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In this case, Jack, no. His actions here may prevent another financial meltdown when the economy finally recovers from this disastrous situation we’re presently enjoying courtesy of the banks responsible and now objecting to reasonable regulation.

too involved in our lives.........after the last eight years do you think "we should let the wolf guard the hen house".....

the old business model is broken and new gov't will make mistakes, and, we will survive by learning from the old mistakes of past years.

Jack, I don't feel that Obama's government is as intrusive into personal lives as was that of George W. Bush and Cheney. Bush ignored virtually every constitutional right on t he books and pushed the envelope on privacy as well. It seems to me that Obama is listening to the people for a change which is quite refreshing after Bush.

The critics are overwhelmingly the GOP, ofcourse they are complaining. President Obama is exactly what this country, and the world need.

I am among the 42%. The government was pulled to pieces by the Bushes. I guess we could just get rid of ALL government agencies, including congress, that way we wouldn't have to pay taxes anymore!! Let's see.. . . too much spending?? Hmmmm, I guess old man Bush thinks it's ok to spend trillions on his sons phony war. He needs to go back into retirement and stop trying to help Jeb run for president in 2012.

Jack, I was under the impression that the U.S.Constitution granted the people equal access to the law. The complexity of the system has made it accessible mainly to corporate wealth. If the government agency is created to help the common person to navigate our laws. I see no harm. If the agency is there to control or dominate, I see problems. Americans have allowed the right to know and the need to know go uncheck for to long. Our sovereignty as a nation is being replaced by global dominance for who? Jim Logansport, In.

Obama does not stand back in an undisclosed location and make law by proxy. It isn't his style. Honest, open dialogue is.

No.. We needed more government control of our banks, look what the crooks did, stole all the money... Then they blame the poor people. Big bonus and large stock opinions. Its time for the American people to realize that the Republican party is not for the poor guy.. Why would any Republican want control.. after all they call it capitalism, I call just been a stealing...

The current financial crisis is evidence of what happens when we are left to our own devices. It is the role of government to do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. Since we cannot seem to protect ourselves from our own greed, it becomes appropriate for the government to take on the job of watchdog.

Well Jack if we would have had this type of Government role in the past, maybe some Americans would not be in the dire situation they find themselves in today. It's about time the mortgage and credit card companies answer to someone. Health Insurance next..... I'm all for it.

Gina

Yes, we do not need another supreme leader.
On the flip side of that who can we count on to intervene when the public is bilked out of millions of dollars of thier life savings?
Lack of moral integrity seems to have reached an all time high in this country amongst the financial institutions who have a hand in our lives.
When all is said and done, and the American people are vicimized once again by these financial parasites, what you see fall thru the saftey net are the poor and the middle class. They are always the last to know.

Jack:

Thanks for this question, but you know regarding too much government in our lives, everybody's got trouble right there in their own "River City" and it ain't the band !

If you asked Sarah Palin this question, she'll definitelysay yes. But I'm not Sarah Palin and government is needed because it's been gone for the last 8 years. We've been living in a deregulated society the last 8 years and without government intervention, the economic downspiral will continue.

So far I do not feel President Obama has invaded my life in a manner that bothers me at all. As for this particular idea I support it. At the state level our department of consumer affairs is very active and been helpful to many people for many years. The personnel in the department often act as advocates for individuals that have received a raw deal and need a strong willed person to act in their interests to rectify the situation. I feel certain the party of "NO" (the Republications) will not like this idea, but then again, they do not represent me in any way, shape, or form. How quickly can we get this agency up and running, I'm willing to help at no cost to anyone – i.e., a volunteer.

You can't blame Obama for the bank bailouts, that was something that was started under the Bush administration. Why do so many people distort the facts on that? Second, obviously something needs to be done to protect consumers from the enormous banking industry that caused this collapse. I don't see him expanding government control, so much as fine tuning it. It is the Republicans and Congress that got our country into this vast mess, not Obama. He is handling so many complicated issues with intelligence and poise.

Many of the problems we currently face resulted from government's relinquishing its regulatory role. As yet, the Obama administration has not gone far enough in reestablishing oversight, but these are early days.

He promised change and asked for my vote. He got it. . He didn't say I'm taking over your lives, sucker, ut he sure has. He promised no new taxes on middleclass. If I believe that with potential new taxes for GHC (Government Health Care) ahead of us, the either I'm no longer middleclass and poor, or I've been lied to again.

Oh boy, ya gotta love the banks yelping about too much government intervention so they can continue to rob and pillage their customers and the country with impunity! I'll take my chances with President Obama, thank you.

Let's be honest Jack, the critics that are worried about the government interfering in our lives are the same ones that brought us deregulation of the banking industry, and are the same ones that want the government to interfer with the lives of woman and gays that do not share their own beliefs about a woman's right to choose, or gay marriage. They always use fear tactics and sound the alarm of big government when it means that their right wing extremist views will not be upheld, or that the huge corporations that line their pockets may actually have to pay taxes, or at least follow some basic laws that everyone else has to follow. When the banking industry opposes anything at this point, it tells me that Obama is on the right side of this debate. Weren't they the ones that brought this economy down just a few months ago, and the middle and lower classes are the ones that are losing their jobs because ot the lack of regulations? Obama wants to protect consumers and they are fighting that? Go figure!

Jack, this is a very intriguing question. So let me attempt to answer it within a Secularize context. The American People has lost their Jobs, Houses, Stock Investments and everything else of value in such a short period of time. We are now starting to hear about Citizens putting their pets up for adoption, because of their Hardship. Which tells you that things are going really well? So enough Mr. President with all of this Regulation and Education type of Crap, because we don’t need your help, Thank you! Can you call of somewhat obstinately minded, HACK NO?

Well Jack isn't a shame that we need protected from the corporate entity here in the Corporate States of America.

President Obama is doing a lot with the government right now, but that's what we need in this tough time, and that's what he promised the American people he would do. Now, when he starts passing laws where the government can listen in on the people's private calls without probable cause, then he'd be getting the government too involved... oh wait, his predecessor already took care of that!

Great question, and yes, these are very scary times for our country. Obama and his "advisors" are dangerous. The federal government has not shown it can do a better job than any private corportation – it's just as greedy and corrupt. One only has to look at our national debt and how we have no control over where our tax dollars go.

