US President Barack Obamaâ„¢s record-low approval ratings is mainly due to Americaâ„¢s poor economy and lingering problems with Obamaâ„¢s controversial health care law, a political commentator in New York City says.
Obama has currently the worst public approval ratings in his five-year presidency, with record numbers of Americans saying they disapprove of his job performance.
Nearly 70 percent of Americans feel pessimistic about the US economy and believe it is not improving, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Friday.
Å“This country is a very difficult country right now. The economy has not recovered despite what you may have read,” said Danny Schechter, editor of Mediachannel.org.
Å“Many people are out of work and out of luck and theyâ„¢ve that way for a long time and itâ„¢s worst, not better,” Schechter said.
Å“Most Americans would like to think that the next year will be better, but they say that every year. I donâ„¢t think weâ„¢re going to see that because the policies are not really changing.”
By some figures, the economy has improved this year but there are still millions of long-term unemployed and under-employed people and those who have dropped out of the workforce.
Meanwhile, extended unemployment benefits expired on Saturday for 1.3 million long-term unemployed Americans. An additional 1.9 million Americans will lose their benefits by mid-2014 when their 26-week state assistance ends.
Å“Jobs are not happening, prosecution of bankers whoâ„¢ve been engaged in illegal activity, thatâ„¢s not happening. So America goes into the new year with many of the problems of the old one,” Schechter said.
AHT/DB
Source: Press TV