Republicans want to make the November elections about Obama, Obamacare, and the economy. I wholeheartedly agree.
Take Obamacare. Ten million more Americans have insurance because of Obamacare—a blessing for many families. Tens of millions more have improved benefits with insurance companies held more accountable. Seniors have expanded benefits, especially lower out-of-pocket drug expenses. Growth rates for insurance premiums are decreasing.
Republicans fought tooth and nail to keep the deplorable status quo, consistently backing insurers and healthcare corporations, while fighting the sick, uninsured, and average folks. The dire scenarios Republicans predicted about Obamacare have fizzled. Obamacare’s a success.
How about Obama and the economy? Well, Obama has pulled us out of the economic abyss that Bush and casino Wall Streeters put us in—the worst recession since the Great Depression.
Friday’s September jobs report was another blockbuster. Under Obama there’s been a net job creation of 5.5 million, or 5 times the number of jobs created under Bush for his 8 years! Keep in mind Bush only had a net job gain because government payrolls expanded, while government jobs under Obama have shrunk.
The unemployment rate now is 5.9%, getting close to what economists declare is “full employment” of around 5.5%.
How have investors done in their 401Ks and the stock market in general? Under Obama, with two years to go, there’s been some 220% investor gain—a better annualized return than Reagan, a little less than Clinton. Under Bush, with his massive tax cuts for millionaires “job creators” program, and laissez faire economic policies, investors’ annualized return was -2.3% per year.
Can we do better? Yes. But if you vote for Republicans, whether Zinke, Daines, or GOP MT legislators, what you’ll get is more uninsured, attempts to privatize Social Security, higher unemployment, poor economic growth, and anemic investor returns. Take your pick.
Stanley Schroeder
Hamilton