Has Joe Biden kept his “Build Back Better” promises to the American people? As the president prepares for this year’s State of the Union address, a few concerns have more citizens disappointed than pleased with Biden’s performance, thus far. According to a Washington Post – ABC News poll, 62 percent of Americans think the president has not accomplished much in his first two years in office. Four out of 10 of those polled indicated they are personally worse off financially since Biden took office – the most recorded in that survey in 37 years.
In a tweet posted by The Post Millennial on February 3, a reporter asks the president if he takes any blames for the massive inflation Americans are experiencing today. Biden claimed the inflation was already there when he got there.
Reporter: "Do you take any blame for inflation, Mr. president?"
Biden: "No"
Reporter: "Why not?"
Biden: "It was already there when I got here, man" pic.twitter.com/4fhqtH3c5v
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 3, 2023
The present 8.3% inflation rate was at 1.4% the month Biden took office, reaching 5% by May 2021 and skyrocketing to 9.1% last June. As he prepares to speak with the nation tonight, we can expect some of the statistics he will be taking blame for – the record low unemployment, rising wages and diminishing fear of recession Americans were expecting to experience within the first quarter of 2023. It is clear the American people want accountability from their president, and if Biden takes credit for his administration’s advances, he must also take accountability where he falls short.
Although the economic data in recent months has moved in the president’s favor, particularly after inflation spiked to a 40-year high last summer, some publicly available facts remain:
- Gas prices were at $2.39 prior to Biden taking office and are now at $3.76
- 30-year mortgage rates were at 2.65% prior to Biden taking office and are now at 7.08%
- Average rent prices were at $1,625 prior to Biden taking office and are now at $2,039
- NASDAQ was up 13,342 prior to Biden taking office and is now at 10,829
- Grocery prices increased 3.7% prior to Biden taking office and have now increased to 13.5%
- Electricity rose to 1.5% prior to Biden taking office and have now risen to 15.8%
- Average hourly earnings were at 4% prior to Biden taking office and are now at 2.8%
Last Monday, National Economic Council director Brian Deese stated that “On Average, American households are in a better position than they were before the pandemic hit” and that “we find ourselves today in an economy where we have real resilience.”
President Biden will likely announce a 2024 campaign run to remain in office as he addresses the nation, tonight. However, Biden will need to take advantage of this opportunity to dispel concerns about his ability to lead, and re-connect with the American people.
Add comment