The end game of years of
campaigning by both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is near. Odds are, the victor will set the
policy in Washington over the next four years and the loser will drop into
relative obscurity. Until then,
the race appears very, very close.
National polling often has the two tickets apart by a mere fraction of a
point. As the electoral-college
count projections seem to favor the President, numbers on how independents
split, along with early voting exit polls, seem to favor the former governor. As tight as it appears, this could be
something that looks like the 2000 election. Many have pointed out that the contrasts between these two
factions aren’t as stark, as say, the differences between the Libertarians and
the Green Party, but rest assured, these are two very different visions of
America’s future.
The President’s crowning
achievement of his first term was the Affordable Care Act. This is what’s largely seen by
both sides to be the first step towards a fully federalized health care
system. The original health care
debate mainly started as a result of a dramatic increase in costs and
premiums. However, the dialogue
was hijacked by the left and turned it into an opportunity to create another
monstrous government program along with a score of new taxes that debilitate
individuals and struggling businesses, alike. Real reform like curtailing frivolous medical lawsuits,
which would lower liability insurance premiums for doctors and cut costs for
patients, was gently swept under the rug.
Instead, the President and Congress jammed through their bill using a
tactic that’s never been used for legislation of this magnitude, avoiding the
process of reconciliation as laid out in the Constitution. It was even sold as a tool to lower the
deficit but current numbers estimate the overhaul will actually add to our
nation’s debt. Nevertheless, its
passage formed a new bureaucracy that crushes hiring and does little if
anything to improve health insurance premium costs. Those large businesses and unions fortunate enough can opt
out of the program and pay a fine which consumers may end up bearing. Regrettably, the small businesses that
create the overwhelming majority of new jobs in America will get hit. As so many teeter from red to black,
already suffering from a credit shortage that has stuck since the 2008
recession, they’ll now incur costs that will no doubt contribute to higher
unemployment and create new bankruptcies.
A majority of Americans along with the Romney/Ryan ticket take issue with
the program. Others embrace
Obamacare. You may be one of
them. If undecided, the choice is
clear. If you’re into
bankruptcies, more taxes, more debt, ignoring real healthcare reform, and
adding to the unemployment rolls…then the Affordable Care Act is for you. And there’s no question--you should
vote Obama.
As one unaffordable government
program takes shape, a host of others, already established, are reaching their
breaking points. The Obama age has
seen a new development. Social
Security revenues, for the first time in our history, aren’t able to pay all
its benefits. As a result, it’s
dipping into the general fund where we’re forced to borrow. Simple GOP reforms like modernizing the
retirement age to curb future expenditures has brought vitriol from the Left,
portraying such necessary steps as akin to euthanasia. Also, other federal programs like
Medicare, food stamps, disability insurance, welfare, and unemployment
insurance have seen huge increases in cost and participation during Obama’s
reign. Not only are these programs
busting the budget, as is, but with so many taking advantage of government
support our nation is defying the independent spirit of the original American,
relegating the citizenry to a life of government dependence. From the Medicaid payments that cover a
birth, to the retirement income from Social Security, and everything in
between, we are slowly beginning to see a growing demographic that is fully
dependant on government for nearly every aspect of their existence. Perhaps you find these developments
favorable. Perhaps a life where
people are never encouraged to be productive, never contribute income tax, and
habitually have their healthcare, food, housing, education, and retirement paid
for by the government sounds good to you.
Perhaps insane European tax rates to pay those benefits, while nurturing
a new unproductive class that finds government benefits an easier path than
working for a living is something you find desirable. If so, there’s only one candidate for you--vote Obama.
Over recent years, green energy
companies have received huge government incentives under the guise of stimulus
for the economy. Many have
connections with the administration and reaped the rewards. Unfortunately, several of these poorly
thought out ventures have gone bankrupt or have brought greater productivity to
other countries. Even several
conventional energy companies have taken advantage of these subsidies, giving
some of America’s largest corporations a tax-free card. When it comes to traditional energy
sources that have been tried and true for over a century the President has gone
to great lengths to limit their production, increasing the costs to
consumers. The President blocked
the Keystone Pipeline that would have sent oil from Canada to be refined in the
U.S. Now, that opportunity along
with the jobs it would have created are gone. In addition, the EPA has put the squeeze on energy providers
like coal companies, and the administration has denied a slew of oil drilling and
refinery permits. At a moment in
history when the science of oil is changing and we’re finding more
domestically, even to the point where some studies claim the U.S. has the
potential to be the world’s number one oil producer, it boggles the mind why the
President has taken such a negative stance on energy--especially, in the face
of record gasoline prices. But of
course, there are those that don’t want inexpensive gas in their cars or
affordable home energy costs.
There are those that don’t want lower unemployment with jobs in the
energy sector or acquire fewer resources from overseas. You may be one of these people. If that’s the case, the current
administration is where you should lend your support--vote Obama.
Abroad, the President has faired
slightly better. Mainly, because
he followed up on Bin Laden and adopted the Bush timeline for troop withdraws
in Iraq. His other positives
include keeping Gitmo open and utilizing drone attacks against the wishes of
his left wing base, even breaking promises to the contrary. But with few exceptions, the
administration’s foreign policy philosophy has been naïve and our adversaries
have latched on to it. The
President was going to adopt a softer tone than his predecessor, changing
wording on official government documents--eliminating terms like “war on
terror”. Soon, the
administration’s newspeak translated into action. We saw how trying terrorists domestically fell flat on its
face. Then there was the proposal
to sit down with America’s antagonists and iron things out. This flawed notion allowed a meeting
with Hugo Chavez that became an international embarrassment. Then there was the speech given in
Cairo. Intended to heal wounds, it
only emboldened those that hate us.
Once the Arab spring rose under the façade of secularism and the
President’s support waned for those that held back the tide of extremists,
countries like Libya and Egypt were taken over by militants and their vitriol
became more squarely honed on America and Israel. As our officials were slain and classified documents strewn
about the shell that was once our embassy in Benghazi, it’s easy to understand
how soft peddling our enemies encourages attacks like these. It’s no wonder Chavez, Ahmadinejad, and
Putin have endorsed the President for reelection. They’ve had it pretty good
these last few years. However,
some of us here at home would prefer a more postured foreign policy from the
United States. But who knows? You may go for the gullible,
Chamberlain approach. In which
case--vote Obama.
In 2008 we
saw an enthusiasm to get away from Bush.
In 2009 and ‘10 we saw a willingness to get away from Obama. Oddly, the President is hastening the
declines that used to be associated with the previous administration. But hell, you probably like that sort
of thing. So, you better vote
Obama.
