Obama’s policies are better than anyone could have imagined

We were told that the economy had shrunk 3 percent in the last quarter of 2008. We now know it was worse than that, closer to 9 percent.

Under President Obama, who took office in 2009, there has been a serious reduction in public sector jobs, largely by the federal and local governments. But Obama's jobs record in the private sector easily out paces his predecessor, even when dealing with the worst recession since the Great Depression. Obama's policies are better than anyone could have imagined, especially against his global competitors.

It's still not enough, I agree, but trickle down economics? Is that what we want to go back to?

In 2008, unemployment was at 10 percent in Europe and the U.S. In Europe it's now more than 11 percent and rising. Here, it's 8.3 percent. And until the people at the voting booth stop this current extreme Republican Party, we'll have to continue to listen to this nonsense from the far right. This is the most extreme, hateful version of the Republican Party I've ever witnessed.

Symon R. Sanborn

Cedar Rapids