Socialism in the United States

President Obama signed an overwhelming $787 billion stimulus package on February of 2009 that promised to save and create millions of jobs. He also stressed the importance of saving the middle class from disappearing because they are the "heart and soul of America blue collar workers," said President Obama during his campaign to the White House. When asked about the stimulus package and how it will help millions of Americans; Paul Ramirez, a student at Laredo Community College said, "I'm afraid that President Obama will experiment with socialism. I'm also concerned about his lack of experience when handling foreign relations." Many parents are concerned that their children will get the wrong message when it comes to working hard. Patricia Hernandez, a mother of four said, "How can we encourage our children of tomorrow to excel in school, finish college, and earn a good living? We always tell our children that if you work hard, you will be rewarded! Now, they have to understand that if you work hard, you will be punished because part of your hard earned money will trickle down to the lower class. I call that lazy and unfair!" There are several people who are concerned that the package won't work, and that it emphasizes federal spending. Ramon Zertuche of Zertuche Construction said, "This package should be renamed the Shop till you drop bill! The message that is being sent out there is that government needs to run the show. President Obama is playing with fire." Some find the package to be the "savior" of the lower class. Ramiro Montalvo, a resident in Cielito Liendo, said "It's about time! President Obama is our voice. We need government to take action and help those that are in desperate need for money and healthcare. It's a dog eat dog world we live in, and most of us are drowning!" Whether the package will work remains to be seen. Most people are optimistic, while others are pessimistic. When asked about the future of America, Alicia Valdez, a former educator said, "Bottom line: This package will either help or destroy America. We can't blame President Obama for the mess he inherited. For the past eight years, we went through the same failed economic theories that got us into this mess. If the President wants to experiment with socialism, so be it. If it works, great! If it doesn't, we'll have a new President in 2012. It's as simple as that!"