05-18-2015, 09:17 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NOVA
Posts: 3,005
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Obama vs. Clinton
Clinton
Reduced welfare rolls by 60% NAFTA*, African Growth And Opportunity Act Gradually eliminated the deficit and brought the government into surplus, created a deficit-cutting contest between Dems and Pubs EITC expansion ==> oversaw incomes in every decile grow Middle-East peace process Raised income tax rate for 200K+ from 31% to 39%. Paperwork reduction act, expanded opportunity without expanding government Obama Cut uninsured rate from 20% to 13% (35% decrease) More even-handed policies in Israeli-Palestinean conflict TPP* (should pass), largest trading bloc in world (40% of world economy) Allowed regressive Bush tax cuts to expire for $400K. Obama has not compromised or collaborated withe Republicans to the same extent. I'd say Obama's presidency has been adequate (esp. if TPP passes), Clinton's spectacular. * The effects of trade deals are ambiguous and small, but given strong unanimity among economists on trade, just enacting free trade should be an accomplishment, unless the deals aren't really FT deals Last edited by ChinoCoug; 05-18-2015 at 09:20 PM. |
05-19-2015, 02:18 AM | #2 |
Demiurge
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 36,367
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Obama cut the uninsured rate largely by expanding Medicaid and eventually the chickens are going to come to roost and put the hurt on the state budgets.
One can argue about whether this is good and just. |
05-19-2015, 02:55 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
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Location: NOVA
Posts: 3,005
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Yes, whether it was worth it depends on norms and not empirics.
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