What have you done for me lately?

Lots of democrats, and more than a few republicans are having a great deal of fun thrashing this years slate of republican nominees for the 2012 presidential election.

I’ve done my part as well, posting about the two republican front-runners, listing their stances on the issues.

Interestingly enough, I hear a lot of negative talk about Obama, but it tends to be mostly non-specific grumbling. A lot of people seem to not like him, but can’t or won’t pin down an exact reason. They only come up with generalities such as “High unemployment” or “too much debt”.

So, after digging around a bit, here’s what President Obama has actually accomplished since being elected. Like ’em or not – it’s an impressive list:

• Passed and implemented a recovery act that saved the economy and funded 2 million jobs
• Provided tax cuts for up to 95% of Americans
• Cut job losses from 800,000 a month to just 20,000
• Made the largest investment in green technology in history
• Made the largest investment in education in history
• Lifted the ban on stem cell research
• Raised fuel standards
• Ended predatory credit card practices
• Enacted the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay act
• Expanded health care coverage to 4 million low income children
• Expanded benefits for couples who work at the State Department. Same Sex included.
• Lifted the ban on immigration of those with HIV/AIDS
• Started to wind down our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Enhanced our alliances around the world
• Banned federal lobbyists from contributing to the DNC

I’m sure he could have done more, had he had a congress that was willing to do the work we pay them to do and reach civil compromises and pass laws that he could sign.

Obama has managed to keep most of the campaign promises he made, and whatever side of him you stand on, he was elected by a big margin, so at some point, a majority of Americans liked what he was promising at the time.

It certainly wasn’t his fault that the economy headed south. Large world economies are like big cruise ships. They tend to stay on a straight path for a long time after the rudder gets moved. I don’t think it’s possible for a single man to disrupt the world economy in such a short time anyway – it’s probably something that’s been coming for a long, long time.

It is improving, and I don’t think a single man can take the credit for that either. Our world is so complicated, with the economies of so many countries inter-twined that tracing cause and effect is something best left to specialists.

That doesn’t make the factory worker with 3 kids and a mortgage feel any better when he comes home with a pink-slip instead of a paycheck, but since when were we ever guaranteed an easy life? Our ancestors would have shrugged it off, loaded up the conestega wagon and moved off to better prospects.

I have no idea who will be our next President. The election is still a long way off, and a lot can happen between now and then that could make it a brand new card game.

We should be responsible citizens though, look at all of the alternatives presented to us, and choose what is best for us as a society, a country and as individuals.