Obama on the Economy

President Obama spoke Thursday at Northwestern University in Chicago. He told those young people that they are the ones who will shape the future. He also told how America is the one constant in an uncertain world. The world looks to USA for help and for answers. We are leaders and we welcome that attention.
Now, what is good about our economy. When President Obama took office businesses were laying off 800,000 workers a month. Now, businesses are hiring 200,000 workers a month. Unemployment was 10% in 2009 and now it is 6.1%. Our country has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan and every other advanced country combined.  President Obama has increased investments in clean energy. This has helped us reduce carbon emissions. The president also told that more than half the companies that outsourced jobs are looking to bring them back to our shores.

What still needs to happen? President Obama said that it is still too hard for working families to get ahead. Now, we need to reverse the erosion of middle class and their jobs. The measure of success is more that GDP. We can increase job growth with help of Congress. We can help Americans succeed with the help of Congress. The current situation favors the few at the expense of the middle class. President Obama said that regulations that save lives and protect families are good for the economy. He mentioned a survey that said for the first time in more than a decade, business leaders cite US as most attractive place in which to invest. So, let's rebuild roads and bridges. We can pay for it with tax reform. There are so many things that we can do if we have the vision and the will to do it. Let's pass an immigration bill, he said. The White House shared a graphic that highlights his speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/economic-update-where-we-are-and-where-were-going

He went on to say we should raise the minimum wage and ensure equal pay for women. None of the policies proposed alone will achieve the desired effect alone. President Obama said he is always willing to work with others to get things done. If gridlock prevails, then he will keep doing what he can alone.

Why don't we fix this by giving him a Congress that he can work with? That makes the most sense to me.

Pat Taylor Fuller is an Editor for Progressive Democrats - Moving Forward, Not Back, and she has a blogspot named Pat's Commentary http://pageposts1123.blogspot.com/

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