For the past couple of months, Republicans have taken to asking voters a simple question: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Four years ago, when the economy was plummeting at an astonishing rate and job growth was all but stagnant. Four years ago, when discrimination was running rampant in federal policies and businesses across the nation. Four years ago, when someone’s health was dependant upon their insurance company’s will. To answer simply, yes. Yes, Americans have benefited greatly from President Barack Obama’s four years in office.

“I think that we need to focus on helping people out who might be born with a disadvantage, and I feel Obama is the one who would do that,” said Senior Shelby Huffaker. Obama is a protector of the people. Throughout his presidency, he has shown concern for all Americans, regardless of class or creed. With progressive policies and strong leadership, he has made clear his willingness to fight for everyone.   Compare this man to Presidential Candidate Governor Mitt Romney, the politician who famously wrote off 47 percent of voters, made his fortune through buying-out American businesses, and flippantly said, “I’m not concerned about the very poor” (washingtonpost.com).

Obama’s record speaks decisively in favor of his reelection. Because of the economic policies Obama has pushed the past three years, America’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown at a cumulative rate of 6.7 percent, according to Chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors Alan Krueger  (washingtonpost.com). The Obama Administration has currently seen “more job growth in the past 27 months than President George W. Bush created during the entire seven years before the crisis,” according to Yahoo News (news.yahoo.com).

His proposed deficit-reduction plans show just as much promise for years to come. According to Obama’s website, his plan mainly relies on repealing Bush-era tax cuts, momentarily lowering some income taxes, and increasing stimulus spending. By doing this, middle-class Americans would be given a better chance to succeed, the extremely wealthy would start paying taxes more appropriate to their income, and the foundations integral to our society would be better supported. First and foremost, though, his plan would help reduce the deficit (barackobama.com).

Romney’s plan for the country shows stark contrast. His plan focuses on extending Bush tax cuts, cutting federal spending, and increasing the defense budget, according to The Huffington Post. Included on his cut list are PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and the National Endowment of the Arts, both of which receive negligible amounts of funding in the first place. As said by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, “Cutting PBS support (0.012 percent of the budget) to help balance the federal budget is like deleting text files to make room on your 500Gig hard drive” (twitter.com). Romney also proposed the government limits funding for Planned Parenthood and for Medicaid, a federally funded health insurance system that thousands of low-income individuals have come to depend on (huffingtonpost.com). It’s a high-cost, low-reward plan that would hurt Americans in every state.

Obama has also exhibited great concern regarding social issues. Throughout his presidency, he has made clear his understanding and support of the words “all men are created equal.” He is a self-proclaimed supporter of LGBT, women, and immigrant rights, as can be seen through his actions as President. As his first bill to be signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 proclaimed Obama’s support of women’s fight for equal pay, just as the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2011 demonstrated his support of the LGBT community, according to his website. By fighting for the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act and in June, making an executive decision to push a similar idea through, he has also shown his interest in fighting for everyone’s equality, undocumented or not. He has also officially declared his pro-choice and pro-equal marriage stance, further indicating his opinions on personal rights (barackobama.com).

Romney, on the other hand, has a radically different view. On his website, the Romney campaign proudly declares, “Mitt will not only appoint an Attorney General who will defend the Defense of Marriage Act – a bipartisan law passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton – but he will also champion a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.” He has also proclaimed himself a pro-life advocate, although with his history of flip-flopping on the subject, it’s difficult to discern whether that’s what he really meant to say (mittromney.com). Romney’s stance on these issues is clear – as long as you’re a white male citizen, your rights are secure.

Finally, Obama’s health care policy has done much for the American people. Under his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, will go into full effect in 2014, Americans of all different backgrounds are given the choice of better, more accessible health care. It strengthens Medicare, holds insurance companies responsible, and, above all, gives people peace of mind when it comes to their health (healthcare.gov). At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Speaker Stacy Lihn cried testament to this fact when she told the story of how Obamacare “is saving my daughter’s life.” She said, “[…] Obamacare provides my family security and relief. But we’re also scared. If Romney becomes president and Obamacare is repealed, there’s a good chance she’ll hit her lifetime cap. There’s no way we could afford to pay for all the care she needs to survive” (c-span.org).

According to Romney’s website, repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is at the top of his priority list. It’s a process he plans to begin the day he enters the oval office (mittromney.com). For families all over, it is more than a political letdown; it’s a life-threatening one.

As the campaign comes to a close and polling stations start to open, it’s evident America needs Obama for another term. With his help, America will continue to move forward.