This is an honest question with no agenda behind it.

[Yo_Mama]

15. That would be a book

Trying to condense it - "social issues" to me covers a wide territory, with these being some of the major divisions:

A) Civil rights - defense of basic constitutional negative rights (very important to me): [negative = the government can't do this]
On this issue I thought in 2008 he was very good, and I have been steadily disappointed. He has not changed anything about the surveillance/police stuff that's slowly encroaching. He has funded it and not pushed back in any direction and has actively pushed for continuation of what were supposed to be "emergency" powers such as the various military stuff, enhanced warrantless surveillance, avoidance of FOIA, continuation of the Patriot Act, etc. I would have said 3 or 4 in 2008, now he's no better than a 7 or an 8.

B) Civil rights - defense of imperiled groups and supporting effective equality under the law. I'd say he remains a 3 here, having moved a bit more left on some (for example, SS marriage rights), and quite a bit more right on others - like WTF on medical marijuana/legalized marijuana???? I don't use the stuff and I don't think it's generally healthy, but the quiet behind-the-scenes actions against medical marijuana dispensaries make me want to puke. It's the whole force of the bureaucracy against a few, including banking lockdowns, confiscation, etc. He's been a powerful advocate against discrimination aimed at some unpopular groups, so he gets good points too.

C) Effective equality of access to public resources. This is a major social issue at all times, and here he is really a 9 after the release of his budget in April. Advocating increases of cost sharing on part D (prescription meds ins for Medicare) for the poorest seniors, cutting the growth of Medicare again to the increase in GDP plus 0.5% (when medical costs keep increasing more than GDP or other inflation), Chained CPI-U, which increases taxes on the lower income brackets and cuts SS benefits. No. This has been part of a trend in our society which is insidiously eating us up. Cost-sharing for rather poor persons in ACA was always ridiculous - we are expecting very low income people to pay 30% of their costs? This ain't gonna happen. Well, I'm the sucker here. I thought he was forced into that by Congress, but with the release of his budget, I see no, he's firmly on board. He's way right of Congress on this issue. I'm still stunned by this. Increases in Medigap for the poorest, in order to restrict their effective ability to use their Medicare? He's right of Ronald Reagan on this issue. When you look at the net effects of his policies, it will continue the safety net for the better-off seniors as is at the cost of effectively disbarring treatment for the poorest of seniors.

D) Openness. Transparency of government. Here I originally thought he was a 1, and he still would be if he had ever put into effect any of the policies he advocated when running, such as posting legislation, etc. Instead his administration has become steadily more "closeted". No better than a 7.