In terms of the economy, President Barack Obama was dealt a tough hand even before he took the oath of office--and he's been trying to figure out the best way to play those cards ever since.

According to economists, the recession officially started in December 2007, nearly a year before Obama was elected president, and the financial crisis hit full force in late 2008, several weeks before Obama assumed his presidential responsibilities.

Given that 2012 is a presidential election year and Obama is running for a second term, Republicans in the House, the Senate and along the campaign trail are criticizing the president almost daily for not rebuilding the U.S. economy and putting Americans back to work.

It's not for lack of trying. Looking back at the three State of the Union addresses Obama has delivered during his years as president, the economy has been his clear and consistent focus.

And while he has taken numerous actions on his own authority, and proposed a number of different measures that Congress could adopt to help achieve that goal (most of them never acted upon), one thing has never changed. Year after year, the cornerstone of Obama's plan for U.S. economic recovery and future growth has been clean energy.

Take a look at the highlights of President Obama's State of the Union addresses from 2010, 2011 and 2012 to see how they compare:

• State of the Union 2012
• State of the Union 2011
• State of the Union 2010

Clean Energy at the Heart of Obama Economic Strategy originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 23:58:41.

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If you're concerned about specific environmental issues, you're probably trying to do something about them. Some of those actions may extend to what you put on your dinner plate.

See how other readers of this website are changing their diets and eating habits to address their environmental concerns and reflect their environmental commitment--and join the discussion.

Have Environmental Concerns Changed Your Eating Habits? originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 05:08:58.

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You've seen it a hundred times and probably never given it a second thought -- the offical seal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Follow the link to see the seal again and to find out how it came to be.

Who Created the EPA Seal? originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 05:04:52.

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Every time we are exposed to radiation, whether from a medical X-ray or a nuclear accident, government officials quickly reassure us that the amount of radiation we are likely to receive is perfectly safe.

Many medical experts disagree, arguing that radiation exposure is cumulative and no amout of radiation is truly safe. Learn more.

How Much Radiation is Safe? originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 04:55:19.

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In his third State of the Union this month, President Barack Obama again called on Congress to end federal subsidies and tax breaks for big oil companies.

Obama said the money would be better spent developing clean, renewable energy that could one day replace oil and help make the United States energy-independent.

Read an earlier take on the question of taxpayer-financed subsidies for oil companies.

Obama Calls for End to Oil Subsidies originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 04:44:14.

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