The Presidential Election of 2012 will undoubtedly be viewed by historians in 100 years as the second most important election in American history.
The first election, of course, was the most important election in our country's history. A young nation was willing to award king-like power to our first President. Fortunately, the leader of the Revolutionary War, George Washington, won the election and became the model for future Presidents. Instead of grabbing for the almost-unlimited power available to him, Washington cautiously navigated the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, realizing that the fledgling nation needed to move toward the democratic vision of our founding fathers, instead of the monarchy model found in England.
Just as the outcome of the first election determined whether or not America would resemble a democracy or monarchy, this year's election will determine whether America moves towards a European-style democracy that borders (or crosses into) socialism or will return to being the country our founding fathers envisioned when writing the Constitution.
To those who believe strongly in the Constitution, the choice should be crystal clear. But for those who are the beneficiaries of a strong federal government and its numerous social programs that support them, the choice may be more difficult.
Currently about half of the country benefits from big government programs, while the other 50% pay for them. While a little more than 50% of Americans pay income taxes, nearly 50% do not. President Barack Obama's policies to "redistribute the wealth" have only encouraged more Americans to apply for unemployment, disability, welfare, food stamps and numerous other government programs. For many, the monetary compensation and benefits they receive for not working is close to the compensation and benefits they would receive for working. Why would anyone work if they could stay at home and live nearly as well, especially when the horrific Obama economy has limited their opportunities for a decent income?
The sad part is that many Americans have simply given up trying to improve their lots in life. Many have found it easier to maintain a minimal standard of living -- and the Obama Administration has encourged this through the expansion of numerous social programs. The result is that more and more Americans are living on less than they were before President Obama was elected. A recent report recently revealed that the median household income for Americans of all ages was 4.8% lower in June 2012 than it was when the recovery technically started three years earlier, in June 2009.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/167272875.html?refer=y
America is quickly becoming a country that encourages mediocrity instead of exceptionalism. In fact, in a recent speech, President Obama downplayed the importance of intelligence and hard work in determining one's success. His views about how government -- not intelligence and hard work --determine the success of Americans provide an excuse for any American who is not successful: They simply haven't received enough support from government to succeed.
President Obama's policies, attitudes and actions have strongly communicated that America is no longer the place where an individual can save money, build a business and become an overwhelming success. To the President, if someone is successful, it is because the federal government, not the individual, made it happen. To President Obama, the American dream is dead, unless the government gives you that dream.
Very early in a second Obama term, more Americans will be supported by the government than those who are supporting the government through taxes. President Obama has made it very clear he wants the most successful Americans to pay even higher taxes, which will provide them with a financial disincentive to suceeed. More American businesses and high net worth individuals will move offshore, avoiding America's regressive tax policies, which will create even more unemployment. As a result, more Americans will determine that it's easier to stay at home and receive a check than to head out to work every day. Those lucrative benefits offered by the government will eventually have to be cut dramatically, or taxes will have to be increased on more Americans to pay for them. The middle class, dwindling because of the loss of American jobs, will not be spared from the dramatic tax increases. In order to pay for these programs, even with higher taxes, America will plunge more deeply in debt, creating a Greece-like financial disastor in our country within the next four years and eroding the standard of living for all Americans. The interest alone on the national debt will soon consume the majority of the federal budget, so much so that other countries will no longer loan us funds to continue our spending spree.
President Obama is a proponent of big government, more social programs, government takeovers of business (i.e., GM and the healthcare system) and the government, not the free market, picking winners and losers (i.e., trying his best to kill the coal industry through EPA regulations, while supporting alternative energy companies like Solyndra). In other words, he believes in a European-style of democracy that is more like socialism than a capitalistic, democratic society.
The antidote for this imminent disastor is for America to grow its economy, get people off their couches and back to work, provide incentives for Americans to succeed and build businesses, get its federal budget under control, and slow the growth of entitlement and social programs so that they don't bankrupt the country and are available for future generations of Americans. In other words, America needs to become America again, allowing the principles of capitalism to determine winners in the marketplace, while limiting the powers of the federal government.
The Obama Administration has shown no indication whatsoever that it's willing to promote pro-growth, pro-business policies; provide incentives for Americans to grow businesses; or to slow the growth of entitlement programs. In fact, President Obama appears to be diametrically opposed to making any of the difficult choices necessary to prevent the impending financial disastor.
In contrast, Republican nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are proposing pro-growth, pro-business policies; incentives for people to grow businesses; and a revamping of entitlement programs for those 54 and younger so that these programs are available to future generations of Americans.
While many Americans see the choice in November between Democrats and Republicans, others see this election as a pivotal decision point in American history. The fact is that if America continues down its current path in a second Obama term, it will never return to a free-market system of capitalism with limited federal government.
Americans voted wisely in 1789 and set our country on a course that would allow it to dominate economically and militarily for over 200 years. Are Americans just as wise today, or will they succumb to the appeal of government programs that allow them to have a mediocre standard of living while doing nothing?
We will find out on November 6.
Showing posts with label socialism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label socialism. Show all posts
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Voice of Reason: Red States vs. Blue States
America is divided like never before.
We have the red states whose residents are typically conservative, and then we have the blue states whose residents are generally liberal. We have citizens who believe that hard work, sacrifice and innovation are what will make them successful, and we have citizens who believe that a government handout is their best path to success.
President Obama, who promised "Hope and Change" while he was campaigning for the office, has done nothing to bring the two Americas together while he's been in office. Instead, he has divided our already-divided country even further with his words and his policies. He's stated on numerous occasions that affluent Americans need to pay their "fair share," completely ignoring the fact that nearly half of all Americans pay no income taxes whatsover. He has turned our nation into an entitlement country, with over 100 million Americans now on welfare, millions more on disability and unemployment. He's increased our debt by 50% to pay for these programs. He also said "you didn't build that" to business owners who sacrificed and sweated so that they, their children and grandchildren would have a better life.
He's divided the country between those who are successful and those who aren't; those who believe that a stifling government is the problem and those who believe that more government is the solution.
Let's say, just for the sake of argument, that President Obama is reelected and the red states decide that they want to secede from the union. Now, we really have two Americas. What would life be like in those two countries?
In the country with all of the blue states, one would see higher energy costs because the government, not the market, would pick the winners and losers. One would also see more government programs for those people who are not successful, more government regulations on business and industry, higher taxes for those who succeed, and a widespread attitude that the government is going to take care of everyone from cradle to grave.
In the country with the red states, things would be much different. Energy costs would be market-driven, which would mean that prices for electricity, gasoline and natural gas would be much lower than in the Blue States Country. There would be fewer government social programs, and taxes would be significantly lower. With fewer government regulations, more people would be encouraged to build their own businesses and all people would have an incentive to succeed. The widespread attitude would be that the government is there to support you if you falter, but the expectation is that you, not the government, are responsible for your own standard of living.
Which country would prosper and which country would falter? It's pretty clear to see that businesses in the Blue States Country would want to move to the Red States Country with its lower energy costs and taxes as well as fewer regulations. Those who don't want to work would want to relocate to the Blue States Country, where the welfare programs would be more lucrative, while those with ambition would move to the Red States Country, where the regulations and tax rates would be much less restrictive and regressive.
Within five years, maybe fewer, if this division of our country into red states and blue states were to occur, the Blue States Country would be bankrupt, while the Red States Country would thrive. Unemployment in the Blue States Country would be 30% or higher as businesses leave for the greener pastures of the Red States Country. As more businesses and ambititious people move across the border, those left in the Blue States Country would be faced with ever-increasing taxes to the point that widespread unemployment and bankruptcies would be the norm, not the exception. As taxes increase, funds for education and social programs would need to be reduced, negatively impacting the quality of education and the quality of life for all citizens. This Blue States Country would be in a downward spiral, with businesses leaving, which would result in higher taxes for those who stay, which would create the need for even higher taxes to maintain even a minimum level of services and programs.
The Red States Country would have tax rates that would actually decrease over time, as more business and industry would be encouraged to locate where they have the best chance of succeeding. Lowering tax rates would encourage even more development, helping everyone in the country to prosper. Because of the growing economy, even more tax revenues would be available for education and social programs, helping to improve the quality of life for all citizens. This Red States Country would be in an upward spiral, with lower taxes enticing more economic growth, which would then allow for even lower taxes, which would encourage even more economic growth.
I paint this picture not to suggest that those living in the red states should secede from the union, but to illustrate where this country is heading under our current President. America is becoming more like the Blue States Country, and less like the Red States Country. After seeing 8%+ unemployment for President Obama's entire term in office and our debt increasing by 50% under his leadership, do you believe our country is on an upward spiral or a downward spiral? Do you think we are headed towards becoming a Red States Country or a Blue States Country?
