So far, the Obama presidency has NOT been beneficial to the United States.

I agree with opponent definitions, but reserve the right to present new ones should the opportunity arrive. My opponents arguments: a) Since Obama took office on January 20, 2009 the national debt has increased $954,324,742,369. That is almost one trillion dollars added to our debt in a six month period. If the national debt keeps on climbing at this rate by January 2013 (the end of Obama's first term) the national debt would have increased $33,083,257,735,458. That is 33 trillion dollars for the mathematically impaired. This can be attributed to Barack Obama. My opponent has made a claim saying that the national debt is Obamas fault. First of all some of this increase is artificial. The Bush administration had used "accounting gimmicks" to make the debt appear less then is actually was. . http://blog.buzzflash.com... Obama's administration advocates transparency so the now, money was previously still being spent unreported shows on the national debt. Second let's talk about two very big expenses that have occurred under Obama. The Bailout and the Stimulus. The Bailout cost $700 billion and the Stimulus bill $800 billion. Together they cost 1.5 trillion. Let's consider the debt has increased by a sum of around 1 trillion. Without these bills Obama would actually be in the green by 500 billion. The bailout prevented what could have been a been disastrous depression for all of America, cleary it was beneficial compared to what could have been. We could argue the merits naively, but I think it's best to go with the experts; economists. They have agreed while not a great thing the bailout was necessary to prevent something much worse. . http://cbs5.com... . http://www.msnbc.msn.com... Next up is the stimulus bill. In a downturn, employment dwindles which means people have less money to spend on things. This means company's have less income; they have to make cuts to their employment. So begins the cycle. While this maybe an oversimplification the fact still remains that you need to do something to stop the cycle. That something is the stimulus bill. History has taught us the in a downturn the government has to take action or risk becoming The Great Depression that Hoover helped accelerate by doing nothing. Once again we must look at how bad it could have been if nothing had been done, as with the bailout. It also doesn't hurt that most economists once again agree it was necessary. While the debt has increased, the alternative is much worse, in this way Obama has been beneficial to the United States by preventing something much worse. . http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu... . http://www.boston.com... . http://www.ft.com... (b) The unemployment rate has risen during Obama's first six months in office from 8.7% to 9.7 percent. That is a one percent increase in six months. If this pattern continues than by January 2013 we can expect the unemployment rate to be around 17.7%; the highest since the Great Depression. This is like saying FDR was responsible was The Great Depression. Obama inherited 2 wars, a huge national debt and a recession. Are these all Obama's fault too? The whole point the bailout and the stimulus is to fight these problems he inherited from Bush. And to say "the pattern continues" is a pretty outlandish claim. What proof do you have that it will continue? I have showed that Obama is trying to fight unemployment which he is not responsible for. (c) Obama has heated up race relations. In a news conference President Obama sated that the Cambridge Police Department acted STUPIDLY when they arrested Professor Gates for disorderly conduct. He did not have all of the facts, he admitted that himself in the video. He has reinforced negative stereotypes about the relationship between law enforcement and African Americans. Obama has wound back the clock when it comes to race relations. How did Obama reinforce negative stereotypes? As we all know he tried to sort out the problem with his "beer summit" which is better then the mounting tensions this media firestorm has created between Africans-Americans and Whites over the issue. Regardless of your personal feelings, if anything, being able to talk about race in issues like this moves foreword the racial challenges this country has. Debate and discussion are good as we all know. Now that I've addressed my opponents points I will move onto some ways Obama HAS been beneficial to the US. (A) Let's first consider the fact that he is the first African-American president to be elected. This is a momumuntail moment for all of America. If signifies that we have broken free of a lot some the race issues that have plagued us in time past. (B) He has restored faith in America abroad. People around the world celebrated his election and welcomed him when he wanted to engage in diplomatic talks. Let's compare that to Bush who most of the world disliked. Heck, Obama has even got Cuba to open up. The world more talkative and people admire America again. Now tell me hat Obama hasn't helped the American image abroad. . http://www.csmonitor.com... (C) Obama has also advocated transparency in which he received A+ from the Brennan Center for justice. . http://www.brennancenter.org... (D) Obama has also set a timetable for leaving the Iraq war. . http://www.guardian.co.uk... (E) Obama has also set forth a plan for alternative energy and cut carbon admissions. . http://www.reuters.com... Seeing as I have no more room I will expand upon my po