By Fareed Zakaria
As I’ve often pointed out, America IS worse off than it was 30 years ago in infrastructure, education and research. The country spends much less than it did on infrastructure. By 2009, federal funding for research and development was half the share of GDP that it was in 1960.
The result is we're falling behind and fast. A decade ago, the World Economic Forum ranked U.S. infrastructure fifth in the world. In its latest report we were 25th. The United States spends only 2.4 percent of GDP on infrastructure, the Congressional Budget Office noted in 2010. Whereas Europe spends 5 percent; China, 9 percent. In the 1970s, America led the world in the number of college graduates; as of 2009, we were 14th among the countries tracked by the OECD. Reversing that decline will cost money.
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On our economy – If people will check back a few years they will find that the only huge amounts of money that republicans wanted to spend was on wars and war machinery – it helped make all their friends rich – yes people had jobs making these things which are of no value after the wars – they sit and rust or are sold off to other warring nations – guns in particular plus on our own streets in America. When Obama wanted to start to work on infrastructure and things to rebuild our country, which would supply jobs – other than the stimulus package – which many states, especially Texas used to rebuild the states deficit, not for the purpose it was really for – jobs. When he wanted a jobs bill passed the republican party filibuster all of them and the ones they tried to pass had a bunch of funny stuff in them that Obama wouldn't agree to.. The economy being bad is not his fault – the republicans want let those bills go through – but they want more money for the pentagon and military – which the pentagon is not asking for! So what is it that people don't understand?? Even a woman as old as I know and understand why – it's the republican party obstructionism.
What a boring, mundane comment. According to those of your limited intellect, anyone who doesn't agree with that buffoon in the White House is an obstructionist.
It would appear that the primary obstruction is in your thinking process.
Truth hurts, doesn't it?
Jerry Lemiux, it appears you don't know what a buffoon is – look in the mirror, you'd see a right wing buffoon.
They should be labeled obstructionists when a party's members refuse to pass a bill that supports the people they are meant to represent, when they do everything in their power to ensure that four years of political progress are brought to a halt, four years of the lifetime of everybody in america are brought down so that they have a chance of their own desires.
I daresay your only defense against these arguments is to act as the politicians do as elections approach, belittling others and avoiding the topic at hand. Who here is truly the mundane one?
That's a cheap cop out jerry and not a very well defended point. Just call someone stupid to win an argument? Looks like the intellectually challenged one is staring at you in the mirror.
This article by Fareed Zakharia once again proves that Obama is not only BLACK but also a MOSLEM. Is'nt that right Jerry.
America will decline if we continue to have people and politicians who are ignorant or refuse to rely on facts and numbers. And, those people want to go back to the 50's and always think we are the greatest country on earth, thus, we do the right things all the time. Ask your self, why the greatest country on earth have millions of people without medical insurance, more guns then the population, election on a working day, privately funded political campaigns which leads to corruptions at all levels, and the list goes on and on,
Explain to us Jerry, how someone who voted for "W" didn't swear off voting completely after the disaster that he (and you) wrought. A war in which countless thousands died for nothing but the profit of his friends, that he never bothered to pay for (I'm sure you were screaming bloody murder about his fiscal irresponsibility.) Gas prices STEADILY rose, 75% in 6 years under "W" (screamed about that too didn't you), but I'm sure that wasn't to enrich his friends. Took a healthy economy with a surplus to a $1 billion deficit in fiscal 2009 (which started four months BEFORE Obama took office) and handed over an economy on the brink of depession. Then after he (and YOU) saw what you had done, you immediately set out to destroy the new president, obstructing at every possible turn. Is there ANY reason for the behavior of republicans (who kept Clinton under investigation almost the ENTIRE eight years he was in office) other than "we're number 1," and it is only about us.
As a woman in her 60's as well, I find your reply to put down an opinion by an older woman to be disrespectful, and not based in fact or reality. This is a site to use your opinion & knowledge to further the discussion – Evelyn did that. You were all about putting her down.
