Transcript THE CLINTON AND BUSH YEARS

THE CLINTON AND BUSH YEARS
EUGENIA LANGAN
MATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
HIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDA
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
 WAS CLINTON'S MIDDLE WAY
MIDDLE?
 WAS GEORGE W. BUSH A
SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENT?
 WHY DID PARTISAN POLITICS BECOME MORE
BITTER IN THE 1990s?
1992 ELECTION: ISSUES:
 "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID" -- RECESSION AND
UNEMPLOYMENT ≈ 8%, DEFICIT – CLINTON PLEDGED
TAX INCREASE.
 DEFICIT
 HEALTH CARE REFORM – OUT-OF-CONTROL HEALTH
CARE AND INSURANCE COSTS
 EDUCATION: "CHILDREN ARE OUT MOST IMPORTANT
NATIONAL RESOURCE" - CLINTON
 WELFARE REFORM (CLINTON FAMED FOR ARKANSAS
"WORKFARE" PROGRAM)
NAFTA (NEGOTIATED BY BUSH I, CLINTON
SUPPORTED)
CHARACTER ISSUES:
 BUSH – TAX FLIP-FLOP, EARLIER FLIP-FLOPS
 CLINTON: "SLICK WILLY," DRAFT DODGER
ALLEGATION, PHILANDERING ALLEGATIONS
YES, I SMOKED
MARIJUANA IN COLLEGE,
"BUT I DIDN'T INHALE."
1992 ELECTION -- POPULAR VOTE: CLINTON,
43.0%, BUSH 37.5%, H. ROSS PEROT 18.9%
PEROT:
SPOILER?
MAYBE: IN 11 "BLUE STATES," MARGIN WAS < 5% < 2% IN 3 STATES
N.B. – CLINTON A SOUTHERNER, DIDN'T CARRY MOST
OF SOUTH!
 THE FIRST BABY-BOOMER PRESIDENT – AND
FIRST
"FIRST LADY" WITH A PROFESSION (LAWYER)
C
BILL AND HILLARY – AT YALE LAW SCHOOL, AND
WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS
HILLARY CLINTON,
NEWSWEEK’S
“WOMAN OF THE
YEAR” ONE MONTH
AFTER ELECTION
DURING CAMPAIGN,
SHE SAID SHE
CHOSE HER LAW
CAREER OVER
STAYING HOME AND
“BAK[ING] COOKIES
AND HAV[ING] TEAS”
→ BEGINNING OF
“MOMMY WARS”
THE ECONOMY – NOT STUPID!
WAS CLINTON A "TAX AND SPEND" LIBERAL?
GDP GREW . . .
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECLINED -- ABOUT 23
MILLION NEW JOBS CREATED DURING CLINTON
YEARS
1990
5.6
1991
6.8
1992
7.5
1993
6.9
1994
6.1
1995
5.6
1996
5.4
1997
4.9
1998
4.5
1999
4.2
2000
4.0
2001
4.7
 TAXES? YES! OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION
ACT OF 1993 (OUR LAST TAX INCREASE, SO FAR)
 RAISED INCOME TAX RATES – TOP RATE FOR TOP
1.6% = 36.9%
 MADE TEFRA LIMITS ON INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS
PERMANENT
 INCREASED CORPORATE TAX TO 35%
 RAISED SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CAP
 ELIMINATED CAP ON MEDICARE TAX
SO WAS CLINTON A BIG SPENDING DEMOCRAT?
NO! FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT/ SURPLUS – STEADY
DEFICIT REDUCTION, SURPLUS FROM 1998 – 2000
THE HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBACLE
 "CO-PRESIDENCY"?
HILLARY C. WAS IN
CHARGE OF
PRESIDENTIAL TASK
FORCE ON NATIONAL
HEALTH CARE REFORM
 DID NOT CONSULT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
 INSISTED ON SECRET TASK FORCE MEETINGS,
WENT TO COURT TO EXCLUDE PUBLIC (WON – D.C.
