A Progressive Critique of Obama, From the Financial Sector
MarketWatch is not normally known as a hotbed of progressive thought. Yet that’s where this scathing critique of Obama from his left side appeared, under the title, “How Obama is Failing Investors” by Paul B. Farrell. It was published on the one-year anniversary of Obama’s inauguration, and still very much worth reading.
Here’s a little taste:
You are failing us. Many people now question voting for you, and your ‘fat-cat bankers’ are destroying capitalism and democracy.
A year ago, millions of Americans — investors, taxpayers, consumers, voters — came together, uplifted by the “audacity of hope,” inspired by a vision of “change we can believe in,” heartened by “bold and specific ideas about how to fix our ailing economy and strengthen the middle class, make health care affordable for all, achieve energy independence and keep America safe in a dangerous world.”
“Yes, we can” was the rallying cheer. You were the game-changer after the Bush-Cheney fiasco. What happened?
Thank you for sharing this illuminating critique, from an unlikely source, of Obama’s stunning conservative approach to reforming corporate misbehavior.
Perhaps what’s most discouraging, for me, is the realize that the Obama administration will now lobby to further weaken an already far too weak financial reform bill. As with healthcare, the gap between the Obama administration says in public and lobbies for in private is far too large. Whose side is Obama on, anyway?
It kind of goes with the territory, I’m afraid. The really sad thing is that he had a moment where change was very possible, early on. He not only threw away the precious moment, but alienated so many of the constituencies that elected him.
Thank you for sharing this illuminating critique, from an unlikely source, of Obama’s stunning conservative approach to reforming corporate misbehavior.
Perhaps what’s most discouraging, for me, is the realize that the Obama administration will now lobby to further weaken an already far too weak financial reform bill. As with healthcare, the gap between the Obama administration says in public and lobbies for in private is far too large. Whose side is Obama on, anyway?
It kind of goes with the territory, I’m afraid. The really sad thing is that he had a moment where change was very possible, early on. He not only threw away the precious moment, but alienated so many of the constituencies that elected him.
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