President Obama has slowly but deliberately begun making inroads into the daily lives of Americans – taking over the banks, the auto industry, regulating tobacco- all easy targets. But during the campaign, he also admonished us that we can't run our air conditioners at 65 degrees or eat whatever we want and that we should keep our tires inflated and "spread the wealth around". Check back in another 6 months, Jack, and see how happy Americans are with government-run heatlh care.

I truely believe President Obama has gone too far on everything. I came from a communist country in Asia where the central government controls merely everything, healthcare, insurance, website, media ... all you can name. It creats bureaucracy as well as ditatorship. It is very very scrary and terrible.

But most people here enjoy freedom and get num about it. They take it for granted. When government gradually take away our freedom ... it is too late to regret. Sigh.

no from the looks of things some people need a babysitter. I have never watch news as much as i have and to see all these people falling for schemes anything that sounds good is not always good. Until people wake up and smell the coffee we need government to do what needs to be done.

Seems as though people expect to be taken care of from the craddle to the grave...

I can appreciate Obama's concern for members of the population who do not have access, or the educational ability to protect themselves. He worked in poor communities and he knows what people need. I personally know about people who felt that had to "rent" furniture and TV's etc because they had bad credit or no credit. They paid 400% interest on the stuff they rented, paying the full cost of the items 3 times over. Look at the people who lost their houses because they did not realize what the terms of their mortgages really meant. Some people are creating these fears of "socialism". As once said , all we have to fear is fear itself. The man has been in office 5 months, give him a chance !!

I am certainly not in favor of the government being involved in my life but for a long time now we have had no choice. It would be like saying that the air in LA is polluted and I will stop breathing when I'm there. These are dire times in which we have witnessed how an out-of-control financial system almost sent our economy into a black hole. Since it is possible that the US has never before confronted a situation as critical as we are in, I feel that the government must assure the American people that there will not be a recurrence of the conditions which sent us in this death spiral. This is the mandate with which the voters charged the present Administration and they certainly need more than 5 months to demonstrate their mettle as they seek to solve (and not resolve) the problems which our country and its people face.

I dont think Obama has gone too far at all, there are still more areas that need fixing. We are in this financial distress right now because nobody was paying attention to what bankers, politicians, medical personell, credit companies, wall street etc were doing. They all got greedy and ripped off the American people and we are paying for it. I would hope this is the last time. It appears that everytime the Republicans are the majority party for very long, another financial crisis happens; much of it due to nobody paying attention to the regulations that were setup in the previous crisis and weakening of the regulations when things seem ok, and this time it is no different. I am paying good tax dollars, i dont want the greedy cheaters to keep getting over on our country and i am willing to see my tax dollars to to protect us.

When you look at how big business and industry has raped our economy in the name of profits (GREED) and look at how government has put laws in place that allowed consumers to be taken advantage of by businesses and industry, I would say “TO LITLE TO LATE BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER”. It the result of the way we have been taken advantage of that makes me feel no sorrow or pain when a company suffers, loses money, goes broke or begs for a “Bailout”.

No way. Government must step in to insure that the interests of the American people are being met. If the $50k suits aren’t caring for their neighbors, that means the rest of us, then Uncle Sam needs to step in to make sure that things are done right, financially speaking and otherwise.

I wish that we would have had government involvement long ago. Then all these people would have there jobs and maybe it would have stopped all the car companies and banks for being so greedy and take everything and running. I think that Preside Obama is doing a good job because he is only protecting us. If we are going to be greedy and spend everything and then go run to the government for loans. Then we do have the right to be governed then.

Now, Jack I can't stand Obama or these stupid bailouts but I think regulation is a good idea. I don't have a problem with a financial watchdog agency whose mission will be to protect consumers from deceptive or dangerous mortgages, credit cards and other financial products.

Jack,
It's about time you asked this question! As an 18 year old who just graduated high school, I'm beginning to realize the challenges of growing up with governement on your back. If I could have, I would have voted for Obama but now I am getting a little nervous on how many new things they are putting forward. Why don't we have an organization that monitors our governement? Why can't they be monitored and made sure they are doing things responsibly and legally?

First we say do somthing gas is 4 dollars, then we say they're not doing enough their raising credit card rates, were losing our cars and homes and jobs but wait is the government doing too much.... Depends on who's side your on the people or the businesses

The President can propose many things and can implement things within his control, but isn't there a branch of government consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate which still has to vote on much of what the President would like to do? And if they do, isn't that our fault as citizens for letting our government as a whole take over our lives? And if we don't like it – we need to make our voices and votes count!

No indeed, decades of fundamental problems have been passed down the line from President to President, and the American people are fully aware that critical issues were avoided and postponed for political reasons alone. Fortunately, this President has a simple powerful vision, address and solve the accumulated problems to reposition America on a track of honest change and future strength, and true growth going forward. His gift is to see that we the people see, the real truth of matters, and his actions reflect the peoples' concerns, not the needs of politicians, or media.

Jack, call me a reactionist but after the deregulation mess we experienced I say the more gov regulation the better, as long as it doesn't totally stop prosperity, which of course it wouldn't anyway.

Well, look what the Bush Regime has given us: fear mongering and racial epithets against Barack Obama and put us in a heck of a mess: unnecessary war, bailouts, and the demonic tones of Dick Cheney saying he wants us to be attacked by terrorists. My saying is we need to take the tighter control, otherwises, there would be more bailouts, more unnecesarry wars, etc. I believe he is doing a good job, and hopefully, with a good slow start, we might get closer from ending the "red" in the deficit. And John, you and Wolf are the best. You should get a high achievement award for your excellent reporting.

After all the thievery and hi-jinx handed us during the past 8 yars of the previous administran through deregulation, Yes, without doubt, we need to at least reinstete the controls deleted prevlously.
While we don't necesswarily need another agency or another czar, we do need to lean heavily on Congress to place corporate America back within reasonable limits. They need to know they must operate for the good of the consumer instead of the wealth of the biggest stockholders and outrageously paid Corporate Execs.

I think that the Obama administration needs to tread lightly with increasing the role of government. The American people have never been supportive of a government that is too intrusive. I believe that the steps to regulate and watch business is a good thing due to the fact that the deregulation of the Bush administration led to the current economic turmoil, but I also believe that once Obama, sort of, jump starts the economy from what happened to the economy under Bush then he should stop the expansion of the powers of government and begin to slowly back off and revert to a supervisory position.

