General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: President Obama has done more to help the poor and middle class than any President since LBJ [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)benefits and all other programs that help the middle class and poor.
His record only looks like something positive because the preceding presidents were so utterly weak on services to the poor and middle class.
The homeless population has grown under Obama. You don't have to walk very far in Los Angeles to see that. Don't need a poll. Just walk down an alley behind a restaurant at dusk and you can see it.
The homeless population also grew under Reagan and the Bushes.
I don't think any president has presided over so many foreclosures. I know it's Bush's fault. But although he has set up programs to help people being foreclosed, those programs have been ineffective and have done nothing to solve the big problem -- joblessness. People can't qualify for Obama's programs for those facing foreclosure because they are either homeless or are not well enough paid to qualify. The banks gave the loans. The houses were overpriced. Who takes the loss? The foreclosed homeowner -- all by himself. The bank takes the house, sells it again, gets a new mortgage and starts charging interest all over again.
The disparity in wealth between rich and poor, between the middle class and the super-rich remains our biggest problem. Because of the general decline in the economy since 2008, that disparity has resulted in more misery than ever.
Obama has pushed charter schools, yet another program to help the rich and make the poor and middle class and poor pay.
And then, while I think his health care reform is better than nothing, but it should have been single payer.
He has a lot of excuses for not doing what is right, but with his rhetorical skills, there is no excuse. He could get anything he wanted if he spent more time talking with ordinary Americans (as he did during the campaign) and less hob-nobbing with bankers and Republicans.