Are You Better Off? - October 15, 2012 Issue

October 15, 2012 Issue

Introduction

Introduction

Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?

Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?

The State of the Nation, Jan. 20, 2009

The State of the Nation, Jan. 20, 2009

Buying Power

Buying Power

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

Income Is Flat

Dinner Costs More

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

Dinner Costs More

Most Other Stuff Costs More, Too

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

Most Other Stuff Costs More, Too

Homes Lost Value

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

Homes Lost Value

Energy Costs More, but We Use Less

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

Energy Costs More, but We Use Less

U.S. Households' Buying Power Shrank

By Peter Coy and Matthew Philips and Nick Summers

U.S. Households' Buying Power Shrank

Lesson of the iPad: In Tough Times, Treat Yourself

By Sam Grobart

Lesson of the iPad: In Tough Times, Treat Yourself

The Obama Gun Surge

By Paul M. Barrett

The Obama Gun Surge

By Matthew Philips

Stocks Doubled

The U.S. Debt Vortex

By Peter Coy

The U.S. Debt Vortex

Government Debt Is Our Debt, and Other Issues

By Peter Coy

Bailouts, Deadbeats, and Paybacks

Bailouts, Deadbeats, and Paybacks

Corporations Are Sitting on $1.7 Trillion in Cash

By Daniel Eatock and Evan Applegate

Corporations Are Sitting on $1.7 Trillion in Cash

The Great Recession: An 'Affair' to Remember

By Peter Coy

The Great Recession: An 'Affair' to Remember

Unemployment

Unemployment

Unemployment and the Stimulus: A Timeline

By Drake Bennett and Karen Weise

Unemployment and the Stimulus: A Timeline

Life at Zero Percent

By Peter Coy

Life at Zero Percent

A Factory Closes

By Elizabeth Dwoskin

A Tale of Two Auto Workers

By Caroline Winter

A Tale of Two Auto Workers

The 5 Million Green Jobs That Weren't

By Ira Boudway

The 5 Million Green Jobs That Weren't

U.S. Energy Independence Is Almost Here

By Matthew Philips

U.S. Energy Independence Is Almost Here

Tax Breaks Helped Startups

By Ira Boudway

Tax Breaks Helped Startups

Where the Jobs Are

By Elizabeth Dwoskin

The Plight of the Long-Term Unemployed

By Drake Bennett

The Plight of the Long-Term Unemployed

Respect

Respect

Ask a Cabdriver

The Debt-Ceiling Crisis: An Epic Humiliation

By Cristina Lindblad and Peter Coy

The Debt-Ceiling Crisis: An Epic Humiliation

Post-Debt Crisis, No Consequences

By Cristina Lindblad and Peter Coy

Post-Debt Crisis, No Consequences

Foreign Policy: Obama Mended Some Ties and Strained Others

By Claire Suddath and Christopher Power

Foreign Policy: Obama Mended Some Ties and Strained Others

Democracy Rises in the Middle East

By Christopher Power and Claire Suddath

Democracy Rises in the Middle East

Guantánamo Is Still Open

Guant??namo Is Still Open

Call It Chimerica: The U.S. and China Grow Ever Closer

By Jennifer Daniel and Caroline Winter

Call It Chimerica: The U.S. and China Grow Ever Closer

Amid a Great Arctic Thaw, the Water Is Rising

By Eric Roston

Amid a Great Arctic Thaw, the Water Is Rising

'Made in USA' Still Sells

By Felix Gillette

'Made in USA' Still Sells

The Gap Between Rich and Poor Widens

By Peter Coy

The Gap Between Rich and Poor Widens

Leaving Behind No Child Left Behind

By Caroline Winter

Leaving Behind No Child Left Behind

The Inequality Incentive

By Josh Tyrangiel

The Inequality Incentive

Security

Security

Osama bin Laden Is Dead

By Paul M. Barrett

Osama bin Laden Is Dead

Terrorism Has Shifted

By Matthew Philips and Evan Applegate

Terrorism Has Shifted

Drones: The Morality of War From the Sky

By Jeffrey Goldberg

Drones: The Morality of War From the Sky

Americans Left Iraq. Afghanistan Is Winding Down

By Cristina Lindblad and Brian Reardon

Americans Left Iraq. Afghanistan Is Winding Down

Troops Return Home to New Battles

By Cristina Lindblad and Brian Reardon

Troops Return Home to New Battles

Obamacare Is Not an Epithet

By Devin Leonard

Obamacare Is Not an Epithet

The Affordable Care Act: A Timeline

By Devin Leonard

The Affordable Care Act: A Timeline

Dodd-Frank: The 848-Page Financial Firewall

By Sheelah Kolhatkar and Karen Weise

Dodd-Frank: The 848-Page Financial Firewall

Conclusion

Conclusion

The State of the Nation, Oct. 10, 2012

The State of the Nation, Oct. 10, 2012

The Answer—and What Comes Next

By Peter Coy

The Answer???and What Comes Next