Part four
Science, Technology and Health Care
He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw
Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U
He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7
He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb
He expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers. http://bit.ly/jRRRJc
His EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS
Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC
Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr
He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP
He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA
He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3
He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9
He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b
Two weeks after taking office, he signed theChildren’s Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv
He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C
Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established http://www.healthcare.gov/
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Provisions in the Affordable Health Care Act have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Last year’s increase was 4%. Compare that to the average 12% annual inflation rate during the previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh
Strengthening the Middle Class and Families
He worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS
He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F
Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they’ve been since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP
He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz
Environment and Energy
He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x
He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM
He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y
His EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL
He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu
He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R
Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5
His EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN
He doubled federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE
He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y
He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq
He reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush-era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv
He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO
He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P
Following Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO
Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV
Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk
He oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo
He also actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3
He initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a
Through his EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own. http://bit.ly/ww8eMd
He strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH
His EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt
Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2
He increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY
He announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K

QuakerOats;1277915 wrote:I'll take a highly successful (and generous) business person who knows how to turn around failing enterprises any day of the week, especially over a community activist/agitator whose only claims to fame are blaming others, failed leadership, setting the record for rounds of golf by a president (during times of crisis), and gaining the endorsement of the communist party.

Can the choice get any simpler?

and how have we done with businessmen as presidents, BADLY.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/02/17/sorry-mitt-romney-good-businessmen-rarely-make-good-presidents

isadore;1278233 wrote:and how have we done with businessmen as presidents, BADLY.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/02/17/sorry-mitt-romney-good-businessmen-rarely-make-good-presidents

How have we done with community organizers as president?

Al Bundy;1278256 wrote:How have we done with community organizers as president?

well gosh a ruddies, whose background is most similar to Obama. Lets see, a lawyer with experience in Illinois politics, elected to the state legislature, a few years in Congress and then president.

Well...before Romney's "words of wisdom", he was a slight 3-2 underdog according to offshore bookies that have a line on the election. Now, after his "words of wisdon" Obama is favored 7 to 2. 7-2!! Sorry Oats, but the fat lady is singing.

I thought this election was going to be real close. Not now. For the record Mitt, 47% of Americans do not think the government should take care of them. For you to think so proves to all the fence riders that you are a joke, and not even close to being a fit leader. Your mind set...caught on camera...has sealed your fate.

The election will be called before midnight....and the GOP can blame the blooming idiot that they selected.

I'm not at all happy about it either. I wanted Mitt to win and watch the litle shyster squirm as more plants closed, more jobs got outsourced, the spending running even further rampant, and the clusterfuck resulting from bombing Iran.

The only good news with Obama winning will involve the stock market remaining relatively high. GOP presidents have a history of overseeing the market tanking.

2kool4skool;1275196 wrote:I will make a wager with you. If Romney wins, I will PayPal you 1,000 USD. If Obama wins, you get a vasectomy so you can never reproduce again.

QuakerOats;1275215 wrote:Deal.

Bump.

When's this happening Quaker?

LMAO at you guys gloating over the outcome of this election. We ALL lost, some of you just haven't realized it yet.

gut;1315199 wrote:LMAO at you guys gloating over the outcome of this election. We ALL lost, some of you just haven't realized it yet.

gut;1315199 wrote:LMAO at you guys gloating over the outcome of this election. We ALL lost, some of you just haven't realized it yet.

tolerance won, compassion won, decency won, you lost.

isadore;1315250 wrote:tolerance won, compassion won, decency won, you lost.

Yeah compassion that is destroying the middle class. We all lost, it will just take the "slow" people that voted for Obama longer to realize it.

gut;1315252 wrote:Yeah compassion that is destroying the middle class. We all lost, it will just take the "slow" people that voted for Obama longer to realize it.

the greedy lost, the selfish lost, the bigoted lost, the decent people of America won. Too bad for you.

isadore;1315355 wrote:the greedy lost, the selfish lost, the bigoted lost, the decent people of America won. Too bad for you.

I'll be quite alright. But for the takers that think gubmit is a path to prosperity you might want to look at Europe. That's ultimately too bad for you. Some day you will realize that an increase in gubmit handouts is not offsetting the decline in your standard of living.

gut;1315364 wrote:I'll be quite alright. But for the takers that think gubmit is a path to prosperity you might want to look at Europe. That's ultimately too bad for you. Some day you will realize that an increase in gubmit handouts is not offsetting the decline in your standard of living.

A tired argument and FAUX talking point that is not worthy of a serious debate. We have very little in common with how things run in Europe. However their are some good lessons to be learned from Germany.

Bigdogg;1315471 wrote:A tired argument and FAUX talking point that is not worthy of a serious debate. We have very little in common with how things run in Europe. However their are some good lessons to be learned from Germany.

LMAO, you live in the bubble of ignorance. You should go do some research on historical unemployment, deficits and GDP growth in Europe, including Germany (and not the stuff MSNBC craps down your throat, REAL research). You're not going to like it when you discover that's what the Obamaconomy has given us and you just voted for more of the same.

