How have you personally been affected by the Obama presidency?

PFC Al Sethre — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:28:11 -0500

Response by 1SG Joe Messier made Jan 14 at 2016 2:40 PM

1SG Joe Messier — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:40:18 -0500

No as a matter of fact I've benefited from it.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 14 at 2016 2:40 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:40:27 -0500

Well, I don't deploy as often since he assumed office, so I can say his lack of aggressive chickenhawk'ism has certainly affected my finances... Then again, I don't attend anywhere near as many memorial ceremonies...

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 14 at 2016 2:47 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:47:26 -0500

Of course I have been affected adversely by this Administration as well as the two preceding it. I see my children and grandchildren laboring under a mounting debt far more onerous than the one I inherited. The purchasing power of my dollars is dwindling as is their supply. Although I have guaranteed access to health services, health care practitioners and facilities are disappearing. While the Administration opens our borders to terrorists it attempts to disarm me so that I cannot defend myself and my family. That's the problem with a government that has grown like a cancer in Washington. Everything the government attempts to do affects all of us adversely. The simple fact is that they can screw up anything. Thus, the more they attempt, the more they screw up. If we had a constitutionally limited government, they would still be screwing up, but less. Sadly, President Obama has presided over a quantum leap in the problems of an intrusive government and threatens to exacerbate the problem unilaterally if Congress refuses to help him make it even more intrusive.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jan 14 at 2016 2:47 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:47:48 -0500

Other than all the taxes increased (not a single dime) and the destruction of the economy, and the firestorm around the world created by our reticence to take leadership, not much. HOWEVER, Please explain how we will ever recover from the huge National Debt left to our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Nope, I'm fine, but some of us have some thoughts for the future, while others say give me mine NOW!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 2:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:53:11 -0500

My Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Fund has doubled since President Obama took office, so there's all that profit I have to pay taxes on.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Jan 14 at 2016 2:54 PM

Capt Walter Miller — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:54:04 -0500

No one has been negatively affected by the Obama Administration.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 3:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:13:54 -0500

The Affordable Care Act has cost me something to the tune of $6000 extra for health insurance a year. My premiums went from just under $500/ month in 2008 to nearly $1100/ month in 2010. It has since increased further, but that is more attributable to market forces.

My fear is that we will all pay the price for the chain of events that led to the rise of ISIS in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and West Africa.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 3:19 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:19:48 -0500

Financially-Yes; my company has had to reduce wages twice in order to keep the "new" insurance we had to adopt in the wake of the Affordable Health Care Act. Professionally-Yes; his Administration's focus on increasing already stringent emissions standards is creating a nearly technologically and fiscally impossible situation, which is decreasing projects while increasing costs. Emotionally-Yes; I'm exhausted with the disregard for impartiality and focus on controversial issues that should remain the business of the private citizen.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Jan 14 at 2016 3:45 PM

SPC Andrew Griffin — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:45:15 -0500

Yes! I have Personally Been affected! He has Inspired me to be a BETTER man! To take more interest in the substance of being a Family man! Giving me the Motivation to serve in my Community and my Church! Because of his shining example, I am a member of the NAACP and Minister-Elect in my Church! I'm looking to Publish my first book of Poetry! I have a Great Woman in my life that I'm looking to Marry!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 5:03 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:03:08 -0500

I could say my salary has nearly doubled since 2008. Got in shape, lost 35 pounds, and cured my sleep apnea (No more Machine!). Met and married the woman of my dreams. But as you can see there is no correlation to the current Administration.

However, I can say I did get a tour of the White House West Wing last week. This would not have happened if Obama was not president.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jan 14 at 2016 5:04 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:04:42 -0500

You should ask that question in ten years. When Iran has a working nuclear missal. And that will affect us all.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jan 14 at 2016 5:32 PM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:32:17 -0500

For me, his lack of getting the economy back on track in his first term forced me into sales when I returned from Afghanistan. Not what I wanted, but it has been a good job and has became a career path that I will retire from.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 5:35 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:35:56 -0500

We're all personally affected by the President. We're in the military. The Defense Planning Guidance drives what we do on a daily basis. It determines how large the military is and how it is formed. It cancels and changes the pieces of equipment we have. There is no way to separate yourself from the chain of command from the President on down. Personally, I am working on options on how to structure the Army within the constraints we are give by our political leadership. Other than that...it's business as normal.

Response by LTC David Brown made Jan 14 at 2016 6:59 PM

LTC David Brown — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:59:54 -0500

The biggest thing that hurt me was changes in health care. That is part of why I retired at 66. The policy implementation always lands at the feet of the providers and the bureaucrats that mandate these changes have no clue about how it effects health care. Two classic examples. Obama said preventative medicine reduces health care costs. It doesn't. Automated record keeping would reduce costs. It hasn't. Looking for data in the system can be time consuming and frustrating. You spend time inputting mandated notes that sometimes make no sense. Often we treated the bureaucrats rather than the patient, all this has only increased cost in health care. Many office Doctors went from 10 hour days to 16 hour days. Putting the required computer systems and maintaining them has added to health care costs.

