From a Columbian letter to the editor today:
In her Feb. 13 letter, “President should have more influence,” Ann Harris asked was her vote wasted on Barack Obama? What has he accomplished in a year? I would answer: the stimulus package; tax reductions; elimination of the F-22 fighter program, saving millions; Sonia Sotomayor; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; expansion of SCHIP to cover 4 million children; public lands bill for 2 million acres of protected wilderness; credit card reform; comprehensive ban on lobbyists; regulation of tobacco by the FDA; stem-cell research; expansion of AmeriCorps national service programs. In addition there are accomplishments on the world stage; the Cairo speech; not turning over Afghanistan to the Taliban; strengthening of the Department of State; renewed engagement throughout the world; leadership in world climate change; ban on torture; organized and effective response to H1N1 and Haiti disasters.
I also voted for Obama, and I’m proud of these accomplishments and they are significant. I don’t regret my vote. Of course, it’s not enough. I’m impatient for health insurance reform; closure of Gitmo; re-regulation of banking; ending Iraq and Afghanistan wars, ending don’t ask, don’t tell; passage of “Card Check”; and carbon cap-and-trade. Do I wish I had voted for McCain-Palin? Nope, not for a minute.
It is easy to focus on what is not getting done and forget the positive accomplishments. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day)-- Johnny Taylor ’62
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