A Checklist Of Obama's Many Promises

[mintman2]

The problem is, your examples have predictable outcomes.

I was speaking towards issues where the outcomes are not certain. It is obvious the issues in this topic do NOT have predictable outcomes whatsoever. In these cases, it is highly desirable to consult people who have acclaimed experience in the field under question. (Whether than entails having a degree is an afterthought.) Now, I know even experts do not predict everything either. The main point is that they have a much better understanding of what goes on with the variation in a field. This is because of their more widely renowned experience, and as such, they have more credible opinions from proving themselves in said field.

So, without having any experience on the issue, one cannot make claims as to what will happen, only about what could happen. The beef I have with you is that you think your opinion somehow warrants a strong conviction in terms of the true outcome, compounded by ignoring the unpredictable nature of issues such as the ones being discussed.

One does not need a "degree". But one does need to be recognized for his positive work in a particular area for his opinion to have any sort of deserved influence.

Interesting how instead of addressing the points presented you choose to attack my credibility. The ONLY things I gave "my opinion" on were the affects his policies would have on business and you don't have to be an economist to see how they would harm small businesses. If you would care to reply with something other than "you don't have the credentials to be taken seriously" I'd love to hear it.

BTW - the "claims" I make are grounded in my running a small business for many years now. Unpredictability is a given but certain actions have VERY predictable outcomes.

[monkeyman]

i'll take 7!

[themanishere]

I am speaking more toward methodology than anything else, and that entails credibility. I suppose you took that as a personal 'attack'.

Certain effects are predictable in certain situations, yes, that much is obvious. So then, this becomes an issue of how 'generalizable' those effects are/will be in the situations at large in small business. Just because an effect is predictable in one's own experience does not mean it is predictable across the whole (thus, not even experts get everything right as I stated). This is what I mean in accepting that most opinions are only about what 'could' happen (with differing degrees of credibility and likelihood, based on acclaimed experience and proven work) instead of absolutely indicative of perceived predictable effects across the spectrum.

We cannot really 'know' a policy will harm a situation without sufficient and necessary background and history (and even then), no matter how 'obvious' it may seem. I do not want to make claims because I do not know a lot about the effects (as I said, I am arguing methodology). I wish you would realize you do not know either, and lessen your conviction about how sure you are of the effects of the policies. At least until you can provide reliable, widespread data of the effects (or similar).

[OnePimpTiger]

Updated the list. All but 1 are under half, not much faith. I know politicians are notorious for not keeping their promises, but I thought Obama was "change we can believe in?"

[TheTGB]

There's only so much you can do in my opinion. I chose the ones I thought were most easy to attain. The others may be harder, but none of it is really impossible.

[ensbergcollector]

i love how many people are ok with knowing a candidate has no real plan of following their promises. I expect not everything to be done but everyone seems fine that Obama made a lot of promises I don't think he ever intended to keep. Just said it for appearance.

[piranhaenter]

Someone has been paying attention to Jason Lewis

4) The biggest thing people forget is that when the governement does anything it's a zero sum gain. If you "give" someone a credit for providing healthcare then you have to take that money from someone else.

[Star_Cards]

I'll say 25.


I'll also say that just because some things may not be accomplished, doesn't mean it's always a Presidents fault... wether he's Rep or Dem.