Obama just destroyed the existing healthcare in America that was based on the free market. His plan is not fixing anything, just offering free ride to people who don't care to work in the largest economy in the world. At the end he won't do anything to insurance companies or rediculous malpractice laws here.
Just a little pay cuts to Drs here and there is not going to go a long way.
Back to the original question, he failed C- in my book. Economy is still weak and not showing any sign of recovery, US is still stuck up to the neck in mud in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism is not any better controlled, ...
He is just lucky that nobody could do worse then Bush...
Just a little pay cuts to Drs here and there is not going to go a long way.
Back to the original question, he failed C- in my book. Economy is still weak and not showing any sign of recovery, US is still stuck up to the neck in mud in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism is not any better controlled, ...
He is just lucky that nobody could do worse then Bush...
Last edited:
I give him an A-. He has pushed the healthcare reforms no other President in the past 50 years could accomplish. The reforms will not be the best that could have been done but attempts to cover millions of uninsured in the US. It is incredible that the US spends more than any industrial nation in the world (16% of GDP) and still has some 40 million uninsured. On the economy, one has to realize he inherited the downturn from the Bush administration with the economy that almost crushed similar to 1930s. There are signs of recovery which takes sometime to translate in lower unemployment rate. Stock market us up and inventory levels are down which need to be replinsh, meaning economic activities in the near future. In the international arena, the US has regained some of its respect and image that was lost during the Bush administration. On the two wars, its unreasonable to expect him to end them in a year after eight years of fighting.
When comparing him to other American president’s first year in office he has done a lot. Health care reform being the biggest piece of legislation as many of you mentioned already. To be honest, I don’t know much about the details of health care bill, but I can’t imagine it being worst than what we have in America now. There are millions of illegal immigrants who work for cash, don’t show any income, and qualify for free treatment. They don’t have to pay a penny for medical treatment including delivering babies. At the same time low income Americans don’t qualify for this benefit and they are pissed off with the current system.
I also think he is been great with his foreign policy so far. He has been abroad more than most presidents on their first year in office and has done a decent job trying to restore America’s image in the world. If by the end of his term he can restore America’s image to pre Bush era, I would give him an A+.
I also think he is been great with his foreign policy so far. He has been abroad more than most presidents on their first year in office and has done a decent job trying to restore America’s image in the world. If by the end of his term he can restore America’s image to pre Bush era, I would give him an A+.
Pre-existing conditions. I'm surprised of your assessment Hamid jan. Most people can't afford to get individual health care plans in the U.S. And the real cheap plans, which are just expensive and not super expensive, have too high of deductible and are really worthless. I do agree with you on malpractice and insurance companies. As much as insurance companies put the front that they hate malpractice and Injury lawyers, they make money by being in business together, and the bottome feeders (policy holders) paying the price in premium.
But whose gone fix this way of doing business when all of lawmakers, and politicians were lawyers and protect that business.
D-
The healthcare bill(not done yet), banking reforms...Everything from top to bottom is a big blow to progressives in this country. I'm speaking as a lefty. Listen to what Dr. Dean said of this healthcare bill. It's the biggest giveaway to insurance industry one could imagine. It will be complete and utter disaster when all said and done.
The healthcare bill(not done yet), banking reforms...Everything from top to bottom is a big blow to progressives in this country. I'm speaking as a lefty. Listen to what Dr. Dean said of this healthcare bill. It's the biggest giveaway to insurance industry one could imagine. It will be complete and utter disaster when all said and done.
He has done an OK job so far. I think the economy has stabilized and will start recovering very soon. The auto industry is rebounding.
As for the healthcare bill, well it is not the ideal compromise as Public Option should have been included there but in any case more uninsured Americans will receive coverage and that is a step forward.
On the social liberties, there is a pledge to close down gitmo and I do not think the NSA is wiretapping without warrants or spying on Americans for that matter.
Iraq looks to be more stable now and there is less violence. I do understand that there are some bloody days there but nothing like what it was before. Afghanistan is troubling me and I am not sure if sending more troops there is a good idea.
The fight there needs to be fought anyway.
Overall I would give Obama a B+, mainly for the effort and taking on many different challenges at once.
As for the healthcare bill, well it is not the ideal compromise as Public Option should have been included there but in any case more uninsured Americans will receive coverage and that is a step forward.
