Live blogging the Obama speech.
I liked Obama’s start, by linking all issues to the economy.
I like that Obama emphasized that regulations were put aside for a quick profit. View this video to see how the banks need regulation, especially if they receive our tax dollars.
I love that Obama brought up the credit crisis, as I (like many Americans) have had to deal with banks who accept stimulus funding and then turn around eliminating available credit and increasing interest rates to usurious levels for no reason other than they felt like it. At this point Obama has not dealt with credit cards specifically, but I can only hope that they are in his sights.
I like that his mortgage plan will not help speculators, but instead will help regular families who are working hard to survive and are suffering from the bursting of the housing bubble.
I like that Obama brought up how Government has not supplanted ingenuity, but has been the catalyst to promote it. The economy should be stimulated by providing funds to promote the research that will fuel future jobs.
One of the main policy positions I supported Obama on was healthcare reform. He pushes for more preventive care (which is cheaper than emergency care). If healthcare costs overburden American spenders, they will not be able to support their families. Providing preventive care to people who traditionally cannot access it is not only morally right, but it makes financial sense (since you cannot reject people in an emergency).
I REALLY like that he will eliminate no bid contracts. And I really like that he will eliminate tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas.
I am sure that the Republicans will harp on the words “none of this will come without cost”, as well as many other comments that President Obama made. However, I think it was an overall good speech and I really don’t have any major criticisms of anything that Obama said.