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Obama Climate Speech: More Fracking And Keystone A Go?
- Thread starter JamesL
- Start date
Quote from piezoe:
But aren't you concerned about his stance with regard to the Patriot Act, the increased secrecy and less transparency, his behind the scenes continued push to solidify executive power over our ineffectual legislature?
When Obama was elected, I thought, thank God, we have an educated President whose IQ is above 100. But now I'm seeing it as a mixed blessing. Yes, he has tried in many ways to move in the right direction -- closing down the wars, recognizing that conventional warfare is ineffective against terrorism, but not recognizing that drone strikes make matters worse, unable to understand or do anything about the root cause, trying to do something about the horrible medical mess in the U.S., but willing to settle for continued mess, though possibly more just. He has turned out to be above all else a politician -- and a very bright capable one at that. Perhaps less evil than Cheney, more competent than Bush, better educated than Reagan, luckier than Carter, more inward than Clinton, but too calculating, too political. I'm worried, but at the same time I understand the constraints he has to operate under.
On the other hand, he is not doing anything to reverse the horrible intrusions on constitutional rights we are experiencing -- a slide toward becoming a police State. In that regard, it's like he has taken a play book from the Soviet Union. He hasn't done anything to get rid of the Reagan excesses and flawed economic policies- the income redistribution that led to decimation of the middle class, the for-profit prisons, the counterproductive war on drugs, the bloated and fraudulent military budget, and the worst access to, and highest cost of medical care in the industrialized world -- the jury is out on that. Most importantly, he has, so far as I can tell, done nothing to restore that path for individuals from labor to capital that was the essence of the "American Dream." That path no longer exists in any meaningful way. Nowadays, if you are born into labor, you will remain there no matter how hard you work unless you are extraordinarily lucky. In the mid 1960's the minimum wage in constant dollars was $10.40/hr. Today it is $7.25/hr!!!
I miss those days when we did not have to take our shoes off to get on an airplane! I'm willing to take on more risk for fewer laws and more freedom. It's not necessarily all Obama's fault, but he doesn't seem to be helping nearly as much as I had hoped. And the intrusions on personal liberty are positively scary.
A fair critique. I would generally say though that much of the problem is from inheriting pre-existing policies, running into info that is only seen once one is in the oval office and and a congress that is as useless as tits on a bull. In fact they are worse than useless and are actually obstructions to progress.
As far as the intrusion thing, he acknowledges that it must be up for debate and guidelines need to established. But so far the majority seem to be generally OK with it, knowing to prevent terrorism some privacy must be relinquished.
At least, he is not the embarrassment that Bush was. My dog is smarter than that frat boy.
Yes, I guess I would agree that if the choice was between Obama and Bush, then I would certainly prefer Obama. And of course everyone who thinks, which is by no means everyone, realizes that there are limits to what one man, or woman, can do about the problems of this nation. Particularly in a political environment in which half the Congress has made it their objective to see to it that the President can't do anything without being obstructed. I wish they would show the same enthusiasm when it comes to protecting the Bill of Rights.
Still very concerned about the trampling on the Bill of Rights and consolidation of power in the executive branch. It bodes ill for the future.
Still very concerned about the trampling on the Bill of Rights and consolidation of power in the executive branch. It bodes ill for the future.