American Solution

It has been almost one month now since the President addressed a joint session of Congress and presented the framework of his “American Jobs Act” to its members. This framework came with the promise that it would be followed up with more specific information including information as to how elements of the bill would be paid for without increasing the current debt load. That information was forthcoming and basically amounted to a shift in taxation which came down to the level of the small business producer. In the end, the “Act” was nothing more than another load of stimulus spending on the backs of American taxpayers.

To quote the President in his joint-session speech, “Those of us here tonight can’t solve all our nation’s woes. Ultimately, our recovery will be driven not by Washington, but by our businesses and our workers. But we can help. We can make a difference. There are steps we can take right now to improve people’s lives.” In making that observation, the President was both right and wrong at the same time. Washington, indeed, does not create the economy nor does it create jobs in America. Jobs are a function of business need not governmental action. Washington does have the power to create an economic and regulatory climate which is conducive to business thus can inspire businesses to take risk and in turn heal the economy. Unfortunately, the President recognized the point but made no suggestions in-line with this type of thinking.

The message was delivered with all out urgency…Congress must act. You must pass this bill was the mantra on which the information was delivered. The President then proceeded to hit the campaign trail and repeat his requests that the legislation be passed so the country could be saved. Still no action by Congress. Instead, nothing is happening except President Obama is continuing to campaign on the back of a legislative bill which does not exist at the present.

Naturally, one could be led to think that the reason such a bill has not been raised is because there is no Republican support for the measure. While that point might be in question, a much more pressing question arises, “why has no one of the Democrat side of the House proposed and sponsored the legislation?” Certainly the challenge is to get a bill on the floor for debate and get it passed through some form of compromise with the Republican majority. In the past, this method has always worked one way or the other, so why not now? Why is there no Democratic support for this legislation in the House?

I don’t know the answer to that question but I have my suspicions. Basically, there are fewer and fewer Democrats willing to throw themselves in front of the bus for this President. Sponsoring such legislation on the backs of the first failed stimulus along with the controversy of ObamaCare could certainly be a career-ending move for a politician. I also believed that once the President played his hand as to how this bill would be paid for without any additional debt support dropped quietly even in his own ranks.

The President and the Congress have opportunities here to get the government off the backs of American business. Healthcare reform needs to be scrapped and properly addressed. Taxation measures need modification to stimulate risk and investment in order to create jobs. Financial reins need to be adjusted in order that lower level lending institutions can function without the collar of government at every turn. Lastly, governmental watchdogs like the ULRB, EPA, and the FCC need to be put back in their yard instead of roaming the streets and threatening the citizens of this country.

The President’s plan addresses a portion of the taxation issue but no one is sure for how long. The other aspects of the stalled economy were apparently not on the table for this discussion. Small business will not move off the dime without a five year plan and so far there does not seem to be the basis for one here in this proposal. What will be received in one time benefits will not get a business on its feet and keep it going even when there is some demand for the product.

Don’t look for the Obama Administration to propose any of the above measures in order to get the economy going in terms of job creation. While it would be refreshing to hear, it does not fit into his political agenda now or at any time he is in office. His agenda is based on growing “big government” and making it the center of the universe with all powers controlled by it. Under his direction, every avenue of American life will be controlled in some manner by the federal government. Taxpayer money will be used to control the lives of taxpayers.

So, here we have a President pushing Congress to pass his plan. Do we see him pushing anyone inside his own party to sponsor such a bill in the House? If indeed this is the case, it is certainly going on behind closed doors. Surely, Ms. Pelosi would love to step to the forefront once again and carry the water for the President as she so boldly did with healthcare reform. Still, the President continues to blame the Republicans for the situation. He points the finger of blame after stating in his joint-session speech, that Americans were sick and tired of the “politics” coming out of Washington.

Could it be that the Democratic side of the aisle does not have the stomach for raising taxes on the “so-called” rich of America. Could it be that far too many on that side of the aisle are enjoying the very loopholes which the President seems so willing to close? Could it be that the President is simply “running the bluff” knowing full well that Washington is worn out with the political damage both healthcare and stimulus has brought down upon it and dares not pass anything which he proposes. I, for one, certainly believe that such a likelihood exists.

From the President’s perspective, he has everything to gain and nothing to really lose regardless of which way this proposal goes. If Congress does not act, then he simply goes out on the road and claims that he had a plan but Congress refused to pass it. He runs against the Congress and especially blames the Republicans. If he gets his bill sponsored and passed, then he can chide the success and claim that all Americans must now have patience and wait for the effects of the legislation to show up in the economy. Either way, the President comes out in a winning position which is a far better proposition than having to run for re-election on the merits of his performance while in his first term.

This same strategy will be applied with healthcare reform as the Administration pushes to get the legislation in front of the Supreme Court as soon as possible for a ruling. If the Supreme Court rules against the legislation, the President will simply say that we need to go back to the drawing board and adjust the legislation to fit the needs of the Court. The Supreme Court will have to declare the entire bill unconstitutional lest he will stay with the idea. The President has every intention of the federal government controlling healthcare in this country regardless of what legislation is used to achieve that goal. If the Court rules in favor of the bill, then the President has another hammer in his arsenal to campaign with calling healthcare reform a merit of his first-term. Either way, the President has a plan to proceed with his campaign politics even though he criticizes those who would employ theirs.

We are at a juncture in future of America which requires real solutions to real and growing problems and we have a President who is willing to play politics with the outcome no matter what direction it turns. The American economy cannot get up off its knees due, in large part, to the actions of the federal government as it weaves its way into the lives of small business and individuals through ever-growing legislation and a growing debt basis which will drive taxes on all of us. Yet here we have a President who by executive order approved more than 9 billion dollars in regulatory costs to business in July 2011 alone. The President may have delivered a plea to the Congress to spend more money to save this country but unfortunately that is not a solution as long as spending in the forefront of the strategy.

It is time for the American taxpayers and voters to open their eyes and see the truth of what our government in Washington has created not only under the Obama Administration but over decades and decades of ill-conceived spending which way done only to buy votes for the re-election process. Debt which has piled up like sand on a beach is all we have to show for that spending behavior yet the Obama Administration wants to spend even more. Enough is enough!

So, it is no wonder that the President’s plan cannot gain any “political traction” in the House…even with his own party. Most of those in Congress are scurrying for cover to save their political future and certainly not willing to risk it for the President’s own political gain. This is truly the litmus test as to whether one has proposed a real solution the a real problem.

The American federal government is suffering with a great infestation of political cockroaches who are seemingly immune to the solutions we have attempted. Washington is suffering from the same issues that confront the drug-addict. The whole bunch is addicted to spending and the power and wealth that it brings them. They cannot make a decision if indeed that decision deprives them of anything of immediate value in their future. It is our responsibility as American voters to identify these people and send them home to other means of support. We can all be sure that only two species will survive nuclear attack…the cockroach and the American politician.

The “so-called” plan which is in front of Congress at this moment is nothing more than a product of this ilk and an obvious one no doubt. It is so obvious that most experience politicians are running from it before the ink is dry having already experienced the failure of the Stimulus Package. Let the President continue to blame Republicans for his inability to react and present a viable solution but the truth is that America is learning very quickly what the solution actually should be.

　

© Copyright WBrown2011. All Rights Reserved.

10/02/2011