Here we are, nearly 6 months into President Obama's presidency and while I told myself I would give our new president a few months to show what he can do, I am truthfully dissatisfied and upset with the policies he's chosen to undertake as a president who won on the premise of 'change'. I ask this: what change have we seen to our country since January 20th, 2009? In regard to the budget, it's become a matter of disregard to the administration. There are no plans to balance the budget and little to no indications that this is even a goal of Obama's cabinet. The administration and their economic 'experts' promised unemployment would not reach 10%; promise broken. They promised more regard towards prisoners of war and due process rights; promise broken. They promised a revival in the economy; promise broken. While Obama's predecessor is responsible for much of the condition of the country, we cannot allow ourselves to avoid pointing a finger at Obama's administration and keeping them unaccountable for their campaign promises. This is Obama's presidency and instead of having an administration which works for the American people, we've seen the ultra-wealthy and influential lobby groups take over. During his campaign, Obama demonizd these very people; now it seems they're in bed with them. Working in cahoots, can we confide in a president who takes our tax money towards companies "too big to fail"? Aren't we all too big to fail? Nevertheless, we have seen change in 6 months. We've seen the economy worsen; even AFTER the bailouts, the "stimulus package" and numerous other policies this adminstration promised would revive and give the economy a jolt. Instead of saving jobs, we've seen our country post historic unemployment numbers. Many of these many workers confided in Obama's promise that their jobs are in better hands under his administration and its policies. Now the administration openly admits there will be new, expensive taxes placed upon businesses; not including the new "health care reform" that the administration is coming up with. Makes me wonder.. When the economy is in bad shape, why spend money we don't have? Why bailout the banks who helped create this crisis in the first place? Why tread on the downtrodden?
THOUGHTS PLEASE, FOLKS.
- David Solis
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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FIrst of all, it has only been six months, you should definitely know how slow and tough of a process it is to get ANYTHING done in the presidential office, when one, it is not the president that makes all and the final decisions, and two, we are talking about a government and a nation which needed a total reconstruction. To start off with the economy, Obama and his cabinet inherited a huge mess from the Bush administration, and I'm sure that everyone is aware of it. $1.3 trillion deficit, with unemployment and the banking and corporation system deteriorating. From the moment that Obama took office, measures have been taken as quickly as possible to help ease the rising unemployment issue, the falling home prices and the unstable credit market (Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act February 17th, less than a month after taking office). Now, once again it will be too much to go over how the whole process goes and the length of time it requires to go into full effect in such an enormous nation. The signing of this act is essential to the growth of the economy, for it not only will help create about 3+ million new jobs, but it will also give 95% of the working American a tax cut. Now, referring to housing, Obama and his administration came up with a voluntary housing program meant to stabilized the market, preventing more foreclosures and helping those behind or not able to make their mortgage payments due to the economy with re-finance tools at never-before seen low mortgage rates, (and my parents could be witnesses to that). Now, referring to the prisoners of war, Obama is in the mist of a dilemma, people find it quick to criticize him and call him "un-american" for defending the rights listed in the geneva convention laws. Now, I believe he made the first move by ordering the closure of Guantanamo Bay, the second day in office; he promise its closure within a year. The prisoners at war have been slowly transferred to countries in which not only they are offered better treatments, but also their lives are secured and protected. I must say that it is hard to see the changes right off the bat, but I must also say that it is important to recognize that we are dealing with a flagging economy, with a struggling nation, and with an international image that must be rebuilt. Everything is a process, and when dealing with these political, military & civil issues concerning almost 306 million people, and 3.79 million square miles of territory, this might take a bit longer. So finally, I must dissent. The promises have not been broken, it has only been two months, and our president has done as much as it is in his power to keep his promise alive: Change. Change is being seen, change is on the making.
ReplyDelete- Juan Cabrera
Alright so let's start with the points you brought up... You mention that the President isn't the one who makes all the decisions.. Immediately after his election, congress was essentially in his pocket for some time period due to his enormous success with many of their constituents. No other congress would have approved a naive and poorly constructed package such as the "stimulus package". Over 1,000 pages of legislation were passed with little to no legislators reading through it. Why? Because if Obama says it's a stimulus, it must be ok. We now know it's not and we now realize that Obama and congressional democrats acted in haste and masked it as "acting in urgency" in order to avoid ridicule for its shortcomings. In terms of what you say about a national reconstruction, I'd avoid. We need LESS government bureaucracy and less regulation on the housing and free market system. When Clinton passed legislation that FORCED banks to lend to people who couldn't afford credit card and mortgage loans, what would you expect is going to happen? The bubble popped and its because GOVERNMENT started to interfere in free markets. Of course the banks are going to collapse; THE GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED THEIR DEMISE. It's no accident either, even Emmanuel Rahm admits that the government will be taking steps to take away commercial rights in the name of the "stabilization". Now for the 3+ million jobs being saved by this "stimulus" package, I'm not sure if many people know this, but Biden has already said on the record it's not going to do as "forecasted". Nowhere NEAR 3 million jobs... If this money was going to save all these jobs, why, 5 months later, have numbers dropped past even Bush's unemployment numbers? The banks have already gotten our taxmoney in the billions, it doesn't take 5 months to make one single ripple. Instead, banks have become even more stingy with their money since Obama's election. Now, 95% of the taxpayers having a tax break.. That's a laughing subject even among Democrats; an average 13 dollars every 2 weeks is saved with this tax cut. I'm not sure an extra 26 dollars a month really makes a difference among most Americans. Also, he may have ordered the closure of Guantanamo, but he also gave an executive order which permits indefinite incarceration and denies these very terrorists any due process for as long as the government pleases. Don't get me wrong, I may hate and despise the men who attack our country, but the only thing unamerican is denying them rights; despite them being undeserving of them. These combatants aren't doing much better outside the country released from Guantanamo as you mentioned; I'd suggest you read into reports on their treatment among the British, Yemeni, Saudi and other countries which take these men in. While I will agree with your notion that this country needs reconstructing, your standpoint is that we don't have ENOUGH government bureaurcracy; Mines is We have TOO MUCH. How else can we explain it taking more than 6 months for this trillion dollar "stimulus" package to show significant signs of effect on the economy? We've got too much government redtape and under this administration, It's no secret that things will get MUCH worse; even compared to today's situation. Change is absolutely being seen; only it's change for the worst.
ReplyDelete- David Solis
By the way, I meant, "I'd agree" instead of "I'd avoid".
ReplyDeleteThats my mentor...
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
ReplyDelete