We will disagree, it is a cornerstone of our country. Stretch yourself & tell us your opinion instead of slamming old women. Anger will not take our country very far!
The economy STILL being bad IS Obama's fault granny. I thought ppl had wisdom in their old age. Obama pushed thru "rebuilding America" and all I saw from this was construction on roads that were done only a few years ago....a complete waste just so he could say he was putting Americans back to work; what a joke. He has made no effort to overhaul the energy grid, and is pushing for funding on education only for illegal immigrants. He's in bed with the unions who steal money from the schools. Obama has spent billions on failed companies and you think this is all the republicans fault???? Maybe you've been sipping the kool aid too long. How did that taste in the Carter admin?
Well, Decline, at least Carter didn't consider our soldiers an acceptable sacrifice to the profits of his friends. Guess, you thought he should have "kicked ass," or...what?
Obstructing an idlot is OK.
Let's say your house is full of shlt6 up to the rafters-you hired a guy to fix it and now it is up to the ridge-do you hire the same Idlot or a more capable person?????
If your home is full of crap-do you raise the ceiling or shovel out the crap???-this job IS shovel ready-let's all get together-and complete the job
Fareed is so biased! In the USA the president always takes the responsibility for a bad economy. Whether your a republican or a democratic president after four years you can't continue to blame the previous administration. As Jimmy Carter, ask George Herbert Bush and now it's president Obama's turn....Obama said he would be a one term president and he should have put all his strength into fixing economy NOT on healthcare!!! 70 percent didn't want it anyway! Now we must try someone else! Anyone else will do besides Obama! "It's the economy stupid!
... I don't think most democrats are stupid or that all republicans are smart, however, whenever I read some of the reasoning giving by most democrats as to why things are as bad as they are, it becomes obvious that such are indeed stupid. I never understood what people meant by "talking points" when it came to politics, until I started reading and hearing the same rhetoric on TV, reading it on newspapers, blogs and forums like this one. The fact that people SIMPLY repeat what CNN, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, FOX or the Huff and Puff put out there, is very pathetic. When did Americans become so illogical, un-educated, and poor in judgement. If you blame everything on your predecessor and don't take responsibility for what you've done, then why the hell are you there? You can be a democrat, but YOU DO NOT NEED to accept everything as gospel because someone else says so. DO YOUR HOMEWORK !!!
To Fareed Zakaria; Your writers missed 'the hydrogen economy'. There have been books on it, experiments using it. and at the moment, 1/3 of a million engines in the world are running on recycled or rain water split into hydrogen & oxygen. This is rocket fuel. The oil companies are using 100+ gallons of water to get a gallon of gasoline out of shale. Farmers use 400+ gallons of water to get a gallon of ethanol to the pump. Both pollute. Hydrogen doesn't. There is TWICE the power in a gallon of water vs a gallon of fossil fuel. Standby generators run 24/7. Sun or wind give us energy on average 4 hrs/day. They need 6x the kW to equal hydrogen. All other energy sources cost more than hydrogen by a factor of 1.5 to 6x as much.
Hydrogen isn't FUEL! Free hydrogen is only available AFTER it has been split from oxygen by applying energy to water.
Get it? You need energy from some other source in order to get the hydrogen in a form where it can be burned. Yes, it burns clean, but hydrogen should be thought of as a way to transport energy. It is not, in and of itself, a source of energy. (By the way, its energy density is much lower than that of gasoline, so you would need to fill up more often.)
BY the way, I do believe (for pollution reasons) that hydrogen as a transportable means of fueling vehicals, is a good idea. Its just not a solution to energy needs.
The second law of thermodynamics says energy cannot be created or destroyed. When hydrogen is burned, it is turned into water. Breaking apart water molecules in order to get hydrogen to burn and then burning it is at best a net zero gain in energy because you are just going back to where you started. In the real world, you will have energy dissipation, so you will always lose energy.
Why didn't basic laws of energy conservation get taught at your school?
