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Old 05-18-2015, 09:17 PM   #1
ChinoCoug
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Default Obama vs. Clinton

Clinton
Reduced welfare rolls by 60%
NAFTA*, African Growth And Opportunity Act
Gradually eliminated the deficit and brought the government into surplus, created a deficit-cutting contest between Dems and Pubs
EITC expansion ==> oversaw incomes in every decile grow
Middle-East peace process
Raised income tax rate for 200K+ from 31% to 39%.
Paperwork reduction act, expanded opportunity without expanding government

Obama
Cut uninsured rate from 20% to 13% (35% decrease)
More even-handed policies in Israeli-Palestinean conflict
TPP* (should pass), largest trading bloc in world (40% of world economy)
Allowed regressive Bush tax cuts to expire for $400K.

Obama has not compromised or collaborated withe Republicans to the same extent. I'd say Obama's presidency has been adequate (esp. if TPP passes), Clinton's spectacular.


* The effects of trade deals are ambiguous and small, but given strong unanimity among economists on trade, just enacting free trade should be an accomplishment, unless the deals aren't really FT deals

Last edited by ChinoCoug; 05-18-2015 at 09:20 PM.
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