Have You Had Enough 'Change'?
By Thomas D. Segel
April 9, 2009
To be up front about everything, it really started with the Bush Administration seeking $700 Billion in TARP Funds to bail out a faltering financial market. A Democrat controlled Congress was happy to oblige. Bush and Company managed to pour half of that sum down the drain before time ran out on the political power clock and the Obama Team took the field.
The remaining TARP money quickly went the way of all big spenders just after the Obama Administration gained control of the public purse. We had asked for change and the new team was ready to show us the way. Not to be outdone by Bush, they quickly followed up with a $787 Billion stimulus package. Almost without taking a breath, the Democrats then gave us a $410 Billion Omnibus-spending bill, complete with about 9,000 earmarks. The upcoming federal budget request is for more than $3.6 Trillion, but nobody can predict where it will end up with a spend-crazy Congress that is sure to salt it with more pork than can be swallowed by the American public.
But, hey...the votes were counted and they said America wanted change they could believe in.
Almost without taking a breath, the first action of the new president was to order Guantanamo Bay detention facilities closed...and without any thought of where the prisoners would be interred. But, the administration is speaking clearly about using the United States courts to determine the fate of those being held in federal custody. Of course that opens up the possibility of many military secrets being exposed to the terrorists.
But, wait, that doesn't make any difference, because the administration says we no longer are fighting a war against terror. We are also not at war with Islam and this should be understood. After all, President Obama has told everyone that this arrogant and divisive America is not a Christian nation.
Now that is change we can really believe in.
President Obama promised full transparency and openness in government, than preceded to sign executive orders, presidential memos and legislation without giving the American public any advance view of what was about to transpire. That is right in line with change we can believe in.
We all heard how 95% of the taxpayers were going to see their tax obligation reduced. But those who have incomes of $250,000 or more, those many small businesses and farms, those estates to be passed on to our children, make up far more than just 5% of our people. The administration even secretly left the death tax in place, thereby jeopardizing the continuation of those same small farms and businesses. That is right in line with change we can believe in.
While seven out of ten Americans believe we should have a strong free market, the Obama Administration keeps marching toward a larger and more controlling government. Change we can believe in?
The new Democrat government has already violated our NAFTA agreement by banning Mexican trucks and causing retaliation by Mexico of placing new tariffs on American goods. Its mantra to "Buy American" has overseas trading powers at odds with the country. More change to believe in.
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