OPINION
by Jasper Alexander
In this year’s presidential election, voters have a clear choice to make in deciding who they think is best suited to run our country for the next four years. On the right, we have Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, clearly representing a blast from the past. Their tried and untrue plan calls for lower taxes for the rich; deregulation wherever possible, and spending cuts on critical entitlement programs for the lower income and poor. Does this plan to “take back America” sound familiar? This is the approach taken from 2001 through 2008 by President George W. Bush. Remember how that turned out?
On the left, we have President Obama. Let’s review the last four years of his accomplishments despite facing an obstructionist government and being constantly told that he has accomplished nothing.
The Obama administration passed the Health Care Reform Bill allowing 32 million Americans to receive health care coverage. He opened doors to stem cell research, ended the war in Iraq that cost Americans billions of dollars every month; announced our complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, another war that costs Americans billions of dollars each month; authorized the mission that led to Osama bin Laden being brought to justice for his involvement in the attacks on 9/11; authorized the $789 billion economic stimulus plan which resulted in tax cuts for working-class families, funds to states for infrastructure projects and funds to states to prevent the layoff of police officers, teachers and other municipal service personnel at risk of losing their jobs because of state budget shortfalls. President Obama saved the American auto industry and demanded credit card and mortgage industry industry reform. Let’s not forget equal pay for women, the advancement of gay rights and nominating the first Latina on the U.S. Supreme Court. Did I mention Immigration reform (via directive) forbidding the federal government from initiating the deportation of young migrants who meet certain criteria such as no criminal records and are in school or the military in addition to adding 4.4 million jobs to the private sector.
Going forward President Obama wants to allow the Bush-era tax cuts to expire resulting in the country’s wealthiest citizens paying an equal percentage of their income in taxes as middle-class and lower income taxpayers already do. The President’s jobs bill creates job growth through tax incentives for companies that “in-source” jobs back to the U.S.
But there is an even more important reason why President Obama must be re-elected this November: ending the vile, angry, uncooperative and hateful tone found in American politics today. This is the single biggest reason why our country has been in gridlock for the last four years. An Obama victory would go far in showing those that employ hate and obstructionism at all costs that those tactics will no longer be rewarded. We can demand that our elected officials work together for the greater good of our country and not just for a selected few. An Obama victory would provide our country a chance to experience the type of bipartisan collaboration necessary to inspire its citizens to trust in its elected officials once again and to trust in its political system to deliver our country back to civility, peace and prosperity.
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