On the social liberties, there is a pledge to close down gitmo and I do not think the NSA is wiretapping without warrants or spying on Americans for that matter.
Iraq looks to be more stable now and there is less violence. I do understand that there are some bloody days there but nothing like what it was before. Afghanistan is troubling me and I am not sure if sending more troops there is a good idea.
The fight there needs to be fought anyway.
Overall I would give Obama a B+, mainly for the effort and taking on many different challenges at once.
AS FZ said, and as a fellow big-time supporter of Mr. Obama, I’m sorry to say that he’s been one big dismal failure. But, perhaps, it’s better to say that, with both houses of congress as well as the presidency in hand; the Democrats as a whole have failed magnificently.
I give him that a mess of a failed economy and foreign policy was handed to him by W and Co., still, he has so far failed to live up to even one of his campaign promises:
Closing of the Guantanamo, getting serious about fixing the economy (i.e. stopping the corporate and banking excesses), implementing a true, progressive health care system, a speedy withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan (he’s in fact increased the number of troops in the latter), getting rid of the military commissions, prosecuting Cheney and Bush for a multitude of crimes violating the US Constitution in committing war crimes and invading a country that was never a threat to the US, committing torture on prisoners in blatant violation of the Geneva convention, failing to prosecute the Bush Justice Department heads for politicizing the delivery of justice (the firing of several US attorneys), and failing to follow up on the “outing” of Ms. Plame, the former CIA operative, by Bush administration. Add to all this, keeping Mr. Geitner, one of the architects of the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act (one of the main reasons for the global economy meltdown), as his secretary of the treasury and the continuation of the free-for-all give away to American banks, without holding them to a shred of accountability.
It’s a good thing you didn’t ask what I really thought. I would go on for a few more paragraphs!
BTW, I'm glad the economy appears to be improving, but note that this has so far been what's been called a "jobless" recovery; i.e. the misery of the regular American Joe continues and no real safeguards/solutions have been put in place to prevent the meltdown from happening again.
I give him that a mess of a failed economy and foreign policy was handed to him by W and Co., still, he has so far failed to live up to even one of his campaign promises:
Closing of the Guantanamo, getting serious about fixing the economy (i.e. stopping the corporate and banking excesses), implementing a true, progressive health care system, a speedy withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan (he’s in fact increased the number of troops in the latter), getting rid of the military commissions, prosecuting Cheney and Bush for a multitude of crimes violating the US Constitution in committing war crimes and invading a country that was never a threat to the US, committing torture on prisoners in blatant violation of the Geneva convention, failing to prosecute the Bush Justice Department heads for politicizing the delivery of justice (the firing of several US attorneys), and failing to follow up on the “outing” of Ms. Plame, the former CIA operative, by Bush administration. Add to all this, keeping Mr. Geitner, one of the architects of the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act (one of the main reasons for the global economy meltdown), as his secretary of the treasury and the continuation of the free-for-all give away to American banks, without holding them to a shred of accountability.
It’s a good thing you didn’t ask what I really thought. I would go on for a few more paragraphs!
BTW, I'm glad the economy appears to be improving, but note that this has so far been what's been called a "jobless" recovery; i.e. the misery of the regular American Joe continues and no real safeguards/solutions have been put in place to prevent the meltdown from happening again.
Last edited:
He is a lot better than Bush. Specifically in the sense that he is not as destructive. Bush, day in, day out was a significant destructive force. Obama is not as destructive. Other pluses is that he actually tries to do good. Bush did not care and treated the office exceptionally politically (mostly due to Rove) and only wished to gain politically and for his political supporters. And he has shown to be pragmatic.
The real impact will not be felt for some time, but the short-term impact has been to restore some confidence and sense of normalcy in the US, from constant war and fear mongering. He has also been able to repair some of the damage done to US' international standing.
On the negative side, he really is clueless when it comes to policy and he constantly wants to just please.
The best thing that could happen for the US is a big, big Republican win in mid-year elections. Same thing that happened to Clinton. The best practical situation for the US is a Democrat as President and a Republican Congress. Personally I will vote for any Republican blindly and across the board, help them financially, and recommend others to do the same. If this does not happen then we will start witnessing the real long-term damage of Obama on the US.
