Will Obama Let Us Down?

by Lara Mirgorod, lmirgorod@smu.edu 

Four years ago many Americans were looking forward to having Barack Obama as the President of the United States. Now that the country has observed what he is capable of doing, many people are reluctant to vote for him for a second election. According to Politico, the nation has 2.5 million fewer jobs today than it did when Obama took office, and consumer confidence is still down. It is hard for me to think that Obama will “change” this country for the better, especially when the economy is walking on thin ice.

Although the last recession has been over for more than three years, Forbes states, “If President Obama wins his reelection bid and gets his tax increases implemented, we will get the ‘Obama recession’ of 2013.” Unfortunately, this is a time where Americans have to wait it out and vote based on the election coverage, campaign ads, and what we read. It is hard to say whether Obama would do a fine job or not because newspapers and online sources take either the right or left side. A study in The Washington Post has projected that Obama’s plan would create 1.1 million more jobs in 2013 and 280,000 jobs in 2014. Romney’s plan would create 87,000 jobs in 2013, and lose 641,000 jobs in 2014. This seems a bit hard to believe because with Obama’s past experiences with the economy, sources say that traditionally incumbent presidents facing these kinds of economic circumstances have not done well. So why does it seem that many people are willing to give him another shot? 

The middle class tends to favor the President, and many feel scared to vote for Mitt because of his wealth. At the same time, Mitt has more of an understanding about money, and would not pick and choose whom he should help. You can be wealthy but have an understanding of what people need. It does not seem like Obama has a plan to change the nation. The Economist believes that he has failed to lay out a credible plan for what he will do in the next four years. Virtually his entire campaign has been spent attacking Mr. Romney usually for his wealth and success in business. Well at least Romney would know not to follow Obama’s economic footsteps. Then again, The Economist also makes a point that “A re-elected President Obama might learn from his mistakes, clean up the White House, listen to the odd businessman and secure a legacy happier than the one he would leave after a single term.” Sorry but I just don’t see this happening. It may be refreshing to see a Republican as a leader, and who can lead the country in another direction. As for the youth, Mitt Romney seems to be a better fit when it comes to people like myself who are going to be looking for jobs next summer post graduation. The Huffington Post has said that Mitt can help get government out of the way from destroying jobs. Obama has been a president that has been the worst destroyer of American business and jobs in American history. He may still lead another four year term filled with broken promises, insane spending, easing in the Fed and fuzzy unemployment math.

I don’t really think a president can change his ways drastically the way Obama is saying that he will. What is done is done, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope for our country if Obama is reelected. Many people will be packing up afraid to live in America.