Okay, anyone disappointed in Obama so far?

[Anonymous]

I disagree. You are all panicking. Yes, unemployment is up, and it's going higher. But that will not last. Let's revisit this in September. A contracting economy is a scary thing, but it will not collapse forever. People need to buy things to live in our society and demand will pick up again, re-starting the economic engine, albeit at a slower pace than in the falsely inflated Bush era.

The bubble is collapsing, not the bedrock of our entire economy. Some businesses need to go out of business. The auto makers ought to have made changes years ago. If they fail, it's time. And to those who speculated in the stock market and in houses they couldn't afford, well, sorry, that's what risk is all about. Sometimes you lose.

The Democrats need to take advantage of this crisis to institute much needed changes, ie national health care and higher taxes on the rich. The disparity between rich and poor in this country is stark and has grown far worse under Bush II. Spend some time with poor, I mean really poor people for a while and see how they live. Then come back and see if you don't feel ashamed of yourselves for whining about a few hundred dollars in extra taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. You are all panicking. Yes, unemployment is up, and it's going higher. But that will not last. Let's revisit this in September. A contracting economy is a scary thing, but it will not collapse forever. People need to buy things to live in our society and demand will pick up again, re-starting the economic engine, albeit at a slower pace than in the falsely inflated Bush era.

The bubble is collapsing, not the bedrock of our entire economy. Some businesses need to go out of business. The auto makers ought to have made changes years ago. If they fail, it's time. And to those who speculated in the stock market and in houses they couldn't afford, well, sorry, that's what risk is all about. Sometimes you lose.

The Democrats need to take advantage of this crisis to institute much needed changes, ie national health care and higher taxes on the rich. The disparity between rich and poor in this country is stark and has grown far worse under Bush II. Spend some time with poor, I mean really poor people for a while and see how they live. Then come back and see if you don't feel ashamed of yourselves for whining about a few hundred dollars in extra taxes.

Thanks for the Socialist BS. What Obama and Congress want to do is make more and more people dependent on government for their everyday livelyhood. Once the govt gives something to you, it would be political suicide for any politician to suggest it be taken away. And, you as an unemployed worker have no incentive to get a job because the govt is providing everything for you. And, why would you work anyway? Make a little money and the govt takes much of it-- not only when you earn it but when you spend it.

I am so disgusted by this horribly flawed view of what this country should be.

[Anonymous]

This kind of approach to social changes at all cost is scary, to say the least.


I came from a former socialist country. The slogan was then " we have to destroy the old order in order to estalish a new one". How familar.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the Socialist BS. What Obama and Congress want to do is make more and more people dependent on government for their everyday livelyhood. Once the govt gives something to you, it would be political suicide for any politician to suggest it be taken away. And, you as an unemployed worker have no incentive to get a job because the govt is providing everything for you. And, why would you work anyway? Make a little money and the govt takes much of it-- not only when you earn it but when you spend it.

Why do you think Obama would want to create a country in which nobody wanted to work? What kind of country would that be? It takes a special type of derangement to believe Obama and the Democrats are purposely trying to destroy the country.

Clearly, Obama's intentions are much different than you believe. What do you think should happen to unemployed people? Should they be left to starve? I suppose that you also oppose the stimulus package that is meant to create jobs for them. Oh, I know! You think the unemployed should get tax cuts, don't you? Tax cuts will solve everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This kind of approach to social changes at all cost is scary, to say the least.


I came from a former socialist country. The slogan was then " we have to destroy the old order in order to estalish a new one". How familar.

Was it a democratic socialist country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. You are all panicking. Yes, unemployment is up, and it's going higher. But that will not last. Let's revisit this in September. A contracting economy is a scary thing, but it will not collapse forever. People need to buy things to live in our society and demand will pick up again, re-starting the economic engine, albeit at a slower pace than in the falsely inflated Bush era.

The bubble is collapsing, not the bedrock of our entire economy. Some businesses need to go out of business. The auto makers ought to have made changes years ago. If they fail, it's time. And to those who speculated in the stock market and in houses they couldn't afford, well, sorry, that's what risk is all about. Sometimes you lose.

The Democrats need to take advantage of this crisis to institute much needed changes, ie national health care and higher taxes on the rich. The disparity between rich and poor in this country is stark and has grown far worse under Bush II. Spend some time with poor, I mean really poor people for a while and see how they live. Then come back and see if you don't feel ashamed of yourselves for whining about a few hundred dollars in extra taxes.

Nope no shame. I grew up poor, horribly poor. We were evicted from every house in which we lived and my dad became a DC homeless when I was a teenager, he is mentally insane. I worked at Dunkin Donuts and brought him the day olds (which I had to steal out of the trash because the owner did not allow us to take the day olds). I also had to bathe him and bring him healthy foods (that were expensive on my afterschool fast food salary) that he would scarf down like an animal. My mother slaved away at a department store while us kids were left like wild animals to fend for ourselves, because she had no choice. She never felt "entiteld" to anything and never turned to the government for help, she is a proud person and I admire her for it.