2(H2O) + energy => 2(H2) + O2
2(H2) + O2 => 2(H2O) + energy
The amount of energy in both these reactions is equal. For every Joule of energy you get out of burning the hydrogen, you had to put a Joule in to break the water apart. There is no such thing as a perpetual motion machine.
That's the 1st law of thermodynamics.
Oops, you're right. It was first law. Second law is entropy. I need to retake physics I guess. Thanks fmoist
The second law of thermodynamics as stated is incomplete. Matter CAN create energy by a nuclear reaction (E=mcXc) – the loss of matter equals the gain in energy. The broader law is that matter+energy must be conserved. However if you bring energy from outside the earth (as in Solar energy) – the energy on earth increases (by the same amount it decreases on Sun). So usable energy on earth is virtually unlimited if you count nuclear energy or solar energy as a source!! EPA and other bone heads will have us all believe that the energy supply is limited and we will run out of fossil fuels....We just need the science to catch up and have increased safety in nuclear energy production or solar energy storage..
This is an example of why we need better science education in the US. We are a scientifically illeterate country & this type of thinking is way too common (probably better than average). This is sad & embararassing. How will we compete in the global economy with this uneducated work force?
Fareed, there is no significant provision or mechanism in government and economics for doing things that make sense, only dollars. Get it now ?
I hundred percent agree with Granny Evelyn.Republicans have always wanted wars so that they can make money out of it. Hence, Romney wants to increase military spending by another 2 trillion without military asking for it. Self interest and greed at the expense of innocent lives( And Romney and sons never went to any wars ).
Same with fracking and keystone pipelines. They will just allow the keystone pipeline approved without checking on fracking consequences which could make water not safe for millions and other dangers affecting people who live along the pipeline area. Obama Admin did not approve the keystone pipeline project outright for some of these reasons but instead, deferred approval for those proposing it to check first on the safety issues and to make some changes to where and how it is to be laid ,where need be...for safety of the American health and lives. This is called being responsible. So, of course, the Republicans do not want any environmental regulations!
Romney wants to increase military spending by 2 trillion?!? Where did you get that number? Thats completely asinine and totally baseless. You just hate republicans for some reason. Not sure if you know this, but they arent going away, they arent the evil party trying to oppress the minorities or get rich on the backs of the poor. You just suck up all the liberal media propaganda and refuse to think for yourself. Just believe whatever Rachel Maddow says without question and insult ppl who dont think the same way you do. Liberals, the most intolerant, less free thinking ppl I know.
Instead of going on a tirade about how everyone but the neocons are responsible for the mess the US is in, maybe you should try doing some research, compiling the facts and then laying them out for all of us to see. Just rambling on about how we "just suck up all the liberal media propaganda... blah blah blah" will not change anyone's mind. Facts will, opinions won't. But I know why you don't do this... because there are no facts to be found. No one can tell you what the neocons will do. No one. Not even the head neocon himself (mittens.) So please, rethink your strategy, or just stop getting so emotional about it because no one is paying attention to your baseless, factless ranting.
No, they pretty much are the epitome of evil. Tea Party extremists, Grover Norquist obstructionists, Wall Street run amok; and more Trickle-down, Voodoo economics to solve the very mess that it created under Bush are just a few of the paralyzing diseases the Republican Party has inflicted on this great nation. Until the ultra conservative, ideological extremists that are holding this country hostage are driven from the Republican Party, we all will be locked in a battle against each other, rather than voting for the party or candidates with the best solutions.
this site is jammed again!
The reality is that if President Obama had adopted all of GWB's domestic and foreign policies, the right wingers would still call him a socialist. No matter what this President does or does not do, conservatives has developed an intrinsic willingness to scrutinize, attack and blame the President. For example, when the President brought the illegitimate Iraqi war to an end, conservatives accused him of paving the way for Qaeda to grow roots in Iraq. Duhhh, al Qaeda had started growing roots in Iraq the moment we destabilized the country and overthrew the government. Then when the President set a deadline to end the Afghan war, the Repugs accused the President of sending the wrong message to the enemy. At the Vice Presidential debate, Paul Ryan made it clear that he would rather U.S. troops replace remain in Afghanistan and replace the 250,000 Afghan troops we trained to take over security of their country. Perhaps he and Romney boys could volunteer to finish the war they abandoned and prolonged to invade Iraq.
