Last week we were treated to a diatribe on the failings of The Supreme Court, partisan Republicans, big bad banks, unfaithful Democrats and a host of others that caused 2009 to be a year to forget.
This was supposed to be our magnificent “leader’s” State of the Union, but not once did I hear a description of that status. Rather a 75 minute rambling oratory was delivered on why it is so difficult to get things done. Remember Bill Clinton’s famous comment on his own failing, “I worked as hard as I ever have”.
The attack on The Supreme Court by Obama can only be explained as an attempt to get revenge when our system of checks and balances is functioning. As noted in a recent editorial from the Arkansas Dem-Gaz, he exhibits the ability to detach himself from his own fine words, “Our great leader took it upon himself to upbraid members of the Court because he had the podium, the microphone and the teleprompter.”
The most embarrassing part of this whole episode was that the president was completely in error on his facts. He stated that now foreign corporations would be able to contribute funds and influence our elections. Even a 7th grade student in civics would know that foreign corporations have always been prohibited from this action and will continue to be.
What speech writer and political aid concocted such a fantasy? Then follow that with a president who has studied and taught constitutional law. Is it any wonder this administration is drifting in an ocean of arrogance and lies?
In another outburst of constitutional ignorance he commented we must handle this health care crisis as a true democracy. Mr. President, we are not a true democracy, this great nation is a republic whether you agree or not. Obama should be thankful we are not a true democracy. If we were, over 65 percent of the populace would have already voted down this 2300 page monstrosity of a health care bill.
As would be expected in his 75 minutes of non-effective oratory, he laid out program after program with absolutely no hint of how any would be funded. Let’s dissect just one of his mom and apple pie giveaways. Our leader says after graduating from college with a bachelor’s or advanced degrees, he or she should have to pay no more than 10 percent of their salary in any year on the loan they acquired while being schooled. If they go to work in the public sector, all would be forgiven after ten years.
Let’s assume young Sally wants to save the world from these mean capitalists and she acquired two or three advanced degrees only to discover her student loan debt was $200,000 when she began employment. Following her passion she gets a beginning government job at $50,000 researching how cows exposed to second hand smoke may give milk that promotes cancer. After 10 years she owes $200,000 plus as her $5,000 a year payment doesn’t even come close to covering the interest.
The result would be a $200,000 plus write-off for the federal government. If a million graduates took advantage of this Obama proposal, it would only cost us about
$200 billion. When the federal debt is projected to be $22 trillion, that worthy little program is only chicken feed (according to Obama).
Many Americans have simply had it with the deficit, for this fiscal year being
$1.4 trillion and next year projected at $1.395 trillion. Mr. Obama wanted congress to appoint a commission on how to reduce our deficit. Congress refused on a close vote because they knew this would only delay any action and congress probably wouldn’t act on the commission’s findings. Since congress refused, Mr. Obama will appoint his own commission. Using this subterfuge, he can proclaim he has done something about our deficit and blame others when the commission is ineffective.
In trying to react to ruinous government spending he proposed a three year freeze on federal spending. Sounds good doesn’t it? But wait, it would apply to only 1/6 of the government budget with all entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps off limits.
This discretionary spending has increased 24 percent in the past year. Even if this pipe dream was accomplished, locking in or freezing an expenditure that is already out of control is meaningless.
Consistent with his ‘Alice in Wonderland’ proposals, he wants to give a $3,000 federal credit for any company hiring a new person. That proposal is so void of economic sense, it is downright tragic. A small business owner is not going to hire a new person at $25,000 or $35,000 or $45,000 (including all perks) unless there is a need for a new employee. Does it take a genius to compute a cost of $35,000 less $3,000 credit still leaves you with a net cost of $32,000? To add absurdity to this great idea he wants to give a credit to a company who gives raises. This would open the door to so many tax games it could take a team of ten IRS agents to audit one small company. As just one example: a company could take away fringe benefits, put that cost into raised salaries and receive a government tax credit. Absolutely shameful!
Pundits have stated our president should make a pivot and turn back to the right. There seems to be no signs this will happen. Pursuing his goal of comprehensive and nationalized health care has been devastating to his image and to his political party.
After a year in office Mr. Obama has become, by a wide margin, our most polarizing president. He has the highest disapproval rating ever recorded for a president beginning his second year. When George Bush faced wide-ranged disagreement on the Iraq war, he consulted with his experts, approved the ‘surge’ and proceeded to prove his critics wrong. What will Barack Obama do?
(Jerry Jackson of Heber Springs writes his “conservative viewpoint” column each Wednesday)