CIR. HELD FIRST LADY = GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL)
 TASK FORM RECOMMENDATIONS:
 FEDERAL MANDATE FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES (FROM PRIVATE
INSURANCE COMPANIES) -- WHOM DOES THAT
BENEFIT?
INSURANCE COMPANIES
 "MANAGED CARE" – HMOs TO REDUCE COSTS
 IN HMOs, DOCTORS AND OTHER PROVIDERS ARE
“GATEKEEPERS” – THEY RECEIVE $ FOR NOT
PROVIDING EXPENSIVE TESTS AND TREATMENTS
 BILL SENT TO CONGRESS NOVEMBER 1993 = ›1000
PAGES LONG – AND NO PRIOR CONSULTATION
 REPUBLICANS ATTACKED AS "BIG GOVERNMENT,"
"SOCIALIZED MEDICINE". SUGGESTED WHAT IS NOW
KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE".
INSURANCE INDUSTRY RAN FALSE "HARRY AND LOUISE"
ADS EVEN THOUGH CLINTON PLAN FAVORED INSURANCE
INDUSTRY – WHY?
 RESULTS: (1) BILL DEFEATED IN CONGRESS (MOST
DEMS VOTED AGAINST)
(2) REPUBLICANS HAVE "BIG GOVERNMENT" ISSUE FOR
1994 MIDTERMS
(3) NO MORE EFFORTS AT HEALTH CARE REFORM UNTIL
OBAMA AND STILL, MOSTLY WHAT INSURANCE INDUSTRY
WANTED
OTHER PROBLEMS BEFORE 1994 MIDTERM
ELECTIONS:
 SOMALIA – U.N. PEACEKEEPING MISSION STARTED
BY BUSH I
 OCTOBER 3-4, 1993: BATTLE OF MOGADISHU,
(FICTIONALIZED IN BLACK HAWK DOWN)
 18 U.S. TROOPS KILLED, 71 WOUNDED, 1 CAPTURED
 WITHDRAWAL, 1995
 RESULT: CLINTON TAKES SOME HEAT, AND WE
DON'T GET INVOLVED IN RWANDA DURING 1994
GENOCIDE (AND WE STILL DON'T GET INVOLVED IN
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA!)
 1993: NAFTA (FREE TRADE
WITH CANADA AND MEXICO)
RATIFIED: -- MORE SUPPORT
FROM REPUBLICANS IN
CONGRESS THAN FROM
DEMOCRATS
NAFTA (AND LATER WTO AND
CAFTA) OPPOSED BY UNIONS
AND OTHER WORKERS
GLOBALIZATION: TRADE BALANCE IN REAL $
WOULD HIGH TARIFFS ON IMPORTS INCREASE
U.S. EXPORTS?
1993: “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” – EXECUTIVE ORDER
ALLOWED GAYS TO JOIN OR REMAIN IN THE MILITARY
AS LONG AS NOBODY KNEW THEY WERE GAY
(REPEALED BY CONGRESS, 2011)
 1994 MIDTERM ELECTIONS: "THE REPUBLICAN
REVOLUTION"
 DEMOCRATS LOST 54 HOUSE SEATS -REPUBLICANS WON CONTROL OF HOUSE (230 – 204 –
 BASED ON NEWT GINGRICH'S
REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH
AMERICA
 NEWT = SPEAKER OF HOUSE
1995-2000 (AND MAYBE RUNNING
FOR PREZ NOW)
 BUT ONLY PROMISED HOUSE
VOTES ON THE BILLS TO
IMPLEMENT CONTRACT – AND
MOSTLY, THAT'S ALL THAT
HAPPENED
 REPUBLICANS GAINED MAJORITY IN SENATE (53 –
47)
 REPUBLICANS ALSO GAINED 12 GOVERNORSHIPS IN
STATES 
1995: BUDGET BATTLE WITH GINGRICH AND
"GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN" (KABUKI THEATER), NOV.
