What Do You Think Of The Current Administration? US only

[buddys]

Let's have a sane discussion of how you think the current administration is doing in the US.  I think they have bitten off more than they can chew and are having trouble implementing the campaign promises that were made.  What do you think (and please keep it civil).

[annika3in1]

Nice wording, Buddys.

I'm undecided.  I read something recently that talked about the difference between leading a movement and leading an administration.  I think Obama did a good job leading a movement.  The compromise needed to run an administration seems to be taking its toll though.

There are some things I'm unhappy with and some where I'm satisfied. Does someone else want to throw out a topic or two to look at?

[ABCDboys]

I also think that Obama did a great job leading the country to vote for him. Unfortunately I think that's the reason why a lot of people vote for a certain candidate - because they've had great campaigns, not because of what they stand for.

I'd like to see numbers on how many people make educated votes, not just votes based on flashing lights and pretty words.

[clickprincess]

I'd like to see numbers on how many people make educated votes, not just votes based on flashing lights and pretty words.

Unfortunately, that is a statistic you will never see accurately portrayed.  Everyone will say that they voted for someone because they agreed with their views even when they voted for a very different reason.  Partly this may be because they don't realize they were influenced by the media or whatever but many just won't admit that they vote for frivolous reasons.

[c_shaztheripper]

Personally I think they are making the best of a bad situation. A lot of things are not going President Obama's way but he's still trying to keep his promises.

Sure its still early in his presidency, but the simple fact that he is trying to live up to his word, where he could have just as easily said "the heck with it", is good enough for me.

[knchatty]

I for one would like to see the economy get a lot better a lot quicker.  For this reason alone, I'm not happy with the current administration.  I see us farther in debt and a higher unemployment rate.

I do like that President Obama is in agreement with extending jobless benefits.  I don't know how people could survive in this poor economy without jobless benefits.  I am thankful that I am not in need of them.

I will say that I clearly look at the facts, how a person stands on the issues that are key to me and then make up my mind how I will vote.  I'm an educated voter (or so I would like to think).

I also love how so many supporters of Obama are no longer supporters of him.  He made a lot of promises and to me it was just talk.

Of course this is just my opinion, right, wrong or indifferent.

[annika3in1]

I for one would like to see the economy get a lot better a lot quicker.  For this reason alone, I'm not happy with the current administration.  I see us farther in debt and a higher unemployment rate.

I do like that President Obama is in agreement with extending jobless benefits.  I don't know how people could survive in this poor economy without jobless benefits.  I am thankful that I am not in need of them.

I agree that it would be nicer to see the economy get better a lot quicker.  Is there a quick way to revive an economy though? (I know nothing about economics/business)

I'm really excited about health care reform-- it passed last night in the House and we're waiting on the Senate.  I still don't understand all of the details, but I know everyone is in agreement that health care reform is highly needed. I think people can't decide what that looks like, ie no one knows how to fix it.

[knchatty]

I'm not 100% sure about the health care reform either.  You hear good things about it and bad things about it.  I have not taken the time to see what it's all about.

All I know is my health insurance is a big chunk of my paycheck and it is going to increase again in January. 

I'm in favor of having cheaper premiums or no premiums at all.

[meiguoren]

Personally I think we are slowly moving toward a socialist society as our freedoms begin to erode.  For example, in the current health care bill, if you don't have health insurance you can face a monetary penalty or time in prison.  What kind of free society would do that to an individual? 

[Paloma]

Personally I think we are slowly moving toward a socialist society as our freedoms begin to erode.  For example, in the current health care bill, if you don't have health insurance you can face a monetary penalty or time in prison.  What kind of free society would do that to an individual? 

Sorry, I can´t follow your thoughts. What has a socialist society to do with your example.
I am not a friend of a socialist society like the one in Russia was, but in a socialist society you are a part of a system, which shares, that would give you a health care and not a time in prison.

Any society would put a personin jail, if this person is unable to pay their bills.

[knchatty]

Wow, the last time I checked you didn't go to jail if you could not pay your bills.  Sure your creditors would start to take action, but jail time is not one of them.

The point being made wasn't if you didn't pay your health insurance bill you would be put in jail.  It was if you don't have health insurance you could be fined or serve jail time. 

I don't like the sounds of that either, I think it's a choice if you want health insurance or not.  The only reason I could see not having insurance is because of the cost of insurance.  It's crazy!

[buddys]

I don't know if it's just me but I've been hearing some disturbing things about the health care issue.  There are the things you mention knchatty and also that it would move older people like me (who have Medicare) away from our Medicare advantage plans into more expensive and less flexible Medigap policies.  I've also been told that AARP which is supposed to look out for us old guys and gals have been pushing the health care reform act which would be great if they really thought it would be good for us, but they also have a Medigap policy which they push in their magazine and in the "benefits" we get because we belong to the organization.  This is disturbing because it is a conflict of interest.  I'd love to hear from someone higher up in the AARP organization what the answer to that allegation would be.

[meiguoren]

Sorry, I can´t follow your thoughts. What has a socialist society to do with your example.
I am not a friend of a socialist society like the one in Russia was, but in a socialist society you are a part of a system, which shares, that would give you a health care and not a time in prison.

Any society would put a personin jail, if this person is unable to pay their bills.

In a socialist society you have no rights.  Can we agree on that?  The government tells you what to do and how to live your life, right?  With the Obama/Pelosi/Reid health care plan, that's what it's coming to. Either you participate in the nationalized health care plan or you pay in penalties of 2.5% of your salary along with prison time.  So your option is to participate or lose money and end up being in prison.  True freedom in choice would be the ability to opt out without any type of penalty.  With this health care plan, you become part of the system (as you put it) because you have no other choice and that, to me, is socialism.

And the last time I checked, in the United States, we don't throw people in jail because they can't pay their bills.