Much negative criticism of the president appears in letters to this paper as well as other Arkansas papers I read. The recent barrage concerns: 1. the so-called overreach of his executive orders, and 2. his so-called lack of action concerning the illegal show of 52,000-plus (not 100,000 as some of friends have suggested) children without accompanying adults at the Texas border. Sometimes, the negative criticism of President Obama stems from ignorance of the critics.
In this case, for example, the record shows that the president is not even in the top 10 of presidential executive orders of previous presidents: Nixon issued 346; Reagan, who like George W., loved macho-type orders, issued 381; George W. issued 291. Obama, like George H.W. Bush, is off to a slow start. The latter gave 166 and Obama has 183 to this point. So what is the speaker of the house and many ordinary Americans so upset about? This hardly suggests a dictatorial president. In the immigration case, many are not aware that in 2008 Congress passed unanimously a law titled "William Wilberforce Trafficking of Victims' Protection Reauthorization Act", signed in December 2008 by George W. Bush, that states clearly that children who may be escaping violence of gangs and of sexual traffickers must be given a hearing with legal counsel and must be placed with DHS, who is to locate them with reasonable protection. Asking for funds to support this law is about all the president can do now, unless the law is changed, and not even many Republicans desire that for fear of political backlash.
Though some of the negative criticism of the president may be deserved, we should all be careful to check the full story before a rush to judgment occurs. May I point out some positive things that have happened in the last five years under Obama.
Figures show that 48 million jobs have been added since he took office. Total employment is now 415,000 higher than the peak number reached before the 2007-2009 recession. Unemployment is now 6.1 percent, which is 1.7 percent lower than when he took office.
Corporation profits, something Republicans love, are making records; $1.9 trillion in the first quarter of 2014. That is a 184 percent increase since January 2009. Corporate stocks show the Standard and Poors index 145 percent higher than in January 2009.
SNAP (food stamp program) increased by $14.7 million during the George W. Bush administration, compared with $14.1 million during the last five years.
Booming oil and gas production has occurred during Obama's tenure. Production of crude oil alone has increased 67 percent in the last five years. Imports have declined by 48 percent. These changes began during the Bush administration, but keep growing. Although controversial still, wind and solar power have increased by 231 percent in the last five years.
The Affordable Care Act, extremely controversial, shows continuing growth and approval. Eight million signed during the initial enrollment period; 6.1 million have been added to Medicaid for low-income people; 57 percent of those who signed for the ACA did not have any insurance previously. A Kaiser Family Foundation (nonpartisan) poll shows that the majority who signed a satisfied rating, the coverage excellent or good.
These facts that can be checked at Factcheck.org and other nonpartisan sites will verify these statements. Although we may find fault with certain actions of the administration, we in the general public should reserve our judgments until a thorough look at the matter is carried out.
John W. "Doc" Crawford
Hot Springs
Editorial on 07/29/2014