No , government is not too involved. Government is not the best to believe in but it sure is better than believing that men will do the right thing without government making them do the right thing!

Jack,

If there were watch dogs available to monitor these CEO's, I would have a job right now and 100% insted of 25% of my 401K.

Yes, Jack! This has gone too far! Although there is a host of philosophical arguments in objection with the recent ballooning of the size of our government, however, I more concerned with who's going to pay for the creation of the new government bureaucracies that on the way? I'm a college student, I know that one day the government will seek to garnish the fruits of labor in order to pay for this mess. Can't you tell I'm sooooooo thrilled.

It depends on how this latest agency is set up. It certainly has the potential to be intrusive and costly. It would be nice if the current system in place worked. Why pay for something twice if you don't need to.

Jack, the President hasn't gone far enough. Deceptive mortgage and credit lenders have been deceiving the American people for years now and it's high time the people are given the opportunity for retribution. Not only should this agency allow the people an arena to air their grievances, but it should prosecute felonious lenders so that we can restore some sort of sanity to the credit and mortgage industries.

President Obama is reacting to problems caused by a republican government. The people need help. Do republican's remember that it is under George W. Bush that the bailout idea first started? It is time for protection from big business and their ability to take advantage of the litte guy.

If companies were intrisically “good” and “fair” in how they conducted business and the services they offered, we wouldn’t need any oversight. But, that is NOT how businesses work. We have too many examples of greed and twisting the law for the sake of profit. I say we have for too long had the absence of government which let business do whatever they wanted in the pursuit of profit above all else. If business acted responsibly, fairly and in the good of the public as well as itself, we wouldn’t have had the melt downs in the financial and housing markets. I say push forward.

Based on the fact that nearly 50 million people are without health coverage,the current state of the economy and countless other things it is safe to say we need more government right now.

I hope to shout. I don't mind new rules to keep lenders and credit card companies from fleecing the general public but eventually we need to learn to take care of ourselves. My wife and I are hurting right now since she lost her job and I am retired. Things are tight but we quit buying until we can pay for things in cash. It's not much fun not putting it on the "plastic" but it is just the way things are. Instead of creating new bureaucracies why not spend a few bucks teaching younger people how to run a budget.

Yes it's too much. It's the old problem, every small idea sounds good, but look at the practical side of the matter. The government owns a stake in GM, it's in their best interest that GM does well, but the company will be regulated by another agency that reports to the President.

The problem isn't not enough regulation, it's ineffective regulation. I'm also tired of hearing how "business people" are greedy. Pretty much every one of us is either a "business person" or owes their job to one – even if you work for the government as it thrives on our personal income and business taxes.

His mind set is "to control". I was born in a country where little by little the government took control over the country. Promising the same things that this President is doing. In addition a propaganda was implemented using media to brain wash the people that everything will fall if nothing is done.
People did not realized it till it was actually too late. Authoritarian form of government. This may be an exagerration..I Hope

President Obamas definition of democracy is different from my democracy. This is scary.

This country was founded so that Americans could thrive and create their own "American Dream." I don't want to be told how I am supposed to live my life. How many "czars" are there already? And why is Obama wanting to tell me what I can and cannot farm? What happened to being an individual in this society? As Patrick Henry so wisely stated, "Give me LIBERTY or give me death."

What a silly question. Obama inherited the federal gov't's role in helping banks and auto companies and is trying to execute an exit strategy that saves jobs and help's the economy. And, by the way, he is doing this during a recession when the gov't had to undertake a stimulus plan in order to stave off a deep recession. And, by the way, he did this while inheriting a federal operating budget of $1.5 trillion in the hole. Why do you ask 'gotcha' questions, when the poor guy is trying to keep the country going.

Yes, he has gone way too far. It is concerning how involved the government is in everything now ... but more concerning is that he is accomplishing this by mortgaging our future ... building a national debt that will be impossible to get out from under.

If it was within the budget we could discuss the merits of his plan ... but it's not in the budget and right or wrong we just can't afford it ... we're creating far too big a burden for our children and grandchildren.

Jack-

I think President Obama is getting a raw deal with regards to the economy. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. To me the white house is doing the right thing and is implenting the right poilicies when dealing with the current economies issues. You might please some of the people some of the time but you cannot please all the all of the time. Personnally I would like for the critics to come up with a better ideas that would solve the economic issues we are dealing with (oh, thats right, they are all talk no action). Like Obama has stated before, " if there is a better plan lets hear it". You be the judge.

Restless in Augusta

I think the financial crisis has shown that more government regulation is necessary to keep companies from increasingly ripping the American people off to fatten their own pockets. Let's remember that all of this government intervention is happening only after companies have shown that they can't be trusted not to be greedy, and only after we teetered on the brink of the worst financial crisis since the great depression.

Democracy works well when everyone does the right thing. But when corporate greed is the norm we see the results. Someone has to keep an eye on how large corporations including banks operate to make sure they "do the right thing." These measures would not be necessary today if those "big-wigs" would have operate with good character and a conscience.

no Obama has not gone too far, when he has bankrupt this country, and turn it into a third world country, then he would have. so please more bail outs and and why the government is at it, could they appoint a czar to see if obama himself needs to be kept in check, and lay off our money a bit.

Yes, it should have been done long time ago. Look what the greedy capitalists of banking and Insurance industry done to this country. Yes, the Federal Agency will be a boon to our nation.

Need a loan? Call the White House. Need an energy-efficient car? Call the White House. Need health insurance? Call the White House.

Obama has never worked in the private sector and doesn't seem to trust it – or like it – one little bit. He and his advisors think they and they alone know how businesses should operate. It is bad and only going to get worse. Afterall, he has only been in office 5 months.

Sooner or later, the American people are going to realize we have a president who wants to be involved in every part of our lives. i'm concerned and have plenty of company.

John M.

Medford New Jersey

YES Way to involved ...

Wonder how people who voted for Obama like their change
and MINE !!

Of course they love him their going to get everything for free so why bother to try to do better ..

Compared to Bush wire tap program, not too much at all!

Jack,
Government has been intruding into our lives way before Obama showed up, and it is only growing exponentially with the war on terrorism, drugs, taxes, medicare, student loans, farm subsidies. You name it the government is involved some where so to ask if under if Obama has gone too far, Washington has gone too far for way too long.

