In 2008, President Barack Obama promised change, change that never came. He promised to fix the economy and get Americans back to work. He promised to reduce the national debt. His words won the 2008 election, but his actions have fallen short.
In 2009, he signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This $787 billion stimulus plan was supposed to jump-start the economy and reduce unemployment to under 8 percent. This plan served as a temporary solution to a long-term problem. Since then, the economy has not improved and, up until this past month, unemployment stayed above 8 percent.
When President Obama was inaugurated, the national debt was $10.6 trillion; now that debt has risen to over $16 trillion.
The Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, proved himself during the first presidential debate. His plan not only decreases taxes on the middle class, but eliminates unnecessary programs funded by China.
Everyone now makes jokes about "Big Bird" after Romney's comments at that debate, but his comments have a valid point. Why continue to fund programs that we are not able to pay for? This unnecessary spending is what propelled us into the $16 trillion debt.
Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, showed during the vice presidential debate that our government is flawed, and someone needs to take action and fix it. President Obama's policies are not doing enough to strengthen the economy and restore America.
President Obama did not keep his promises to change America, so why should we re-elect him?
JORDAN VANOSKY
Schenectady