During the Libyan crisis, the GOP were very outspoken and animated in accusing the President of "dragging his feet and not doing anything to help the Libyan people overcome the brutality and oppression of the Ghadaffi regime." But when we intervened with the world community on board, the GOP did a classic etch-a-skect flip flop by accusing the President of "rushing to war" and then they asked sarcastically, "what's the mission and the end game?" Now the likes of Romney accuses the President of "leading from behind" while expressing opposition to the Libyan war nontheless. And following the fall of Ghadaffi, I recalled when Wolf Blitzer said to Sen. Graham, "the President has taken alot of heat for our involvement in Libya but now that the mission has been accomplished in Libya, does the President get any credit?" Replied Linsay Graham..."his administration does." I'm afraid sir, the question was...does the President get any credit?"
Then a few months ago, the GOP continued to display their envy and jealousy over the success of this administration when they made a web video accusing the President of taking credit for the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The video says "President Obama, you didn't kill Osama Bin Laden, the American people did." Well, I'm afraid this American had nothing to do with the killing of OBL. Furthermore, at no point in time did the President ever said he killed OBL. ON the night or morning the President addressed the nation, he said "a team of Navy SEALS carried out a mission that killed OBL." Then a few weeks later, the President went to the Navy SEALS academy in Kentucky to personally thank them for their service to our nations.
Yes, envy, jealousy and hate kills like hell. But when all is said and done our great President will be re-elected inspite of all the attempts to undermine his administration and our democracy.
Obama/Biden 2012!
Very well written! All true!! Republicans are very dangerous for this country! It has been proven time and time again! They are the biggest hypocrites of all times!
Obama/Biden 2012
What's truly dangerous Is this kind of nonsense written by someone who is the intellectual equal of a mushroom.
The SEALS academy in Kentucky? Got ignorance?
Jerry Lemieux, go back to the faux hole you came from!
Ummmm....Ft Campbell, Ky. You have heard of it haven't you? Got a brain? Apparently not.
GREAT JOB! BLAH!
Thank you for your honest and fair reply. I really hope and pray that the Obama wins the election. If the country elects "MITT THE TWIT"all hell is going to break loose. It will be world war 3 because he will let Israel attack Iran and before we know it, the country will be dragged in another conflict that will cost us billions or trillions with no end in sight. All these Republicans are giving Obama a hard time just because they cant stand that a black man is more smarter than these war mongering idiots and racists.
Very well said. It is obvious to me some of the right wing comments are based on complete ingornace regarding what is going in other parts of the world. FACT: America's infrastructure IS literally crumbling. I am an Australian...we have a collective social conscience, we pay tax to support universal health care, and we have fabulous roads, transport and everything else we need for a superior quality of life, including outstanding social programs. We also have a great economy and a solid middle class. America is starting to look like a third world country in many places, but with big expensive cars driving around on crumbling roads...isn't there something wrong with this picture?
Obama's priority is making an issue out of Sesame Street because without the government supporting PBS, our children would not be able to read and write. Oh wait, after 40 years of Sesame Street, kids read and write worse then then did 30 years ago.
That should be "...worse thAn...". Just sayin'.
By the looks of your post, you should have probably watched a little more Sesame Street growing up. I know neocons have no desire to be intelligent, because if they did, they wouldn't exist. Chew on that for a while.
Is this kind of nonsense written by someone who is intellectually equal to a mushroom.
Individuals that are the intellectual equivalents of mushrooms use Ad hominem logical fallacy to discredit people they disagree with instead of challenging the ideas they present.
Nice summary by Fareed. Unfortunately the lack of public's economic knowledge (in particular amongst the undecided voters) has led the US politics into an entertainment show between two candidates. Ultimately the winner of this year soap opera will be judged based on style and not content by those low-information voters.
