General Discussion

kpete

(72,013 posts) Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:09 AM Jun 2015

VOX: No longer any doubt: "Obama is one of the most consequential presidents in American history"

After Thursday's Supreme Court ruling, — and he will be a particularly towering figure in the history of American progressivism.
...

...When you consider the (Affordable Care Act) law in the context of 100 years of progressive activism, and in the grand scheme of American history, it starts to look less like a moderate reform and more like an epochal achievement, on the order of FDR's passage of Social Security, or LBJ's Great Society programs. It is, to quote Harvard political scientist Theda Skocpol, "a century-defining accomplishment in the last industrial democracy to resist using national government to ensure access to health coverage for most citizens." FDR failed, Truman failed, Nixon failed, Carter failed, Clinton failed — and Obama succeeded. He filled in the one big remaining gap in the American welfare state when all his forerunners couldn't.

http://www.vox.com/2015/6/26/8849925/obama-obamacare-history-presidents

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

VOX: No longer any doubt: "Obama is one of the most consequential presidents in American history" (Original Post) kpete Jun 2015 OP

K& R Stellar Jun 2015 #1

Obama is a chessmaster malaise Jun 2015 #2

Thank you, kpete and Dylan Matthews. "Barack Obama is officially one of the most consequential Cha Jun 2015 #3

Now it's time to reflect on the "other" bridges he has created from government to we, the people. libdem4life Jun 2015 #5

The ACA final version was far short of what Obama intended it to be INdemo Jun 2015 #6

5 years ago, I would not have agreed. Oneironaut Jun 2015 #4

Just think what he might have accomplished Danascot Jun 2015 #7

Skocpol? "the Gulf's already polluted so BP's no biggie" Skocpol? MisterP Jun 2015 #8

KICK44 "Obama is one of the most consequential presidents in American history" Cha Jun 2015 #9

Stellar

(5,644 posts)

1. K& R

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:13 AM

Jun 2015

with a passion!

malaise

(269,157 posts)

2. Obama is a chessmaster

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:16 AM

Jun 2015

That is all.

Cha

(297,549 posts)

3. Thank you, kpete and Dylan Matthews. "Barack Obama is officially one of the most consequential

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:27 AM

Jun 2015

presidents in American history"

And of course, the Affordable Care Act was hardly Obama's only accomplishment. He passed a stimulus bill that included major reforms to the nation's education system, big spending on clean energy, and significant expansions of anti-poverty programs. He shepherded through the Dodd-Frank Act, the first significant crackdown on Wall Street's power in a generation, which has been far more successful than commonly acknowledged.

He used executive action to enact bold regulations to curb green house gas emissions, and to protect nearly 6 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. He ended the ban on gay and lesbian service in the military, made it easier for women and minorities to fight wage discrimination, cut out wasteful private sector involvement in student loans, and hiked the top income tax rate.

He reopened relations with Cuba after a failed half-century estrangement and has tentatively reached a historic deal to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon — and, much more importantly, to avoid a war with Iran. He reprofessionalized the Department of Justice and refashioned the National Labor Relations Board and the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department into highly effective forces for workers' rights.

http://www.vox.com/2015/6/26/8849925/obama-obamacare-history-presidents

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)

5. Now it's time to reflect on the "other" bridges he has created from government to we, the people.

Reply to Cha (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:35 AM

Jun 2015

Thanks for the reminders. The list is truly long, but this week with it's momentous highlights, will reflect back to include all in his Legacy.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)

6. The ACA final version was far short of what Obama intended it to be

Reply to Cha (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 12:28 PM

Jun 2015

Democrats took what they could get.They made statements like"its a start and we will add to this bill later"
When insurance companies stopped spending millions against the ACA it was obvious it met their approval and meant higher profits for them.But still the uninsurable could now get insurance.

There was no mention of Obama's accomplishment with the TPP trade deal?

"and refashioned the National Labor Relations Board and the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department into highly effective forces for workers' rights."
Need to read this in detail. He took away some workers rights and less power for the NLRB
and have we seen a minimum wage of at least $10.00 yet?

Obama actually has had Social Security and Medicare on the table in budget negotiations with Republicans.

Obama pushed a bill through that actually weakened the Dodd-Frank bill.

Anything else?

Comparing Obama to FDR or Truman or JFK.? He is not even close.

Oneironaut

(5,522 posts)

4. 5 years ago, I would not have agreed.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Jun 27, 2015, 11:27 AM

Jun 2015

Now I think it's obvious. Also impressive is that Obama got stuff done with a Republican-majority House for most of his Presidency. Love or hate Obama, you must admit that he is an effective leader.