Not in this case Jack. The previous 8 years did nothing for us and now we are feeling the pain of ineptitude. President Obama is trying to put in place measures that ensure the total lack of governing of the past 8 years can not be repeated. I totally applaud our President.

I'd rather see government playing a role in our lives than to let CEO's of large corporations continue bankrolling away our lives. Besides, it was the government who found the mask men who were robbing us all and not our local law enforcement.

Tell me again how more monitoring of credit companies and banks = intrusion into my private life??

I hear all the time about 'big government' in our lives. But I still don't see how monitoring corrupt financial institutions, building roads and schools, protecting the environment and expanding health care intrudes into my life. Seems it benefits the private life to me. I like a good infrastructure, clean air and access to health care.

Where did it get us when it was reduced?

When they start telling me things I can and cannot do in my own personal everyday life, then I'll start to care. However having the government watching out for Americans overall isn't a big concern to me.......it would be of concern if it weren't.

He is operating at warp speed in a direction contrary to the vision of our founding fathers. History will reflect that his presidency will be among America's darkest days.

Absolutely not! I'm not sure what everyone is concerned about. So far the only things he has tried to influence or talked about influeing are: how much money people should make, what kinds of transportation we should take, what food we should eat, what we can listen to on the radio, how much national sales tax we should pay, how much carbon we can release into the air, what doctor we can see, what kind of guns we can own... and I'm probably missing a couple other things. The best thing for us to do is quit questioning him, continue to remember how bad Bush was , and just wait for things to get better.

Yes, Jack! This has gone too far! Although there is a host of philosophical arguments in objection with the recent ballooning of the size of our government, I am more concerned with who’s going to pay for the creation of the new government bureaucracies and entitlements that are on the way? I’m a college student, I know that one day the government will seek to garnish the fruits of labor in order to pay for this mess. Can’t you tell that I’m sooooooo thrilled?

NO! The Obama administration is just trying to make laws that protect working class Americans. The American quest for life, liberty and the persute of happiness has been deminished by 30+ years of American corporations in alliance with corrupt elected officials hell bent on dismanteling the laws that made this country great for their own selfish intentions. I say bring on the laws, get in our lives and protect us from those criminals. Talk to me every day Mr. President through the media, if you need to. Keep me informed. Bring back the laws FDR inacted "so this will never happen again" and add to those to protect us in this age. Keep those email, twitter, etc lines open so we the people can have a easily contact our elected officials with our concerns and needs. We need government in our lives so we the people can bring this country back to what it once was.

YES -YES, Pres. Obama has, and is still, going much too far in pressing for all government involvement into all American industries. The governments introduction into health care programs will eliminate all competition, thus, Uncle Sam will rule, again.....Our helath programs are, currently, competitive, thus, all companies attempt to improve their products,,,,but how could they compete wilth this heavy handed and non-business government approntees...Obama has gone much too far....,

After reading a lot of the comments it scares me that this many people think it is acceptable for the gov. to want to take over the financial, the auto and now we here of the health care issue. When did it become the gov. responsibility to take care of everyone? How about taking care of yourself, and not putting the burden of this great expense of the national debt on our children and grand children. It is disturbing to think the greatest generation is still alive and our values and morals have changed this much in such a short period of time. People need to quit looking for hand outs because nothing is free.

Seriously? After having warrantless wiretaps, the FBI monitoring library usage and being practically strip searched at the airport? Uhm... no. Advocating on behalf of consumers is NOT too much government involvement.

Mike
Columbus, OH

It depends on whos complaining if u make over $250,000 u r probably one of the ones that don't health care reform. But if have a family and make $ 30,000 or in a price range up to 50,000 or 60,000.

You are gonna take a Govt, run system!

The red herring that government can save us from this financial morass is breathtaking in that the government was responsible for creating the toxic assets through Fannie and Freddie mac in the first place. That we would further empower government, at the expense of our liberty, for its failure is insanity of the first order.

Nobody seems to remember a few years ago when the newly elected Dimocrats calling the banking execs on the carpet to demand why they weren't making more loans to poor people. There was a reason they were called "renters"...

BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T PAY THEIR BILLS! THEY WERE POOR CREDIT RISKS!!

Now we're stuck with taxpayers paying for their debts(subsidizing the foreclosed), along with our own houses losing half or more of their value due to the deadbeat neighbors. Get ready for the taxes...

In another year or so, when we have 25% unemployment (except in the government sector, of course) along with 20% interest rates to try and hold down the runaway inflation (remember the Carter Malaise?), try to remember the Dimocrat Congress that caused the whole mess.

VOTE THEM OUT!!!

Too bad the politicians in Washington are not nearly as intelligent and unselfish as our President.

Jack, it is impossible to tell how far government intervention has gone with some businesses, since a lack thereof has put the general state of our economy and, more importantly, our union in danger. This is nothing more than the expansion of GOP talking points (i call them fear words). you know 'Big Government', 'Government Expansion', 'Government Control' Every time a media outlet even asks whether government has gone too far, it validates McCain/Palin campaign claims in a sort of pre-'I Told You So' fashion. None of the president or congress' new programs have even had 3 months of implementation, so how can we see their effectiveness in solving decades old, bureaucratic and systematic problems? You know it ain't fair, Jack. We're asking the man to turn putrid water into vintage wine.

Goodbye to a free market. Capitalism will die under Obama. Some will rejoice. Others will mourn. After all, capitalism is what America the world leader it is. Soon we'll be applying for special membership to the EU and use Euros.

are you kidding me?, government has become more intrusive with each passing administration. IN the past 4 months GM is federally owned, tarp money the admin gave to the credit card and banking industry virtually assures they are under the govt's control as well. Broken down, had the govt handed out a $12000 check to every man woman and child in this country, instead of trying to secure their own re-election coffers,...our economy would be on cruise control right now, instead another example of beauracracy at its worst, throwing trillions of dollars..your money..away.

No. Obama is not over extending the role of government because the federal government is the only level of government that can make pertinent changes for our mismanaged country. Americans are in need of a wake up call that will cause a change in mindset-individualism vs community. We have been led by those who prioritize self interest at the expense of the masses. We must think about community and global issues when we make decisions that will effect many. The citizens watch group that wants the White House guest list publicized is an example of overuse of transparency or extening the government role too far. The President deserves some privacy as to whom he let's into his "home." Does he want to know everyone that comes to visit us at home? I do not think so, he has a life and some of us need to get a "life."

