STATE OF THE UNION

Would Obama's Proposals Help Fix the Economy?

Let us know what you think of his plans for 'smarter government'

Feb 13, 2013 by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: AP

Obama didn't propose any one signature law that would grow jobs and the economy. Instead he offered a laundry list that would boost manufacturing, green energy, and education in science and math - along with oft-repeated proposals to make taxation fairer and cut the deficit by another $4 trillion.

Of course many of his plans rely on Congress for action, and so are mere blue-skies thinking rather than actual predictions for the next four years. But it's interesting to hear what Obama would do if he entirely controlled the government.

Job creation:

* Launch 3 manufacturing hubs in recession-afflicted towns, where businesses will partner with the Departments of Defense and Energy to create high-tech jobs.

* Launch a "Fix-It-First" program to put people to work ASAP on urgent repairs, like ~70,000 structurally deficient bridges.

* Create a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade ports, pipelines, and schools.

* Raise the minimum wage to $9 per hour.

Climate and energy

* Fund an Energy Security Trust that will drive new technology to shift our cars and trucks off oil for good.

* Speed up new oil and gas permits.

Education

* Work with states to make high-quality preschool available to every child in America.

* Reward schools that develop partnerships with employers and create classes on science, technology, engineering, and math.

* Change the Higher Education Act, to include affordability and value as criteria for federal aid.

* White House will release a new "College Scorecard" that students can use to compare schools based on where to get the most bang for your educational buck.

Tax and entitlement reform:

* Reduce taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies.

* Ask the wealthiest seniors to pay more for Medicare.

* Scrap tax breaks for companies that move production overseas.

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?	Would Obama's proposals help the US economy?

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Yes, absolutely

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No, not at all

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Some would, some wouldn't

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It's just talk, it doesn't mean anything

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All : 73

Comments (view in Forum)

Feb '13

happyhenry

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its just talk telling people what they want to hear
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Feb '13

BobRooney

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The President's worldview, any citizen of any country who wants to work hard and get ahead is as entitled to a job as an American, even if that citizen of another country has broken our laws to be here.
If you against any kind of Amnesty, go to this website and register.
Google this: NUMBERSUSA .Once you are registered, go to the "action board"
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Feb '13

tomincali

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not just talking his new jobs bill falls right into his shamnesty. give the illegal aliens high paying jobs add in no real border security and what do you get another 10 to 20 million illegal aliens heading in to fill the gap and demand for cheap labor,just as it was proven by anyone who looks back to 86.

back then all agreed to security yet never fullfilled that part of the deal and now their idea of border security is nappy flying over head saying it is secure while not listening to those who live and work there.
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Feb '13

marine1

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Andwe should trust him,why?
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Feb '13

MarkJM

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More lies from the Emperor of make believe....
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Feb '13

norezen

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whats a lie?
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Feb '13

MarkJM

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@norezen the majority of his presidency
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Feb '13

Thunderchicken

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If he really was serious, much of what he is proposing would have been in the stimulus package.

As for the rebuilding of pipelines, two points;
The government shouldn't be sticking my tax dollars into private companies.
DOT mandated smart pig inspections ( a smart pig is a recording device that is run through a pipeline) after the New Mexico blowout several years ago. The rebuilding of Americas pipelines began with that and is continuing today. IOW Obama is calling us to do what we've already begun.
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Feb '13

MadAmerican

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If he wants a smarter government why doesn't he resign?
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Feb '13

Brownie

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Would you resign if you were in the White House, if less then have of the population disagreed with you? What ruler does that?
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Feb '13

gammler

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He promised Nirvana on Earth. NOW: How are we going to pay for it?
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Feb '13

SavageMazx

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But according to Polisi we don't have spending problem. Don't we have a national money tree? We will just print more money and pay more taxes.
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Feb '13

gammler

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@SavageMazx It's true that is probably what will happen. The Federal Reserve will probably just print more money.
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Feb '13

norezen

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@gammler Well yeah we will print more money, we dont want rich people with lots of investments to have to suffer deflation. That would be terrible.
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Feb '13

gammler

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@norezen Since they already have the money how would deflation cause them to suffer? It would simply make their money worth more. The people who suffer in deflation are small business owners who get their profit margins squeezed when their goods and services don't sell well because people wait for the prices to drop even further. Inflation, on the other hand, hurts people on income transfer payments. They lose purchasing power.
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Feb '13

culinary

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This is all well and good if we had some way to fund it.
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Feb '13

Hireman

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Yet again more sweet talk. Problem is, the devil is in the details. These plans require a ton of spending (debt). Not all of the ideas are completely bad, but for instance, where did he up up with speeding up oil and gas permits? Wasn't he overseeing a slowdown in this earlier? Again, sounded really swell...
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Feb '13

justapirate

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Lessee....... Obama went blah, blah, blah. Rubio went blah, blah, blah. Rand went blah, blah, blah.
Net result? A lotta blah and no content. Business as usual.
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Feb '13

Hireman

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Another contribution to global warming.
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Feb '13

TheJimmy

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His version of "entitlement reform" is laughable.
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Feb '13

