If you get some time, check out this article. It's a bit long, but it gives some good information on the differences between what the current state of the economy/prosperity are and what most people perceive them to be.

It reminded me of a SCUBA diving trip I was at in Hawaii a couple of years ago. I was partnered up with some guy I didn't know. On the boat ride out he spent most of the time telling me how bad the Bush economy was and how difficult it was for him to make ends meet. He was telling me this on a boat in the middle of the Pacific while he was on his second week of a three week vacation. His income was derived from selling model cars and airplanes on EBay. I wish I had as much trouble making ends meet as he did.

It is important to concider such things during the next election cycle because candidates from the democratic party are going to pound it in to your head that your neighbor is doing much worse than you. Think about this when you concider who should you vote for?

Townhall.com::Grim Lies About Economy Are the Real "War on the Middle Class::By Michael Medved

This is exactly why our economy has ups and downs...lack of information and baseless fear. Look at oil prices...aside from OPEC increasing or decreasing output, a big reason the price-per-barrel goes up is because of fear.

Next time you watch a snippet about oil price increases, listen to the rhetoric. They always say, "Due to concerns that Iran will put anti-ship mines in the gulf because America may or may not start a war with them...oil prices went up $3 today." Seriously, what the heck is that about? We're going to drive up how much our consumers pay for oil because companies and stock firms (who don't make decisions to go to war or not) have a fear that we are going to start a war.

Those sorts of fears (not just oil, but everything in our Global economy) are the reason why prices ebb and flow. Those fears are also why the average Joe; who is making his house payments and car payments, while investing for retirement and planning the next family vacation to Tahiti, is 100% convinced that aside from him, the rest of the country is going to hell economically.

We need to stop spreading these ideas that the Administration is causing our economy to falter. Is there more we could be doing domestically to improve our situation? Absolutely, we should never stop trying to improve our country's economy. Do we need to cower around because of baseless fears that we are headed for some horrible collapse? No.

I'm sick of people talking about how bad the Bush administration has made our economy, while simultaneously talking about their new 72 inch Plasma TV.

In the past, I would have said "I am lucky / blessed to say that I am part of the haves". However, that is not totally correct. Yes, I am blessed BUT I worked hard for my success. I worked my way thru college and it took me a long time, but I did it. I had to take a loan out towards to the end, but I happily paid it back.

This is a great country and for the most part, if you work hard, you will succeed.

You know I hear all the bad as well as all the good about our economy. My wife and I both work, we take care of 2 children and our combined income is under 35,000$ per year. In the past 8 years I have watched gas prices double, electricity go up, heating oil triple, and the price of food go so high that we cannot even afford to feed our children the food we want, instead having to live on a cheaper diet. All the while the war in Iraq is costing hundreds of billions of dollars, jobs go over seas, and illegal immigrants have the jobs. You cant tell me that the Bush administration doesn't hold some responsibility. I am tired of having to rely on handouts, food shelves, and other means to feed my family just so we have enough money to drive our kids to day-care. (which costs almost a third of our combined income). When are we going to wake up in this country and start taking care of ourselves, instead of taking care of everyone else?

I think the people have different view because the changes have effect varying areas in different ways. Please come to the manufacturing belt in the State of Ohio. Talk to the people who have spent 25 years raising their children working at a manufacturing plant, are too young for retirement, are too old to get another job and "The Plant" is closing.

First of all, how is it the president's fault that you and your wife make $35,000/year? If we weren't in Iraq you would still be making that money and your situation wouldn't improve. No candidate (republican or democrat) can change that.

I understand that you're tired of handouts, but it's not the government's job to help you out. If it does, it should only be for a little while so you can get back on your feet.

I'm not apathetic to people being down-and-out; however, after having 'been there done that' I'm less inclined to believe in pointing fingers and taking handouts.

I was raised in a household of next to no income and no job security for a good portion of the early years.

My parents; however, never took a government handout (even when they were well qualified), and eventually raised 4 of us kids. They achieved higher incomes along the way, and never stopped believing in personal progress. Not once did they blame anyone for our hardships, especially not the government. And that was through many different administrations and the first Gulf War.

I went through the toils of financial ruin as well, and dug myself out of that pit. Now I am building my way to financial confidence with investments, and paying off debts with my wife. It's been hard work since as far back as I can remember, but I (we) feel proud that my family, my wife, and I did it on our own.

No handouts from the government, and no blaming any party, group, or administration. My income has never been altered due to political advance or decline, decision or indecision. Taxes and gas prices, etc. ebb and flow all the time. Gas going up $0.13 a gallon (or any other amount) shouldn’t affect your budget that much; if it does you need to seriously do some balancing of your budget…or car pooling.

I can't see how the administration or war has anything to do with personal income or spending habits. I know it's hard raising a family, and even just plain living on a meager income. However; it is possible, and it isn't anyone else’s responsibility but your own. I've lived in what could be called poverty twice in my life, but have been able to achieve my goals through planning and determination.

EXACTLY!!! All I have to say!

I am from Mexico, but wait, I am not illegal. As you know, Mexico is way different than USA, speaking of goverment, infrastructure, education, economics, and all you can imagine. USA is the "land of oportunities".
In Mexico we don't have such help from the goverment when you are strugling without a job, no, you must find your way out. The mid class almost doesn't exists, is just rich and poor. I grew up in poverty, not extreme but I remember my dad strugling a lot and my mom trying to stretch her budget. It was really hard back then. My parents found the way out raising 4 kids, but my granny made it with 9 kids by her self! I am still not sure how they made it.
The main difference between Mexico and USA is that here in the US the harder you work the better you get, in Mexico it doesn't matter.
Right now, no matter how bad the economy is in US, it is not compared to Mexico's.
If you work at McDonals (for example) you can make it. You strugle, but still you can do it. In Mexico, forget it, unless you live on the streets, even so, is almost imposible. The minimun wage in US is, how much?, like 5 or 6 dollars per hour. In mexico is the same, but per day! My point is, don't self pity, work harder, find the way and you can make it. That is what I'm doing now and helping my family in Mexico, they have a little grocery store that at least provides the necessary