It depends on what the situation is. On things like the Patriot Act and basic civil liberties such as holding folk without a hearing or a trial that is too much.

On other things like the making sure folk have equal rights and the basic necessities, not enough There are far too many people whose lives are on hold because they don't have food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare and transportation.

Those are the places where government needs to throw caution to the wind and not worry about re-election and just listen to the people.

A watchdog group to protect consumers from the financial industries is much needed. In this case, it is definitely not too much government.

However, there are times when the government interferes and I think it should leave people to make their own decisions. One case I can cite right now is that of Daniel Hauser, who has been forced into chemotherapy. As a cancer survivor who has opted out of chemo, after much research, I can vouch for the potentially deadly long-term side effects of this treatment. There are other viable options.

What part of heck yes he is interfering too much isn't clear?

The government should be government not babysitters and the public should stop acting like a bunch of kids who won't take responsibility but would rather the government tell them how to go about every aspect of their lives.

The US government needs to get much more involved in the regulation of banks and financial institutions. If it is left to the greedy investors and executives to monitor themselves, we will be robbed blind. The recent scams such as the Madoff affair and the economic collapse only under-score the necessity of more regulation. The greed of these rich swine only has their own wealth and interest at heart ... no matter who it hurts.
This is from a Texan who is now in Costa Rica because I could no longer stomach the greed and disinterest of the US business community and bureaucracy. The government of Costa Rica treats me better and has more concern for my well-being than the US government has ever displayed.

A friend of mine is from Russia. She says we will soon look like her homeland. Gov't in control of everything. Economy in shambles. Medical treatment difficult to get.

The gov't must get out of the car and bank businesses. Don't tell businesses what they can / can't pay employees. Don't mess with our health care.

My parents, in need of frequent medical care – lifelong democrats – voted for McCain – because they feared that Obama care would destroy their ability to get treatment. Now, we wait to see if they were right...

Here in Canada we have a fair amount of Gov't regulation but we also have a lot of Gov't accountabilty. The politicians realize that we are watching them like hawks and will vote them out of office is they screw up too badly.

We have higher taxes but we also have a lot more Gov't services than most people in the States. Its a good balance and has worked out quite well for us.

When the subprime mortgage catastrophe hit, the question was "Why didn't the government protect us?" Now President Obama is trying to put a sysstem in place to protect consumers from unscrupulous, profit driven business practices we question that. We have seen what happens when business goes unchecked under the banner of "free enterprise". We3 can't have it both ways.

I see, so the GOP feels like govt is too involved in our lives when it comes to big business and CEO's lining their pockets, but when its about who I want to marry, its perfectly fine for the govt to regulate that....typical.

Yes, Obama has gone too far. We need an agency to protect the citizens of the United States from him.

We (the middle class) keep taking it in the shorts. Let's have some level of protection from our government. What else are we paying them for?? If they are not there to do anything for us (like Reagan used to say), then what good are they?

Given the fact(s) and the failures of the existing "consumer protections" in credit cards, mortgages, and other finanical services, any improvements will be of benifit to all, except those who made so much money ripping the public off.

Heck yes he is. People complain about Bush listening in on Americans calls (as if he would really care what we're doing) yet when Obama gives the UAW, GM, and Chrysler $50 billion of our money people say nothing.

People complain about the Bush deficits yet Obama has already ran up a deficit 3 times larger than any Bush deficit.

Just wait till he mandates government healthcare and then he'll have access to all your medical info and can decide what treatments you REALLY need.

Anyone that thinks only government can save us needs to look at how well an all-intrusive government saves the Cubans, the East Germans, the USSR b/c thats where we're heading.

We know through years of experience that government cannot solve problems efficently. People must be accountable and we have laws that need to be enforced – not more ineffective government on top of ineffective government. States rights are being replaced with sweeping inefficient federal programs that spend our hard earned cash on administation. I am a moderate and for the first time in my 50 plus years I am afraid for my Grandchildren's future. We don't have just too much government, we have way to much bad government. President Obamma is not the problem. Congress spends the money and I believe the only solution is to replace Congress and this coming mid-term election is a perfect opportunity to send a strong signal.

In this instance, no. I do believe we need to be harder on those who have put us in the mess we are in. As far as the bailouts and government ownership in privet buisness, then i say yes they need to tone it down alot.

Jack, Far Right think tanks and hyper conservatives unable to vote out popular government programs (Soc Sec, Welfare, Education, Medicare, etc.) began the process of bankrupting the Country so these programs would end by default. Obama inherits a mess so pervasive he will need every ounce of energy and a finger in every pie to right the sinking ship. You bet he needs to be involved!
Jim Los Angeles

Yes and no. We do need more government oversight in certain fields, but the government shouldn't be using tax payer dollars to buy stakes in everything. But this financial crisis isn't going to be fixed with just Obama. It will take the next couple of presidents to get us out of this mess completely. To solve our financial crisis, the first thing we need to do is abolish the Federal Reserve and then repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913!

Isn't government control over private companies associated with facism and socialism? I voted for Obama but everything he is doing and definitely making me regret my decision. I do NOT want a big government and anyone who does is obviously brainwashed by his speeches. He is great at public speaking and I think it has really alot to do with the psychological aspect of this art form. Because thats what it is. He can convince all of us to believe his words but actions speak louder and they are REALLY telling Americans that this is when the downward spiral begins. Hi, my name is Steve, I'm an American and I do not trust my president.

Well, I voted for Barack Obama, but i don't think he's infallible. Judging by the amnount of times I see his face on TV, I think this may be true. He feels like he must have his finger in every pie. This is supposed to be a government of the people, for the people and BY the people, therefore he should let the peole make some of the decisions. There are many in this country who are at least as savvy as he is. Maybe then, our country woulkd not be headed for bankruptcy and would not be leaving a legacy of huge debts to our posterity

Jack,

Free enterprise is alive and well still. Obama is not eliminating the ability of businesses to compete. The only thing he is doing, is giving them some fair competition. Quite frankly, if businesses are afraid of competing with what they always argue is 'ineffective, substandard service because it's government run"...then I think that says more bad about how bad THEIR product is rather then the Governments version of it.

It's simple: Don't go broke, Don't over charge people, and don't rip off consumers. If you can't do that, then DON'T COMPLAIN about the big bad government putting a Financially and/or Morally bankrupt company/indsutry out of business.

