Obama in Office 100 Days: 69 Percent Are Satisfied

From his inauguration on January 20, to April 29, Obama, the American president, has been in office for only 100 days. Fox News and the American Broadcasting Company joined in a public opinion poll, the results of which indicate that people are 69% satisfied with their government’s administration.

According to a report by the People’s Daily, there have been several highlights in Obama’s first 100 days in office. First, his efficiency in forming the cabinet was impressive, considering the extremely short time taken to gather established, successful people from a variety of races to form a skilled and experienced group. 　

Obama won the election with the slogan of “Change”; therefore, soon after taking office he began to overhaul the government. He signed the first administrative orders, which included freezing the White House senior official’s salary; requesting open and transparent operation of government; and closing the “revolving door between the lobbying groups and government”. Lobbyists should not to take part in government within two years of leaving their work, and government officials cannot register as lobbyists for two years after leaving their positions.

On the legislative side, Obama first signed the Fair Pay Act, confirming male-female equal pay for equal work. Later he signed the Child Care Law, which brought children of 4,100,000 impoverished families under the government’s health plan. And then, there were the announcements of plans to relieve government restrictions on stem cell research; restore funding to the United Nations Population Foundation; vigorously work to develop renewable and clean energy; and actively participate in the international climate change agenda.

In fact, the Obama administration’s most impressive achievement is investing as much as $787 billion in the United States stimulus package, and allocating $3.6 trillion for the 2010 fiscal budget. Obama’s economic recovery plan focuses on three key points: First is the development of renewable, clean energy and reduction of dependency on petroleum imports. Second is investment in education; Obama will nurture the talented, in order for the U.S. to maintain future, globally competitive power and its vital position in world leadership. Third, he will reform health care and social security, which have experienced rising costs.

An important highlight of Obama’s economic stimulus plan is the government’s implementation of steps to rescue the banking industry and housing market. Obama believes this rescue plan has already had initial success: School and police systems canceled layoff plans; the energy and bridge-building industries have begun to recruit workers; home-buyers received $2,000 in tax subsidies, a rearranged payment method, and lower interest on mortgages; the housing market decline is shrinking; loans for auto purchases, student loans, and small business loans have started to thaw; and some banks have also started to profit and may soon repay government aid money.

As for foreign policy, both Obama’s tour of Europe and Secretary of State Clinton’s tour through Asia served to strengthen relations with allies in Europe and Asia. The Summit of the Americas improved relations with neighboring countries. He also has reinvigorated relations and started a new round of negotiations with Russia, aimed at reducing and limiting strategic offensive weapons. Obama issued a decision to begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and announced a new Afghan-Pakistan strategy of developing the military and civilian infrastructure, “simultaneously and equally”. Although relations with Iran are still in question, the U.S. announced that it will become a “full participant” in dialog with Iraq. In order to improve the American image, Obama issued an order to close the U.S. prison in Guantanamo, as well as the CIA’s overseas prison.

It should be said that Obama’s first 100 days in office started well; nevertheless, there is still chaos in Iraq, and the Afghan war still does not appear to be ending. Although, at the moment, the economic downturn is slowing, it remains possible that the U.S. is facing the longest recession since the Great Depression. And so, for Obama, the road ahead is endless, and I fear even more severe challenges lie ahead.