The Ad Obama Can't Make

I'm sure you've all seen the commercial for SelectQuote which opens up showing a young man with his family as the narrator says "Jim is 38. He has a mortgage...a wife...and, three great kids."  Then the ad goes on to show that Jim could save a lot of money using SelectQuote to buy term life insurance.

This is an ad that Obama can't make because, for a middle class family like Jim's, Obama has done nothing but cost him money.

When it comes to health care insurance, Jim's rates have risen faster than any other time in the last decade; following the passage of ObamaCare.  Prior to ObamaCare, health insurance costs were rising at about 6% per year.  In 2011, costs rose 9% and, this year, it is expected that rates will rise over 7%.  In 2010, the average family health care insurance bill was $13,770.  In 2011, after ObamaCare's passage, Jim's costs were $15,073.  This year they will probably be above $16,128.  So, instead of saving him money as Obama had promised, his costs for his family's health insurance rose by more than $2300; and, that's $2300 that Jim won't be able to spend on his wife or his three great kids.

Then, there's the family gasoline bill.  Since December 31, 2008 -- just before Obama took office -- the weak economy had driven gasoline prices down to $1.61 a gallon.  Because Jim's is probably a two-car family, his annual gasoline bill was down to around $2000 a year.  But, as federal spending and debt increased under Obama, the price of oil increased accordingly; this, despite a weak economy and growing oil reserves.  By fall of 2010, gasoline prices had risen to more than $3 and Jim and his family were out another $2000 a year just by paying their gasoline bill. This was all before the so-called Arab Spring and the current intensity over Iran's nuclear program.  Today, because of those two factors, gasoline is now over $3.66 a gallon and rising.   So, in essence, Jim is short another $2500 that he can't spend on his family.  The current rise in oil prices could have been avoided if Gulf drilling had been restored to normal; the EPA wasn't fighting West Texas drilling; ANWAR was opened up for drilling; and, the Keystone pipeline was approved.

As far as electricity prices are concerned, Obama's green energy push has done nothing but increase Jim's electricity bill.  Obama's attack on coal and his push for solar and wind has only driven electricity prices up.  In fact, in 2010, Jim's electricity bill probably went up by $300; an increase of 26%, and, in 2011 and this year, he has only seen more increases.  In general, Obama's policies have probably cost Jim another $600 a year.

Then there's the food bill. If Jim and his family like to have steak and poultry for dinner and cereal for breakfast, he probably has to pay a lot more for this meals.  Again, because of excessive Obama spending and debt, food prices are rising substantially faster than salaries.  Perhaps, Jim got a raise or raises in the last three years; or, maybe not. But, one thing is sure: he is probably paying a lot more for his food bills under Obama's stewardship.  For Jim and his family, that means another $500 he has been shorted under Obama.

The bottom line is that Jim has seen his purchasing power decline by nearly $6000 a year because of Obama's liberal ideas about spending.  That, in turn, is one of the reason's the economy has weakened every year since the recession ended. If anything the weakening economy should have held prices down but, excessive government spending has its consequences.  Contrary to Obama's stump speeches, he isn't helping the middle class, he is killing it.

References:

Household electricity bills skyrocket: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-13/electric-bills/51840042/1

GasBuddy historical gasoline price chart: http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

USDA Food Charts: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/usdafoodcost-home.htm

Costs Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge in 2011: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2011/september/27/employer-health-coverage-survey-shows-employer-spending-spike.aspx