I am PROUD that despite a lack of college education and the fact that my parents never even asked about my grades that I MADE IT. I live the American dream and I made it on my own 2 feet with the help of no one. I help in my OWN way and I resent the government and people like YOU trying to steal MY DREAM. I take care of my mom now, I sent my dad to a place where he can be cared for, I mentor my younger brother and sister and have helped them overcome their challenges, and I give more than most people to individuals I have met over my life who have needed my help, all of which cannot be deducted on my taxes.

Yes, I am a survivor and it is something I was born with, but getting to where I am at now was not easy. It would have been much easier to do nothing and complain about it and get misty eyed liberals to feel sorry for me. Look at the overindulged overeducated people on this board, they know nothing about the real struggles of people who grow up poor. Everyone in this country has a chance, they just have to WORK very very hard at it.

The road to hell is often paved with good intentions and we seem to be on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This kind of approach to social changes at all cost is scary, to say the least.


I came from a former socialist country. The slogan was then " we have to destroy the old order in order to estalish a new one". How familar.

Was it a democratic socialist country?

Every socilaist country calls itself democratic socialist. Of course, the meaning of democratic is totally different from what we mean here in US.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the Socialist BS. What Obama and Congress want to do is make more and more people dependent on government for their everyday livelyhood. Once the govt gives something to you, it would be political suicide for any politician to suggest it be taken away. And, you as an unemployed worker have no incentive to get a job because the govt is providing everything for you. And, why would you work anyway? Make a little money and the govt takes much of it-- not only when you earn it but when you spend it.

Why do you think Obama would want to create a country in which nobody wanted to work? What kind of country would that be? It takes a special type of derangement to believe Obama and the Democrats are purposely trying to destroy the country.

Clearly, Obama's intentions are much different than you believe. What do you think should happen to unemployed people? Should they be left to starve? I suppose that you also oppose the stimulus package that is meant to create jobs for them. Oh, I know! You think the unemployed should get tax cuts, don't you? Tax cuts will solve everything.

He's destroying the American dream. His "share the wealth" policies offer no incentive for people to strive to do anything when the government can provide it for you. Of course I don't want the unemployed to starve and children to beg on the street. I wanted common-sense stimulus that would actually stimulate the economy. We got very little stimulus and a whole lot of liberal programs.

I am not rich. I am a middle-class mom trying to keep my family going. The simple fact is that the rich drive the economy- they are the ones who hire and fire, spend the most money and pay an overwhelmingly lopsided percentage of taxes. The more you take from the rich, the less they spend, thus hurting the economy.

Our problems are unbelievably complicated and global in nature. There is no quick, easy fix. But, in my view we have made the problem worse and will feel the effects harder and longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This kind of approach to social changes at all cost is scary, to say the least.


I came from a former socialist country. The slogan was then " we have to destroy the old order in order to estalish a new one". How familar.

Was it a democratic socialist country?

Every socilaist country calls itself democratic socialist. Of course, the meaning of democratic is totally different from what we mean here in US.

I don't care what the country called itself. Was it in your view democratic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am not rich. I am a middle-class mom trying to keep my family going. The simple fact is that the rich drive the economy- they are the ones who hire and fire, spend the most money and pay an overwhelmingly lopsided percentage of taxes. The more you take from the rich, the less they spend, thus hurting the economy.

I've been around DCUM far to long to take at face value anyone who says she is "middle class". What's your HHI? I'm betting it is over $150K. Am I right?

[Anonymous]

Agreed re: the "class" that is on this board.

And, anyone who thinks we live in a pure capitalist society is kidding themselves. Subsidies, social security, medicaid, a common defense that conservatives like to trot out as "protecting all our liberties." Fixing our healthcare system, green projects, road projects, ending the foreclosures . . . these benefit us all and are good things.

I can't convince anyone who believes otherwise. But, I must say I don't understand it. And, I do think it is unbelievably selfish. This is from someone who "made it" also. I know what it is like to be poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed re: the "class" that is on this board.

And, anyone who thinks we live in a pure capitalist society is kidding themselves. Subsidies, social security, medicaid, a common defense that conservatives like to trot out as "protecting all our liberties." Fixing our healthcare system, green projects, road projects, ending the foreclosures . . . these benefit us all and are good things.

I can't convince anyone who believes otherwise. But, I must say I don't understand it. And, I do think it is unbelievably selfish. This is from someone who "made it" also. I know what it is like to be poor.

Conservatives pushed for more road projects, more help with foreclosures, putting more money in taxpayers hands. Instead we got a stimulus full of very little of the stuff that will actually stimulate the economy.

