Similarities Between Obama and Roosevelt

Barack Obama and Franklin Roosevelt are very alike. They are both Democrats who both believe in economic spending to help the economy. Both fight to create a social net for people who may need help. FDR introduced many social programs to help people like unemployment insurance and pension for seniors. Obama pushed for a healthcare program and passed a medicare program to help with the high burdens and prices of medical care in the country. FDR also passed the New Deal Stimulus Package which was a mixture of trials and experiments with the economy aimed to help the average citizen. FDR was able to do this because he had the support of the congress. Obama on the other hand has little support from the congress. The Republican side feels that overspending will just make the debt higher and that there are enough social programs to help people. Yet Obama still pushes to help the average citizen as much as he can. FDR was known as a more down to earth and relatable person. His fireside chats made him popular and helped his relations with the “common man.” He was also quick to attack his enemies like big business. Obama on the other hand doesn't attack anyone. He tries to keep to himself and is open to pleasing both sides which makes him seem like he’s always looking for middle ground. FDR was thrown into the middle of the Great Depression and was able to inspire hope to the people of his country. Obama was thrown in the beginning of the second worst depression and is arguably, still navigating through it.

EDIT:

Both Obama and Roosevelt had similar opponents. As both of these men pushed to spend and stimulate the economy as well as creating social benefits to help the people, their critics feel like it is a waste. They feel that spending will just be a waste of taxpayer money that could be spent in better places. To them, social benefits are a waste since it should be a free economy with every man for himself. Roosevelt openly stated that he despised  Big Business and that they were evil for trying to suck the last dollar out of its citizens. Obama has been compared to him heavily in this fact since he wants to create a higher tax for richer people and cutting tax breaks large businesses receive. Obama has stated that Big Business shouldn't need such a helping hand, they are not people. The tax breaks we focus on giving them could be better spent on helping the less privileged people of America.

I think they are very similar. They both seem to have a left wing ideology and want to help the average citizen. They feel like it is their duty to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity. In today's inauguration ceremony, Obama stated that he hoped that no citizen should have the burden of a financial emergency burdening them and that the government should help them because it is their duty to look out for their citizens. Sounds like an awful lot like Roosevelt pushing for unemployment insurance because of the strain it could put on a family. (Obama and Roosevelt were also sworn in 4 times, the most any president has ever been.)

Resources used:

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/12/barack-obama-and-fdr-a-misguided-if-inevitable-comparison/

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/are-you-better-off-obama-vs-fdr-12374597

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/21/obama-inauguration-speech-transcript.html

Greece and Neo-Nazism

Greece has been struggling financial for the past 6 years. They have been in a recession for those 6 years and showed little improvement. This year, the government has a made many budget cuts and raised taxes. Previously the country flaunted its many social benefits it provided, now it can barely hire pay its small police force. Unemployment rates for the country is near 25% with over 1.25 million people jobless. This has shown the rise of extremist parties, specifically the Golden Dawn party. Many similarities between it and the Nazi party of Germany can be made. Golden Dawn is a Neo-Nazi party and is extremely racist. The members of the party feel that foreigners and immigrants are to blame for the countries hardship. Just like Hitler justified Germany’s problems on the Jews and other Eastern European people. The Golden Dawn party has even adopted their version of a swastika as their symbol.

Now why would people follow this party? Just like in Germany, people are afraid, they are looking for a government that could pull them out of this recession and provide stability to their lives. Since many riots are happening to protest the current government and the frustration of people, the Golden Dawn party is helping people and even providing the hungry with food. People are turning to this party because it is the little hope they have in a bad situation. 

EDITED:

Democracy is failing its citizens in Greece. People have turned to the Golden Dawn party because their are few other options. Since the deficit has reached record highs and has negative impacts on the Euro, the EU has to tried to push the government to make a plan and force them to cut spending. Now the government can do very little to intervene with the growing unemployment and poverty rates. With this and cutting the previous social benefits citizens enjoyed, the population has begun to protest and rebel against the government. The population is fed up with the government not being able to do anything. The EU has given Greece many bailouts as well to help with the situation and have said that they would control the next budget if the government cannot. The government needs to be able to stimulate the economy but it will also have to cut back the generous social benefits it gave its citizens. They have to be able to do something to push the country in a better direction which would in turn give faith to the citizens that their government is doing something rather than nothing.

