Having read the transcript of President Obama's speech, I think he puts forward a great case for necessary reform and policy changes. Issues such as health care reform, educational funding and reform, and a commitment to promoting renewable energy were the highlights of his speech. He also touched on taking action to stabilize banks, helping credit worthy borrowers find affordable refits, and regulatory reform. All of these are issues that have been staring us in the face for some time, but have not had the attention or commitment behind solutions to them to tackle them. Additionally, President Obama stated his support for the US soldiers fighting for us around the world, promising better pay and benefits, both before they leave the service and after.
He even does a good job for justifying the bulk of the Stimulus Package, pointing out highlights that were overlooked in the Republican attempt to showcase the pork. He drew attention to the push for multiple forms of alternative energy, spending on infrastructure, middle and lower class tax cuts, tuition tax credits, and extended unemployment and health care coverage benefits. While helping those in trouble now will help in the short term, the thing I like most about this plan is that it does not ignore long term interests in order to score a few immediate brownie points. The appointing of an Inspector General and oversight lead by Joe Biden will address some of the abuses this kind of spending can create.
The thing that impressed me most all about his speech, other than his focus on long term solutions, was his lack of fear in telling Wall Street that he really didn't care what they thought about his programs. He made it clear that he is not going to allow the markets to dictate what US domestic policy should be, sacrificing constructive solutions for the future for short term earnings and gains.
The Republican's official response delivered by Governor Jindal was predictable. He criticized the President's plan and initiatives, pointing out the deficit that will be caused by the plan and bemoaning the expansion of the role of government. He echoed the classic Republican battle cry of less government. House GOP leader John Boehner, while also promoting "smaller government", was more complimentary. Boehner stated that he felt that the President made "a compelling case" and that it was very close to a speech that he himself would give.
I find the Republican call for smaller, less intrusive government and criticism of deficit spending to be disingenuous at best, downright hypocritical at worst. This is the same party who, when they had control of the White House and Congress, voted to expand the government by creating new departments such as Homeland Security instead of revamping and creating cooperation between the existing CIA and the FBI. This was the same party that hacked away at basic civil rights by creating and passing the Patriot Act which allows the government unprecedented and unfettered access to private information and removes the need for transparency in judicial proceedings. Your library book checkout list, your credit card charges, your internet usage- all is subject to government monitoring. You could literally be picked up and taken away, your home searched, and be held without charge for an unlimited time by approval of an anonymous and untouchable court on only government suspicion of wrongdoing. This is the Republicans version of smaller and less intrusive government?
As for deficit spending, tell me- how have the billions of dollars spent on a war that was initiated on bogus and trumped up information benefited this country and helped our economy? We don't even know what the real tally is to date for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, let alone the future total cost. Despite all the money we've spent, we are losing the war in Afghanistan and have created nothing but long term fiscal commitment and global ill will with the war in Iraq. We are committed to rebuilding Iraq and its infrastructure, spending money on schools, hospitals, roads, police and a security force for the Iraqis when we can't even fund our own. All this for a country that our excessive use of oil helps to make rich, even without our tax dollars going to work for them. Where was the Republican outcry in Congress when we went from a balanced budget to record deficit spending in less than 5 years to make this happen?
And, of course, no Republican in Congress or the White House ever funded any pork projects while they had control... Bridge to Nowhere, anyone?
I won't argue that Obama, his programs, and his Stimulus Plan are perfect. They're not. I won't argue that the Plan is a paragon of targeted and efficient spending. It's not. But do we sit around, take harsh stands, and do nothing? Do we take no action at all because a few in Washington of both parties play the "I'll stroke your back if you stroke mine" game in order to get anything done? Do we stick with the tried and true, even though it's not working, because we have to spend money to invest in what's needed to move to the next level? Do we hold the future hostage just to score a couple of political points or to have a better shot at the next election? I don't think so. And in the privacy of their own hearts, neither do most Congressional Republicans.
Tough times require bold action. Only time will tell if the actions President Obama and the Democratic Congress take will be the right ones and what the cost is if they fail. But what is the cost if we do nothing? President Obama repeatedly struck a note of hope in his speech and a reiteration of his belief in the determination, strength, and drive of the American people. We need to demand those characteristics from not just ourselves, but also from our elected officials. This is a great nation of thinkers and doers. Let's act like it.
Redheads have always been accused of having a temper. This blog is a journey into the mind of a redhead; decide for yourself if we have a temper or are just frustrated by what we see...
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