Voters' Views: Carlos Martinez

As Barack Obama completes 100 days in office, we ask Republican and Democratic voters from across the US to reflect on his performance.

Carlos MartinezLandscaper | Democrat

Why are we bailing out big banks while homeowners and small businesses are left to fend for themselves?

Age: 37

Lives: Austin, Texas

Occupation: Landscaper

Last election voted:
Democrat

In 10 words or less: Critical, optimistic, curious, concerned humanist, proud father

Voters' Views: main page

"It feels uncomfortable to praise a sitting president. So let's start with the criticisms.

Appointments: Ken Salazar for Secretary of the Interior is just disheartening.

As for Lawrence Summers and the Wall Street thugs now riding high in the economic inner circle, I'm just dumbfounded. Those guys need to be tarred and feathered not rewarded with more attention.

My reaction to the economic stimulus bill and the plan to buy toxic assets is to shrug and shake my head.

Why are we bailing out big banks and huge corporations while homeowners and small businesses are left to fend for themselves?

I'm happy for the relaxation of the travel and financial restrictions on Cuba, but more needs to be done. I think the summit of the Americas was a wash. Doing better than Bush is nothing to brag about.

But my overall response to Obama's first 100 days has been one of relief. Relief that the last eight years are over.

My relief is tempered with anxiety. Cap and trade plans will not save us from the very real expressions of global warming. Bank re-regulation will not make our economy fairer for the bottom 95%.

Let's see what he can do about helping immigrant families and bringing about real, and much needed health care reform.

These are the two areas that would most affect my life and will probably colour my final appraisal of this president."

What Carlos said after the election

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The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.