US's economy has always been very good at generating GDP but very poor at managing the social externality costs associated with the GDP growth. That is why we started seeing those social costs appearing as economical costs such as high unemployment and poor education.
Another factor that is affecting US jobs is that jobs are lost due to productivity growth and globalization and they won't come back. US needs to build its society for the 21st century economy if it wants to create jobs and economic growth. As Fareed nicely summarized again now it is the time for US to invest in education, R&D, human capital and recover those externalities before it is too late and upgrade itself for the 21st century. I think these are the major differences between President Obama and Gov. Mitt. Running a company and a country are two different subjects. Running a company requires getting rid of human resources that are not beneficial to the bottom line. However, when running a country we cannot get rid of the citizens and ask them to leave the country! They are US citizens. If the government fails to manage its social inequality that is getting wider and wider, the country will have social instability which will also have detrimental effects on its economy.
I am studying business at Columbia Business School in New York. I am not an American but really hope US goes forward as I believe if US goes forward the world will go forward. If US goes backward like it did during Bush, the world stays where it is and the US falls behind.
Mitt Romney views the US economy on a micro level and like a company He is not a suitable candidate for this era and if he wins this election, US as a nation will fall behind even further. On the other hand Obama has been fixing the US economy fundamentally ground up and views the US economy on a macro level.
Obama is a leader and Mitt is a manager. President of your country should entail leadership qualities and CEOs of your companies should be successful managers. Obama should stay as your president for 2012 and Mitt should stick to business.
Here is my 2cents
DH
True, it's just like the banks replacing humans with the electronic tellers (INTERACT MACHINES) by shutting down neighborhood branches to cut down costs, and make more profits.
R&D and Education are necessary – NOT by government taking the LEAD however. Public-private partnership is a GOOD thing but the PRIVATE part is what commercializes the research and provide the scale of production necessary to make the technology viable and cheap enough for mass use!! You see as an example – internet may have been invented by the government but without the likes of Netscape, Mozaic, Mozilla, Yahoo, Google, AOL, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T and a tonnes of other PRIVATE companies the common man would not see an iota of benefit from that. My firm belief is that a guy like ROMNEY gets the PRIVATE part and Obama gets only the PUBLIC part. Ideologies aside one has to understand what will benefit us as the country most – at this time my bias is towards a leader who favors private solutions.
Oblamo is a leader huh Dave. Like you said you're not from this country so anything you say can't be taken seriously. We don't need another 4 years of failed policies. And by the way, Mitt romney is a leader. He has much more experience atleading than the clown that's in there now. He knows more about how to handle the economy in his little pinky thatn Oblamo does in his entire body. We NEED management as well as leadership and Mitt is the only choice so take whatever your education is teaching you (I'm sure your liberal professors have a lot to do with your way of thinking) do some real research, and try rethinking what you just wrote because it has no merit.
Bruce – your comment sounds more emotional than logical. I hope you can add some logical content with some numbers in your response next time. In fact my dean at business school (Glenn Hubbard) is Mitt Romney's economic adviser with strong right views. Another thing that you should also know is that my dean is very strong at "Private Equity" style economic development which also aligns with Mitt Romney's style. It is apparent that social issues affecting economy and how to narrow down the social gaps created by economic development are in his expertise.
sorry meant to write:
It is apparent that social issues affecting economy and how to narrow down the social gaps created by economic development are NOT in his expertise.
Didn't this guy get fired for plagiarism?? If he didn't, then he should have been.
This gentleman is free to express his opinion in any form, he feels to. Just because he mentioned that, he isn't an American, therefore, he isn't qualify to state his views? Get real Mr ! We all live on this planet earth and so, we all have the right to express our views on matters that affect each region of the planet. Example, the economic melt down in Europe is terminating the entire global market. So far, America is not sinking like the rest, e.g. Greece.
