For such a calm political figure, President-elect Barack Obama sure elicits strong feelings in people positive and negative.
Our online news poll question the past week asked readers what kind of president they think Obama will be. The answer? Either great or poor.
Thirty-eight percent of those who responded said Obama will be a great president.
A little more than 31 percent said hell be a poor president.
Eighteen percent said hell be good, while 12 percent said hell be average.
So the general mood of those who participated in the poll there were 503 of them this week is positive, and that seems to be the case nationwide, as well. Even some people who dont agree with the policies he promoted during the campaign are hopeful about his presidency.
Given the enormity of the problems facing the country at the moment, we need Obama to be great.
This weeks poll is about the talk of another multi-billion-dollar bailout of the auto industry. Theres an added interest in this news story because of the GM plant in Janesville, which is scheduled to be shut down soon.
The early sentiment, somewhat surprisingly, is strongly against any more federal financial help for GM, Ford and Chrysler. At last check, 26 participants said no, while only 5 said yes to question of whether the federal government should spend more money in emergency assistance.
I have somewhat conflicting thoughts on this question.
First, I think the federal government has to stop helping businesses and industries that have reached the brink of financial disaster due to bad decisions. Theres no question American automakers have fallen far short in being prepared to meet the current demand for high-quality, high-mileage vehicles. Most of thats their fault, but some of it is the governments, which has neglected to set policies to force the automakers in the right direction.
I think its important for there to be American automakers whether that means one, two or three big companies. I think the estimated 2.5 million jobs that would be lost if the Big Three went under are too important to lose, and should take precedence over the jobs on Wall Street and in banking institutions that our leaders seem to covet more.
I dont think the bailout being discussed now is going to help any of the three automakers in the long term. It will help them meet payroll now, but unless they make radical changes in the ways they do business, theyll be back asking for more federal money in a few months.
Unfortunately, the kinds of radical change that are needed wont help the automakers in the short term, either. The automakers must make a revolutionary commitment to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. That wont happen without government regulations and incentives ... the kinds that could be attached to a significant bailout.
The bottom line is I think Id rather see the government bail out GM than AIG. But I also want to see the government and GM working together to put a huge dent in our nations reliance on foreign oil, strengthen our nations economy, and keep those workers in Janesville and elsewhere employed to take part in the auto revolution.
Now, if Barack Obama could accomplish this as president, that would be a step toward greatness.
Our online news poll question the past week asked readers what kind of president they think Obama will be. The answer? Either great or poor.
Thirty-eight percent of those who responded said Obama will be a great president.
A little more than 31 percent said hell be a poor president.
Eighteen percent said hell be good, while 12 percent said hell be average.
So the general mood of those who participated in the poll there were 503 of them this week is positive, and that seems to be the case nationwide, as well. Even some people who dont agree with the policies he promoted during the campaign are hopeful about his presidency.
Given the enormity of the problems facing the country at the moment, we need Obama to be great.
This weeks poll is about the talk of another multi-billion-dollar bailout of the auto industry. Theres an added interest in this news story because of the GM plant in Janesville, which is scheduled to be shut down soon.
The early sentiment, somewhat surprisingly, is strongly against any more federal financial help for GM, Ford and Chrysler. At last check, 26 participants said no, while only 5 said yes to question of whether the federal government should spend more money in emergency assistance.
I have somewhat conflicting thoughts on this question.
First, I think the federal government has to stop helping businesses and industries that have reached the brink of financial disaster due to bad decisions. Theres no question American automakers have fallen far short in being prepared to meet the current demand for high-quality, high-mileage vehicles. Most of thats their fault, but some of it is the governments, which has neglected to set policies to force the automakers in the right direction.
I think its important for there to be American automakers whether that means one, two or three big companies. I think the estimated 2.5 million jobs that would be lost if the Big Three went under are too important to lose, and should take precedence over the jobs on Wall Street and in banking institutions that our leaders seem to covet more.
I dont think the bailout being discussed now is going to help any of the three automakers in the long term. It will help them meet payroll now, but unless they make radical changes in the ways they do business, theyll be back asking for more federal money in a few months.
Unfortunately, the kinds of radical change that are needed wont help the automakers in the short term, either. The automakers must make a revolutionary commitment to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. That wont happen without government regulations and incentives ... the kinds that could be attached to a significant bailout.
The bottom line is I think Id rather see the government bail out GM than AIG. But I also want to see the government and GM working together to put a huge dent in our nations reliance on foreign oil, strengthen our nations economy, and keep those workers in Janesville and elsewhere employed to take part in the auto revolution.
Now, if Barack Obama could accomplish this as president, that would be a step toward greatness.