It's very easy to think of Conservatives as money-hungry, selfish folks who don't give a crap about the poor because we want smaller govt and less taxes. It's just not the case. We care about freedom and we care about the American dream. We want to get rid of programs that aren't working and get the govt out of people's lives. Let people keep more of the money that they earn in their paychecks so that they can provide for their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. You are all panicking. Yes, unemployment is up, and it's going higher. But that will not last. Let's revisit this in September. A contracting economy is a scary thing, but it will not collapse forever. People need to buy things to live in our society and demand will pick up again, re-starting the economic engine, albeit at a slower pace than in the falsely inflated Bush era.

The bubble is collapsing, not the bedrock of our entire economy. Some businesses need to go out of business. The auto makers ought to have made changes years ago. If they fail, it's time. And to those who speculated in the stock market and in houses they couldn't afford, well, sorry, that's what risk is all about. Sometimes you lose.

The Democrats need to take advantage of this crisis to institute much needed changes, ie national health care and higher taxes on the rich. The disparity between rich and poor in this country is stark and has grown far worse under Bush II. Spend some time with poor, I mean really poor people for a while and see how they live. Then come back and see if you don't feel ashamed of yourselves for whining about a few hundred dollars in extra taxes.

Nope no shame. I grew up poor, horribly poor. We were evicted from every house in which we lived and my dad became a DC homeless when I was a teenager, he is mentally insane. I worked at Dunkin Donuts and brought him the day olds (which I had to steal out of the trash because the owner did not allow us to take the day olds). I also had to bathe him and bring him healthy foods (that were expensive on my afterschool fast food salary) that he would scarf down like an animal. My mother slaved away at a department store while us kids were left like wild animals to fend for ourselves, because she had no choice. She never felt "entiteld" to anything and never turned to the government for help, she is a proud person and I admire her for it.

I am PROUD that despite a lack of college education and the fact that my parents never even asked about my grades that I MADE IT. I live the American dream and I made it on my own 2 feet with the help of no one. I help in my OWN way and I resent the government and people like YOU trying to steal MY DREAM. I take care of my mom now, I sent my dad to a place where he can be cared for, I mentor my younger brother and sister and have helped them overcome their challenges, and I give more than most people to individuals I have met over my life who have needed my help, all of which cannot be deducted on my taxes.

Yes, I am a survivor and it is something I was born with, but getting to where I am at now was not easy. It would have been much easier to do nothing and complain about it and get misty eyed liberals to feel sorry for me. Look at the overindulged overeducated people on this board, they know nothing about the real struggles of people who grow up poor. Everyone in this country has a chance, they just have to WORK very very hard at it.

The road to hell is often paved with good intentions and we seem to be on it.

You are so RIGHT! I have so much respect for you!
I come from a former socialist country. The stupidity and naivety of people in this country (including these forums, and including all the "educated" people) is simply amazing! They look at the government to solve all the issues, when they are so fortunate to live in a country which gives (still!) so much opportunity. You just have to work hard. All they know is to complain and blame the government. As if it is a duty of any government to provide any uneducated, not very intelligent, and not hard working person, with a house, a car or two, as much food as he/she can have, etc. etc. They really deserve to be put in a collective farm. Maybe then they will appreciate what they had lost. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Funny, I grew up on welfare and do not remember having "a house, a car or two, as much food as he/she can have, etc. etc."

In fact, there were many times when our cupboards were empty, our car was barely running and my mother certainly never owned a home back then.

My deadbeat father left me, my sister and my mom, who then had to drop out of college and become a waitress, working 2-3 jobs.

But you're right, we should have received NO help, because obviously my mother was a stupid, lazy person.

Guess what? Without the help we did receive from the government, which was able to meet our most basic needs, my sister and I likely would not be productive, tax-paying members of society today. As it is, we made it by the skin of our teeth.

I am just amazed at this notion that anyone who receives welfare is living in the lap of luxury. Ha!!

Oh yeah, we served up those yummy blocks of government cheese at all of our extravagant dinner parties.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Conservatives pushed for more road projects, more help with foreclosures, putting more money in taxpayers hands. Instead we got a stimulus full of very little of the stuff that will actually stimulate the economy.

This is not actually true. The Republican alternative stimulus bill was nothing but tax breaks. See this article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0142074920090203

All but four Senate Republicans voted in favor of their alternative.

Basically the same in the House:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/28/house-republicans-push-counter-proposal-stimulus/

"The counter-package, which is separate from a substitute amendment already proposed by House Republicans, would shift focus entirely from spending to tax relief."

Yes, conservatives have talked a good talk and frequently stated positions on all sides of the issue (now often taking credit for projects in the bill against which they voted), but when it came to action, all they supported were tax breaks.