14-19, DEC. 16 – JAN. 6)
 BOTH SIDES AGREED ON NEED TO CUT SPENDING –
DISPUTE WASN'T AMOUNT AS MUCH AS WHAT TO CUT
(CLINTON VETOES OPPOSED OPPOSED REPUBLICAN
CUTS ON EDUCATION, MEDICARE, PUBLIC HEALTH,
MIDDLE-CLASS TAX INCREASE)
 JANUARY 27, 1996: CLINTON RADIO ADDRESS –
"THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT IS OVER." CALLS
FOR MORE CUTS  "BALANCED BUDGET" BILL
 RESULT: REPUBLICANS BLAMED, HELPED
CLINTON AND DEMOCRATS IN 1996 ELECTION
 APRIL 19, 1995: OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING –
DOMESTIC TERRORISM
 ALFRED P. MURRAH
FEDERAL BUILDING
DESTROYED BY TRUCK
BOMB
 168 PEOPLE KILLED
INCLUDING 19 LITTLE
CHILDREN IN DAY CARE
CENTER
PERPS TIMOTHY MC VEIGH (EXECUTED) AND TERRY
NICHOLS (NOT) – OKLAHOMA WAS JUST THE BIGGEST
INCIDENT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THE 1990S BY
RIGHT-WING NUTS
 1996: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK
OPPORTUNITY RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1996 – AKA
WELFARE REFORM ACT OF 1986
 PART OF CONTRACT WITH AMERICA – BUT ALSO
BASED ON CLINTON'S ARKANSAS WELFARE
"REFORM"
 ABOLISHED AFDC, INSTITUTED TANF (TEMPORARY
ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES
 FOR CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY, WOMEN HAVE TO
 FIND JOB WITHIN 2 YEARS (BUT NO $ FOR JOB
TRAINING)
 WORK 30 HRS/WEEK (BUT MOST CAN'T EARN
ENOUGH TO PAY FOR DAY CARE FOR KIDS)
 LIFETIME CAP ON TANF BENEFITS
 MORE RESTRICTIVE ELIGIBILILTY STANDARDS
FOR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
 PARTICULARLY BABIES WHO "FAIL TO THRIVE"
AND CHILDREN WITH LEARNING AND MENTAL
DISABILITIES
 TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POOR CHILDREN
BUMPED OFF WELFARE ROLLS – OFTEN MEANT
FAMILIES LOST FOOD STAMPS
 PRO-BONO LAWYER PROJECTS GOT SOME KIDS
BACK ON THE ROLLS BUT MOST HAD NO HELP
THE RESULT
MAXIMUM FOOD STAMP
BENEFIT FOR A FAMILY OF
FOUR = $668.
 1996 ELECTION – POPULAR VOTE CLINTON 49.2%, BOB
DOLE 40.7%, PEROT 8.4%.
BOB DOLE –
LATER DID
TV ADS FOR
VIAGRA
N.B. CLINTON NOT ONLY CARRIED FLORIDA, HE
CARRIED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (AND CUBANAMERICAN VOTE)
HOUSE: R – 9 = 228 R, 206 D, 1 IEPUBLICANS -9, 2
SENATE: R + 2 = 55 R, 45 D
 REPUBLICANS VERSUS THE CLINTONS (OR "THE
VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY" ACCORDING TO
HILLARY)
 1994: WHITEWATER: SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KEN
STARR APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE SOME ALLEGEDLY
SHADY CLINTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS IN
ARKANSAS
 STARR COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT CLINTONS
DID ANYTHING WRONG – BUT THEIR ASSOCIATES IN
ARKANSAS
 LED TO CONVICTIONS OF CLINTON ASSOCIATES
 LED TO INVESTIGATION OF HILLARY'S FORMER
PARTNERS AT ROSE LAW FIRM, LITTLE ROCK, AND
CONVICTION OF ONE FOR OVERBILLING CLIENTS ("MAIL
FRAUD")
 STARR KEPT EXPANDING INVESTIGATION
 "TRAVELGATE" – DID CLINTONS FIRE WHITE HOUSE
TRAVEL AGENTS TO HIRE THEIR FRIENDS?