Russell797

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Yes of course these proposals would fix the economy, although at a pace which many would find to slow. However once in place these proposals have long lasting value, they are not the quick fix many are expecting, yet they represent forward thinking which will reap dividends exceeding their initial costs over the course of time.
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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It has been my own personal experience that slow progress is more lasting than quick fixes... we need to stop insisting that everything happen immediately... that is what caused us to get into so much debt already! Instant gratification is a trait most common amongst people under the age of two... adults who are capable of vision for the future should know that things worht having are worth the extra time and effort to get them. It's one of the main reasons why I support austerity measures...
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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It's just like weight loss: crash diets work for a while, but then you're back to old habits and the weight returns. Slow and steady steps towards changes in lifestyle are the only way to lose the weight and keep it off. You may never be skinny, but you'll be healthy.
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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@Denizen_Kate - I'll take a healthy economy!
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Feb '13

Russell797

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@DogLady_1 Even if it is ultimately unsustainable?
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Feb '13

norezen

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@Russell797 It is unsustainable. Our country has met its match through technology. The world changes too quickly in 4 years, yet great projects take decades. We are very close to our ceiling I fear. I hope I am wrong.
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Feb '13

justapirate

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You know, this is akin to sitting in a boat with a whole in the bottom and looking forward to a whole retrofit the next time we make it to shore.
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Feb '13

justapirate

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Oh, bummer.'HOLE in the bottom'. Where da heck is the edit button?
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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@justapirate I "here" ya.
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Feb '13

methinks

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Wasn't this the same BS we were fed with the stimulus...the infamous "shovel ready jobs?"
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Feb '13

crusader

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I am not sure how well all of these would work but I am not against any of them. I don't support Obama but I hope he is successful in helping the economy and think some of these things could be helpful. When a POTUS fails he is not going to be hurt by it, just the American people. Typically I disagree with his proposals but I hope most of these get passed.
I see he threw in one for the environmentalists, a new idea to keep cars from using oil. I have no problem with that, but it will not happen unless it is cost effective. People do not mind going green as long as it does not cost anything to do so.
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Feb '13

JamesR

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Shovel ready anyone, anyone!
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Feb '13

tomincali

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sure dig a billion dollar hole the spend another to fill it up with no real purpose.
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Feb '13

TripleNegative

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Obama has presented thousands of proposals and none ave worked to date. He needs to go home before he kills the republic.
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Feb '13

CaryNickel

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We knew President Obama's proposals would involve more and bigger government. Our nation's economy was not created by the government, it was created by free peoples plying their trades without government interference. Increased government since WW2 has caused the economic malaise affecting our nation today. Free market principles are what will fix and grow our economy, but Obama doesn't believe in the free market. Thus, we get more of what killed our economy to begin with, and unemployment stays high, good paying jobs in manufacturing, mining, timber, and other industries continue to disappear, or move overseas to cheaper and less regulated business climates, and government grows ever bigger and more expensive. The end results is more people dependent upon government, and fewer people paying for it.
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Feb '13

S-N-A-F-U

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THIS IS A TASTE OF OBAMA'S HIS POLICIES......

> (NEW) EPA HOME INVASION - Obama to tell us how to maintain our homes.....

I hope you 'Sheeple' out there realize that YOUR freedoms are being Impacted too......

Quoted in part: "Like Obamacare, this “action” being imposed by the government is touted as being “for your own good,” whether you like it or not. The following statement by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman obtusely explains the push for so-called smart meters; meters that are reportedly designed to enable external control of home thermostats by government authorities:“Energy efficiency and healthy homes are inextricably linked. We cannot, in good conscience, pursue one in the absence of the other.”

Selling, renovating or simply upgrading items such as air conditioning, electrical or water heaters can cost additional thousands. Inspectors will have greater access into your home through new and unwieldy code requirements. Contractors’ open work permits flag your home as a target. The new federal EPA, HUD and DOE home regulations filter down to local inspectors who are required by law to impose them or fail the home inspection. Unnecessary and unreasonable code can be imposed on homeowners who find they “can’t fight code.” There is virtually no appeal.

The government’s goal to invade personal privacy and control the lives of all Americans was exposed when Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Socialist Democrat from California, recently bragged on TV One’s Washington Watch:

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life. That’s going to be very, very powerful. That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that.”—Maxine Waters

Water’s real message is that it is the American people who are being forced to deal with it. Of utmost interest is if and how the American people will choose to do so."

More....

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/arti...
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Feb '13

Speedieg

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Can one of you on the right please explain how slashing both taxes and the deficit are possible without drastically effecting the economy? That investment crests jobs and results in spending. Corporations are still holding on to cash and paying their executives well but not their workers so that money does not make it into the economy as the wealthy are holding their funds and not reinvesting. Where is the republican plan?
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Feb '13

seedtick

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Much of what he is talking about was promised to get the stimulus package earlier. But, he gave it to his business cronies and unions.....SUPRISE-SUPRISE!! WHO'D THUNK IT?
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Feb '13

Wooky

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Impeach Obama he's the enemy from within!! He tells nothing but lies!
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Feb '13

Brownie

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That's not happening.
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Would Obama's proposals help the US economy?

Would Obama's proposals help the US economy?