The First 100 Days: How's Obama Doing?

Published April 28, 2009 @ 07:58AM PT

"for all the talk about bold plans and brave ideas... we have very little to show in the way of actual change, actual reform, or any real action on all those multiple "key issues" that we're told are so crucial."

Not so fast! declares The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropy devoted to family and child poverty alleviation. They credit Obama with the stimulus package, S-CHIP, and his homeownership plans. Beyond Chron Editor Randy Shaw agrees, citing Obama's support for the Employee Free Choice Act, his expansion of AmeriCorps, and his pursuit of healthcare reform.

I'm ambivalent. I think our expectations are at rock bottom after Bush (I know mine are), and I'm gratified just to have a highly competent, highly intelligent, highly energetic, highly committed President in office for a change. I'm also aware of Obama's stepping in after 25 years of runaway, ideological economic inequality. And I appreciate his fundamental commitment to modernize so many of our dated technologies - whether it be in energy consumption or healthcare access. But frankly, his financial team is bad, devoted, it seems, to upholding an unfair, out-of-control financial system that needs deep reform. And we can't get out of our own way on the financial/mortgage/economic crisis until we acknowledge that.

So who knows...as NycWeboy also points out, it's a foolish benchmark, the first 100 days. But here we are, mulling it over.

What do you think of Obama's performance to date?

(Photo by BohPhoto)

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"The Administration's commitment to tackling concentrated poverty, including investments in rural America and the Promise Neighborhood Initiative, modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone, will provide much-needed services and supports to families in struggling communities."

- Annie Casey Foundation

Italics mine; as I said in my piece (thanks for the link!), there's a lot of this these days, a decision to live life in the future tense, where it's not where we are that matters... but where we will be. I'm not trying to suggest that Obama's been a failure; I think there's been a number of good developments. But let's not overstate them or give credit for things the Administration has yet to do... at least not until they do them. I'd love to see a " commitment to tackling concentrated poverty" but so far... we haven't. And I get the impression, oin 100 days, that for progressive ideas to make headway, they continue to need active, committed engagement. Obama was a great step in the progressive direcion. There's still a lot more work to be done.

Posted by NYC Weboy on 04/28/2009 @ 08:23AM PT
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For years I carried around this quote: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
Desmond Tutu

Perhaps the administration is not neutral, but it seems we lack clear signs that poverty is a priority.

Posted by HEAR US on 04/28/2009 @ 10:00AM PT
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OBAMA ROCKS!

Posted by cody lee on 04/28/2009 @ 03:39PM PT
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Google/youtube "The Obama Deception" I promise it is not what you think : )

Posted by Jennifer Yeh on 04/28/2009 @ 06:15PM PT
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"Vote all you want. The flight plan doesn't change."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw

Posted by Jennifer Yeh on 04/28/2009 @ 06:17PM PT
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Government isn't going to move forward on easing US poverty until enough people make it clear that this is necessary, not only for basic humanitarian reasons, but for the stability/survival of the US. The US began abandoning the concept of "the common good" a quarter of a century ago, and we are seeing the consequences today.

Posted by DH Fabian on 05/20/2009 @ 08:12AM PT
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Author

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.