 FILEGATE – WAS HILLARY HIDING ROSE LAW FIRM
RECORDS STARR SUBPOENAED?
 WAS THE APPARENT SUICIDE OF WHITE HOUSE
COUNSEL VINCENT FOSTER REALLY MURDER?
ZIP FROM THIS EXCEPT HIGH LEGAL FEES FOR CLINTONS
AND MANY, MANY DEPOSITIONS
 1998: THE MONICA LEWINKSY CASE

LINDA TRIPP (LEFT) SECRETLY TAPE-RECORDED
CONVERSATIONS WITH FELLOW PENTAGON
EMPLOYEE AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN
MONICA LEWINSKY (RIGHT) ABOUT LEWINSKY
GIVING CLINTON ORAL SEX IN THE OVAL OFFICE
LEWINSKY SAID SHE
DIDN'T HAVE THE
DRESS SHE'D WORN
DRY-CLEANED TO
PRESERVE THE
EVIDENCE

JANUARY 1988 -- TRIPP GAVE THE TAPES TO KEN
STARR
SLICK WILLY: "I DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS
WITH THAT WOMAN." (PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT)
"IT DEPENDS UPON WHAT THE MEANING OF THE WORD
'IS' IS." (AT STARR'S GRAND JURY)
BUT NOTE; NOBODY ATTACKED FDR, JFK, LBJ FOR
THEIR EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIRS! – "FAMILY VALUES"
 1994: PAULA JONES FILED SEXUAL
HARASSMENT SUIT AGAINST CLINTON
 SHE HAD BEEN STATE
WORKER IN ARKANSAS –
CLAIMED IN 1991 A STATE
TROOPER TOOK HER TO A
MOTEL ROOM TO HAVE SEX
WITH CLINTON
 AT DEPOSITION IN JONES
CASE, CLINTON DENIED
HAVING SEX WITH EITHER
JONES OR LEWINSKY
ISSUE WHETHER CLINTON COULD BE SUED WHILE IN
OFFICE WENT TO SUPREME COURT – COURT SAID YES
THE IMPEACHMENT SHOW!
 IMPEACHMENT BASED ON THE STARR REPORT –
COST TO TAXPAYERS = $70 MILLION
 THE DEAL: HOUSE
AGREED TO IMPEACH,
SENATE AGREED TO
ACQUIT
 THE SHOW HEARINGS
IN THE SENATE LASTED
5 WEEKS – ACQUITTAL
FEBRUARY 2, 1998
 FEBRUARY – MARCH 1998: U.S. BOMBING OF
BAGHDAD OVER SADDAM'S EXPULSION OF U.N.
WEAPONS INSPECTORS – REPUBLICANS SAY "WAG THE
DOG" – BUT HE DIDN'T NEED TO:
IMPEACHMENT INCREASED HIS POPULARITY
 1998: BALKAN CRISIS (AGAIN) – DISSOLUTION OF
YUGOSLAVIA  DISPUTES BETWEEN BOSNIA AND
SERBIA OVER KOSOVO + SERBIAN "ETHNIC
CLEANSING" OF MUSLIMS
 U.S. RESPONSE: MARCH – JUNE, 1999 NATO BOMBING
CAMPAIGN ("HUMANITARIAN WAR")
 REPUBLICANS: "WAG THE DOG"
A FEW WEAK ANTI-WAR PROTESTS
 1999: GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT = REPEAL OF
GLASS-STEAGEL SEPARATION OF COMMERCIAL
AND INVESTMENT BANKS
 ALLOWS COMMERCIAL BANKS TO SELL AND
HOLD ALL KINDS OF SECURITIES.
 INCLUDING UNREGULATED NEW SECURITIES
SUCH AS DERIVATIVES – BONDS COMPOSED OF
DEBTS, ETC.
2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
TEXAS GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH V. VICE
PRESIDENT AL GORE
NOT JEB YET BECAUSE HE'S THE SECOND SON!
