I am a Progressive that disapproves of Barack Obama’s presidency

I was only eight years old when Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in; I remember asking my mother if Obama was doing a good job so far as president. Adding to my confusion over the political process, my mother said it is too early to tell. I asked her and my father this question for the next year or so; and as the year went on, they began to give me an answer; yes, in fact, Barack Obama is a good president. Over the years, hatred grew, and my parents content shrunk.

While it is very common for Democrats and members of the establishment to use some statistics that do depict Barack Obama as a good president, there is also just as much ugly and baggage that goes along with his presidency. While our economy is growing and job numbers are increasing, seven years after being in office, our president still cannot seem to figure out how to get any form of support or compromise from the right. While this sounds like an extremely difficult task (which it is), one who is assuming the highest office must be a likeable character; this includes appealing across the aisle which Obama does not have at all.

Besides from Obama failing miserably in reaching across the aisle, BO has done very little to reenergize Americans and make them interested in the political process. When Obama’s presidency first began, there was a demanding Democratic majority in both chambers of the House, which is very vital when pushing a new liberal agenda. However, overtime the American citizens grew less and less interested in elections, causing this majority to slip away in both chambers by 2014. This makes even a semi-liberal agenda extremely difficulty to push forward, especially in one full of private interests.

Barack Obama has done very little also in order to combat corruption within government, which in my opinion is the biggest problem facing our nation today. In this country, it is very difficult to win office without private interest support; this factor caused Obama (just like many other politicians) to give into the “favor scheme” of politics. Obama has never attempted to reinstate a 21st Century version of Glass Steagall, which would prohibit banks from gambling with your money. This is a problem because banks tend to take bigger risks when the money they are betting on is not theirs. Lastly, BO has given speeches discussing the corruption in government, but never attempted to overturn the Citizens United vs. FEC Ruling. This ruling was a complete disaster, even today. Now campaign finance can come with no problems from private interests and corporations which spread their needs through big bucks for those running for office.

While some may argue that these failures of Barack Obama’s presidency were not his fault because of a Republican Congress, you must keep in mind it was not always this way and Obama has done very little to fix these failures over the past seven years.