Michelle Obama pledges to help working families and military families
Categories: Money & work, In the news
This should come as no surprise given that her husband ran on not only the Democratic but also the Working Families ticket, but Michelle Obama wants to help working families and military families. As part of her duties as First Lady, Michelle sees these two things at the top of her very big, very important to-do list. At least that is what she said she'd do in an article penned by the now-First Lady Elect in mid-October, 2008 for the U.S. News and World Report's Opinion section.
Obama also claims that she'd make time for more sleepovers, at the behest of her two daughters Malia and Sasha. Obama goes on to say that no matter what, her first job would always be as a mom. This presidency will be the first time in my experience that there have been children--real children, not ever teens--in the White House. And even though their mother is now the First Lady (Elect, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself), they'll still want to do things like have sleepovers. Perhaps this aspect of First Lady as mom helped sway some votes toward Obama? Maybe.
Getting back to brass tacks, Michelle tackles some very difficult topics in her opinion piece. She discusses the rock and hard place that is trying to work and take care of your children. For many women, working outside the home, which they have to do in order to make ends meet, requires them to get childcare, which is so expensive they might as well not work in the first place. Those families with a parent in the military have it just as bad if not worse--one parent is serving as two. This brings to my mind the needs of all the single-parent families out there. At least someone in the military is hopefully earning some money for all their efforts. Single parents have to be both parents on one income.
Will Michelle hold true to her word--or, at least, her opinion? We have four years to find out. Well, two months and four years. Until then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she does help working families and military families...and that she has a few of those well-deserved sleepovers, too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Derek 11-08-2008 @ 11:42AM
She wants to help working families? She can start by convincing her husband that raising taxes, on anyone, during an economic downturn is a bad thing. I don't want to hear that balogne 250k isn't much, won't affect much... small business owners income and business income while usually seperate is often taxed as one. You hurt the owner, you hurt the business, hurt the business you hurt its empolyees and its customers... nice domino effect. I was listening to some national talk radio, a small business owner was talking about how under the new tax laws (if Obama pushes them) he'll half to raise prices and lay-off 8 people just to break even again. Guess how he decided who to lay off, he walked out in the parking lot and found 8 cars with Obama stickers.
Oh... she can also stress to him the importance of keeping the Bush tax cuts, cause that effects everyone, no matter your income.
But something tells me, we're in for a roller coaster ride of spending and taxing... yippie! It's not like our debts could be trimmed another way, like cutting all our useless expensive social programs.
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Amanda 11-08-2008 @ 12:01PM
On the flip side of that, if Obama's tax plan reduces taxes on those making less than $250K per year, those people will have more money to spend, allowing small businesses to earn greater profits, leading to more jobs and a healthier economy. In order for businesses to survive and prosper, the public must have money in their pockets to spend. Compared to what McCain had planned, Obama's tax plan will give more money back to the middle class. The data is here:http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/how-much-would-you-pay-taxes.html
Derek 11-08-2008 @ 12:22PM
Except Amanda, that list fails to take into account the loss of Bush's tax cuts which Obama favors dropping and McCain had favored keeping. It also doesn't appear to take into acct McCain's other tax cuts, like his increase in the child tax exemption.
I don't trust Obama either way to keep his promises and I have an inching feeling we'll all be paying more than we planned on... the bailout for instance had 110 billion dollars tacked on in earmarks, while there is a possiblity the government will make back its money on the rest of the bailout (over time)... where do you think that 110 billion is going to come from? And that won't be the last of it, I'm sure our new democrat dominated government will find plenty of things to spend money on.
Derek 11-08-2008 @ 12:31PM
OHH and who cares if I have extra money to spend it'll just get negated it the products I'm buying cost more.