 BUSH CAMPAIGN PROMISES:
 "RESTORE HONOR AND DIGNITY TO THE
PRESIDENCY"
 "COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM"
 NO "NATION-BUILDING
 CHARACTER ISSUES:
 BUSH'S DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE
 HIS STRING OF BANKRUPT BUSINESSES
 HIS DRAFT-DODGING AND POSSIBLE DESERTION
FROM THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD
 ELECTION HIJINKS IN FLORIDA (WHERE JEB BUSH
WAS GOVERNOR)
 A STATE LIST OF "CONVICTED FELONS" BARRED
FROM VOTING, 54% OF WHOM WERE NOT FELONS,
BUT WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
TRICK BALLOTS
LIKE THE PALM
BEACH BUTTERFLY
BALLOT
 NOVEMBER 7, 2000: AT THE END OF
ELECTION DAY/ NIGHT WITH 47 STATES
REPORTING, GORE HAD 255 ELECTORAL
COLLEGE VOTES AND BUSH HAD 246
 IT TAKES 270 VOTE TO WIN
 FLORIDA, TOO CLOSE TO CALL, WAS THE
DECIDING STATE – 25 ELECTORAL COLLEGE
VOTES
 NOVEMBER 8: FLORIDA "CERTIFIES" BUSH
THE WINNER (AS JEB PROMISED) BUT BY < 2% -MANDATORY MACHINE RECOUNT
 LED TO LAWSUITS BY BOTH BUSH AND GORE,
REPUBLICAN DEMONSTRATORS SHUTTING DOWN
RECOUNTS 
 DECEMBER 8, FLORIDA SUPREME COURT
ORDERED STATE-WIDE MANUAL RECOUNT
 DECEMBER 12, BUSH V. GORE: U.S. SUPREME
COURT (5-4) STOPS THE RECOUNT  BUSH
DECLARED WINNER
POPULAR VOTE: GORE 48.4%, BUSH 47.9%,
RALPH NADER (SPOILER) 2.74% -- BUSH WON
FLORIDA BY 537 VOTES
SENATE: 50-50 . HOUSE R-2 = R 221, D 212, 1 2.
 BUSH TAX CUTS (SUPPLY-SIDE AGAIN):
 ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION
ACT OF 2001 (EGTRRA)
 “TAX REBATE” CHECKS – A WHOPPING $300 ($600 FOR
MARRIED COUPLES)
 CUT INCOME TAX RATES ACROSS THE BOARD, 4.4%
FOR HIGHEST EARNERS, WHILE TAXING PEOPLE WHO
EARN < $6,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME
 CUT CAPITAL GAINS TAX (FAVORS PEOPLE WHO MAKE
A LOT FROM INVESTMENTS
 CUT INHERITANCE TAX (ALSO FAVORS WEALTHY)

 EGTRRA WOULD HAVE EXPIRED, BUT OBAMA
AGREED TO EXTEND IN 2010 (UNTIL
 JOBS AND GROWTH TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION
ACT OF 2003 (JTRRA)
 FURTHER INCOME TAX RATE CUTS, HIGHEST FOR
TOP EARNERS
 FURTHER CUTS IN CAPITAL GAINS TAX
 CUT TAX ON DIVIDENDS (ANOTHER CUT FOR
PEOPLE WHO MAKE A LOT FROM INVESTMENTS)
 EGTRRA AND JRTTA AKA “BUSH TAX CUTS”
WOULD HAVE EXPIRED 1/1/11, BUT OBAMA
AGREED TO EXTEND FOR TWO YEARS
EFFECT ON THE BUDGET (WARS NOT INCLUDED!)
