Time for a rare “Saturday Post” on the Reality Liberation Front…I couldn’t resist, given the fascinating article in this month’s Rolling Stone titled, “Obama So Far,” where David Gergen, Paul Krugman, and Michael Moore weigh in (with others) on the accomplishments, failures, and other points of interest regarding President Obama’s first 100 days in office.
I wanted to briefly summarize the points from the article, but highly recommend the entire piece which may be read here. All items below come straight from the article with minimal paraphrasing/editorial on my part…I want to make sure to provide due recognition to the authors.
THE ECONOMY:
Accomplishments:
- BIG WIN: The economic collapse, and subsequent massive depression…averted. All major economic indicators from banking, to stocks, to housing, and unemployment…improving.
- Largest middle-class tax cut in history passed.
- Negotiated massive bailout of developing economies at the G-20…it’s a world economy, and their salvation is linked to ours.
- Managed to quickly get GM and Chrysler through bankruptcy, and on the mend.
- Credit card reform…new rules to prevent exorbitant, unwarranted rate hikes.
- New hedge fund regulations.
- New consumer protection agency.
Struggles:
- BIG CONCERN: Despite the backlash from the “socialism tinfoil hat-wearers,” the banks should have been temporarily nationalized, instead of just being given piles of money.
- Stimulus money being spent in some areas…but not quickly enough in others. Weatherization money has been particularly slow to be implemented, as well as the funds to prevent foreclosures.
- Much-hyped plan to deal with banks’ “toxic assets“…still in a holding pattern.
To Do:
- Wall Street may be seeing better days…but they still haven’t learned the lessons they should. Regulations and a firmer hand are definitely in order.
HEALTH CARE REFORM:
Accomplishments:
- BIG WIN: Four million more children, mostly from the middle-class, now have health insurance. That is…if the GOP efforts to steal it back from them during health care reform “compromises” don’t succeed. Honestly, only Republicans would be trying to TAKE AWAY peoples’ insurance right now.
- Medication costs for seniors…reduced to the tune of a whopping $80 billion.
- Hospital costs…deals resulted in a $100 billion reduction.
- FDA will, FINALLY, regulate the tobacco industry.
- Stem cell research, with ethical restrictions, can now proceed…undoing part of Bush’s war on “all scientificky things.”
- Extended the health insurance benefits to the unemployed.
- $19 billion given to computerize medical/hospital records. Should have been done a LONG time ago.
Struggles:
- BIG CONCERN: Initial attempts to promote health care reform met with unfavorable Congressional Budget Office price tags. Even when these costs were addressed…the damage was, in a way, already done: the initial reports had cast a shadow of lingering doubt over what the final tally would be.
- Deals to cut drug costs…don’t include generics.
- Gave a little ground on the importance of the “public option” for insurance. Loss of the option would change the “health care reform” bill, to a “health care tweak bill.“
To Do:
- The AFSCME union is attempting to kill the taxing of the health benefits of America’s “millionaire club.” This tax could provide as much as $500 billion dollars per year…no small thing. Obama has to take the gloves off with them…
ENVIRONMENT:
Accomplishments:
- BIG WIN: The Environmental Protection Agency now has the authority to regulate climate-warming pollution.
- 2 million acres of public land is now protected…more than Bush did the ENTIRE time he was in office.
- Allocated stimulus money to developing and implementing green tech.
- Enhanced the enforcement of environmental regulations.
- Joined international treaty to phase out “toxic mercury.”
- Bush’s ill-conceived drilling permits near our national parks…REVOKED.
Struggles:
- BIG CONCERN: Supported expensive, and impractical, research into “carbon capture and sequestration.“
- Couldn’t get China and India on board with commitment to reduce global greenhouse emissions…and they are two of the world’s WORST offenders.
- Allowed logging in the Tongass National Forest.
- Endorsed a House bill, that would “give away carbon-pollution permits“…this breaks one of his campaign promises.
To Do:
- Coal. “Clean coal” is a non-starter…most don’t even believe it is possible. Meanwhile, extremely destructive coal mining projects and practices continue unabated. Obama should abandon the “clean coal” concept, and move quickly to some practical regulations and controls.
EDUCATION:
Accomplishments:
- BIG WIN: $115 billion will be spent to provide the nation’s schools with long overdue modernization, save teaching jobs, and perform massive improvements in our higher education system to ensure our grads stay competitive. I write “stay competitive“…realistically, I should write “become competitive.“
- More low income student are now able to attend college…thanks to enhanced grants and tax credits.
- Private lenders…no longer able to profit unfairly from student loans.
- $4 billion in grants so states can implement merit pay for teachers.
Struggles:
- BIG CONCERN: The stimulus boost may me significant…but some teacher layoffs will still occur, making already excessive class sizes continue to be a problem, new programs difficult to implement, and also…I see a lot of attention paid to teaching and classrooms, but not enough reform where it is needed: administration.
- An emphasis on “tougher exams“…when will politicians learn that this has never been the answer and leads to unwanted classroom strategies and administrative “data massaging.”
- Schools “bailed out” like the banks…like the banks, not enough strings attached.
To Do:
- Obama is pushing “more tests” and “charter schools“…sounds like Bush. Like with Bush…not the answers.
Of course, there are signs of progress, points of contention, and “to do” items in other areas (foreign policy, military actions, justice, gay rights, national security, miscellaneous), but the article seems to focus mostly on the topics receiving the most press and publicity in recent months. Any chance I get to highlight the main points on these other topics…I will will surely do so.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend…