Did you listen to the State of the Union address last night? If so, I’d love to hear your response. Although I pray for Obama daily, I feel that his administration has done more to damage our nation’s hope of survival than any preceding president. It’s notable that he blamed the horrendous mortgage debacle on Bush’s administration…even though the Republicans fought hard against it and Obama voted for it. Why didn’t he apologize for his part in the mistake instead of touting the need for big government intervention in the future? When Obama talked about national debt, why did he intimate that Wall Street was to blame for the crisis? Why didn’t he take responsibility for the true crisis: his adding on average $4.247 billion to the national debt during each day he’s been in office (at least, as of last August). This is over $4 trillion dollars…skyrocketing national debt more than twice as fast as George W. Bush’s administration (which was severely—and justly—criticized for overspending).
I take issue with Obama’s idea that we should keep the foreign students who have received university training from our schools. When my brother-in-law was admitted to a PhD program in chemical engineering, he was the only white American male admitted to the program, and my children have gone into graduate programs where there appear to be more Asian students than Americans. I believe we should be giving more spots in our schools to American men and women. Our own kids should be our first educational priority.
I question Obama’s comment that he intends to maintain the best military in the world while cutting half a trillion from the their budget. Just how does he intend to do that? It’s popular to promise miracles, but I for one would like to hear a little about his strategy for doing so.
I applaud his addressing the need for tax reform. No billionaire should be paying less tax than his secretary. I would love to see an across-the-board tax for all (politicians included), based on a sliding scale according to income, up to some reasonable amount (like not more than 33% of anyone’s income). Show us the way, please! Don’t just talk about it; do it!
I take issue with Obama’s proposal that he (the Executive Branch) should have more authority. To me, Obama has been very unwise in his use of the power he does wield, and he’s taken our country—which was already floundering badly—to the brink of disaster. Perhaps it’s an unfair comparison, but I feel like Obama is steering our ship dangerously close to the rocks, and I don’t want our ship to capsize while the captain is busy trying to make himself look good.
Obama’s quotation from Abe Lincoln, which got a standing ovation, was not quoted completely, and the details he left out are critical. Lincoln did not exactly say that government should do whatever men couldn’t do better by themselves (which, of course, might be most things). What Lincoln did say on July 1 of 1854 was: “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves — in their separate, and individual capacities.”
May we all have the courage to do everything for ourselves which we can do and seek government help only in providing for the common defense and in the administration of peace and justice so that we as individuals can attempt to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Isn’t that our constitutional charter?
While I’m on my soapbox, here are a few timely quotations from the writer of our Constitution. I think we would be wise to consider Jefferson’s perspectives as we anguish over whom to elect next November:
“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”
Thomas Jefferson
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
Thomas Jefferson
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
Thomas Jefferson
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Thomas Jefferson
“Pray for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
(1 Timothy 2:2)
I didn’t hear the whole speech, but your stat about Obama “skyrocketing” debt faster than George W. Bush is kind of relative since it fails to account for Bush’s insane tax cut. We have a lot of problems in this country that I think you correctly identify, but what about the problems you don’t? What about the kids who still don’t have access to health care? (The US is actually in noncompliance right now with the UN for failing to provide universal health care). What about the unemployed? It’s easy to say we should stop wasting money… it’s a little bit harder to decide who gets to eat dinner and who doesn’t.
I don’t think it’s fair to criticize any particular person or any particular party for the nation’s problems at this point. Just my opinion.
I agree with almost everything you said, although I am puzzled by this argument people have over tax reform. I believe that no tax would be moral, that any tax is immoral. The disingenuous stunt of having Buffet’s secretary sitting with the first lady does intimate that there is an unfairness with the tax code. I’m having difficulty swallowing that one. People that pay 15% on their investments have ALREADY paid the normal 26% on same said earnings.
Obama has been a great success in one area. He has been very devisive over the disparity between the wealthy, middle class, and poor. People need to think very clearly over this rhetoric concerning the rich versus the poor and what is “fair.” We’re going down a very dangerous road. I do look to God for hope for this nation, but I confess that I am very pessimistic over the motives of Obama.
I fully support our military and I am angered and heartbroken over the men and women who return with missing limbs and post traumatic stress, and brain injuries. It’s maddening. If you have ever seen a chart on the amount of dollars the U.S. spends in comparison to other countries, you would laugh. It’s insane. We need a very strong defense, but the military industrial complex needs to be slashed.
When it comes to healthcare, we should feel obligated to take care of our sick/poor, but that should be the job for the church, the government has no right to take our money at gunpoint to pay for anyone’s healthcare. If our economy was in better shape, healthcare/food stamps would be far less of an issue.
Didn’t have the stomach to watch it. Thanks for summarizing.