NOMINAL $
REAL $
2000
236.4 BILLION SURPLUS
290.772 BILLION SURPLUS
2001
127.3 BILLION SURPLUS
152.76 BILLION SURPLUS
2002
157.8 BILLION DEFICIT
186.204 BILLION DEFICIT
2003
374 BILLION DEFICIT
430.1 BILLION DEFICIT
2004
413 BILLION DEFICIT
462.56 BILLION DEFICIT
2005
319 BILLION DEFICIT
347.71 BILLION DEFICIT
2006
248 BILLION DEFICIT
260.4 BILLION DEFICIT
2007
162 BILLION DEFICIT
165.24 BILLION DEFICIT
2008
455 BILLION DEFICIT
455 BILLION DEFICIT
UNEMPLOYMENT – THE EFFECTS OF
"TRICKLE-DOWN STIMULUS”
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
4.0
4.7
5.8
6.0
5.5
5.1
4.6
4.6
5.8
9.3
 "WAR ON TERROR" RESTRICTION OF CIVIL
LIBERTIES
 PATRIOT ACT
 SECRET DETENTION OF MUSLIM MEN
 "SECRET" WARRANTLESS WIRETAP PROGRAM
 FBI SURVEILLANCE OF QUAKERS, STUDENT
GROUPS (AGAIN!)
 GITMO GULAG AND ABU GHRAIB, 2004
 ATTORNEY GENERAL TORTURE MEMOS: GENEVA
CONVENTION BAN ON TORTURE "QUAINT" AND
"ANTIQUATED"
ONE OF THE LEAST HORRID PHOTOS OF U.S. MPS
ABUSING IRAQI DETAINEES AT ABU GHRAIB
PRISON
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 2004. POPULAR VOTE
BUSH 50.7%, JOHN KERRY 48.3%
HOUSE R + 3 = 232 4, 201 D, 1 V.
SENATE R +4, D-4 = R 51, D 48, I 1.
2004 CAMPAIGN ISSUES
 FAMILY VALUES - EXIT POLLS SHOWED THIS
WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO MOST VOTERS
 WAR ON TERROR
 WAR IN IRAQ
 "WHO WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A BEER
WITH?"
 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS – DEMOCRATIC
SWEEP
 DEMOCRATS WON CONTROL OF HOUSE AND
SLIGHT MAJORITY (51 VOTES) IN SENATE
 FIRST WOMAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE –
NANCY PELOSI
 GREAT RECESSION OF 2007
 THE GREED FOR NEW SECURITIES 
COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS = MORTGAGE
BONDS
  MORE MORTGAGES  HOUSING BOOM/ BUBBLE
 "SUBPRIME"
 ADJUSTABLE RATE – MOST ADJUST AROUND 2006,
2007
 "LIAR'S LOANS"
 AND IN FLORIDA, OF COURSE, FRAUD
 2006-07 – FORECLOSURE WAVE 
 HOUSING PRICES TANK  THOSE CDOS ARE
WORTHLESS
 MARCH 2008: BEAR STEARNS BAILOUT
 SEPTEMBER 2008 – LEHMANN BROTHERS FAILS 
 CREDIT FREEZE 
 OCTOBER 2008: TROUBLED ASSET RECOVERY
PLAN (TARP) --CONGRESS AUTHORIZED BANK AND
CORPORATE BAILOUTS
 BANK BAILOUTS NECESSARY BECAUSE CLINTONERA REPEAL OF GLASS-STEAGALL ALLOWED THEM
TO INVEST IN AND SELL DERIVATIVES
 BUSH ON WELFARE:
 PROPOSED PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY – PEOPLE
TO MAKE OWN INVESTMENTS
 PERPETUAL REPUBLICAN GOAL TO GET RID OF
SOCIAL SECURITY– BUT IT IS “THE THIRD RAIL OF
AMERICAN POLITICS” AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL
BABY-BOOMERS DIE OFF
 2006: MEDICARE PART D – SOME PRESCRIPTION
COVERAGE FOR SENIORS (THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR
IT) – BUT THERE IS A “DONUT HOLE”– NO COVERAGE
$2700 - $6154
 SENIORS VOTE!
WHO WAS PRESIDENT IN 2008?
