Semester 2 Blog 8

Compare and contrast Barack Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as presidents. Be sure to cover topics such as their responses to the economy, their interactions with the American public and their relationships with other elements of the US government (feel free to write about more, too!).

FDR:

There is a quote that FDR wrote in his first inaugural speech that he made famous: "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself." In the 1920's into the 1930', the U.S. faced the deepest darkest time period in history; The great depression. The stock marked had crashed, banks were bankrupt, people were out of work, and the unemployment rate was sky high. FDR used his positive attitude in his speeches to revitalized people into thinking that despite their poor circumstances they will rise once again out of despair. "Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative support."

FDR was adamant about helping people and changing the economy, and compared it to a "war against the emergency.'' I agree that our country is in the state of emergency. We need a president like FDR that can give us a solid solution to our problems. Our current president has not givens direction or answers to our problems. He has just given us promises and money that we don't have, and has put us in a deeper hole to climb out of.

Obama:

"I dont care weather you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff, you have to change direction." That's what the american people called in November and that what we intend to deliver.

"Fight the housing and financial crises:

A new housing program has stabilized the market, preventing more foreclosures and helping millions more re-finance at historically low mortgage rates. The Administration is also moving forward with its plans to get credit flowing again to businesses and families, and to reform our regulatory system so we have a set of 21st century rules to match 21st century financial markets."

This is what Obama is trying to do to help the housing and financial crises. Since Obama became president taxes have gone higher, a significant amount of foreclosures, and a lot of promises. Obama promises that there will be change, but so far there has been no change that has helped the housing and finical issues.