Response by SSgt Bob Williams made Jan 14 at 2016 8:58 PM

SSgt Bob Williams — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:58:57 -0500

How have you personally been affected by the Obama presidency?
First, my 401K has been gaining by a minimum of around 12% per year over the past 6 years, Prior to that I was loosing around 10% per year.
My actual pay has almost doubled.
My son opened a business on a shoestring 20K loan from me, and in 3 years is up to over 750K in revenue. My daughters both have good jobs with good pay and benefits.
So all in all I have nothing to complain about, and often wonder why so many people in the US are complaining so much, and why every time I turn on Fox news it is like the world is coming to an end.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 9:06 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 21:06:08 -0500

Honestly it is best not to comment on this, you may loss rank or a promotion over this. I've seen it happen it is not worth it, keep it to yourself or within your friends on your own time.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 11:08 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:08:40 -0500

#thanksObama

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jan 14 at 2016 11:57 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:57:55 -0500

Oh... Where to send my "Thank You" card for the Affordable Healthcare Act. My insurance premiums have nearly doubled. My coverage has been cut over 50%. AND (Wait for it... Wait for it.) My wife is no longer covered under my policy (She's employed.) Paying twice as much for not even half the benefits. We did the math during our 2014 tax filing: We would have come out substantially better to simply decline any insurance and accept the un-Constitutional tax penalty. Rant over.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Jan 15 at 2016 2:20 AM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 02:20:05 -0500

I stopped watching and listening to news after he got elected. A majority of the country voted for him, and not a single person voted for him because of his experience or qualifications, because he didn't have any. That told me the lunatics are running the asylum, so I did what any sane person would do in that situation -- hunker down and stay out of the line of fire.

As a result, I think my blood pressure is normal.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 8:13 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:13:11 -0500

??? we just follow orders ... (looks around) and he gives the orders :).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 10:16 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:16:11 -0500

Thanks to his Obamacare, my insurance premiums have doubled, my copays have increased by 75% and what is covered has gone down.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 15 at 2016 12:45 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 12:45:43 -0500

This is crazy, he is the POTUS. We ALL are affected by everything he does or doesn't do, whether you like him or not.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 3:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:04:03 -0500

The economy recovered somewhat, things really looked ugly right before he took office. So I'm glad i still have a job. The stock market has gone back up, so I'm grateful that leg of my retirement is in good shape again. We have avoided getting involved in new wars, and the annual deficit while still a problem... is 1/3 of what it was during the last Bush budget.

I was (and am still) hoping for a lot more change... more spending on education, more taxes on the wealthy, single payer health care, a balanced budget and tax policies that favor American workers over International corporate interests.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 15 at 2016 3:06 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:06:46 -0500

Yes, the chosen one jacked up the tax on Cigarettes in his first few days in office. He went down hill from there.

Response by Cindy Gonzalez made Jan 16 at 2016 11:55 AM

Cindy Gonzalez — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:55:25 -0500

Lost my insurance and can't afford his plan, less opportunity for common sense and logic in governing and politics, both of which I have participated for many years. We are divided not on how best to implement the Constitution, but whether the one document that our foundation is built on is worth fighting for. If I were folks, I start using Obama's whine of "Where's your plan?" to ask him and the progressives, "What's your alternative to the Land of the Free?"

Response by SGM Earl Richburg made Jan 17 at 2016 12:03 AM

SGM Earl Richburg — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 00:03:54 -0500

I am employed, but I am under employed. I have had to take reductions in pay in two jobs nice my retirement from active duty.

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Feb 5 at 2016 11:42 PM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 23:42:57 -0500

In 2008 at the tail end of the Bush administration this country was in a fiscal crisis - not of the making of any president, but directly attributed to Congressional policies related to housing - it was various congresses (going back to the mid 1980s) that created conditions to encourage 'homeownership' -yes banks played their part - primarily because it was encouraged and greed begets greed.

Now we had a financial crisis in the markets because the bubble burst - we could have probably capped the problem is the government created a firewall with Lehman and Congress passed the TARP act when it first came up for a vote - but no, lets play with fire - if you remember how the market crashed and then suddenly Congress passed TARP.

Since 2008, despite an obstructionist, do nothing Congress and despite some fumbling by the current president I have a job that pays very well - top 5%, my 401k portfolio is in good shape, and I have a comfortable savings cushion

So yes I am better off - and by the, if any of you are interested in what really happened during the 2008 financial crisis, I can point you in the direction of some very good books. Don't fall for the notion that TARP was 'bad' and the "bail-outs" where just the government giving companies money. All of the TARP money given (in some cases forced on banks) has been paid back - with interest, and the government made quite a tidy profit (something that gets overlooked) - the only places some money is still at risk is Fannie and Freddie Mae

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 6 at 2016 12:32 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 00:32:10 -0500

PFC Al Sethre By whose presidency?

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 8:39 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 20:39:38 -0500

Wow! What a loaded question. My insurance keep going up and tripled in cost and went from a $2,000 deductible to $10,000. I currently do not have insurance for me and my family as I can't afford it. I'm self employed and the want to take it all. I had another business which I lost and I've been looking for steady work from a company and can't find work, but he tells us BS about how low the unemployment rate is. My friends and family pretty much agree with me on this.