Obama failed to delver improvements for working people

President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration (20-21 January) did not inspire the mass enthusiasm aroused by his first inauguration in 2009. There is widespread disillusionment with Obama, who helped save big business after the 2008 slump but has failed to deliver improvements for working people.

Around 600,000 turned out for the ceremony on 21 January, less than half the 2009 turnout. The first time round, Obama rejected business finance for the inauguration, but this time he appealed to big business to cover the $30-50 million cost of the celebrations. His appeal “attracted some industry giants with multi-million dollar federal contracts and other business opportunities tied to the US government”. (USA Today, 10 January) Six corporations, including Microsoft and the telecoms giant, AT&T;, contributed.