Hey, Bro. Clyde. I remember back when I made the decision to register and vote in 2008. It was because of the dems' race, and it had alot to do with me being a woman, me being a Black woman, me being a Black woman living in Arizona, me having watched the career of John McCain, sen. of az--and being DISGUSTED *with all of the praising-kinds of LIES being told on McCain's behalf (GALLED me!)*--and probably the single most important thing that *tipped me* over the line toward voting was a comment that candidate Obama made in regards to the formulation of federal POLICY. He said something to the effect that *the real work* he intended to be judged by would involve the *changes* that he would direct, re: formulated an implemented federal policy.
THAT caught my attention well beyond any of the hype being generated by all of them politicians!
There I was, unable to totally ignore 'politics' for the first time in almost 30 years! I got suckered in--plain and simple. THE PROBLEM (as far as I'm concerned): I AGREED with him! It has always been the direction (development and implementation) of policies hostile to Black people that has hurt our people the most! Never mind the sloganisms, and never mind legislation (which is always riddled with loopholes)--what affects our people far beyond the profit-taking arranged by lobbyists has been the policies developed by think tankers that is 'adopted by the federal gov't' that either focuses down on (in a debilitating way), OR ignores entirely the ongoing, chronic needs of the poor and/or Black people *in particular*. Focuses down on, or blatantly ignores--until *debilitated*. No in between brought into effect.
That candidate Obama *dared* to announce an awareness of the accumulated POWER that resides in 'policy', plus his background as an advocate, well, I bought in.
In general, I thought it *time to vote* again. First truly *viable* woman candidate, first viable Black man candidate--both at the TOP of their ticket, both at the top of *their game*, and both battling to run against that idiot McCain (Az's DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR AZ 'ever' senator). If all that wasn't enough, there was Az-specific politics that concerned me for the first time. In Az, there had built up the first true power momentum to get ARPAIO 'out' of the sheriff's seat...it was a kind of *perfect storm* opportunity for me from the state AND national levels, so...
At this time, I don't hold Obama's legislative record against him. That would not be reasonable OR fair. Everybody and they grannies KNOWS that his opportunities to work with today's congress doesn't exist. We all know why--his congressional enemies declared what/how they'd do him. Their end-game fell apart (and I'm glad it did). Historically, I'm glad Obama won his second term; however, it's when I think about his POLICIES....
I ask myself how his enemies in congress manage to *stay his hand* in the executive, such that he somehow has inadequate *show and prove* in arenas that, with 'change' available to him, he has not shown jack yet, so...
Policies that were *beneficial* during Obama's first term (so far as I'm aware of): His extended unemployment payments policy was good. NEEDED, *big time*. Still needed, as a matter of fact, but still...I think this regarding that policy, and from a Black perspective. Stepping in to save the auto industry--that was good policy. NEEDED, and urgently. I think this from a Black perspective. The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was legislation, but NEEDED BADLY and from long time ago! My view from a Black perspective, once again. NOTE: Through Holder, Obama's pushing *today* on something regarding *sentencing minimums* that is ABOUT TIME!
GOOD for minority New Yorkers! GOOD for Atty Gen Holder!
Bro. Clyde, that's it (up there). That's all I got (know of, offhand) in regards to policy *change* that I can associate with Pres. Obama's determination to do 'something' that he KNOWS would benefit (alleviate day-to-day strain) that otherwise targets the poor and/or Blacks in this country.
All else smacks of appeasement of white sensibilities--something he appears to equate with *beneficial for the middle class* w/middle class being a code-term for *white folkses interests*--at least, to me.
One Love, and PEACE