We won't know what we've got until it's gone...

I just came from Leslies, she has posted this link from Nathan Newman-TPMcafe, about Obama and his achievements thus far. It surely was an eye-opener for me since I was feeling kinda glum this week. Yes I'm upset about the war, I'm upset about the new troop surge, but damn people whats wrong with us?? We fought so hard in the last election to put a Dem in the White House. Why are we letting the lies and manipulating fuckers from the right tear us apart?? I don't want to be swayed from my progressive stance. I will never turn my back on my president and surely NEVER be swayed by the right!

Here is the list of accomplishments from our current administration. They are working hard for us damn it! Sure there are things we won't be happy with, things that won't get done exactly like we want, but read this list and then tell yourself the "glass IS half full" afterall. We have a long way to go people but hold on and don't turn your backs on the progress at hand, it would be suicide for our party!!

Quick Summary of 2009 Progressive Victories

  • Three major health bills (SCHIP, tobacco regulation, and stimulus funds for Medicaid, COBRA subsidies, health information technology and the National Institutes of Health) enacted even before comprehensive reform
  • Stimulus contained myriad other individual policy victories, not only preventing a far worse depression but also:
    • Delivered key new funds for education
    • Expanded state energy conservation programs and new transit programs
    • Added new smart grid investments
    • Funded high-speed Internet broadband programs
    • Extended unemployment insurance for up to 99 weeks for the unemployed and modernizing state UI programs to cover more of the unemployed
    • Made large new investments in the safety net, from food stamps (SNAP) to affordable housing to child care
  • Clean cars victory to take gas mileage requirements to 35mpg
  • Protection of 2 million acres of land against oil and gas drilling and other development
  • Executive orders protecting labor rights, from project labor agreements to protecting rights of contractor employees on federal jobs
  • Stopping pay discrimination through Lilly Ledbetter and Equal Pay laws
  • Making it easier for airline and railway workers to unionize, while appointing NLRB and other labor officials who will strengthen freedom to form unions
  • Reversing Bush ban on funding overseas family planning clinics
  • Passing hate crimes protections for gays and lesbians
  • Protecting stem cell research research
  • Strengthening state authority and restricting federal preemption to protect state consumer, environmental and labor laws
  • Financial reforms to protect homeowners and credit card holders
  • Bailing out the auto industry and protecting unionized retirees and workers

These are just summeries, if you want to read descriptions about each entry go here
Ping your blog, website, or RSS feed for Free