Carter was/is just inept. He trashed the US not by design, but through his stupidity.
Obama is damaging the country on purpose. He is, as he promised, fundamentally transforming the United States of America. As such, he will do whatever he believes is necessary to accomplish his goals, including the seemingly non-stop, in-your-face unconstitutional crimes. Fast and Furious, non-recess recess appointments, forcing employers to pay for medical procedures against their beliefs, etc.
I'll have to take some issue with that. Carter was one of Admiral Hyman Rickover's 'nuclear whiz kids'. Such as they were never stupid, nor inept.
So, the question begs, why did the nation fare so poorly under his 'stewardship'? I have to contend, and what followed since indicates, but not definitively proves, that much of the damage done could well have been intentional...
the infowarrior