOTHING but debt from unfunded wars and funding of mercenaries that bilk the taxpayer out of BILLIIONS if not trillions. Then Democratic president has to come in and clean up the mess and get blamed if he/she does not clean it all up in a McDonald's minute!

Natalie...I really respect your opinion. I liked Clinton and he was commander in chief while I served in the Army from 1992-1996. Mr Clinton oversaw one of the largest cutbacks in military history. So please don't lecture about Republicans holding back care for the troops. And perhaps you should read today paper about the secret little war Mr. Obama is now running in North Africa. Which I actually give him credit for! But were u aware of it??? Lastly Mr. Obama has seen the overseen the largest increase in the National Debt in 4 years in History. Almost makes him sound like one of your Republicans. If it stays slow here at work today, I will provide you with link to the amounts oil companies and big pharmaceutical companies have contributed to the Democratic Party. I wish we would all agree that we are kind of screwed either way!

Mitt Romney is trying to "change the very mindset" of many, many folks out there, who have fallen vicariously into becoming enabling members of Our Society, through many of The Governmental Programs which have been bestowed amongst us all, that has been out there in Our Society for many years now, and not in just the last eight years or so, either.
The Democratic Party has truly over the years, created many Governmental Programs, which has made it so much easier for many of those who do not want to better help to themselves, after they've received assistance, and feel more than comfortable to actually stay in that mode of their chosen behaviors, because they have become quite comfortable enough to survive in that very process, and not ever to strive for a better everyday life as they move forward into their lives!
I'm certain that many of you either know of, or know a few folks here and there, where this is exactly what they've been doing for quite some time now.
Unfortunately, many who do choose to get into a comfortable mode of living habits/behaviors, and since many or very few, has ever been called to task on it for the most part, at least to better themselves, they just feel quite comfortable in staying that very way, with little to no inspiration to strive for a better way of life.

Certainly this is more than a "Food For Thought" moment, its been right there under all of our noses for many, many years now, as well. Its like the term that has been around for ages, where many are just like "Dead People Walking On Earth!" biding their time while their amongst us. Look around you, they are everywhere, too!
Although, there are still millions of children & adults whom go to bed hungry,here in These United States of America, which is more than just a conundrum, its a darn right shame to say the least, for which none that we in this country should ever have let that happen in the first place at all!
What I mean by that is, that we should have our elected officials from the cities & towns throughout, do what they were elected to do in the first place and ensure that it does not continue to go on period!!

Question: What would be a reasonable time frame to expect a president to lead the country out of an economic recession like the one Obama faced when he took office? How can conservatives argue that Clinton's economic success were a result of Reagan's fiscal policies, yet argue Obama's is to blame for the economy?

Glad to see yet another conservative government employee is attending college on the tax payer dime so that you can better refine your arguments against 'big government.' By the way, you are one of the 47%.

My apologies, I'll stick to passing judgement on welfare recipients. I'm just not sure how working for the government, advancing your career on the basis of this, and then attending school for free due to a government program computes with the ideals of smaller government and ending the welfare state.

I also work full time and attend school full time. I guess I should be irritated that you're attending college on the taxpayer dime while I've relied on the private sector for my income? My mistake, it's only a government handout if someone else is receiving it. Whatever you get, you've earned.

Socialism is a great idea until you run out of other people’s money…

I've always rowed my own boat and carried my own water, that's what I was taught.

People receive money based on their ethnicity?

You've already stated that being poor/black is an enviable position in society; I don't think there's really much else to bait you into. I also don't understand your statement of people receiving a scholarship based on income. If their grades are sufficient, what is wrong with providing a needs-based scholarship for someone to attend school?

Ben, actually I'm a vegetarian. But since you mentioned this, my family, in the very town you live in, fought in two World Wars and the Korean War, lost a great-grandfather (NPD) in the line of duty and an uncle (MA SP) in the line of duty. A father who was a Natick FF and a brother is is one currently. Be careful who's toes you step on. I believe our family has paid it's dues, has yours?

This is a post about the debate. Not about people's families. All posters: please keep the personal attacks out of your comments and focus on national politics.

What is as clear as day, is that Mitt Romney is trying to let people know, that there has been a huge perception around the globe for many years now, that many folks here in The United States of America, have had a sense of entitlement that many do strongly believe is owed to each and everyone of them by Our Government. Unless your sleepwalking here in The States, its has been quite noticeable over the years, nothing more, just a factoid or two on that very state of being, that's all.....Enjoy!

Dave and Chris - thank you for your service