The people of Greece are stick in a peculiar situation. Extremist parties are able to help more citizens than their current government. Does that mean they should? If they do receive help from these organizations, they expect your total loyalty and support. This seems like a good way for them to recruit certain members in a bad situation. The citizens of Greece want a party that will help them through this horrible situation, if the current government cannot do anything, they will vote in a party that they have seen do something. The Golden Dawn party will only get more popular as the current one gets belittled. 

The Memory Of Stalin

Since his death and the fall of the USSR, Stalin has always been put in a negative light and for good reason too. He killed millions through the purges, the gulags, and the famines he caused all in the name of progress. But after 2005, the anniversary of the Soviet win over the Nazi forces, people have been putting Stalin in a more positive light. Stalin is seen as a man who put the future of his country ahead of the current one and made “necessary sacrifices,” but how can this be justified? Losing millions of lives, losing freedom and being afraid of your own government is no way to live.

Putin is the current leader of Russia. He has openly stated that he sees Stalin as a hero and so does a large portion of the public. Putin is a very conservative leader and pushes the idea of an authoritarian government so it is not a surprise that he would like Stalin and his methods of achieving his accomplishments. The government has put laws in effect like stricter punishments for protesting and labeling foreign companies as “foreign agents” like spies were in the last century. The government is going towards a much more authoritarian view.

Stalin offered a much better future even though it cost a very hefty price. Now the new generation is seeing a horrible economy and a bleak future, many want a leader who will bring their country back up to greatness. Someone who could bring back the glory USSR had to the current Russia. Even though many do not want another Stalin, many see that he was just doing what was necessary for the greater good in the future.

 Stalin is being reintroduced in fashion, monuments of him are being put up and the school system has tried to show both the positives and negatives of his accomplishments. This has caused a mixed reaction from the public. Some say it is important that we show Stalin from every angle so people can have their own opinion. Others think that it is an abomination that such an evil person could be treated like a hero. Some of the older generation miss the leader being in power. They reminisce about the old Russia, when it was a world power house, it had the world’s best transport system and the stability. When the public was polled about Pussy Riot and if they should be sentenced, only 5% said no. This shows that the public looks for a strict government that controls its people.

Personally, I think Stalin was a monster. There is no justifying killing millions of your own people to make your country stronger. I agree that teaching every side of the argument should be done in schools so people are informed of why people think certain idea but using Stalin and his legacy to push your own political agenda is wrong. Putin is just trying to put Stalin in a better light so he can gain more power and have a stronger government to use.

The Asian Island Dispute

There is a large dispute in Asia over small islands located between China, Taiwan and Japan. These islands have few people living there and a few resources but nothing that would be worth going to war over, right? Apparently these countries see it differently. China has mounted their flag on the island claiming it is theirs while Japan has brought choppers and ships to claim the island as theirs. Other countries like South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines have claimed that the island should belong to them. All of these countries are arguing over this small piece of land but why?

Many think it is because the countries do not want to look weak in the eyes of others. They want to show their dominance over the other countries. Citizens of the countries back their governments believing that their country has the right to claim it. Everyone is so nationalistic that they are willing to go to extreme lengths over these islands.

China and Japan have had a rocky relationship for a long time now. Since WWII when Japan invaded and massacred thousands of Chinese people for their colonial conquests, the Chinese have seen them as evil, heartless soldiers. China is also in the middle of a leadership change and will want to seem like they have everything under control. The government also does not want to be pushed around in fear that the other countries will see them as weak and use it to push the country around. For this reason, they have to stand up to Japan and show that their country is not the same as it was in the last century.

It’s brinkmanship from the cold war all over again. Both sides are willing to inch closer to a war just to see if the other will back down. This happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the Soviet Union and the USA wouldn't back down but inched closer to a full out nuclear war. Back then it ended by both sides willing to negotiate with each other, if both sides are not willing to talk to each other, then a full blown war could break out over a few small islands.