The Obama economy: a report card from America's Heartland

By Kevin Price

I have been seeing several "reports cards" recently by political pundits, policy institutes, journalists and others who are all over the map on how to grade the President's performance when it comes to the economy. The vast majority are providing rather low scores. I think the highest I have seen was a "C+" by a very liberal think tank. What I wanted to do was get the opinion of real Americans who are living through this administration's policies on a daily basis. With that, I got the views of friends and fans of my Price of Business radio show on CBS radio at Facebook. Their responses provide real insight on what is going on in this economy and the role Obama is playing.

"President Obama's answer to everything is "spend more money." He appears never to have looked at the ways lower taxes and a tightened budget could benefit the economy. His economic philosophy is "more," not "less," and the effect has been only failure at every turn. (Michele Samuelson, Austin, freelance political writer).

Christine Marks (Jenks, Oklahoma) wrote "I am 53 years old. I have no recollection of the economy being even close to what it is now and has been for the last 2 years. I am a nurse and thank God I chose this profession as I feel there isn't any other professions that are safe from layoffs. I go to bed every night and pray for all the people, just that I know personally, that are unemployed. There are five nurses that I work with that have a spouse that has lost their jobs and they are the sole support of their families. Before I got my license reinstated after my divorce, I looked for 2 years for another job, ANY JOB, from pushing a lawn mower around to washing windows and was lucky if anyone could afford the extra money to hire me until I got back on my feet."

Annette Marie Jones (Dallas, Texas). "I work as an Account Representative for a career and technical school. I am probably one of the few individuals who just recently graduated from college that did NOT vote for him and become "mesmerized" by his "Hope" and "...Change" campaign. I do not see this administration addressing the unemployment or the devastated economy. Instead, I see an administration that wants to spend our nation into a bankrupt oblivion by passing this new health care reform, is out of touch with reality and the American people, is simply just set on progressing past the constitution and everything our nation was founded on. Please do cite me...I could write a lot more on here...if you need me to go further I will. Oh, and I will give Obama an F for a grade."

Ed Merkel (Lincoln, Nebraska). "I'm now convinced the President believes he can spend and tax the nation into equalized prosperity. I've been employed in the financial sector for three decades. And no, I'm not wealthy, not even close. I deal with businesses across the county, and have yet to hear a positive comment about the direction of the economy. And these are unsolicited comments. Beyond that, I'll give him a "D," because the country hasn't collapsed yet. But let them pass Cap & Trade and it likely will plummet further."

Nick Carbine (Houston, Texas) writes, "Kevin, the Obama administration's handling of the economy exposes a fundamental conflict of interest in a government "handling" an economy. Unleashing the economic might of the United States calls for dramatic tax cuts, reducing onerous regulations, and confidence that one's economic moves will not be arbitrarily undone. As fixing the economy calls for less of themselves, Congress and the administration are fighting against our economy rather than helping it. They would much rather siphon borrowed trillions to themselves and their pet projects. Better the whole country suffer than Washington insiders do without the lifestyle they have grown accustomed to. So for actual handling of the economy, a very predictable F."

These are the comments of real people, trying to pursue economic prosperity in very trying times.

© Kevin Price