Our economy surives on the business flourishing, not the consumer having more money.
eg- The more money a business man has the bigger his business becomes, the bigger it becomes the more space opens up for a smaller business to fill the niche market the bigger one now neglects. The new small ones eventually become bigger opening more room for new small ones. All this time while businesses are opening its createing jobs and driving up supply, with increased supply comes a drop in prices and that's when the consumer will really feel it (not as much in an individual low income tax break). Now that the consumer isn't spending as much on it's needs and hobbies they can expand their spending base and buy things they would not have otherwise considered... it's all very cyclical and very delicate.
Crystal Kinard 11-08-2008 @ 9:55PM
D you need a reality check. Who you think brought the economy down and who you think you are paying those high taxes for. I have seen every speech Obama has made and I never heard him say that he was going to raise taxes. Mccain said it on several occasions. If you are a working class family man you need to hope and pray that Obamas plan for economy goes through. You will have less taxes to pay and you might still ahve a job in 3 months. Do your research before you type.
Joy 11-09-2008 @ 10:38AM
Are you kidding my Crystal?? Did you miss Joe the plumber? That was all about raising taxes. I'm wondering what you were listening to. If you missed hearing him say anything about raising taxes on business's, you had to have been under a rock.
Amanda 11-09-2008 @ 11:54AM
Joy - You used Joe the Plumber as an example?!?!? The guy is a fraud who's been discredited. He doesn't even own a business or have enough money to buy one. I think I'll wait to see what happens rather than go by any interaction involving Joe the Plumber.
Joy 11-09-2008 @ 1:09PM
Amanda, I used that just as an example of raising taxes. Whether Joe the plumber was anything or not, we all heard what was said to him. For Crystal to say she never heard him talk of raising taxes on what you made is unbelievable unless you lived under a rock.
Joy 11-08-2008 @ 12:20PM
Derek is right. Business owners are taxed as one even though half of that money is in the business and not in the bank. My husband had to lay off half of his 40 employee's yesterday. Everyone in construction and remodeling is running scared and even BIG business's are laying off which means they aren't ordering things from the small ones. This business has been in his family since the 40's and nobody has ever worked anywhere else and they are pretty sad and depressed to have to put these people out of work and they waited until they had no other choice. My husband said things have never been like this and he hoped they could wait it out. The only other option was to close down for a period of time but then the workers wouldn't have been able to collect unemployment. It's also not a big city so a lot of these people will either have to move or collect a government check.
Amanda, small business's don't have the resources to wait this out. They are paying through the nose already and have been for almost a year.
Theory's aside, this is a fact and there are small mom an pop business's that will fall to the wayside because they can't take a year for things to "get better" and nobody is going to be spending money until they wait to see what's going to happen.
Good news is the "Walmarts" of the world will continue to flourish because of the cheaper quality and variety of what they sell. Soon, even more of our stuff will come from China because the small hardware stores and small town business's will be gone.
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Amanda 11-08-2008 @ 12:47PM
I agree that small businesses are taking it on the chin, and they have for some time now, during both Democratic and Republican administrations. But no matter how nice it sounds, tax cuts won't solve this problem. The problem lies with greedy banks who lent too much money to too many people, many who had no business getting loans. Now, the chickens have come home to roost, the people who got loans they didn't deserve to get are defaulting on them, and the banks have to stop lending everyone money, including small businesses who depend on lines of credit for financing. I have heard stories of small and medium sized companies having to lay people off and shut their doors because their credit was pulled. Also, banks have had to tighten their lending standards significantly, making it harder for people without flawless credit to get loans. This is why people in construction and home remodeling businesses are running scared. People can't use their homes as cash registers anymore. More regulation is needed in the banking and credit industries.
Another problem is the fact that we don't manufacture anything except debt in this country. In order for a country to survive, it has to have a manufacturing base. If there are any other stimulus packages offered by the government, I hope it concentrates on offering incentives to those who wish to start new businesses in new areas of the economy, such as "green" industries. That would definitely be a better idea than handing everyone a check for $600 and telling them to spend it on more Chinese made crap at Walmart. At least the money would be going back into our economy as opposed to China's
Tax cuts would only be a band aid on all the problems with our economy. We need a total revamp.
