Are You Better Off Today?

Let's look at the statistics.

-- The unemployment rate: 6.8 percent in November of 2008 and 8.2 percent now and rising in at least 22 states.

-- The national poverty rate: 13.2 percent then, and 15.1 percent now.

-- Americans on food stamps: 30.9 million then, 44.7 million now.

-- A gallon of regular gasoline: $2.40 then, $3.60 now.

-- Homeownership rate: 67.8 percent then, 65.4 percent now.

-- America's median household income: $50,203 then,$49,445 now.

-- The number of Americans participating in the labor force: 65.8 percent then, but now down to 63.8 percent because millions of discouraged job seekers have stopped looking for work.

-- The annual budget deficit: $459 billion in fiscal 2008, but $1.32 trillion in fiscal 2012.

-- The federal debt: $10.57 trillion then, $15.69 trillion now.

-- The number of civilian federal employees: 2.67 million then, 2.75 million now.