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Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Four Years Ago?

TCC Analysis • September 8, 2024

By Art Harman, Senior Vice President – Policy  ·  September 8, 2024

When you talk to family and friends—and anyone you meet, there’s a powerful message you can convey to help convince them to vote for President Trump and all Republicans on the ballot.

Back in 1980, four years of devastating policies by then President Jimmy Carter resulted in Americans facing massive inflation and interest rates, and record unemployment. Much like the Biden-Harris economic disaster.

In his final 1980 presidential debate, Ronald Reagan made a now-famous remark:

“Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” 

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Here’s President Reagan’s full statement for context and to compare with today’s Biden-Harris legacy of misery:

Reagan: “Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls; you’ll stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago? 

Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we’re as strong as we were four years ago? 

And if you answer all of those questions yes, why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to who you’ll vote for. If you don’t agree, if you don’t think that this course that we’ve been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have.”

This resonated with voters, who were weary of life under the Democrat economic disaster, and resulted in Reagan being elected in a historic landslide.

Are you better off than you were four years ago? How about your family and friends?

Today, we have suffered almost four years of devastating spending and taxing by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. We again face massive inflation and interest rates. The real unemployment numbers are similarly devastating. Many Americans gave up, and almost all job growth has gone to non-Americans, both illegal and legal.

Use these themes in talking to your friends who might be persuaded to vote for President Trump and all of the Republicans on the ballot.

Inflation 

When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were elected, gas shot up from under $2.00 to a high of $4.93 and still hits hard on your wallet at $3.40. Biden-Harris immediately cut US energy production, starting the expensive rocket ride.

While gas prices were at their peak, Biden gloated that higher prices would force you to restrict your driving and buy an electric car: We’ll be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels when this is over.” Harris has declared she too wants to ban gas cars.

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Exactly the opposite happened. Biden and Harris failed. We are not ‘stronger’ and the ‘world is not ‘stronger.’ You feel the pain every week at the grocery store and gas station.

Groceries skyrocketed in just three and a half years under Biden-Harris. You’ve seen prices more than double on many items. Families often have to dip into savings just to put food on the table. 

Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?

Safety

In addition to the Biden-Harris corrosive inflation, crime has soared everywhere, likely in your city or town. Illegal aliens and criminals are destroying our safety, our stores and our neighborhoods. Radical Democrat prosecutors refuse to prosecute criminals and let them out without bail to strike again. Anti-Second Amendment Democrat politicians often prosecute lawful gun owners for defending themselves and let the criminals go free.

Are you safer now than you were four years ago?

Border Invasion 

Joe Biden and his border czar Kamala Harris immediately repealed President Trump’s tough border policies, and enemy-led caravans invaded our border. Up to 20 million (both processed and never-caught) unscreened illegals crossed the border and were put on welfare around the country. Many are enemy soldiers, criminals, human and drug smugglers, etc.

Are illegals destroying the American way of life?

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Defense

Biden-Harris surrendered Afghanistan, encouraging Putin to invade Ukraine. They financed Iran’s atomic bomb development and their war on Israel via Hamas. And China is preparing for war on Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines—and perhaps against the U.S. too.

Is America as strong as it was four years ago?

Independents and even many liberals, if they hear and understand the above perspectives, would agree everything got worse under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It’s time for them to look past the media lies and join the only team that can make America great again: President Trump and all GOP candidates on the ballot. Then, in another four years, they may look back and agree that they are better off than they were four years ago.

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