"At least Bush did something," a friend once told me, berating Obama for his non-action. Yes. President Bush did something. But unlike kindergarten when kids do get an "A" for effort, it does not exactly equate to the same thing when people's lives are at stake. Worsening a situation, despite intent, is still worsening a situation.
The year mark is coming for Obama's first term as President, and there isn't much to show. Things are definitely looking grim for the United States, and there are concerns whether Obama is really up to the challenges facing us today.
It is not that he has done nothing. The international world loves Obama. Heck, they gave him the Nobel Peace Prize without him even having to work for it, not that that's Obama's fault, and there is something to be said for improving foreign relations. The "Cash for Clunkers" program came off with a hit, giving many Americans more fuel efficient cars. But what does this really say? He has not had any solid major accomplishments, and quite frankly everyone would be comforted by a display of competency. The problems facing us are not small ones.
Our unemployment rate is higher than it has been in years, and while the government estimates that 10% of Americans are unemployed, MSN Money estimates that the unemployment rate is closer to 16% of the country. The New York Times reported that hunger is at a 14 year high, and hunger now affects over 17 million American households. Education is a mess, with college tuition slowly rising and No Child Left Behind's general failure. At ESU, a supposed state school, the University reports that over 65% of the money that the school runs on comes directly from tuition, where most of it used to come from the state. None of that even comes close to the trillion dollar debt the U.S. owes China. Needless to say, we have problems.
Understandably, though, Obama is not just taking out the trash. He is trying to clean up a trash dump with a snow shovel. How could you expect him to fix all of our problems in just one year? The enormity of problems is enough to deal with, but the jungles of bureaucracy and the legions of bitter politicians make it a whole other ball game.
If we are not in bad times already, we are definitely on the brink, the edge of a dark pit. Obama can't be blamed for the state of affairs as it stands, but that does not mean that he isn't now responsible for our problems. So, will he step up? Will he fulfill all those promises that he made us? The time for understanding is over. Now, we expect results.
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