This gentleman is free to express his opinion in any or form. Just because he mentioned that, he isn't an American, therefore, he isn't qualify to state his views? Get real Mr ! We all live on this planet earth and so, we all have the right to express our views on matters that affect each region of the planet. Example, the economic melt down in Europe is terminating the entire global market. So far, America is not sinking like the rest, e.g. Greece.
Go Vote absentee and shut the hell up. Do you really think you can change someone's mind in this format. Some want whats best for them, some want whats best for all. Which one are you ?????
Me, Myself and I seems to be the typical answer
what I believe Mr. Zakaria is pointing out is that there have been a change in priorities over the past over the past 30 years. Since he doesn't indicate where that spending has gone, one cannot truly evaluate if the change has been good or bad. Obviously, government spending hasn't decreased. There have been both Democratic and Republican administrations over that period of time, so blaming a your least favorite party is not the answer. The lack of a rational dialogue is the biggest problem facing our country at this time. It seems both sides are only concerned about "winning". I believe that this a misapplication of the "Lombardy principal". In a democracy, winning cannot be the only thing.
should have proofread my statement, and there is no way to correct. should read "there has been a change in priorities"
The GOP solution: Tax cuts for the rich to create jobs in China and India. Tax cuts for the rich to increase spending on infrastructure. Tax cuts for the rich to increase spending on education. Tax cuts for the rich to increase spending on the military. Tax cuts for the rich to fund tax cuts for the rich. Tax cuts for the rich to create the Easter Bunny.
In this economy one just looks for best offers – http://www.dealIsTheWord.com
As much as Obama would like to blame his failure on the last 30 years, we elect Presidents in four year intervals, and they have to answer for their own work.
Who wrote this one Fareed? How can CNN continue to employ you after plagiarizing content from other stories?
You should quit your job...
problem is education is a rip off. how much money does a college professor need to make , how much does a school teacher need ? these people are servants of the tax payers ,however the master has become sub serviant to the servant . and thanks to social promotion our education standards have dropped as well .
Republicans never say it out loud but their rebuilding philosophy for the USA economy is based on the military industrial complex. Why do you think Mitt wants to increase military spending to about 2 billion more? Remember if you build them you got to use them. I am willing to bet if Mitt wins the elections, a war will be in preparation in his first term in office.
Let's say your house is full of shlt up to the rafters-you hired a guy to fix it and now it is up to the ridge-do you hire the same Idlot or a more capable person?????
If your home is full of crap-do you raise the ceiling or shovel out the crap???-this job IS shovel ready-let's all get together-and complete the job
ron paul,"problem is education is a rip off. how much money does a college professor need to make , how much does a school teacher need ? these people are servants of the tax payers ,however the master has become sub serviant to the servant . and thanks to social promotion our education standards have dropped as well ."
Remember USA depends on a strong educational system to continue to develop technologically strong. Do you like your iPhone, iPAD, your flat screen TV's and etc. USA depends on the best brains to develop technologies that people like and use. The USA military depends to develop the best technologies from its people with brains for its defense So, you think education is still a rip off?
you can not justify the cost . thier is talented minds out there the only thing that holds them back is a higher education . we allow the colleges to give a looser a free ride through college for a football , and most never get a degree yet someone who has the academics can't go if he can't pay the bill . screwwed up priorities in america. a football games means more than an education of a child. agin it goes back to the money . the master is sub serviant to the servant.
Mr. Farreda is a very bright man. Of course, people who are racist and most racists are illiterate will always trash talk. For any country remain Super Power or rank High in the standing Your EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE and INFRASTURE systems must good. I am surprize that American even rank 25 considering the condition of all the above. President Obama is a very wise man. YOu guys know that Obama put forward upteen of BILLS to address the big 3 above and they will not. This would this would also address the JOB crisis and put people back to work. You have to spend money to make money. But putting money in wars don't help the economy it help the 1 percent rich. If Romney win this election it will spell disaster for Americas. All that garbage he keep talking about how he is a business man and he knows how to fix the economy. If you guys buy that then you will be the laughing stock of the World.
