Ten Ways We Are Better Off Than We Were Four Years Ago

Via Liberalus, the question "How are you better off than you were 4 years ago?" is an easy one to answer.

1. Bin Laden is dead. The U.S. auto industry is alive.

2. After losing eight million jobs, we've had 30 months of private sector job growth (gaining four and a half million jobs). Recovery Act and auto loan programs saved two to three million jobs.

3. The Affordable Healthcare Act makes health insurance more secure, affordable, and accessible for all Americans.

4. Retirement accounts have recovered from average 40% loss.

5. The war in Iraq is over, thousands of troops have come home.

6. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repealed.

7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created to protect borrowers from lending fraud and tricky fine print.

8. Expanded direct college student loans, kept interest rates low.

9. DREAMers can now legally work, enlist, and go to college.

10. Raised fuel standards and investments in green energy.

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