It's is easy to say that president Obama is doing to much when we had a government that was doing very little in the pass eight years! So what if ,he's doing alot ! Thats how bush and Cheney left it !!!! with a whole range of things to be done , If you hire someone to work for you? it is always better if there doing more than doing less! and must we remind ourself? If you hire someone and they put your company in a recession , It would be crazy to take advice from them, in a time when your working your way out of it! The nay sayers are (OUT) and the people of america want things to get done so it sounds very silly to say that, Obama's government is doing to much when there is so much more to be done............

As long as the Obama administration isn't listening in on my phone calls they are not directly involved in my life. I pay my credit card bills on time and do not borrow money I cannot afford to repay. Since big business has shown, even through the crisis they helped create, that they do not get it something has to be done. Look at how quickly some are repaying TARP so they can go back to their money grubbing excess. Who will stop the next MBA who walks into thier bosses office with the next credit default swap idea. This new Czar or watchdog should be an insustry outsider and have more teeth than the SEC or another Madoff situation will be right around the corner.

I believe that if the President had not done what he has, then there would be very few American-made cars, there would be very few banks, and Wall Street would be in total disarray. I somehow doubt that President Obama wants to be in charge of running people's lives. It seems to me that he wants to get our country back on a slightly even keel, and that may take some harsh government oversight. If he had not pushed through the stimulus bill, or taken majority ownership in GM, or pushed for a government health care option, then people in this country would be complaining that he had not done enough. At least he's not trying to see which book I'm reading from the library. Not that I'm ashamed of reading Michael Crichton.

The question is not that government is too involved in our lives but that President Obama is using the resources of government to bring us out of the quagmire that the Bush administration and his cronies got us into. I'm very proud that we have a President who knows how to use these resources to bring about the change we need as Americans in this world of today. Judy, Harrisburg, PA

I think that Obama has it about right on foreign affairs and has it about wrong on domestic matters. So I'm around 50-50 on him. Problem is, domestic matters are more important when it comes to my pocket book and my perception of personal freedoms.

Yes, the government is too much in our lifes today. They are to help govern, not control. There trying to get into what we buy (cars, houses, credit pruchases), what we smoke, what we eat, what we drink, what we weigh, what we need as far as medical care. I want less government. I'm an adult, I want to make my own decisions,
right or wrong, by my own choices. If I mess up, I should pay the price, not the countries tax payers. I'm an Obama fan, but I worry about
some of the recent things proposed.

It will take a lot of government involvement to undo the messy politics of the Bush/Cheney Years.

No, President Obama has not gone too far, considering the mess he inherited from the previous administration, not to mention the longstanding Republican policies that helped the wealthy and hurt the working class and the poor. It only seems like he is going too far because there are so many injurious consequences of Republican rule that must now be counterbalanced, lest struggling Americans slide even further toward a socioeconomic abyss. Wow, Jack, what a no-brainer.

It is not about to have somebody to watch over the financial world. There is already goverment agency and congressional committee who are supposed to do that. But they fail to do the job because of special interest. Having more agendies doesn't help. Fixing the agency and make goverment and congress accountable will fix the the problem.

I cannot express how deeply I disagree with the critics on this particular topic.

How can someone possibly call consumer protection intrusive? If this type of service had been offered previously perhaps North America wouldn't be in the financial situation that we're currently in.

And I'd like to say ONE thing to the critics -namely the Banks and the remaining members of the Gop who haven't learned to slither away like the semi-intelligent members of their party – who oppose this extension:

Are you worried? You should be.

Government intervention is the only thing that can fix this huge financial mess the Bush administration got us into. President Obama is implementing common sense regulations to protect the American people and the global economy. I would much rather see government trying to help people rather than say invading a country who had nothing to do with terrorism, spying on Americans, and torturing people.

Yes. He has gone too far. Its scary. Like government intervention in our life if going to make things run smoother. Obama wants to remake the States into Europe and he is doing a great job. I wish all you big government lovers would just move over there with him.

Listen folks, wake up! Capitalism has check and balances and it has done this country well for a very long time. Who needs to be "Watched and Monitored" is your government officials padding their pockets and looking the other way while the housing market lenders come up with greedy schemes like adjustable rate mortgages, and knowingly lending to high risk individuals due to greed. Don't fall into this rhetoric and misplace the blame here. It is the John Murtha's and the like that need to be told that the American people are fed up with sanctioned corruption.

With large corporations being near monopolies, and corp. lobby groups controlling actions available for reg. citizens to resist their self-serving agendas, we need more gov't intervention. PS: I'm an American.

Bill – St George

I've noticed that the same people who scream about there being too much "big brother" are the same ones who scream even louder if they get into trouble. Go figure.

Big business and less than honest politicians have dominated the US political landscape for so long that US citizens are wary of government in general. Many American have enabled this situation and defend their apathy with statements of helpless by saying it is politics as usual and the corruption continues on autopilot. As taxpayers and voters it is our duty to hold are government accountable. President Obama is attempting rectify the inefficiency and unethical deeds of the past. If it improves the way our government operates, I will support bigger government that works for Americans as opposed to smaller government that works against us.

People seem worry most about government intervention in healthcare, but do not insurance companies often intervene in our health decisions? At some level, our decisions are made for us or at least strongly influenced by greater powers that are beyond our control. Government is just one source of that influence, but for whatever reason, people are greatly mistrustful of it.

Jack,
It seems no one has been watching these groups for some time. If they were self-monitoring themselves then I think they failed. It's time someone looks out for the little guy. If it has to be government, so be it.

Not enough in the right places, too much in others.

If left unregulated these corporations would just do whatever unethical or criminal things they want to do at our expense – just look at the current mess that the Wall St. financial guru's have landed us in!

President Obama has not gone too far. It may seem that way to some people because we've had corporations and banks behave like we're living in the wild west; anything goes for as long as you can get away with it. Now the sheriff has come to town to bring back some law and order.

We have had extensive deregulation of industry by the Republican majority in Congress, Reagan, and the Bushes. The current financial crisis and the pattern of corporate greed make it obvious that this was a terrible mistake.

It is confusing to me that the Republicans are only against government regulation of corporations, they have no problem legislating our private lives and their version of morality, or taking away our constitutional rights in the name of national security.

I wish Obama would be MORE aggressive, if Bush could push through a war nobody wanted, Obama should be able to pass issues that have a clear public mandate.

Robert, Texas

It's too involved with or without Obama.

