It's been 371 days since President Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president, and I wanted to take a look back at some of the hot, and not-so hot moments of Obama's freshman year.
It's pretty much known that when Obama took office America was facing it's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. In a period many are simply naming "the recession" whose footing can be traced back to 2007, unemployment rates haven't really seen too much improvement.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of jobless in the U.S. totals around 15.3 million, leaving the unemployment rate at 10 percent. Obama's plan of attack was a massive $825-
$900 billion stimulus package. In a nut shell this money was and is being issued to provide jobs via the construction and up-keep of infrastructure (schools, roads and highways, and the development renewable resources), state funding, citizen assistance, and tax-cuts. Some of the notable expenditures: $54 billion on energy and $142 billion on education.
Along with America's financial woes Obama focused attention towards diplomatic relations. Last June President Obama visited the Middle-East to speak with the region's political leaders. The ultimate goal was to mend the U.S. relations, as well as discuss peaceful solution to a region torn by violence. Many expected Obama to tackle the Arab-Israeli peace talks, but things didn't shake out as many had hoped due to the new Israeli Prime Minister's development of Jewish settlements on Israel's left bank. Something that Obama is strongly opposed to.
Now, the big finish! One of the major focal points of Obama's campaign that has politicians up in arms. Three words ladies and gentlemen: HEALTH CARE REFORM. Since Obama proposed an over-haul of how our country handles our sick and wounded. According to the Wall Street Journal the country spends roughly $2 trillion on health care each year, but 46 million people can not afford coverage. 14,000 people a year lose their health care plans due to job cuts. Obama's plan would call for reduced public health care. the major rift between his left-wing followers and the conservative republicans is the "socialist" argument. Naysayers of the proposition suggest the plan will take away too much from those that have to benefit those that don't, and in a time where it seems no one's job is safe, it's not the most assuring proposal on the table, but in a time where jobs are indeed a treasure more than some, why not look to the government for help? Just a thought.
It's pretty much known that when Obama took office America was facing it's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. In a period many are simply naming "the recession" whose footing can be traced back to 2007, unemployment rates haven't really seen too much improvement.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of jobless in the U.S. totals around 15.3 million, leaving the unemployment rate at 10 percent. Obama's plan of attack was a massive $825-
$900 billion stimulus package. In a nut shell this money was and is being issued to provide jobs via the construction and up-keep of infrastructure (schools, roads and highways, and the development renewable resources), state funding, citizen assistance, and tax-cuts. Some of the notable expenditures: $54 billion on energy and $142 billion on education.
Along with America's financial woes Obama focused attention towards diplomatic relations. Last June President Obama visited the Middle-East to speak with the region's political leaders. The ultimate goal was to mend the U.S. relations, as well as discuss peaceful solution to a region torn by violence. Many expected Obama to tackle the Arab-Israeli peace talks, but things didn't shake out as many had hoped due to the new Israeli Prime Minister's development of Jewish settlements on Israel's left bank. Something that Obama is strongly opposed to.
Now, the big finish! One of the major focal points of Obama's campaign that has politicians up in arms. Three words ladies and gentlemen: HEALTH CARE REFORM. Since Obama proposed an over-haul of how our country handles our sick and wounded. According to the Wall Street Journal the country spends roughly $2 trillion on health care each year, but 46 million people can not afford coverage. 14,000 people a year lose their health care plans due to job cuts. Obama's plan would call for reduced public health care. the major rift between his left-wing followers and the conservative republicans is the "socialist" argument. Naysayers of the proposition suggest the plan will take away too much from those that have to benefit those that don't, and in a time where it seems no one's job is safe, it's not the most assuring proposal on the table, but in a time where jobs are indeed a treasure more than some, why not look to the government for help? Just a thought.
In all Obama has taken steps to tackle the major issues of America that many feel are over his head. His current approval rating between democrats (88 percent) and republicans (23 percent) is seen as one of the more polarized first-year ratings in Presidential history. Being that it has only been one year, we can only sit back and watch the plays develop. It's unfair to put a nation's woes on a man who stepped into a situation he didn't create, but at the same time it's time he and his administration address their haters, and put their plans for a changed nation into action.
Nice post. You focused on aspects of his presidency that everyone else in this course did not discuss. I think your post would have been stronger if you hyperlinked to your sources when you revealed statistics. Hyperlinks are your friend in this course.
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