Tuesday, June 9, 2009

"Hope and Change"

Unemployment in this country is now over 9.4%, the highest level in 27 years, with no sign of getting better. Foreclosures are at an all time high and show no sign of getting better. Real estate prices are at rock bottom with no sign of getting better. The Government and the United Auto Workers now own General Motors and Chrysler, and both companies are in bankruptcy. The national debt is projected to exceed ten trillion dollars by 2016 and the administration is trying to push through a national health care system that will not only destroy our private medical system but will add another trillion dollars to this debt.

Obama has appointed 21 "Czars" that report directly to the president and they are not accountable to any congressional oversight. This is now the most autocratic administration in this country's history with Obama and his cronies in the Executive branch trying to gain control of everything.

There are rumors of the government planning to tax medical insurance benefits, adding a 50 cent gasoline tax to replenish the bankrupt highway fund, and talk about adding a VAT which is a "value added tax" or in simple terms; a national sales tax. This would be a sales tax on everything we purchase, in addition to our local sales taxes. The Obama administration is also working on a "Cap and Trade" system to regulate and control CO2 emissions from American businesses which will add an energy tax that will affect every American, with some estimates projecting a $2-3000 per year increase in our average energy cost.

The North Koreans are threatening nuclear war and have just sentenced two innocent female American journalists to twelve years hard labor; many say this could be a death sentence for these American citizens. Obama's response has been a scolding to North Korea and desire to pursue "diplomacy". Iraq is sliding backwards and the Taliban are making significant gains in Afghanistan, and even threatening the government of (nuclear powered) Pakistan. During all this Obama travels around the world apologizing for the "conduct" of the United States and referring to his own country as a "torture nation".

So how is this "Hope and Change" working out for you?

Through all this, Obama still commands a 60 percent approval rating by the American public. My son said recently that "Americans are obsessed with style over substance", and nothing could be closer to the truth. It's sad to see a majority of the American public continue to skip down the Yellow Brick Road following an "empty suit" with a golden voice.

3 comments:

David O. said...

Well, nothing is sadder than a cynic. This is the sort of knee-jerk, alarmist view often taken by those that can’t see the forest for the trees. What is this June of Year 1 of his administration and suddenly we are going to hell in an expensive hand basket? Have a little faith in this great country of ours. Obama is more than an “empty suit with a golden voice” just as Bush is more than an empty-minded buffoon, although we have 8 years of buffoonery to reflect on and even still we survived. There is no doubt our great nation is facing great problems, problems that were already here when this administration took office. Lack of oversight and corporate greed are more to blame than any one President. Obama will not bat a thousand, he is fallible and will miss a step. I, like many, are hopeful and believe that the President is doing what he can in the best interest of the country. It’s much too early to send him to the gallows despite what Fox News will tell you. Ultimately, we will survive and thrive, checks and balances-checks and balances. Have a little faith in America, there is a vast forest of potential and a beautiful sky above it that isn’t falling.

Chuckie D said...

Blame it on Bush, blame it on Bush - this is nothing more than "liberal lock step" and the liberal trait of refusing to take responsibility for one's own actions. This morning Obama continued to blame his performance on "the problems he inherited".

Sooner or later he will not be able to cast blame on others and that will be the day of reckoning.

I agree that this great country will survive, but this massive debt, unheard of in our history, will be a millstone around the neck of the next two generations that will be difficult to overcome.

And yes. I'll take Fox news any day over the Obama mainstream media who are also in "lock step". Whether you agree with Fox news or not, they make you think - can't say that about the rest of the media that are afraid to even ask a difficult question of this administration.

usamctwo said...

I'm just going to comment on the VAT portion of your blog. We had this whilst living in London. 17.5% The only "good" thing about VAT in the UK is the tax is already figured into the price on the merchandise you were buying. So if you picked bought a cup of coffee for £4 you paid £4 and not a pence more.

I think that is one of the things that drove me bonkers shopping when we arrived back in the States. I totally forgot the added sales tax when I went to pay for my stuff and always ended up digging in my purse for extra change to pay the tax.

But unless you know how much VAT is added, it would be really easy for the government to make it some crazy amount and you then don't realize how much that is. You get into a habit real quick of not realizing how much the government is taking from you when the sticker price is only what you pay.

Oh, and I seem to prefer checking out the BBC for news before I check out what Fox and CNN have on their news sites.