| January 2009 |
January 2013 |
| The national economy was in a freefall. |
The national economy is steadily growing (albeit still slower than desired) |
| GDP shrinking 8% per year |
GDP growing 1-2% per year |
| Stock market in freefall |
Stock market at record highs |
| Nearly 820,000 jobs being lost a month |
More than 4.1 million jobs created since December 2009 |
| Millions more on the verge of losing their jobs (which most did) |
Unemployment falling (but still way too high) |
| Bin Laden was haunting and taunting the nation |
Bin laden is dead |
| War raging in Iraq |
War in Iraq has ended |
| No end in sight for war in Afghanistan |
End now in sight for war in Afghanistan |
| Heath care only a dream for millions |
Heath care now covers millions more |
| Consumer being ripped off right and left |
New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in place |
