Key Points From Obama Speech


President Obama gave a speech at the AFL-CIO picnic. When he starts talking, I am wondering how the hell does he remember all these names. Then I said to my self that he is not Bush. I want to touch on some key points he made today.
*In recent years, the American Dream seemed to slip away, because from Washington to Wall Street, too often a different culture prevailed. Wealth was valued over work, selfishness over sacrifice, greed over responsibility, the right to organize undermined rather than strengthened.
*Seven months ago a financial system on the verge of collapse. About 700,000 workers losing their jobs each month. The worst recession of our lifetimes threatening to become another Great Depression.
*That's why we took bold, swift action-passing an unprecedented Recovery Act, and doing it without the usual Washington earmarks and pork-barrel spending.
* But for the second straight month, we lost fewer jobs than the month before and it was the fewest jobs lost in a year. So make no mistake. We're moving in the right direction.
*We've given 95 percent of America's working families a tax cut.
*Cut taxes for small businesses.
*Extended unemployment benefits for 12 million Americans.
*An America that commits to education-because the countries that out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow and the best jobs will go to the best educated-whether they live in Cincinnati or Shanghai. So we've got to do a better job educating our sons and daughters.
*I've created our Task Force on Middle Class Working Families, led by Vice President Joe Biden, to make sure that our policies always benefit you-America's workers.
*I see reform where we bring stability and security to folks who have insurance today. Where you never again have to worry about going without coverage-if you lose your job, change your job or get sick. Where there is a cap on your out-of-pocket expenses, so you don't have to worry that a serious illness will break you and your family. Where you never again have to worry that you or someone you love will be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
*I want a health insurance system that works as well for the American people as it does for the insurance industry. They should be free to make a profit. But they also have to be fair. They also have to be accountable. Security and stability for folks who have health insurance. Help for those who don't-the coverage they need at a price they can afford.

But the main thing I want to talk about is our health insurance; people have to realize that the middle man (insurance companies) are raking in record profit. That’s why we need a reform that is fair for everyone, from the lower class to the upper class.