I can tell from what I heard just now that the author of this article has no clue abut our economy.The circus in the debates do not address the basic issues.Let us start with education,the nonsense I hear so much about.The U.S. as well as the E.U. are full of educated people who commit suicide for lack of jobs.The student loan bubble is on the way. If you are in debt which can never be paid off,you are in no position to spend-very basic.The economic problem of the U.S. stems from offshored jobs,factories, from crooked politicians that steal money from the people and give it to bankrupt banks.The Federal Reserve, a private bank, runs this country. Open borders add to the economic problems.
The candidates just put out empty rethoricNothing will change unless we stop all wars,End the Fed,bring back the offshored jobs.Otherwise we will bcome a Third World Country-it can happen overnight.
shoots
I realy wonder if this is a global view-somewhat eastern oriented- is another domestic matter of US? Come out of it. The whole world is not so myopic. The world goes 'round with or without. And this pit-fight disgaces all, including mankind. It is not any better than putting various slave in an arena to see who will concure.
Wanted… Democrat, Republican or Independent Congressional candidates for the House or U.S Senate. Must be willing to travel, discuss difficult political issues at public speaking engagements, listen to the will of American citizens, not lobbyists; and provide honest and thoughtful solutions to current business and political issues. Grover Norquist lackeys and Tea Party extremists need not apply.
Most of the comments i have read are utterly ridiculous. You might hate Obama. But when someone is pointing out facts about economics and you don't understand it, don't go around calling the person who understand it "biased". Economics is pure and simple. It does no have a political agenda. Use your common sense, if you have any.
Reblogged this on Economics and Politics and commented:
Fareed is absolutely right. He is using pure economic theory to justify political policy making. And in this case the figures support Obama.
All of America's precious resources were wasted on wars in foreign soils. Nothing were gained for Americans or America from these wars.
Had the previous admininstration concentrated on job creation and upgrading infrastructures instead of trying to proof its strong, tough guy image by starting wasteful wars – US would still be the richest country in the world.
The world now sees tough guy egoistic America as a bankrupt nation, never mind the money printing activity for survival .
Before George Bush was elected the first time, I knew without a doubt it would not bode well for our economy and cautioned all. Mitt Romney has told everyone about himself. Profits for himself at the expense of other people' jobs....then invest profits made outside of the US. There was a time when no voter would have considered a man like this a viable candidate. Obama could not get everything done that needed to be done in his four years...it took 8 Bush years to destroy what had been built by Clinton...however it is crystal clear who the better contender for President is if you just look at each candidates history. Nothing is ever perfect and you can only make a choice based on what the past history shows.
Fareed is a PLAGIARIST! CNN.... are you listening? Let him go!
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Fareed Zakaria is a cheater, a plagiarizer, he got caught and suspended by CNN, and then he tries to lecture us on what is true? PLEASE Fareed, don't embarrass yourself. You and most everyone else at CNN support Obama and is so obvious that you'd do and say, and make up anything to save your guy from losing his job. What the hell happened to America? Why have we settle for morons like this guy? Sorry, Fareed, you do not deserve having the opportunity to voice "your" opinion when you plagiarize other people's work.
We all GET the economy..........EXCEPT the Democrats. They are only interested in STAYING IN POWER. They will BUY votes, to that end, in every way they can.......from pizza and T shirts for college kids, to paying people to create a phoney "occupy" movement, to hand outs for the poor.
The Democratic Party has become entirely subversive........they only seek POWER, and they are using every method of controlling people possible, including heavy brain washing techniques. They are a THREAT to the security of the U.S., and to the freedom of this country.
Worse, CNN has fallen under their CONTROL, as have other Democratic Party owner controlled, media..........and the people can no longer believe, anything they see or hear, in the media. This country is absolutely under attack......from within!
Im pretty sure Zakaria is wrong with the numbers here. 14th? really? Would really like to look at the report for that. Remember, he is talking about numbers here, not percentages.