Joy 11-08-2008 @ 1:30PM
I'm not really interested in laying blame right now. Don't you think it's to late for that? You feel it's better to give "stimulus's" to people for new business and just let the people who have been manufacturing in this country for 60 years, to "oh well, so sad for you."
Please................
I feel it would serve the people much better to let them keep their jobs instead of "giving" people money to start new ones. Take these 20 people who got laid off yesterday. Some of them have lived in this town and been with this company their whole lives. What are they going to do now? Just wait for new business's to open up?
SKL 11-08-2008 @ 2:03PM
Yep, I think it's pretty clear that the people who have money to make financial decisions with have been scared into sitting on their cash. The domino effect is starting and who knows where it will end. Financial conservatives tried so hard to convince voters that Obama's policies would only hurt the folks who need the money the most. They wouldn't listen, so what can we say now?
You can talk all day about cutting taxes on the working class, assuming that ever actually happens (we're still waiting for Clinton's tax cut on the middle class). But what is a tax cut going to do for unemployed people? Who is going to increase personal spending when they fear for their jobs?
If my business starts to go downhill, the first casualties will be my nanny and my maid service. I can live without them, but what are they going to do without a job?
Meanwhile my taxes will go down simply because my earnings will go down. So all that redistribution Obama was talking about - he forgot to mention a bigger piece of a smaller pie might still be smaller than what you have now.
And how much you wanna bet that Obama's first act of redistribution will be in favor of the auto unions, which are some of the biggest reasons for job losses in this country.
As for all those bad loans, let's talk about the reality. The liberals forced banks to lend to minorities regardless of whether their credit profiles were appropriate. In those days, the big complaint was "you aren't lending to me because I'm black." Now, those same people are saying "you shouldn't have lent me money, and now I'm in trouble." I don't care who calls me a racist, this is the fact. The banks deserve a bailout for being forced to supplement the lifestyles of minorities who were living above their means.
So, prepare to hold Obama accountable. The media is already doing its best to couch this as an "inherited" problem that has nothing to do with Obama. Nonsense.
Mr. B.O., it's time for you to actually do something. Let's see some results.
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Amanda 11-08-2008 @ 3:58PM
SKL, you said -"As for all those bad loans, let's talk about the reality. The liberals forced banks to lend to minorities regardless of whether their credit profiles were appropriate. In those days, the big complaint was "you aren't lending to me because I'm black." Now, those same people are saying "you shouldn't have lent me money, and now I'm in trouble." I don't care who calls me a racist, this is the fact. The banks deserve a bailout for being forced to supplement the lifestyles of minorities who were living above their means."
So minorities are the only ones who live above their means and the banks were forced to give them loans? Please! I am glad you are ok with being called a racist, because that's obviously what you are. While the Clinton bill may have forbade banks from redlining, that is in no way the only cause of the credit crisis. Face it, banks are 100% responsible for whom they loan money too. It's a greater than billion dollar industry that has no sympathy from me and most other people now that they find themselves holding the bag for so many bad loans they made. When making the decision to extend a loan, they have all the information they need to make a sound decision. Over the last few years, banks were just begging for all consumers to borrow, borrow, borrow. While you, myself and others may have not fallen for the bait, plenty of other hardworking people have. And while I don't believe that the government should bail most of these people out of the mortgages they took, banks certainly don't deserve the bailout they received.
You know, SKL, you are obviously conservative, so don't you believe in the mantra of "personal responsibility"? Or do you believe that personal responsibility should only be expected of individuals and that large businesses and banks should be allowed to do as they wish, damn the consequences?
Oh, Mr. B.O. (obviously a sign of silly disrespect) is not president yet. Bush is still at the helm, continuing his mediocre leadership until 1/20/09. It's still Bush's responsibility to do something.