There are plenty of other countries in this world where socialist and even communist philosophies rule. By all means, if you are not a fan of the Capitalist structure our founders envisioned and created that sets our free Nation apart, please move to a country that shares the values you seek. But don't inflict them on Americans!!!

..YES OBAMA is the right man for the job!! This government needs to do more to protect Americans, He deserves a credit. A lot of corruption, fraud crimes committed by fake investors such as; Financial interests rates, lobbying taxe payers money. Support this man. Not everything happens over night. No matter what happens 'OBAMA IS A GREAT MAN FOR THE JOB, whether you like it or not.

Is the Government too involved in our lives? Well the President is on television basicly everyday and sometimes more than once a day.
Does that tell us anything?

Some of worst things are done with the best intentions. I challenge you to name one thing that the government does not regulate. From interest rates to medicine to how much of a crop a farmer can grow. The federal government has its hand directing everything. This is not about conservative versus liberal. This is about freedom versus collectivism. Freedom is a new idea. It is disheartening to see that people refuse to defend it and in some cases...vote it away.

If there is a real permanent solution to the rise and bust method of governing that has plagued our society in the past then it's important to know where the money is going. Hoever if after all this adding to the government size still produces Bernie Madoffs then it's wasteful spending.

Hard to tell now we'd need to wait and see.

kendall

How do people expect to be protected if government does not provide oversight. You have just experienced an economic meltdown from company's grabbing and running with profits. If you don't have government (honest and forcefult)| oversite you can't be insured of fair costs and safety of goods and services. Those who are out for pure profit don't monitor their own ethics they just push until they break or are stopped. Obama is probably not going far enough to protect Americans. You can't have it both ways a free for all and fair prices and public safety.

Jack,
I don't believe the Obama administration is being too intrusive. I believe what they're doing in shedding light on things that have been broken for far too long. Unfortunately, when you start to attempt to right the wrong things, and it takes a lot of system overhauling, it will appear as too much governmental inteference. I wonder how much better off we would have been had some, if not all of these issues that the president is tackling had been addressed during the last eight years. Of course banks don't like it, because it potentially will put an end to the fleecing of Americans by these greedy, out of control companies.

No Jack, The economy is in crisis due partially to private org. being left on their own like the banks. The Pres. doesn't want to be involved in our lives but he had no other choice. We can't listen to repubs. with their fear mongering & also they're the ones that caused this big economic mess so now they think they're experts on how to fix the economy using the same policies that ruined the country in first place.

Yes he is going way too too far to controlling. Even the control of CBS on the 24th is indicative of someone pushing their point way too much. Its not a fair evaluation. No he is not a dictattor but we are the land of the free not the land of the controlled. Government should be involved enough to control the swings, the abuse etc.

I don't remember any other time where government intervention was NOT appropiate. The banks already let down the American people. Little or no regulation allowed them to do as they pleased, therefore, I believe the Obama Administration is doing the right thing providing more oversight to help protect regular everyday individuals like myself from big bad banks that have proven they cannot be trusted.

I really feel like Obama's administration is like a contracting company sent in to renovate a decrepit old mansion. The US of A is in disrepair...and sometimes to fix up stuff you have to go into each room wall by wall and gut the whole thing out. Throw out everything and start over without damaging the home itself. The Banks and CC companies and Health Insurance companies have drained the lifeblood out of this country and now we're all paying for it. Obama doesn't have a choice... if the government doesn't step in, we are going to plunge into a very ugly place and then we will look like some Judge Dredd scene.

I think Obama's administration is methodically moving through the mire that is left behind by Bush/Cheney and it's going to be ok... If the American government doesn't step in and buy everything and fix everything, some other country with financial interest will... Anybody seen China's American Bond holdings lately?

Government has gone too far. You don't learn if you don't fail. Government didn't interfer with the great depression and we still emerged and overcame the obstacle. We are headed to become a socialist country with all the watching and the health care reform. Now we are broke! The U.S. dollar hardly means anything!

Until we pull out of this recession, fix our infrastructure, solve our health care crisis, protect our environment and better educate our country, the government will have to stay involved in our lives. Who else is capable and can be held accountable by those of us who are paying taxes? President Obama could use more Public-Private Ventures to help, however, the Public aka, the government is still needed to make the partnership work! So no, President Obama has not gone too far and until we get a single-payer health care system, our infrastructure is prepared for the 21st century, we have better education for all while protecting our natural resources, he has not gone far enough!

Another government agency will turn into just that ... another government agency.
A big, expensive, innefficient, slow ,unresponsive white elephant at taxpayer expense.
As far as government run health care is concerned if you want a perfect example of that nightmare look at the VA health care system our military has to contend with.

well if you need government to lead you my your hand than go for it, i dont .

Jack:

We saw what happened when we trusted our Corporate leaders to ensure our well being. They enriched their own while almost bankrupting the country. How can the Government do any worse.

I don't want the medical system to crumble like GM and like the housing market and the loan industry, I am grateful for a President who noticed the need for action.

Government involvement in our lives is a balance. Ideologues shun balance. The Bush administration's failure to regulate the financial system led to its implosion. Over-regulation would suppress economic activity, and would be just as bad. Since Obama's policy is criticized from both the left and right, I think he's doing a pretty good job at finding that responsible balance. I hope his responsibility survives the onslaught of ideology.

Federally, yes. However, it is not all his fault. We need to go back to the ideals of the Constitution (that is being abused) where the main goal of the federal government was defense and regulating commerce between the states and to other countries. Remember that our name is United States. When our country was formed, a state was a country, as it still is around the world. France is a state, Germany is a state, etc. We were not technically a country, but a union like the Europian Union. If the federal government would stop stealing every states money, they could tackle healthcare, social security, education, unemployment benifits, etc. We could then have competition and create better programs instead of putting all of our eggs in the rotten basket that is Washington.

Hey Jack,
The government even when it does nothing impacts are lives in important ways. The Bush administration was busy give away the wealth that middle class Americans create to the wealthiest. Privatization of public goods like the military, prisons, health care etc has been a wholesale disaster.
The role of govern is to foster a fair and competitive economic system based on merit not privilege. Just ask the ghosts of Teddy Roosevelt and FDR.

Jack, after reading a majority of these comments, its amazing to me how many Americans want the gov't to increase their role in business and our lives. Be careful what you wish for, as once these programs are in place they will never go away, and the people will be forced to pay an ever increasing tax to keep them afloat. I don't want to live in a nanny state where we rely on gov't to take care of our every problem....