I don't want to be overly dramatic, but with the debt spiraling farther out of control by the minute, our country on the brink of socialism, and millions added to the rolls of welfare, unemployment and disability under the leadership of our current President, we face a nation-defining decision in November.
This upcoming election may provide America with its last chance at returning to the Democratic, Capitalistic values that made us the greatest country in the world for over 200 years.
We have the red states whose residents are typically conservative, and then we have the blue states whose residents are generally liberal. We have citizens who believe that hard work, sacrifice and innovation are what will make them successful, and we have citizens who believe that a government handout is their best path to success.
President Obama, who promised "Hope and Change" while he was campaigning for the office, has done nothing to bring the two Americas together while he's been in office. Instead, he has divided our already-divided country even further with his words and his policies. He's stated on numerous occasions that affluent Americans need to pay their "fair share," completely ignoring the fact that nearly half of all Americans pay no income taxes whatsover. He has turned our nation into an entitlement country, with over 100 million Americans now on welfare, millions more on disability and unemployment. He's increased our debt by 50% to pay for these programs. He also said "you didn't build that" to business owners who sacrificed and sweated so that they, their children and grandchildren would have a better life.
He's divided the country between those who are successful and those who aren't; those who believe that a stifling government is the problem and those who believe that more government is the solution.
Let's say, just for the sake of argument, that President Obama is reelected and the red states decide that they want to secede from the union. Now, we really have two Americas. What would life be like in those two countries?
In the country with all of the blue states, one would see higher energy costs because the government, not the market, would pick the winners and losers. One would also see more government programs for those people who are not successful, more government regulations on business and industry, higher taxes for those who succeed, and a widespread attitude that the government is going to take care of everyone from cradle to grave.
In the country with the red states, things would be much different. Energy costs would be market-driven, which would mean that prices for electricity, gasoline and natural gas would be much lower than in the Blue States Country. There would be fewer government social programs, and taxes would be significantly lower. With fewer government regulations, more people would be encouraged to build their own businesses and all people would have an incentive to succeed. The widespread attitude would be that the government is there to support you if you falter, but the expectation is that you, not the government, are responsible for your own standard of living.
Which country would prosper and which country would falter? It's pretty clear to see that businesses in the Blue States Country would want to move to the Red States Country with its lower energy costs and taxes as well as fewer regulations. Those who don't want to work would want to relocate to the Blue States Country, where the welfare programs would be more lucrative, while those with ambition would move to the Red States Country, where the regulations and tax rates would be much less restrictive and regressive.
Within five years, maybe fewer, if this division of our country into red states and blue states were to occur, the Blue States Country would be bankrupt, while the Red States Country would thrive. Unemployment in the Blue States Country would be 30% or higher as businesses leave for the greener pastures of the Red States Country. As more businesses and ambititious people move across the border, those left in the Blue States Country would be faced with ever-increasing taxes to the point that widespread unemployment and bankruptcies would be the norm, not the exception. As taxes increase, funds for education and social programs would need to be reduced, negatively impacting the quality of education and the quality of life for all citizens. This Blue States Country would be in a downward spiral, with businesses leaving, which would result in higher taxes for those who stay, which would create the need for even higher taxes to maintain even a minimum level of services and programs.
The Red States Country would have tax rates that would actually decrease over time, as more business and industry would be encouraged to locate where they have the best chance of succeeding. Lowering tax rates would encourage even more development, helping everyone in the country to prosper. Because of the growing economy, even more tax revenues would be available for education and social programs, helping to improve the quality of life for all citizens. This Red States Country would be in an upward spiral, with lower taxes enticing more economic growth, which would then allow for even lower taxes, which would encourage even more economic growth.
I paint this picture not to suggest that those living in the red states should secede from the union, but to illustrate where this country is heading under our current President. America is becoming more like the Blue States Country, and less like the Red States Country. After seeing 8%+ unemployment for President Obama's entire term in office and our debt increasing by 50% under his leadership, do you believe our country is on an upward spiral or a downward spiral? Do you think we are headed towards becoming a Red States Country or a Blue States Country?
I don't want to be overly dramatic, but with the debt spiraling farther out of control by the minute, our country on the brink of socialism, and millions added to the rolls of welfare, unemployment and disability under the leadership of our current President, we face a nation-defining decision in November.
This upcoming election may provide America with its last chance at returning to the Democratic, Capitalistic values that made us the greatest country in the world for over 200 years.
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