Lists are cool. The existence of Buzzfeed is proof of this. Year-end lists are the coolest because we get to remember what was so cool about the year that is now behind us. Obama is the most coolest President ever, so he decided to offer his own top 10 year-end list in his latest weekly address, because he’s hip to that. He name-dropped “retiree David Letterman” to show how hip he is. Does this mean we have to credit David Letterman every time anyone does a top 10 list from now on? I don’t believe Letterman invented them.
Anywhy, Obama called it “my top 10 things that happened in 2015 that should make every American optimistic about 2016.” It’s about as cool as you would expect. I’ll run through them, and over them, briefly.
Number ten: The economy. Over the past 12 months, our businesses have created 2.5 million new jobs. In all, they’ve added 13.7 million new jobs over a 69-month streak of job growth. And the unemployment rate has fallen to 5 percent – the lowest it’s been in almost eight years.
2.5 million new jobs in the last year, but 2.9 million more people aged 16 years or older in the last year. 13.7 million new jobs over the last 69 months, but also 14.7 million more people aged 16 years or older in the last 69 months.
Record lowest rate and number of men participating in the workforce.
A slight uptick in overall participation for November after reaching a record low, but expect it to go down again once the temporary holiday help is no longer needed.
Aside from the holiday aberration period, the number of adults 16 or older not in the labor force is steadily rising. Employment-to-adult population ratio is still far below pre-recession, pre-Obama era levels. Screw the “unemployment rate.” There are too many other serious variables to consider. The long-term outlook is not as pleasant as Obama claims.
Number nine: More Americans are getting health coverage. The rate of the uninsured in America dropped below 10 percent for the first time ever. In all, 17.6 million people and climbing have gained coverage as the Affordable Care Act has taken effect.
Been over this before. I don’t need mammogram coverage. FreedomRecon doesn’t need a prostate exam. (Heavens, no.) How much do Americans like the plan that they had to get after the plans they were told they could keep–period–were cancelled? How much do Americans like the higher premiums, the higher deductibles, the higher out-of-pocket drug costs? How much do Americans like paying for other Americans’ subsidies and government health plans? How much do Americans without coverage look forward to being penalized more and more every year they aren’t insured? How much do businesses like the employer mandate?
Yeah, didn’t think so.
Number eight: America’s global leadership on climate change. Last week, in Paris, nearly 200 countries came together to set the course for a low-carbon future. And it was only possible because America led with clean energy here at home and strong diplomacy around the world.
Obama sees high apple pies in the toxic greenhouse gas-filled sky. Countries like China and India think, sure, America, you go on believing that you’re in charge. Lip service, hype, and additional onerous regulations “here at home”–that’s all that history will remember about the 2015 Paris climate conference.
Number seven: Progress in the Americas. We turned the page on an outdated, half-century old policy by re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and reopening embassies in both our countries, allowing us to build greater ties between Americans and Cubans.
“Outdated” policy, Obama says. The Communist Castros are still in charge of Cuba, and its people are still repressed. They’re making out on the deal much better than we are. Cubans are still fleeing that country to come here–over 45,000 this year alone.
Time heals all wounds, so we’re told. The people of Cuba still hurt. This policy does little to mend them. Rather, it puts more money in the Castros’ pockets. It legitimizes them and dismisses the reasons why we’ve excluded them for so long. But Obama believes that if we make nice with our long-standing foes, that rubber tree plant will move itself. More flying apple pies.
Number six: Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already dismantled thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium.
Obama believes Iran will hold up their end of the agreement. Iran is determined to do what it can to get out of it or flat-out ignore it. Silly old ram.
Number five: Standing strong against terrorism. Even as we continue to grieve over the attack in San Bernardino, we’re leading a global coalition and hitting ISIL harder than ever. In Syria and Iraq, ISIL is losing territory, and we’re not going to stop until we destroy this terrorist organization.
It only took the attacks in Fort Hood, Boston, Chattanooga, San Bernardino, and so on to finally show how serious Obama is about fighting terrorism here and abroad, and by fighting he means dropping bombs and letting other countries do the heavy lifting. Yet the President’s first instinct is to call an obvious act of terrorism possible “workplace violence,” then use the act as a political chip in order to criminalize free speech and restrict Second Amendment freedoms. Feel safe yet?
Number four: A 21st century trade deal that makes sure our businesses can sell goods “Made in America” across the Asia-Pacific. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the strongest, most pro-worker, pro-environment trade agreement in our history. And it means that America – not China, not anyone else – will write the rules of the global economy for the century ahead.
As I pointed out a couple of months ago, I’m sure the people involved in designing and enacting previous trade agreements believed theirs were the strongest pro-worker trade agreements in history, too, though history begs to differ. But at least that million-kilowatt dam won’t pose a threat to the environment anymore.
I was also a bit upset that he attempted to use bacon to his advantage during this section of his address, as the following frame-grab shows:
I sure as hell didn’t give him permission to use my likeness.
Number three: A pair of Christmas miracles in Washington! This week, Congress passed a bipartisan budget that invests in middle-class priorities, keeps our military the strongest in the world, and takes the threat of shutdowns and manufactured crises off the table for 2016. Plus, I signed a bipartisan education bill into law to help our students graduate prepared for college and their future careers.
A budget that spends over a trillion tax dollars over the next year but with practically no savings to offset it. Yay! And a new law that spends more money to not improve the education of our nation’s kids. Yay yay!
Number two: Love won. No matter who you are, here in America, you’re free to marry the person you love, because the freedom to marry is now the law in all fifty states.
You’re also free to change the meaning of words and punish those who will not comply with your wedding demands, especially if they hold Christian beliefs. If that’s not the true meaning of love, I don’t know what is.
And the number one reason I’m optimistic going into 2016: It’s you—the American people. All of this progress is because of you—because of workers rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done, and entrepreneurs starting new businesses. Because of teachers and health workers and parents—all of us taking care of each other. Because of our incredible men and women in uniform, serving to protect us all. Because, when we’re united as Americans, there’s nothing that we cannot do.
“All of us taking care of each other.” It takes a village. Sounds kinda communist. But I can’t gripe about the credit he gives to our armed services. Although, it does seem rather disingenuous to push so hard for bringing Syrian refugees here and making sure they receive housing, food, and medical care while there are still thousands of vets still without a home or a job, waiting to receive medical care.
That’s why it’s been a good year. And that’s why I’m confident we’ll keep achieving big things in the New Year. So happy holidays, everybody.
‘Cause he’s got high hopes.
My list for being optimistic going into 2016 has but one item:
1. It’s the last year of Obama’s presidency.
However, it could be a reason to be less than optimistic. He may see it as his last great hurrah, where he’ll go for broke–or broker–with his plans for fundamental transformation.
In 2016, we have to hope that it’ll still be possible to change all the changes Obama hoped for and gotten since 2008. It will take a long time, though. As long as the balloon doesn’t pop, we can make the problems he’s caused go kerplop.
