Letter: Thanks to Obama, we're better off

To the Editor:

In each election season we are asked if we are better off than four years earlier. If you remember 2008, the simple answer is yes.

As the economic crisis unfolded, the U.S. was losing 750,000 jobs a month. I remember how distressing it was to hear all the daily business closings.

Thus ensued the "great recession." This was the worst recession since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans lost homes jobs, life savings. We are still fighting to recover, but hopeful signs are present in housing and job growth.

The economic engine in America is the middle class. Government policies must value a strong middle class to continue moving forward. President Barack Obama has fought hard for middle-class citizens despite fierce congressional opposition. He expects Wall Street, corporate America and Main Street to play by the same rules. He has thus enacted:

• a health care policy to ensure all citizens have this birthright

• laws regulating the financial industry, and protecting credit card consumers from unfair billing practices.

• stimulation of the economy to save, protect, and grow millions of jobs. This includes the auto industry.

• presented a jobs bill to Congress adding jobs with special consideration for Veterans.

• called for closing loopholes so all citizens pay their fair share of taxes.

Our choice in this election is between two fundamentally different paths for America: Policies that help support the middle class versus continual benefits for wealthy citizens.

This difference was recently highlighted by Michelle Obama whom I will paraphrase. We can't close the door on those behind, but must reach back and bring others forward.

This is what President Obama has fought for the last four years. Let's continue to move forward.

Kathryn Asp

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters