By AMANDA VENDER
It has been two years since President Barack Obama was elected. Let’s take a look at the promises he made on four key issues and what he has accomplished so far.
Healthcare
2008 Promise: Affordable health insurance for all; no one will be rejected from care because of age or illness.
2010: Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in March. Now people who don’t have insurance through their job will have to buy health insurance or pay a fine. The government offers help for
some people so that they can buy health insurance. People are still being rejected from care at record rates because that part of the new law doesn’t start until 2014.
Iraq War
2008 Promise: Remove most U.S. troops from Iraq by the year 2010; leave some troops to fight al Qaeda and to protect U.S. diplomats and U.S. citizens in Iraq.
2010: While Obama says that “combat” is over, 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq to “train, equip and advise the Iraqi Security Forces, and provide force protection for military and civilian personnel.”
The Economy
2008 Promise: Lower taxes for working families; create more jobs; raise the minimum wage; provide more affordable housing.
2010: The official unemployment rate is 9.2 percent (in September, 2008, it was 6 percent). With the stimulus bill of 2009, $787 billion in government money was given out, including a tax cut for 95 percent of working people. According to Nobel Prize-winning economist,
Joseph Stiglitz, “What was needed was a stimulus of at least 50 percent larger.”
Immigration
2008 Promise: More fences and guards at the U.S.-Mexico border; undocumented immigrants to become documented by paying a fine and learning English.
2010: In August, Obama signed a $600 million bill to send 1,500 new Border Patrol agents and police to the border. A record number of people have been deported to their home country under Obama.
dear president obama you are the best president ever but you should lower the isurance fine because some people are always dying since they dont have insurance pleasemy
U LIKE TO PROMISE ALOT BUT U DNT DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dear president obama when they choose you as a president of the united states of America you said you were going to give papers to the immigrants please answer back
hello it is me again i hope you could keep all your promises because some people are counting on you
Mr. president many people are suffering of immigration i want to tell you that please give papers plaese you promise
obama you need to keep your promises kuz like for realz ppl dnt liikeee…. youy idknw like me either sowryy lol peace:)
U LIKE TO PROMISE ALOT BUT U DNT DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think healthcare is a good thing and he’s trying to help people a lot. I think he’s helping the USA make better relationships with people in other parts of the world. I think its kind of hard to be president because a lot of people get mad at him.
Keep up the good work. I think people should have jobs based on what they know how to do. I think something should be worked out. I think we should stop having wars. I know its not easy being President but you’re the best President because you’re trying really hard to do all kinds of stuff.
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