There are only a few moments I can honestly remember from 2008. I was an eighth grader, grasping the world through bits of news broadcasts and gossip in the hallways. Admittedly, I knew only a small amount about politics, but that did not stop me from talking as though I knew much more. As the leaves turned and the election drew closer, I, for whatever reason, latched onto the Obama campaign. I participated in the mock election at Cheney, proudly casting my vote. That night I watched the vote count rise as the rest of the world did the same.
I can remember sitting in the living room, staying up late and watching the count unfold. I don’t remember when it was concluded that Obama had won, but a phrase that a reporter said a few moments after has stuck with me: “Barack Obama’s path is right for America.”
Four years later, Barack Obama’s path is still the right path for America. Obama has spent the first years of his presidency trying to clean some of the economic and foreign policy messes that his predecessor George W. Bush left behind. Obama has done as good of a job as possible, creating growth in the job sector for 30 consecutive months and passing legislation for the United States’ first national healthcare. During 2010 he created more private sector jobs than during the entire Bush presidency. He was the leader of the operation that lead to Osama Bin Laden’s death. He has worked to re-stimulate the economy and has concrete plans to further bring our country back to total economic stability. He created the “Race to the Top” program, which has promoted reform in education across the country. “Race to the Top” especially is a stark contrast to failed Bush policies like “No Child Left Behind.”
Most complaints about Obama center on his apparent “lack of doing anything.” As evidenced by the above, he clearly has accomplished a multitude of different and important things. Of course these accomplishments will not be in line with what everybody wants for this country, but they are certainly in line with what I care about.
The election is largely a personal endorsement of where you want this country to go. For me, Obama’s social policies are the right pick. He may not have capitalized on all of the promises that he made before he was elected, but that is largely due to an uncooperative Congress. Four more years will give him the time he needs to bring this country back to glory.