Obama's First Month
I hear so much complaining! Yikes!! You would think our new President is a buffoon listening to some people. There must be a certain attraction...to complain about politicians, just for the sake of complaining. Let's call it the "Rush Limbaugh Syndrome". HAHA...joke there...
However, when I look at Obama's first month in office, I am impressed overall! Perfect? No... Is he new to the job? Yes...
However!!
What exactly has he done?
First, he has most his cabinet up, and functioning (and finally paying taxes!) :-) Hey it's not Obama's fault, (or character flaw) that some of these guys did not pay taxes, he didn't know, and he took the blame for not knowing before nominating them...frankly I was surprised some of them got confirmed...However....
That said, overall, I'm happy to see a largely functioning cabinet this early in the game. Some past Presidents have taken months to do this.
Second, executive orders to close Guantanamo, and end torcher. That has been a scar on this country, and what went on there, the concept of sending people where they had no laws should concern us all. After all, who might be next? I know it will be tough, but the ball is rolling. Good!...note, I still think terrorists should be tried...fairly...not just turned loose....and I know it is a complicated situation...
Third, economic stimulus!! Woo Hoo!! We have to do this...and no matter what, it will be sloppy...I am in finance...here's the deal...remember we have GDP made up of several contributing factors...consumer, industry, service, government, etc. If one dries up significantly another can fill the gap (if only partially). We have consumers hunkered down, and government is filing the gap...temporarily...it does not have to end in an unpleasant way (but it still might, I know). However, for now, this is the right thing to do. Done! In the first month! Remarkable!
Next,(isn't all this impressive, when you think about it?) health care, you may not agree with me, but the solution to the train wreck we have in health care will have to be a government solution. We are the only industrialized nation in the world not to have some kind of health care safety net. You and I should not have to worry about health care if we loose our job...or get sick! True story...I have a friend who's mother was diagnosed with MS...her insurance company's response? They canceled her policy!...does that suck or what!? Obama has issued directives, and asked for money to be set aside in the budget to deal with the problem.
Government will have to run this. And I'm sure I'm right about that... :-) ... yes...
Next, environmental concerns...President Obama has aggressively signed into law tax incentives, and other incentives to generate new technology which is intended to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and deal with greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, (I read) he has done more to further this cause in a month than the previous administration did in eight years.
Last, he has demonstrated a genuine concern for the problems in the middle east (Obama's fist interview took place on Arabian television). And our Secretary of State has already visited China (like it or not, China and the US are inseparably linked)...That is a whole other post.
So, there you go...I'm pretty impressed so far!
I have some criticism as well. But I'll save it..
I don't want end this with a complaint!
:-)
However, when I look at Obama's first month in office, I am impressed overall! Perfect? No... Is he new to the job? Yes...
However!!
What exactly has he done?
First, he has most his cabinet up, and functioning (and finally paying taxes!) :-) Hey it's not Obama's fault, (or character flaw) that some of these guys did not pay taxes, he didn't know, and he took the blame for not knowing before nominating them...frankly I was surprised some of them got confirmed...However....
That said, overall, I'm happy to see a largely functioning cabinet this early in the game. Some past Presidents have taken months to do this.
Second, executive orders to close Guantanamo, and end torcher. That has been a scar on this country, and what went on there, the concept of sending people where they had no laws should concern us all. After all, who might be next? I know it will be tough, but the ball is rolling. Good!...note, I still think terrorists should be tried...fairly...not just turned loose....and I know it is a complicated situation...
Third, economic stimulus!! Woo Hoo!! We have to do this...and no matter what, it will be sloppy...I am in finance...here's the deal...remember we have GDP made up of several contributing factors...consumer, industry, service, government, etc. If one dries up significantly another can fill the gap (if only partially). We have consumers hunkered down, and government is filing the gap...temporarily...it does not have to end in an unpleasant way (but it still might, I know). However, for now, this is the right thing to do. Done! In the first month! Remarkable!
Next,(isn't all this impressive, when you think about it?) health care, you may not agree with me, but the solution to the train wreck we have in health care will have to be a government solution. We are the only industrialized nation in the world not to have some kind of health care safety net. You and I should not have to worry about health care if we loose our job...or get sick! True story...I have a friend who's mother was diagnosed with MS...her insurance company's response? They canceled her policy!...does that suck or what!? Obama has issued directives, and asked for money to be set aside in the budget to deal with the problem.
