So following the midterm elections Id like to make a few things clear, on my position, surrounding the president. Dont worry, theres some major criticism too. These statements are accurate, even if I dont have a source for all of them. 1. Contrary to popular belief, the affordable healthcare act isnt an unmitigated disaster, (link: whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/17/fact-sheet-affordable-care-act-numbers) and is in fact a positive, but partial reform of what is the most expensive and ineffective healthcare system in the industrialized world (and that puts thousands of people into crippling debt and bankruptcy every year). link: washingtonpost/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/06/16/once-again-u-s-has-most-expensive-least-effective-health-care-system-in-survey/ (And if thats still not enough, I hardly believe that developing a healthcare system similar to, say, Canada, would destroy this country. But an argument could be made for how annoying the taxes would be for everyone, so I guess a bit of stinginess is acceptable if it isnt you in the ER.) 2. Obama ended Bush’s war, despite growing tensions in the region that culminated in the formation of ISIL/ISIS (and is mostly our fault anyway). 3. Increased domestic oil production, and reduced dependence on foreign oil through the novel investment and expansion of the fracking industry, causing, recently, the lowest price per gallon weve seen in years. 4. Did you know upwards of 99% of women have used some form of contraception? The call for equal rights between men and women and the opinion of lawmakers has seen a positive shift in recent years thanks to the Obama administration. However, it could use more work, and I personally am concerned about the Republican position, especially considering their arguments in the past limiting a womans control over her own body. 5. Are you part of the 1%? The gap between the 1% and the rest is worse than ever, but the DOW is having record highs every day. The economy is globally respected again, not 6 years after the ugliest, GOP-led social and economic tailspin in modern history. So its a little confusing that the Republican party bashes on the current administration, when historically theyre big proponents of upper class economics. However, so are the Democrats, they just hide it a bit. Still, the economy is surprising healthy considering where we were. Corporate profits are way up (money.cnn/gallery/news/economy/2014/01/28/obama-economy/index.html). So is business investment, job growth (moderately: jsonline/business/people-voluntarily-leaving-jobs-at-highest-rate-since-2009-downturn-b99303175z1-265866551.html), retail sales, manufacturing (well, barely), and interest rates on home loans are looking good (latimes/business/la-fi-interest-rates-20140706-story.html#page=1). Also, remember how USA auto makers were in a cesspit? Hello, Tesla, and people buying tons of cars.(autonews/article/20140707/OEM01/140709885/detroit-3-to-shorten-eliminate-summer-break-at-some-plants) 6. Federal discretionary spending is well below average, and the poverty rate has stabilized. 7. From the NSA to drone warfare to a shocking lack of transparency, a shameless kowtowing to Wall Street, a lack of serious education reform and barely a blip about the environment (until very recently), Obama gets a lot of flak from the left and a lot from the right. And he deserves it here. 8. So who cares that we got Osama, restored American stature, initiated a big trade deal with the East today, and have seen, relatively speaking, a net boon for the nation? Sure, he has had his issues, like any President, and hes deserving of a lot of criticism, particularly in relation to privacy laws, but to say hes the WORST thing to happen to America is forgetting the improvement weve seen at least economically in the last 6 years as a country, and the drastic shift in perspective when it comes to equal rights between men, women, and the LGBT community. So yea, Id give him a 6.5/7 out of 10 on the president ranking scale overall. Mostly because Im still REALLY pissed at the NSA. On economy, probably a 7.5 due to the wealth gap, despite it being a guarantee coming out of a recession due to poolable resources and possible investature for the underclass. Ill give him the same on social issues, since it could always be better, but weve seen progress.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 04:42:51 +0000