Welcome to the economy, Mr. President
I'm not very good at predictions, but I feel confident in saying that Tuesday night, John McCain will not be our president elect. He is a great man, but he won't be our next president. Nor, I hate to say, should he. I fear what many voters obviously fear: he doesn't appear to have a firm grasp on modern technology and he doesn't have a plan to help our weak economy. To anyone with even half a brain, it's obvious that our government's oft repeated failure to balance the federal budget has aided our economic decline. Especially after our recent unfunded bailouts, we owe so much money, primarily to China, that there's precious little to loan to fledgling companies and/or assist out-of-work voters. We can't offer serious tax cuts, which would help our economy, without going even further into debt. Likewise with public works projects - such as repairing our aging highway system - which could at least temporarily employ a goodly amount of citizens.
John McCain's answer has been that old standby: cut federal government spending, but he hasn't said where we should cut. I - as well as most voters - are skeptical. If Ronald Reagan couldn't balance the budget solely with spending cuts I doubt that McCain can.
Not that Barack Obama has any great plans. Or, if he does, he hasn't shared them. But, he at least acknowledges that the federal government can't continue to spend like a drunken sailor without raising taxes somewhere, on someone. And, as a Navy veteran, I know about drunken sailors and the fact that the bill ultimately comes due. Followers of financial adviser Dave Ramsey know that the worst thing you can do is go into debt. And, to my mind, what's works for the family budget should also work for the federal budget.
So, ultimately, the economy killed McCain's chances at the oval office. Had we (God forbid) had another 9-11 style terrorist attack, McCain would be our next president. But, instead, our economy went south and that means an Obama presidency. Fellow Republicans should take comfort, though. The Republican party will be born anew on Tuesday night. Our defeats will be the ashes from which we raise again. Let us make a pact now, though. That this new Republican party will adopt as one of its primary principles a balanced federal budget, and that this time around we won't just give lip service to that goal.
John McCain's answer has been that old standby: cut federal government spending, but he hasn't said where we should cut. I - as well as most voters - are skeptical. If Ronald Reagan couldn't balance the budget solely with spending cuts I doubt that McCain can.
Not that Barack Obama has any great plans. Or, if he does, he hasn't shared them. But, he at least acknowledges that the federal government can't continue to spend like a drunken sailor without raising taxes somewhere, on someone. And, as a Navy veteran, I know about drunken sailors and the fact that the bill ultimately comes due. Followers of financial adviser Dave Ramsey know that the worst thing you can do is go into debt. And, to my mind, what's works for the family budget should also work for the federal budget.
So, ultimately, the economy killed McCain's chances at the oval office. Had we (God forbid) had another 9-11 style terrorist attack, McCain would be our next president. But, instead, our economy went south and that means an Obama presidency. Fellow Republicans should take comfort, though. The Republican party will be born anew on Tuesday night. Our defeats will be the ashes from which we raise again. Let us make a pact now, though. That this new Republican party will adopt as one of its primary principles a balanced federal budget, and that this time around we won't just give lip service to that goal.
posted by dlh | 4:55 AM
2 Comments:
Barack Obama is at best a socialist, at worst a marxist, and the only direction he'll be able to take the economy will be deep into a depression the way FDR did. Our current problems are complex, yet simple, and go back to the CRA and its run up by Clinton in the 90s. But even 18 mo. the Democrats could have turned it around if they hadn't blocked Bush and the few Republicans, like McCain that wanted Fan and Fred reined in. Obama will do nothing, his record to date.
Thank you Norma for your comments. You certainly have a strong argument concerning the CRA (Community Investment Act). It was basically an attempt to place the burden of political correctness on banks and savings associations. I note, however, that you fail to address the issue of the federal budget and how our representatives seem incapable of balancing the growing mess. A balanced budget was once a mainstay of Republican philosophy and, since we now will need to rebuild our party from the ground up, I call upon all of us to return to that principle. (I assume here that you're a fellow Republican. If I am incorrect, I apologize). Thank you again for your comments. It's good to know that I have some readers out there.
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