You Choose the Resolution

As I greatly admire President Obama and am arguing against my personal position, it will be an interesting challenge for me to play devil's advocate. I also would like to take a moment and give you a warm welcome to debate. org! REMINDER TO THE READERS AND VOTERS, although I am listed as pro and my opponent is listed as con, I am arguing AGAINST the resolution that Obama has been a beneficial President. EconomyOne of the first major economic proposals by President Obama was the Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as "Cash for Clunkers. " The program was a $3 billion that provided incentives to trade in old cars that were less fuel efficient (i. e. "Clunkers) and would receive a $4500 rebate should they trade it in for a newer model. [1] The program, however, proved to be ineffective in achieving the desires of the program. According to a paper in the National Bureau of Economic Research, the program significantly reduced new vehicle spending over the 10 month period, failed to produce more fuel efficient vehicles, and failed to stimulate the economy. [2] Even worse for the economy was the environment. According to the law, the cars had to be destroyed and could not be recycled [3]. Consequently, the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted by the destruction process was more harmful for the environment than had the program not have been in place [4]. Although unemployment appears to be lower, long-term unemployment is now longer than at the start of the Great Recession and is far above precedented levels [5]. The number of people who are on SNAP (food stamps) is more than 35 percent higher than it was when President Obama took office in 2009 [6]. Foreign policyAs noted by Bruce Thorton: "the administration of Barack Obama and his promise to “embrace a new era of engagement” and a “new way forward” with America’s enemies. In practice this has meant his solicitous “outreach” to thug regimes like Iran and Syria, the appeasing and unreciprocated “reset” of relations with Russia, the Carter-like pledges that America would be a “partner mindful of his own imperfections,” the undercutting and hounding of stalwart allies like Israel, the craven apologies to the Muslim world for a “colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims,” and the abandonment of unsavory allies like Hosni Mubarak, who nonetheless better served America’s interests than the Muslim Brothers. " [7] Indeed, President Obama's foreign policy has been reckless and dangerous. As Dr. Azeen Ibrahim puts it, "Obama does not seem to have considered what happens if America stops being the power and authority behind a global system of international law which we have been building since WW2. " [8]In Syria, Obama has failed to uphold the red-line and hold Assad accountable for his use of chemical weapons. His failure to hold Assad accountable sends a message to foreign leaders that they can ignore America and do as they please. Former defense secretary Robert Gates stated, "Backing away from reacting once the red line was crossed impacted American credibility not just in the Middle East, but I think it was being watching in Moscow and Tehran and Beijing and Pyongyang and elsewhere. So not acting in response to crossing the red line was a serious mistake. " [9]The most serious foreign policy blunder by President Obama was his continuation of the use of drones against Pakistan. A 2015 report showed that over 90 percent of those who were killed in the recent drone strikes were not the intended target. [10]. These killings could potentially violate international law as Amnesty International noted, "[T]heir deliberate killings by drones … very likely violate the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life and may constitute extrajudicial executions. " [11] ObamacareThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, will forever be the legacy that President Obama carries with him throughout history. When Obama was campaigning for it, he repeatedly stated "If you like your healthcare plan, or your doctor, you can keep it. Period. " The promise proved impossible to keep and was rated as the PolitiFact's 2013 lie of the year. [12] To make matters worse, the goal of the Affordable Care Act was to make health care more affordable. The evidence thus far has shown that it has been anything but. Richard Foster, the former chief actuary admitted that the law won't keep costs down and that some patients will have to change their health care plan and/or doctor [13]. Obamacare has been a boondoggle and far too complicated. It is arguable that it would have been better to establish a single payer healthcare system (which I support), though that is outside the scope of this debate and so I will not elaborate on that further in this round. Once again, thank you for this debate. I eagerly waait your reply. Sources1. . http://bit.ly...;2. . http://bit.ly...;3. . http://bit.ly...;4. . http://bit.ly...;5. . http://bit.ly...;6. . http://bit.ly...;7. . http://bit.ly...;8. . http://bit.ly...;9. . http://read.bi...;10. . http://huff.to...;11. . http://bit.ly...;12. . http://bit.ly...;13. . http://nbcnews.to...;