Oh, when you do that (I know you won't, you are obviously living in fantasy land) make sure to take note of the various taxes on the lower and middle income classes. This is all information, by the way, you can get from OECD and other sources that have nothing to do with Fox or MSNBC. You can go educate yourself and then make an actual informed opinion.

FAUX talking point. You're hilarious. Typical response from people who are absolutely fucking clueless.

gut;1315364 wrote:I'll be quite alright. But for the takers that think gubmit is a path to prosperity you might want to look at Europe. That's ultimately too bad for you. Some day you will realize that an increase in gubmit handouts is not offsetting the decline in your standard of living.

gosh look at Germany, norway, sweden, denmark, netherlands, all in Europe. Gosh how about up north, they seem to be doing pretty good. may be we could follow their model.

I see gut is continuing to embarass himself. He's that guy that will never admit when he's wrong.

gut;1315199 wrote:LMAO at you guys gloating over the outcome of this election. We ALL lost, some of you just haven't realized it yet.

BINGO

isadore;1315250 wrote:tolerance won, compassion won, decency won, you lost.

Quit trying to sugarcoat it; just say it: the takers won; the producers lost.

isadore;1315638 wrote:gosh look at Germany, norway, sweden, denmark, netherlands, all in Europe. Gosh how about up north, they seem to be doing pretty good. may be we could follow their model.

The Scandinavian model works great there with smaller homogeneous populations. It would not and could not work here....ever.

Automatik;1315795 wrote:The Scandinavian model works great there with smaller homogeneous populations. It would not and could not work here....ever.

gosh a ruddies last time I checked Germany and the Netherlands are not in Scandinavia, nor is Canada. All these countries are becoming increasingly diverse. But if we accept that these nations are so racially pure. (where have I seen that kind of talk before?)
Gosh a ruddies is there some particular reason why a nation must be "homogeneous" to have a system that truly protects its citizens. According to you only Scandinavians have that ability, gosh is there some reason you think other ethnic groups lack this quality, why a diverse, tolerant society could not do the same thing.

QuakerOats;1315789 wrote:Quit trying to sugarcoat it; just say it: the takers won; the producers lost.

what an interesting view of the majority of the American people, expected but interesting. go back to reading Atlas Shrugged and dreaming of that delusional fantasy written by a greedy, selfish, soulless materialist with whom you identify.

Germany is supporting the EU, and maybe you better check again, because that is coming to an end soon, and if you think Greece and Spain burning is bad, wait till they all fall.

Your shallowness continues to amaze, but that is precisely why you are an obama liker.

gut;1315615 wrote:LMAO, you live in the bubble of ignorance. You should go do some research on historical unemployment, deficits and GDP growth in Europe, including Germany (and not the stuff MSNBC craps down your throat, REAL research). You're not going to like it when you discover that's what the Obamaconomy has given us and you just voted for more of the same.

Oh, when you do that (I know you won't, you are obviously living in fantasy land) make sure to take note of the various taxes on the lower and middle income classes. This is all information, by the way, you can get from OECD and other sources that have nothing to do with Fox or MSNBC. You can go educate yourself and then make an actual informed opinion.

FAUX talking point. You're hilarious. Typical response from people who are absolutely fucking clueless.

Gut, Your response is typical and about what I expected. resorting to name calling to prove your point. You are the poster child of your party. Good luck in the next election:laugh:

I run a business and employ 65 people. I know how Obamacare is going to effict me and in my case I am really happy. I suspect you are cluless about how it will effect you personally, at least you have not provided in facts on that subject yet.

isadore;1315805 wrote:gosh a ruddies last time I checked Germany and the Netherlands are not in Scandinavia, nor is Canada. All these countries are becoming increasingly diverse. But if we accept that these nations are so racially pure. (where have I seen that kind of talk before?)
Gosh a ruddies is there some particular reason why a nation must be "homogeneous" to have a system that truly protects its citizens. According to you only Scandinavians have that ability, gosh is there some reason you think other ethnic groups lack this quality, why a diverse, tolerant society could not do the same thing.

I'll use Denmark as an example. I lived there for a time and experienced their ways first hand. Homogenous in terms wealth, income, etc. Increasingly diverse? I'm pretty sure Denmark is over 90% Danes.

They don't have the massive gap between the rich and poor. The entire nation has bought into their system. Their population is roughly 6 million, the US 300. Our class gap is immense and the "scum" class increasing daily.

rmolin73;1315679 wrote:I see gut is continuing to embarass himself. He's that guy that will never admit when he's wrong.

I'll freely admit when I'm wrong. It's just rare because I don't talk out of my ass about subjects I don't know. Of course, everyone here is so well versed in economics, eventhough they clearly are clueless to people who actually know something of the subject.

I'll note that in your response you neglected to take my advice to do some actual research for yourself to see that I wasn't regurgitating talking points (with regard to Europe) but providing you with facts.