Nonexistent Clarity- Obama's FocusObama made quite a few promises along the campaign trail, ranging from education, healthcare the war, etc. I don't want to share my thoughts quite yet, I want the people of this community to share what they know about Obama's Focus. Is it the economy? healthcare? environment? foriegn relations? With all these spending (stimulus, tarp, etc) bills, taxpayers are left with their money gone and their heads spinning. Time for some clarity. In a nutshell, What do you think our president is trying to do? And for that matter, for whom?
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Interesting Take
I think it is disingenuous in the extreme for you to lay even partial blame for the country's shopping list of ailments at the president's feet. These are long-term issues more than a decade in the making resulting from a rush to deregulation, failed diplomacy, asleep at the switch regulators, etc. That said, from all appearences the president is in a very systematic manner dealing with all of these very complicated problems.
On the environment we are seeing discussion on global warming and an overall return of science to the decision-making process. And efforts are underway to solve some of the corruption problems at the Department of Interior. All good news.
We have also seen action on the economy, but time will tell whether the correct actions were taken. That said, we know with absolute certainty that past actions were not right.
Health care reform is a long standing issue and hopefully that will be dealt with soon. Though dedicating funds to the unemployed for diminish health insurance costs will certainly help those at most risk.
A recent poll indicated that roughly 60 percent of Americans felt that the president was doing a good or excellent job with only 22 percent holding your view. Perhaps it is time for this 22 percent to join with the rest of us in trying to solve the nation's problems rather than wasting energy on post election sour grapes.
Bob Ferris
Off topic...
I feel that your comment is irrelevent to the topic. I am looking for someone who thinks they know what Obama is trying to focus in on.
I feel however that after these spend-ulus and bank bailouts that President Obama holds %100 accountability for the national debt. No excuses. He did not "inherit" his debt; he owns it now. As long as him and congress keep passing superfluous bills to try to quick fix the economy, we can only dream about how our great-grand children will feel about the irresponibility of our elected leaders.
Once again, though I feel I am digging up a dead cat, Where are the numbers Mr. Ferris! What proves that HUMANS are the cuase of the temperature rise? How about the sun? How about the methane bubbling up from the ocean floor?
Nothing is free Mr. Ferris, and as long as Obama has his power of Executive Orders and the Power to Spend, We are in for a heck of a year.
Question was Answered
You asked about promises and clarity. I responded that he seemed to be keeping promises and was also making progress. And that most of America agrees with that statement.
And I agree that the president holds 100% responsibility for managing and fixing the national debt, but that is very different from 100% responsibility for creating that debt.
The only dead cat issue here is your unwilliness to accept the findings of international bodies of scientists. There is no real debate here just some noise created by corporate funded (see http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/sep/19/ethicalliving.g2efforts) to discredit the science that has been around for more than two decades (see Bill McKibben's The End of Nature). Interestingly, the Exxon-Mobil's of the world are backing off in funding the contrarians and that movement is starting to self-distruct.
The numbers are all contained in the IPCC reports (http://www.ipcc.ch/)--the Internation Panel on Climate Change. Now I suppose that you would be more comfortable with the corporate funded ICECAP assessment, but my question to you is this: What in your background qualifies you to separate the wheat from the chaff? Where did you get your scientific ground or are your opinions derived from being told what the answer is?
And where did you learn civics? The president is only a player in the budget along with the house and senate. And there have already been clear indications that the president is not philosophically inclined to abuse or stretch presidential authorities like his Mr. Bush.
Bob Ferris
Be Wary of Constitutional Power Limits
To settle the debt thing: After all Obama has spent on useless "Bailouts" and "Stimuli", Mr. Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Senator Dood, and all the other congressmen. You know as well as I that this debt can no longer be called "inherited"
"Progress" seems to be another "hot campaign word". In my opinion, and many others, according to Rasmussen are beginning to agree that absolutely no progress has been made. All Obama has told us so far is where he is going to distribute the working class's hard-earned money. He seems to be thinking about doing something in Afghanistan, and Hillary is over in Mexico. Let's see something promising. Something other than spending.
To answer your last question
I am proud to say that I don't have an intellectual background, nor do I have a doctorate in Astrophysics, and I haven't worked for NASA.
That may be a shock to some people, that I say a lot without having some fabulous degree to flash off all over the Internet. But there are certain things people take and leave when they go to college when they are in a lecture hall being told how bad capitalism is. It pays to have the ability to look at things in hindsight. To have real-world experience with interacting with people, rather than addressing them, and knowing your people rather than making them know you. There are leadership qualities that you won't find in any Harvard lecture hall. There are lots of things that can't be taught in the classroom. Those are learned in life; by taking risks, dealing with the consequences. And when you are all done, giving credit where credit is due.
So Mr. Ferris, I have clearly established that I am far from qualified to be a rocket scientist. I have one vote. It sounds like you are implying that certain people deserve two votes. Am I interpreting you wrongly? I personally think that if people take the time to educate themselves in the ways of how our country was founded, then they should deserve more credit than the kid down the street who is mesmerized by silly campaign slogans.
Your thoughts?
BTW- the link in parenthesis is broken. Post a new one please.
Stimulus
Yes the stimulus package was approved during his watch. That is a fact. The need for the legislation and the legislation itself was a rollover from the previous administration.
As to rocket scientists getting more than one vote...I would never argue for that. I agree with you last statement that education is key and I think that our educational system is extremely flawed and is turning folks out who are not prepared to make decision about many of the complex issues around us.
Bob Ferris
The education Keystone
In my last statement, I in no way mean to praise what Presient Bush, or the congress did. They are all crooks
I couldnt agree more with the problems in the education system. We must get back to the focus of Educating our children for the World.