OK let's be honest. There were regulations in place and it wasn't any one party that was overlooking them or pushing them aside.

To me it boils down to this. The vast majority of people driven to leadership positions are motivated by either the craving of wealth or power. Which type do you prefer to lead your life?

To all of the Obama critics: To say Obama has built this deficit, Really??? In 145 days in office, he certainly has not reached a fraction of the $10trillion debt that our fore fathers have created. To say that he is over spending, well maybe. Just think, when something is broken, like maybe your car or a faucet in your home. DOESN'T IT COST YOU $ TO FIX IT??? The republicans can't handle change, so here we are, bickering about what you guys didn't do in the last 8 years.

No. President Obama is clearly trying to clean up the mess left behind from Bush Jr. and his cronies. You know what they say, it usually takes a democrat admin to clean up the mess of what the rebublicans leave behind.

Why is it any different than any other administration. A government that does nothing is worse than a government that tries to do to much. There no answer to this question

I am very much pro-Obama but even I must ask the question "How big is too big?" in terms of the growing areas our government will have to oversee. Right now I'm taking a wait and see attitude and giving the Obama administration the benefit of the doubt, but at some point our corporations and industries need to behave in a way that doesn't warrant oversight. Just as we parents have to eventually kick the kiddies out of the nest, I sure hope Mr. Obama has plans for the oversight committees to do the same.

Jack, I don't want to keep repeating myself, but we don't need anyone to keep the bad guys honest. By paying attention we should know whether its a bad deal or not. No to broadening government and having someone to regulate these things. If people are becoming so dumb that they can't see beyond what is being offered and smell a bad deal, tough. take a look at Jay lenos segiment called J walking and you'll understand just what kind of people are getting duped by mortgage lenders and credit card companies.

Why is it that people expect Goverment to help them, give handouts and do everything for them? If you were stupid enough to sign an ARM, buy a house you could not afford, use a credit card with a high rate and cannot hold a job...WHY is it that the Goverment (aka the taxpayer) have to BAIL you out for your own stupidity.

EVERYONE cannot be rich, everyone cannot own a home, everyone cannot be paid 100k+ a year...STOP expecting your world/life will be perfect and if what you are cut out to do in life is work work as a cashier..then that is your life.

No – I don't think he is going to far. After all during the past 8 years we didn't do so well on our own and/or with President Bush's and Congressional help.....

No, Jack. The problem is that CONSERVATIVES are too involved in our lives.

It is because of lack of government involvement that we now find oursel\ves in such a deplorable mess. This country is gradually withering away due to the mishandling of BIG BUSINESS.

No... unfortunately, the goverment must help the people when the going is too hard. Not all of us contributed to the mess, so we need help getting out of it. That is why I live here and pay my taxes so the goverment can help when we need it. its not perfect, but its not new either.

We would be better off with less, not more government. What government agency or program is well run? The government has not been successful at protecting us from harmful toys, harmful drugs or harmful food products. What makes anyone think the government would actually protect consumers in financial transactions or anything else? As long as the United States is run by bankers and their friends, we will have serious problems. More government will only make people think something has changed. And how will these added layers of bureaucracy be paid for?

Tell me one government run entity that is profitable. Have you spent time in a VA hospital? its a joke. Does anyone know the condition of the Postal service? It's broke! and we want to add more government programs? are you kidding me?

The government is inefficient, and can't regulate the toys in this country, nor the illegal aliens, and should not regulate banks anymore than it already is. As far as the banks stealing, and robbing? Well.... if you aren't smart enough to know how much money you can borrow you shouldn't be at the bank asking for money. Wait until you've saved enough to buy whatever it is you want or need. That's the way people bought things two generations ago. When do the people actually take responsibility for poor choices? The banks should not have loaned money to people who couldn't afford it and the people asking for the loans they couldn't afford, shouldn't have been asking in the first place.

Big government is not the answer to our problems. The free market is.

The private business sector has had their chance. They failed! They over-charge for their services and products. This includes but are not limited to the banks, automobile industry, lending industry, stock market, housing industry, insurance companies, food industry, politicians at all levels, and medical professionals. Mismanagement and massive theft seems to have been the order of the day for decades. Each time management change hands the current trend continues. As a result, we all are paying the pice. Jack, remember Bernie M.? He stole billions! Pres. Obama is a relunct player in this. However, he keenly realize that something must be done. So dalon't be afraid of a limited governmental intervention to get us back on track.

The fact is his actions ARE NOT preventing a financial meltdown. The unemployment rate is 9.4%. That is HUGE. The biggest in decades. The Obama socialist machine is doing much more harm than good. The dow dropped like a rock lately and Obama is taking over banks and car companies like crazy. But at some point you have to realize that socialism is Not the answer. Lets see, Russia...crumbled...Norht Korea...stone age...China...Zero freedom. We are on the WRONG road.

Between Government Motors , owning the banks and dictating executive salary , Socializing Healthcare , reading terroists the Miranda Act , redistributing the wealth, punishing success and rewarding failure and villifying corporations ....Obama is this country's worst nightmare !

You better believe it Bub! – oops, Jack. Historically happens everytime the Dems are in charge. And our country is getting deeper in debt. The hole is being dug deeper and deeper.

We are going to let Barney Frank and Chris Dodd have a hand in running the banks?? You have got to be kidding me. These guys are responsible for the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae meltdowns. Come on people, wake up!!!!! Bush didn't do us any favors for sure, but CURRENT legislators are the real foxes in the henhouse.

Jack, a little oversight and advocacy for consumers would be a good thing and it is not interfering with any lives besides those of the greedy, unscrupulous and heretofore unregulated credit card and loan / mortgage industries. If their lending policies can be made more transparent, offered up in plain English for those in the country who can't interpret their legalese/financier lingo, and particularly if there are some broadly advertized (and possibly enforced) guidelines as to what is acceptable debt ratio for someone, then this is a very positive thing. Not everyone can wade through all the 'offers' and the fine print to the point of throwing it in the trash, and although yes, the individual is in the end responsible for whatever he/she signs up for, pressure from loan officers and attractive introductory rates can be quite seductive. Having legible and accurate information (in at least ten point font, please) is critical to help many people avoid a repeat of the mess that has been created over the past decade.