Were times for the middle class better under President Clinton or President Bush?

Question

Please explain your answers with facts and refrain from just hating on Clinton or Bush.

Answer 1

The middle class was much better under Clinton than Bush. The cuts are just one reason.

This from 2004: Since 2001, President Bush's tax cuts have shifted federal tax payments from the richest Americans to a wide swath of middle-class families, the Congressional Budget Office has found, a conclusion likely to roil the presidential election campaign.

The CBO study, due to be released today, found that the wealthiest 20 percent, whose incomes averaged $182,700 in 2001, saw their share of federal taxes drop from 64.4 percent of total tax payments in 2001 to 63.5 percent this year. The top 1 percent, earning $1.1 million, saw their share fall to 20.1 percent of the total, from 22.2 percent

Over that same period, taxpayers with incomes from around $51,500 to around $75,600 saw their share of federal tax payments increase. Households earning around $75,600 saw their tax burden jump the most, from 18.7 percent of all taxes to 19.5 percent.

The analysis, requested in May by congressional Democrats, echoes similar studies by think tanks and Democratic activist groups. But the conclusions have heightened significance because of their source, a nonpartisan government agency headed by a former senior economist from the Bush White House, Douglas Holtz-Eakin

Unfortunately, the middle class was convinced they were helped by the tax cuts as well. The president told them they were.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61178-2004Aug12.html

The following article has many links to other problems for the middle class, including a Wall Street Journal article about healthcare. The middle class is hurting because health insurance as a percentage of income obviously hurts the middle class more.

http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/middleclass/middleclass.html

Conservative and liberal economists note that these new jobs are of lower quality than the millions that were lost. USA Today said that “jobs in lower-wage industries and regions are growing at a faster pace than higher-wage jobs.” And although Vice President Cheney says that “incomes and wages have been rising,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics disagrees: employers are cutting back on hours, and wages are not keeping pace with inflation, meaning that paychecks are buying less than they used to. Real earnings fell in June by more than 1 percent, which The New York Times reports is “the steepest decline since the depths of recession in mid-1991.” Now, even Wall Street economists are worrying that weak job and wage growth could undermine the entire economic recovery.

The cost of health care is a top squeeze factor for middle class families. Health care costs are increasing five times faster than inflation, according to the National Coalition on Health Care, and by 2006 the average family will pay more than $14,000 for their health insurance premiums. Little wonder a quarter of all middle class Americans were uninsured over the past two years: High costs are pricing too many families out of the insurance market.

Americans are paying more for gas, milk, and other necessities. Since last August, the annual rate of increase for average hourly earnings increased by less than 2 percent, while the consumer-price index rose by more then 3 percent. Meanwhile, gas prices increased by closer to 20 percent in the last year, and tuition at four-year public colleges have increased by almost 30 percent since 2001.

Answer 2

OMG this isn't even close!!!

Look at the GDP increases of Clinton vs. Bush.
Sorry neo-cons you don't have good numbers here. The middle class grew greatly in the '90's.

It's getting squeezed out since Bush took over.

Answer 3

Probably during the Clinton years, but not all of that was his doing. Much was from the upturn of a cyclical economy that hurt Bush #1. Willie came in when things could only go up from recession, and they did. Since then things have been for the most part OK, but not bad since Dubya took over.

Answer 4

George and Laura Bush confirmed in simple terms how the substitute of administrations must be performed. They set a good occasion. i wish in 4 years whilst Obama leaves place of work he will tutor as a lot class.

Answer 5

Under Cllinton I could afford to pay for my prescription drugs, food, clothing, rent, insurance and gasoline!

And I had a little of my SS money left over!

With Bush it all goes to his Oil Companies so that they can make their Billions of dollars in profits while drivining the costs of every thing else up and out of sight!

Answer 6

If you have to ask,it's apparent that you weren't a middle class working adult,during the 90's and continuing through today

Answer 7

Under Clinton we had a middle classs.

Answer 8

Clinton, obviously.

Bush is the OIL COs *****!

Answer 9

Neither the middle class are also going to get screwed so just get use to it.

Answer 10

Under Bush, I'm doing a ton better, making more money, living better, you want my tax return?