Obama attacks income inequality

[KingOrfeo]

Story here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama turned his focus Wednesday to the pocketbook issues that Americans consistently rank as a top concern, arguing that the dream of upward economic mobility is breaking down and the growing income gap is a "defining challenge of our time."

"The basic bargain at the heart of our economy has frayed," the president said in remarks at a nonprofit community center a short drive from the White House in one of Washington's most impoverished neighborhoods.

The president vowed to focus the last three years of his presidency on addressing the discrepancy and a rapidly growing deficit of opportunity that he said is a bigger threat than the fiscal deficit.

Obama's remarks on the economy come as he seeks to move past the health care woes that have consumed his presidency in recent months. He acknowledged his administration's "poor execution" in rolling out the flawed website that was supposed to be an easy portal for purchasing insurance, while blaming Republicans for a "reckless" shutdown of the government.

"Nobody has acquitted themselves very well these past few months. So it's not surprising that the American people's frustrations with Washington are at an all-time high," Obama said. But he added that Americans' frustrations also run high to try to meet ends meet, no matter how hard they work.

The speech comes amid growing national and international attention to economic disparities — from the writings of Pope Francis to the protests of fast-food workers in the U.S. The president cited the pope's question of how it isn't news when an elderly homeless person dies from exposure, but news when stock market loses two points.

Obama said increasing income inequality is more pronounced in the United States than other countries. He said Americans should be offended that a child born into poverty has such a hard time escaping it. "It should compel us to action. We're a better country than this," the president said.

Obama did not propose any new policy initiatives in the speech, sponsored by the Center for American Progress, a think tank with close ties to the White House. But he reiterated his call for an increase in the minimum wage and other measures he's been backing to help lower income Americans.

 

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[unregistered]

 

[Sean Renaud]

Because he's also a pussy most of the time.

 

[pete]

benign speeches with no policy initiatives or legislative proposals?

shocker!

too bad he's making things worse for future lower & middle class americans by sand-bagging them with $17 Trillion of debt, which will probably be $20T by the time he flies out of the white house in his private jet.

 

[koalabear]

Fast food workers should make the same as a brain surgeon.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Sean Renaud]

benign speeches with no policy initiatives or legislative proposals?

shocker!

too bad he's making things worse for future lower & middle class americans by sand-bagging them with $17 Trillion of debt, which will probably be $20T by the time he flies out of the white house in his private jet.

The debt isn't that big a deal and yeah I expect it will be nearly 20T by the time he leaves office that sounds about right.

 

[jeninflorida]

benign speeches with no policy initiatives or legislative proposals?

shocker!

too bad he's making things worse for future lower & middle class americans by sand-bagging them with $17 Trillion of debt, which will probably be $20T by the time he flies out of the white house in his private jet.

Dont post stuff like that! These GB'ers aka the mentally kess fortunates love the obana no matter how nad things become...cuz msnnc tells these people obana life is good

There is no room for reality and truth on the GB

 

[KingOrfeo]

The humanity.

And the papacy, too.

 

[jeninflorida]

Ckearly obana needs to take the brick out of his ass and create policies that promote small business growth....the things obama hates: capitalism

 

[Shagly]

Fast food workers should make the same as a brain surgeon.

*Snerk*.

 

[jeninflorida]

Summary



Obana is high on the obama ass juice

More socialist stupidity and nanny state BULLSHIT

Get a fucking job u idiot

 

[miles]

That speech was nothing more than regurgitated rheotric. It was pitiful.

 

[landslider2000]

Those of us who originally viewed Obama as just another Harvard humanist were wrong.

At this juncture, how can anybody escape the conclusion that he is a garden variety socialist?

 

[Sean Renaud]

That speech was nothing more than regurgitated rheotric. It was pitiful.

LOL. IT could have been far better, he could have for example pointed out exactly what he expects to fail but he's finally focusing a little on making you look bad. Not a grand strategy I grant you but it took him long enough.

Those of us who originally viewed Obama as just another Harvard humanist were wrong.

At this juncture, how can anybody escape the conclusion that he is a garden variety socialist?

If this is socialism America is screaming bring it on. I suggest you change your toon before real socialists show up and get accepted because you've polished them to a fine shine with your slander.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Those of us who originally viewed Obama as just another Harvard humanist were wrong.

At this juncture, how can anybody escape the conclusion that he is a garden variety socialist?

Of course, you needn't be any kind of socialist to have a problem with economic inequality. Harvard humanists always have.

 

[InJest]

Fuckin' right on! People without the discipline and determination to acquire skills should absolutely "earn" the same as those who commit years to developing and honing skills. It's not anyone's fault where they were born. Throw all the wages into a pot and hand it out in equal share.

At this point, what difference does it make, right? As long as it's equal and fair.

"Fairiness is next to godliness" should be the new US motto, printed on every dollar bill.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Those of us who originally viewed Obama as just another Harvard humanist were wrong.

At this juncture, how can anybody escape the conclusion that he is a garden variety socialist?

Those of us anchored in the reality-based world can do that easily.

I understand your problems coping,though.

 

[jeninflorida]

Fuckin' right on! People without the discipline and determination to acquire skills should absolutely "earn" the same as those who commit years to developing and honing skills. It's not anyone's fault where they were born. Throw all the wages into a pot and hand it out in equal share.

At this point, what difference does it make, right? As long as it's equal and fair.

"Fairiness is next to godliness" should be the new US motto, printed on every dollar bill.

Well said!

Rob just wet himself reading this

 

[jeninflorida]

Those of us anchored in the reality-based world can do that easily.

I understand your problems coping,though.

Any by reality...are you talking SimsII or SimsIII?

 

[Skiddles2014]

Fast food workers should make the same as a brain surgeon.

Yes, Americans should all be equally miserable.

I'm sure the surgeon who worked on yours was making min wage.

It shows. Both of yous.

 

[unregistered]