It is too early to call anything on his healthcare reform. We need to see the final version. It appears more and more that it is not really a health care reform bill. Instead is spending bill to increase insurance coverage. If so, it will have a net negative long-term influence. Nearly all the measures to control costs have been taken out to appease the various special interest groups. Hell, some of them will actually come out ahead and as a result even a larger portion of the US GDP will be spent on healthcare.
The real impact will not be felt for some time, but the short-term impact has been to restore some confidence and sense of normalcy in the US, from constant war and fear mongering. He has also been able to repair some of the damage done to US' international standing.
On the negative side, he really is clueless when it comes to policy and he constantly wants to just please.
The best thing that could happen for the US is a big, big Republican win in mid-year elections. Same thing that happened to Clinton. The best practical situation for the US is a Democrat as President and a Republican Congress. Personally I will vote for any Republican blindly and across the board, help them financially, and recommend others to do the same. If this does not happen then we will start witnessing the real long-term damage of Obama on the US.
It is too early to call anything on his healthcare reform. We need to see the final version. It appears more and more that it is not really a health care reform bill. Instead is spending bill to increase insurance coverage. If so, it will have a net negative long-term influence. Nearly all the measures to control costs have been taken out to appease the various special interest groups. Hell, some of them will actually come out ahead and as a result even a larger portion of the US GDP will be spent on healthcare.
The American political system has evolved in such a way that it prevents the president from bringing about fundamental changes. This was achieved in two ways IMO.
First as we all know, America is a nation of “middle class” run by high class (5% of population). This middle class is actually a buffer zone between poor under class and high& mighty class. Relying on this middle class, consensus have been manufactured (as Chomsky would put it) in thousand different ways. Based on this manufactured consensuses, a solid political frame was created and crossing it means political death for any politicians. That’s where unique hit@ run American style of campaign finds its origin. Mention social justice and you will be branded as socialist and you can kiss & say good bye to your political career!!
The other obstacle, if you will, comes from senate. Senate was precisely created to check what “founding fathers” called “mob” or “common peoples‘” democracy.
With equal number of senators from each state, irrespective of its population, popular vote is not the ultimate decider in American political system.
Having these factors in mind, I mentioned to a friend a day after Obama’s victory that at best he is going to be another Jimmy Carter. And after a year I have no reason to change my assessment of Obama.
Carter & Obama were/are two decent men who had/have misgivings about where the real power is & took the entrenched establishment lightly.
If you are looking for real /fundamental change, getting rid of the senate is the first step in the right direction IMO
payan jan,
Carter is from deep south but he ain’t no redneck. His pinions & stands are public record. Don’t judge presidents based on their home state. The most underrated President who happened to be one of the most progressive one, if not THE most progressive one, came from Texas among all states!! And the most overrated one who tip-towed around all crucial issues came from Massachusetts!! Isn’t that peculiar?
Carter is from deep south but he ain’t no redneck. His pinions & stands are public record. Don’t judge presidents based on their home state. The most underrated President who happened to be one of the most progressive one, if not THE most progressive one, came from Texas among all states!! And the most overrated one who tip-towed around all crucial issues came from Massachusetts!! Isn’t that peculiar?
the thing is that the existing healthcare wasn't really working, many people were kind of not injured and it wasn't only about not being willing to work and healthcare and free market don't really work that well.
If you go for free market and health care, many people will end up not being insured, because it makes no sense for the insurance company to give the guy an insurance, for health, premium or whatever else reason. That's why health care should be a public good, at least in theory and as long as it's not crippling the country.
From what I got, the new bill is not even a real public plan but a mixture, similar to how it works in Switzerland. But I have to say that I didn't follow the plan in detail for time reasons.
Also, he was attracted by many leftists and progressives but he was actually more of a center guy. Half of his people are from Chicago...I mean, if that was a heaven for leftists, then Friedman would be turning in his grave.
If you go for free market and health care, many people will end up not being insured, because it makes no sense for the insurance company to give the guy an insurance, for health, premium or whatever else reason. That's why health care should be a public good, at least in theory and as long as it's not crippling the country.
From what I got, the new bill is not even a real public plan but a mixture, similar to how it works in Switzerland. But I have to say that I didn't follow the plan in detail for time reasons.
Also, he was attracted by many leftists and progressives but he was actually more of a center guy. Half of his people are from Chicago...I mean, if that was a heaven for leftists, then Friedman would be turning in his grave.