Government will have to run this. And I'm sure I'm right about that... :-) ... yes...
Next, environmental concerns...President Obama has aggressively signed into law tax incentives, and other incentives to generate new technology which is intended to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and deal with greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, (I read) he has done more to further this cause in a month than the previous administration did in eight years.
Last, he has demonstrated a genuine concern for the problems in the middle east (Obama's fist interview took place on Arabian television). And our Secretary of State has already visited China (like it or not, China and the US are inseparably linked)...That is a whole other post.
So, there you go...I'm pretty impressed so far!
I have some criticism as well. But I'll save it..
I don't want end this with a complaint!
:-)
posted by Jim at 9:43 PM
7 Comments:
Jim, you are an optimistic guy - one of the many reasons I like you!
I am one who has "Rush Limbaugh Syndrome" (RLS)LOL I can laugh about that with you. But I've had the syndrome since the 80's not just in the last few months.
National Health Care is a slippery slope that the banks and car manufacturers are on now. Do you really want the government telling you how much you can make, what your bonus might be and whether you deserve one, or how about deciding that a quadrouple bypass is okay if you are below 50 but over 50 only a triple bypass is cost effective?
The President was knocking the CEO of companies having planes but the Speaker of the House (a public servant) has her own plane at taxpayer expense!
Whew...I need some coffee (way too early for wine!). ;)
I know there are problems in my views, but...the banks may need nationalization...look at the mess they made on their own, and this is not the first time! It occurs with amazing regularity. We can have free markets, it might just not apply to banks. (I first heard that from a well known free market economist, Ed Yardeni.) If you want to fly in your own jet (as I would) you need to get in another business...not banking (anymore). And health care? My brother lives in Taiwan, where they have national health, and he loves it. (I'm guessing you had a (rare) good experience with the insurance company on your illness. That's good. I'm glad for that.)
Thanks for the comment.
Are people kidding themselves when they say, "I don't want the government to come between me and my doctor." Do we really think there isn't something between them now! It is called the insurance companies. They decide what the doctor can do for you or not. I am sorry but the insurance companies decide how many by-passes you have and they don't have to give you one. They can also cancel your policy at any time if you cost them too much money - and if you lose your job, you lose everything. I have met people from all over the developed world and I have never met one who take our health care system (system-not care) over their health care system. Most think that losing your health care when you lose your job is crazy.
Hey Rob, that's my brother...he knows what he's talking about since he used to work at an HMO!...not anymore...now he's an English teacher...
And thanks to both of you for reading this stuff. And thanks for not being too hard on me with comments...
I am always willing to listen and am willing to learn too. I admit I have been very lucky with my health care. If I was without a job my wife had one that we were able to switch our coverage to. Who knows, I might reach a cap to my benefits at some time.
Believe me, I know we have the insurance companies between us and the doctors. Perhaps doctors should be "public servants?" (see my post of 03/01 on my blog) Not sure. All my life much the allure of being a doctor, lawyer, or engineer was the pay.
After we get healthcare under government control maybe we should get the legal profession. When I had to take my daughter and son-in-law to court to get my grandson protection and adopted from them because of their drug and alcohol abuse it cost me about $11,000. Since this was for the sake of a child why should I have had to pay so much? We need the government to put a lid on the cost of this type of legal action.
You know I said that "tongue in cheek." But where do we stop the inroads of government into our lives?
Yeah, I get it... :-)
I don't like government intrusion either...I hate it more than most, really...I've just seem the underbelly of the current HC system. I'm glad things worked for you though!!
I think it has been best stated that government should be involved where it is for the "common good", we all benefit, and can't operate as well in small pieces. The best example is the military...should we just have militias, or do we need a "common" military? That was a public debate at one point. Health care has risen to that level. We would all benefit from a central operation. I don't think it would be perfect, just better.
The good news for anyone who likes some form of the current system (which I am pretty sure is everyone) is that it will probably not change in my lifetime. The insurance companies are in complete control of the policy makers. The argument is dead. Come to think of it, I should probably find a new cause! :-)
I just checked my last comment..I should have proof read!
Ugh...
Enough of that kind of talk anyhow...let's discus the stock market!
I'll meet you on the roof!
Kidding, of course...(about the roof)
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