The American people and in fact, all citizens of the world, should examine what we have done in the four years since reclaiming our government from the lobbyists and war criminals in the election of 2008. They will have to agree that the results have been unique in all history.
—Future Speech of Barack Obama
Four years are behind us. Look at what has happened during these four years. People are forgetful. They accept good and wonderful things as they happen — and then forget about them. But we do not want to forget how things were, and what has happened. This is the transformation which the whole world calls the American miracle. Let us look back and examine the unprecedented achievement and progressive policy that has occurred since the 2008 election.
What was it like four years ago? Think back on the great and moving events: how America was despised in the world, how millions responded to Barack's speech in Berlin with overflowing hearts and indescribable joy. Only people who have been freed from some burden rejoice like that. That is the message of change that Barack Obama has brought. That is the greatest thing a statesman can do: to bring hope to a country!
This is our moment. We must reach into our pockets and donate what we can, just like we did in 2008. Barack Obama asks again for your affirmation. He has the right to do so, based on all the progress which we have seen with our own eyes. We want to recall these accomplishments, and compare America today with how it was before the Democrats took over. It is a story that fills each of us with pride.
Do you remember the state of America in the months before the Democratic Party chose Barack Obama as the candidate to save this nation from social and economic collapse? Tens of thousands of soldiers had died fighting a false war. Workers and employees lost their jobs and were thrown ruthlessly into the gray misery of mass unemployment with no health insurance. Millions of innocent Iraqis and Afghanis were killed. There seemed no way out.
Workers and employees, but also the entire American people, including farmers, teachers, union trade members, mom and pop stores, all of us five years ago were unsure if our income would be enough for our needs. The minimum wage in 2006 was around $6 an hour. Thanks to Barack Obama, it has grown steadily since than, reaching a level of $10.50. The entire national income has increased. The income of the average American worker, with the aid of universal health care, protective tariffs, and green collar jobs, has risen by almost 20%.
This is different than the false prosperity of the past. During the great inflation caused by the incompetent leadership and corruption of Bush and Cheney, we got more money but became poorer. The dollar weakened. Food and oil were expensive. Today prices have been kept stable, production has greatly increased and speculation has been ruthlessly suppressed, with the result that the increase in income has meant a real increase in purchasing power. Corporations that allowed greed to override their duty as good citizens have been forced to pay their fair share in taxes. Corporate lobbyists have been disgracefully kicked out of Washington. Tax loopholes and giveaways for the rich have ceased to exist.
But that is not enough. Materialism has given way to community. The retirement system was near collapse and now thanks to an end to the cap on payroll taxes for the wealthy, it is a robust picture of health. As for housing, Barack Obama issued an executive order canceling debts that many citizens had acquired during the mortgage crisis in exchange for volunteer service to community projects. This program has improved parks, neighborhoods, and infrastructure while helping people stay in their homes without risk of foreclosure. One social measure after another over the past four years proves that America under Democratic Party rule has practiced a socialism of action. Another sign of this socialism is the entirely different status of the American worker. The social honor of each working American is guaranteed by law in a new bill of rights. Even temporary workers have access to paid vacations and generous benefits packages.
Health care has improved for all citizens, especially among the poor. These children are growing up healthy, strong, and cheerful. Reproductive freedom and health services are more prevalent than ever thanks to increased federal funding to organizations like Planned Parenthood. Undoing the damage of the Bush administration, Barack Obama has appointed progressive judges, ensuring that a woman's right to choose is never infringed upon and that poor minority teens are not punished with unnecessary offspring. The spread of inherited diseases, which are a heavy burden for the healthy, has been hindered due to unprecedented access to birth control and by heavily funding embryonic stem cell research. Now there is the promise of wiping out Alzheimer's, Down's Syndrome, and Cystic Fibrosis for good. Everything possible is being done in the new America to raise a strong, healthy generation.
The goal of bringing a wide array of culture to the entire American people, regardless of their income, is especially clear with programs and subsidies that make computers and internet access affordable. Every child has a solid, inexpensive, and capable laptop with online educational tools. And passage of The Fairness Doctrine keeps wingnut propaganda from the likes of drug-addicted Rush Limbaugh and the boorish Bill O'Reilly from poisoning our airwaves. Now radio acquaints the American people with the work of diverse masters of music and literature. Public airwaves provide daily tips for saving our planet. We are moving forward. The oceans have stopped rising. America is loved and respected around the world again.
These accomplishments and successes are only a part of the great economic, social, and cultural achievements of the last four years. But they are cast into the shadows by the political accomplishments of this most eventful period in American history. Every American today knows that America's resurrection, in which each of us participated, was only possible because our leader, Barack Obama, asked us to sacrifice and brought together all the resources of the nation in pursuit of a single goal: To make the United States a model of freedom, strength, and equality!
Worried souls prophesied disaster when America resumed talks with individual leaders and nation-states once deemed hostile. Today the complete insignificance and impotence of the War on Terror is clear. Barack Obama has eliminated the term "axis of evil" and nixed all talk of "tough sanctions" which never did anyone any good. Just look at this failed policy in Cuba. Instead, the focus is on incentives, we talk about other countries as "partners in peace", and direct negotiations between leaders have been a tremendous success. Poor nations are receiving unlimited aid, a transfer of wealth from our richest to their neediest, and America's relationship with Europe and the Middle East has never been stronger. This is persuasive proof of the correctness of American peace policy.
Barack Obama has repeatedly reminded us that smart policies and the strong hand of government are the absolute prerequisite to our economic, social and cultural health. Only wingnuts with intentional hostility and stupidity can deny that the change he promised and delivered was right in every respect. And the leaders of the previous regime; Bush, Cheney, Bolton, Rove, Gonzales, Rice... they spend their time not in presidential libraries but in prison, for intentionally misleading the country into war, for torture, and for violating the Constitution.
Barack Obama has fulfilled the ancient longing of all Americans. A Republican Party is no longer necessary. People joined people and the aftermath was post-partisan. Many proponents of the unjust war are now paying for their sins. Words are not enough to express what each of us feels who is of good heart and will. We all know one thing: this wonderful rise is solely the result of Barack Obama's ideas and efforts. He believed unshakably in the hope and goodwill of his people. He brought an inexhaustible strength to life. He gave back to entire people its belief in itself. He is a symbol of America as change, America as equal, and America as great and united.
Has a leader ever done more for his country?
WE OWE IT TO BARACK!!