Dear editor:
America vs. Obama signs popular this past two weeks on Warren roadways make me cringe. I am perplexed at the viewpoint of some citizens.
The first law signed by President Obama was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act legislating equal pay for equal work for women and men. I'm certain half of the population was happy with this.
Despite the blockade by Congress from the opposite party, President Obama managed to offer ARRA funding at a time in 2008-9 when jobs were cut, layoffs were common and we were experiencing the worst economic time since the Depression. I remember noticing no job ads to speak of in the Erie and Warren papers at that time. I look now and see quite a number of positions and a local unemployment rate lower than most in the region. I know many clients of the Warren/Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council were grateful for this stimulus money in various programs.
Health care, which had been a topic of discussion for 100 years, was passed in the Affordable Care Act putting teens and 20 somethings back on parent's coverage, encouraging preventive care, eliminating refusal of coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, avoiding financial ruin for people with catastrophic illnesses and making it mandatory that at least 80% of medical premiums went to medical services as opposed to advertising and CEO perks. I learned in high school that the well citizens pay for the ill citizens in an insurance plan and keep it solvent! And I learned in my religious education classes that this was the right way to treat our brothers and sisters.
The automobile industry was given assistance resulting in the survival of a business whose demise would have had a ripple effect on parts makers, car dealers, tire companies, etc.
President Obama wants to penalize those companies who go off-shore to open businesses and avoid paying taxes. I think many American small companies favor this and may be the reason the unemployment rate is steadily decreasing.
Our President wants to keep and enhance financial regulations on the banking and investment corporations to avoid the unprincipled wagering of investor's money in a risky manner. I'm for that the stock market seems to agree and if corporations are "persons" according to the Supreme Court, then let's try and penalize the upper management people of these corporations who have done the seedy business.
Karen Davis
Warren