State of the Union Address

[Lynnie]

Beach Runner for First Lady!!

 

[30ashopper]

Honestly, did anyone expect miracles in one year? I truly believe that Obama is trying to do his job as best he can, but if the people we have in Congress are jockeying for airtime and soundbites, how is any work going to get accomplished? You've got guys like Stupak and Nelson trying to make names for themselves and derail healthcare, but in the meantime, insurance premiums are still rising, we are paying 1Billion dollars for healthcare employees to say no, more administrative fees than any country has, Medicaid payments to doctors have been reduced and many are dropping patients like flies and not taking Medicare anymore. Obama inherited an oligarchy and they don't go down easy without a fight. We have teabaggers complicating and derailing any real progress while their representatives are using them like puppets to advance party lines and align themselves for re-election. Frankly, I am surprised that anything has been done this year with all this bullsheet. Obama's mistake was he should have had more of these fireside chatsa and not waited until people were so disgusted with everything.

I think somebody else could have handled the whole siutuation better. At the end of the day, Obama has been making a lot of the final decicions for his administration related to how the last year has gone. Cash for clunkers, the failed mortgage write downs, bank bailouts, and a poorly designed stimulus he signed into law? Not the best record so far IMHO.

 

[LuciferSam]

At the rate Obama is spending money and killing private enterprise that may be the only job anyone can get.

I don't know, it shouldn't be too hard to find a stock fund that's up at least 20% in the year ago period.

 

[30ashopper]

I don't know, it shouldn't be too hard to find a stock fund that's up at least 20% in the year ago period.

You'll pay for that on all the losses we'll take on 1.2 trillion in MBS the fed is currently holding.

 

[30ashopper]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r5MfEG9xmE&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Cato Institute Scholars Analyze the 2010 State of the Union Address[/ame]

Cato's take. Very educational.

 

[scooterbug44]

This is my first day to join SoWal.....day of the State of the Union Address by Obama. Highlights were the Tax incentives for small business, Recovery Act for new railroads (in Tampa, Fl.) Rebates to clean energy homes. Tax breaks to jobs given in America instead of overseas.... House has approved some of these steps; Senate will need to do the same.
The truth is these steps will not make up for loss, people are hurting in America today.
We need to take control of this problem and stand up to our leaders.
As people of a great nation, ask them to make adjustments. Vote for those people that can make a real difference.
Should Banks need to make financial adjustments to meet our current market values of our Real Estate and after current appraisals; make their note payments equal to our current values? This would help reduce our payments and gain back our equity in Real Estate. No one should go broke because of a problem produced by the financial institutions and their allowance of loans to piggy back on nesteggs allowing (2nd mortgages) too many high-risk loans causing a balloon of prices across the nation.....now is the time to make it right! A normal Real Estate market should gain approximately 10% a year in appreciated values.

Well, enough of my thoughts, what about yours?

I find it insane that you think the banks should adjust your mortgage because your home's "value" has decreased. You looked at the price tag and your finances and decided to borrow that sum of money at that rate.

If you borrow money to buy a car, your loan payments do not go down as your car ages/leaves the lot and has a lower resale value.

If I buy a stock and it loses value, I don't expect a check in the mail for the difference.

Some people chose to "invest" in real estate. Investments can go up or down in value. 10% a year is not realistic - especially given the inflated prices of the last couple of years.

While I certainly don't think the banks are blameless and that we need to make major changes in how they do things, it was impossible for this current crisis to have happened without MANY people making financial decisions that were less than stellar.

Just as noone forced banks to get involved in subprime lending, noone forced anyone to buy a house or land and take out a loan to do so.

Now if you have lost your job/been cut back, were a victim of fraud, have a ballooning ARM, are facing foreclosure, etc. I think a great use of my tax dollars would be to help you refinance for a better rate.

But not because of a loss of paper "value," because I want you to stay in your home.

 

[Teresa]

Honestly, did anyone expect miracles in one year? I truly believe that Obama is trying to do his job as best he can, but if the people we have in Congress are jockeying for airtime and soundbites, how is any work going to get accomplished? You've got guys like Stupak and Nelson trying to make names for themselves and derail healthcare, but in the meantime, insurance premiums are still rising, we are paying 1Billion dollars for healthcare employees to say no, more administrative fees than any country has, Medicaid payments to doctors have been reduced and many are dropping patients like flies and not taking Medicare anymore. Obama inherited an oligarchy and they don't go down easy without a fight. We have teabaggers complicating and derailing any real progress while their representatives are using them like puppets to advance party lines and align themselves for re-election. Frankly, I am surprised that anything has been done this year with all this bullsheet. Obama's mistake was he should have had more of these fireside chatsa and not waited until people were so disgusted with everything.

thanks for your post mangy. you are so right - the problems are many, complex and long term and are going to take his first and second term to address. I just hope that leaves time for other issues and progress. I hope we do see change for the better in America, and in American politics - seems like the political arena is changing for the worse right now. Hopefully its one of those "it gets worse before it gets better"situations? where is the professionalism among senators, congress, leaders, media? its time for citizens concerned with advancing this country to expect and demand more. citizens spoke loud and clear when electing this President. I just hope he continues to have the support he needs to make a difference. and he will if he's able to effectively lead. that is the question. effective leadership.

yes, I said second term. he may not have the opportunity but if he does then I would imagine economy and health care issues will be just as pressing as it is today, if not more so.

 

[LuciferSam]

Kato's take, simple and direct.

 

[Lake View Too]

Mango and Tootsie echo my sentiments. The problems he faces are severe and it sure will take longer than 12 months even to assess the problems, much less implement the correct policy. I, frankly, think this man has the sincere, thoughtful approach I would like to have during this crisis. Can you imagine having a person like George Bush, John McCain, or Sarah Palin in this position? From my point of view, I feel incredibly fortunate to have a man of his caliber at the helm right now.

 

[scooterbug44]

Ha-ha!

Seriously though, the video was quite good IMO. Would be nice if we could reasoned analysis like that on a more regular basis instead of partisan squabbling.