WHOM DO REPUBLICANS BLAME FOR THE
RECESSION AND BAILOUTS?
2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - POPULAR VOTE
OBAMA (BORN IN HAWAII) 52.9%, MC CAIN (BORN IN
PANAMA) 45.7%
"CHANGE YOU CAN
BELIEVE IN"
WHAT CHANGED?
YOUR BOOK SAID HE
MIGHT BE ANOTHER
FDR - IS HE?
DOES HIS ELECTION
MEAN AFRICANAMERICANS HAVE
ACHIEVED SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC EQUALITY?
 PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
OF 2010
 THE PROBLEM – HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH
INSURANCE COSTS STILL SPIRALING
 DUE TO COST AND STRUCTURAL UNEMPLOYMENT,
APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE NO
HEALTH INSURANCE
 WHAT THE ACT DOES: BEGINNING 2014, INDIVIDUAL
MANDATE TO BUY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE OR PAY
SMALL FINE (BENEFITS WILL BE A BIT MORE
GENEROUS)
 WHOM DOES THAT BENEFIT?
 WHY DO REPUBLICANS LIE ABOUT "DEATH PANELS"
AND VOW TO REVOKE THE ACT?
UNEMPLOYMENT, 2000 -2010. "JOBLESS
RECOVERY"
MIDTERM ELECTIONS 2010
 THE HOUSE CHANGED HANDS AGAIN
 DEMOCRATS RETAINED THEIR 1-VOTE
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE (BUT THAT WASN'T
CLEAR FOR MONTHS DUE TO LOSER'S REFUSAL
TO CONCEDE TO AL FRANKEN IN MINNESOTA
 AND BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND THE HOUSE
DANCE TO THE TEA PARTY TUNE
 EXAMPLE = OBAMA'S AGREEMENT in 2010 TO
EXTEND BUSH TAX CUTS
DEMOCRACY IN 20TH CENTURY AMERICA
VOTER TURNOUT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 1924 –
2008. TOP LINE IS 85%. MIDDLE LINE IS 55%.
MEDIAN PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME, BY
EDUCATION LEVEL, 2009
NOTE THAT EVEN MEDIAN PAY FOR PEOPLE WITH DOCTORATES
= < 100K. WHY YOU MUST GO TO GOOD COLLEGES AND GET
INTO TOP GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS!
TODAY:
 VAST AND WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR –
GREATEST OF ANY DEVELOPED NATION!
 BREAD AND CIRCUSES (INTERNET + TV) AND LOW
VOTER TURNOUT
 POPULISM/ RACISM (TEA PARTY)
 ANTI-SCIENTISM, ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM
 DENIALS OF EVOLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING
 OBJECTIONS TO "TOO MANY" IVY LEAGUERS ON
SUPREME COURT; REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES OPPOSING
THE IDEA OF COLLEGE
 BITTER AND RUDE PARTISAN POLITICS
BECAUSE OF LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN GOALS OF PARTIES!
BUT “IT’S ALL JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF HISTORY
REPEATING”!
BACK TO THE GILDED AGE –
BUT A NEW PROGRESSIVE
ERA MAY DAWN IN YOUR
LIFETIMES!
WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMIES (IN TRILLIONS OF $)
14.1
5.1
4.9
3.4
USA
JAPAN
2.7
CHINA GERMANY FRANCE
2.2
UK
“WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP
IT’S BEEN” (JERRY GARCIA)
FROM A FEW SETTLERS HUGGING THE
COAST, 1607, TO WORLD’S LARGEST
ECONOMY AND LEADING SUPERPOWER
BY 1920. AND IT STILL IS!
THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THIS
COUNTRY – BUT IT DEPENDS ON YOU!
DON'T LIMIT YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
AND DON'T BE QUIESCENT SHEEP!
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SOCIAL
CONSCIENCE:
REMEMBER THAT THE RICH CAN'T BE
SAFE IF THE POOR ARE TOO POOR!
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
HOPE TO PASS THE AP EXAM:
REVIEW
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!