Derek 11-08-2008 @ 5:43PM
Mr. B.O. so if that's disrespectful does that mean calling President Bush "W" is too? I don't know if SKL meant to be disrespectful or not, but I think its wonderful your so quick do judge.
Amanda 11-08-2008 @ 6:45PM
Derek,
I am not judging. President Bush's supporters call him W, so to call him that is not disrespectful. I have not heard anyone but SKL refer to Obama as Mr. B.O. Maybe she wasn't being disrespectful, but by the tone of her other posts, it's the best conclusion I can come up with.
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SKL 11-08-2008 @ 7:21PM
1) Yes, I was being disrespectful. So what? How many times have I heard people calling Bush a moron and a hundred other things on this site? I haven't noticed anyone complaining about that. Besides, B.O. disrespects me every time he speaks, by insulting my intelligence.
This is the USA. I have a right to speak my mind regardless of what color the president-elect's skin is (you know that's why you are calling me out on "disrespect"). B.O. are the president-elect's first and last initials and I think his policies stink.
2) Actually, I got the "B.O." from right here. Another poster ended her post with "just say no to B.O.!" Loved that post!
3) As for the loans, you obviously don't know the facts. I'm speaking from experience, not what some news channel tells me. There is fault on multiple sides, but we wouldn't have this number of mortgage foreclosures if not for the requirement to make loans based on racial balance.
Amanda 11-08-2008 @ 7:40PM
SKL:
Of course you have the right to speak your mind regardless of the color of the president's skin. And you have the right to be as disrespectful of the president as you like. In fact, I feared the right to speak out against our government had been slipping away under Bush, and would do so further under McCain, with the fascist Patriot Act. I am now (cautiously) less concerned.
The difference between Obama and Bush at this point is one was just elected last week, and the other has been a complete failure as president for the past 8 years. You, along with a whopping 29% of the US, may think Bush is doing a good job, but that doesn't make it true. When Obama actually takes office, and starts making decisions, then I will judge him. I did the same thing when Bush first took office.
Regarding the loans, I do know the facts, thank you very much. Some bill signed into law in 1995 did not cause most of the credit crisis. Banks and consumers got greedy, and as far as I'm concerned, they should all pay. You for some reason, take the side of corporations and banks. In that respect, you are completely in the minority. I noticed you totally ignored my question about how you feel about personal responsibility. I guess my assessment was correct.
Face it, you are just so devastated that your side lost and that a man of color is now president. You'd better get over it, or you are going to spend the next 4 years miserable, which by reading your posts, seems to be what you already are.
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Mihir 11-09-2008 @ 3:45AM
"In fact, I feared the right to speak out against our government had been slipping away under Bush"
i had to chuckle at this statement. i live in seattle and from what i see, there were more and more protests, not less. actually, name one person that had their right to speak out taken away.
Crystal Kinard 11-08-2008 @ 9:56PM
Michelle congrats on winning and pass to Obama. I hope that you do help working families and military families. Girl we are struggling to survive. Working families are praying that they have a job when they wake up every morning. They are struggling to pay bills but at the same time working 60 to 75 hours a week. Military families are losing love ones and not getting the treatment nor the respect they deserve. Not to mention that soldiers that get hurt help plan is not that good and veterans are sleeping on the street. No food, no place to stay, and poor health care, for the men and women that sacraficed their limbs and mind for this country. It's time for a change.
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Crystal Kinard 11-08-2008 @ 9:56PM
Michelle congrats on winning and pass to Obama. I hope that you do help working families and military families. Girl we are struggling to survive. Working families are praying that they have a job when they wake up every morning. They are struggling to pay bills but at the same time working 60 to 75 hours a week. Military families are losing love ones and not getting the treatment nor the respect they deserve. Not to mention that soldiers that get hurt help plan is not that good and veterans are sleeping on the street. No food, no place to stay, and poor health care, for the men and women that sacraficed their limbs and mind for this country. It's time for a change.
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