Spring Break
Obama's first 50 days show promise
Maggie Riegel
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: Opinion
Typically, when the U.S. president enters office, he has 100 days to show the country what he is capable of achieving.
Rookie President Barack Obama has been in the White House for only half of that time and has already accomplished more than George W. Bush did in his eight year term.
Major issues long overdue for a presidential address have been expanded upon since even before President Obama took office on Jan. 20.
Obama inherited the worse train wreck of any presidential administration remains.
With a deteriorating economy, soaring unemployment rates and a failed military invasion in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama supporters could not help but feel hope that he would be the commander in chief for change our country so desperately needs.
With mild discrepancy, most of Obama's policies so far have seemed to be far from disappointing.
The first issue on the mile long to-do list after inauguration was the most imminent problem our country faces: a failing economy due to unfettered capitalism.
For the first time in our nation's history, the term "bail-out" has now been indoctrinated into our vernacular. Up until this point, any government interference in the economy has been feared as socialists and dangerous to American capitalist freedom.
Yet when the government "bails out" multi-billion dollar corporations from bankruptcy just so Wall Street CEO's can keep their six-digit bonuses (the same government that cannot even provide a base level universal healthcare for its citizens), a new chapter of capitalist responsibility is written to counter what would merit socialist accusations.
As the DOW continues to worsen and millions of more Americans drop below the poverty line, Obama's "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan" to "jump-start job creation and long-term growth" does not seem as frightening as most conceive socialism to be.
Obama's plan would include:
• Doubling the production of alternative energy in the next three years.
Rookie President Barack Obama has been in the White House for only half of that time and has already accomplished more than George W. Bush did in his eight year term.
Major issues long overdue for a presidential address have been expanded upon since even before President Obama took office on Jan. 20.
Obama inherited the worse train wreck of any presidential administration remains.
With a deteriorating economy, soaring unemployment rates and a failed military invasion in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama supporters could not help but feel hope that he would be the commander in chief for change our country so desperately needs.
With mild discrepancy, most of Obama's policies so far have seemed to be far from disappointing.
The first issue on the mile long to-do list after inauguration was the most imminent problem our country faces: a failing economy due to unfettered capitalism.
For the first time in our nation's history, the term "bail-out" has now been indoctrinated into our vernacular. Up until this point, any government interference in the economy has been feared as socialists and dangerous to American capitalist freedom.
Yet when the government "bails out" multi-billion dollar corporations from bankruptcy just so Wall Street CEO's can keep their six-digit bonuses (the same government that cannot even provide a base level universal healthcare for its citizens), a new chapter of capitalist responsibility is written to counter what would merit socialist accusations.
As the DOW continues to worsen and millions of more Americans drop below the poverty line, Obama's "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan" to "jump-start job creation and long-term growth" does not seem as frightening as most conceive socialism to be.
Obama's plan would include:
• Doubling the production of alternative energy in the next three years.
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