How Can One Possibly Support Obama's Economic Policies?

So, I've been thinking about this for a while now. Obviously there is a lot of debate about Obama's policies in general, from foreign relations, to defense, to healthcare. Some like his Afghanistan and Iraq policies, some don't. Some have a problem with bowing to foreign leaders, some think it shows respect. Some think that he's treating Israel as they should be treated, some think it's outrageous. All to be expected. I have my positions, which I feel are just...and you have yours, which you feel are just. These are all reasonable disagreements.

But here's the thing: I cannot--for the life of me--understand how a reasonable, informed person can support Obama's economic policies at this point. We've quadrupled Bush's worst deficit. We've had more deficit spending in 18 months than we had in 8 years. We've passed a trillion dollar healthcare bill that we cannot pay for. Interest rates are a ticking time bomb. We teeter on losing our AAA credit rating. We've increased the money supply from $800 billion to $2 trillion in 18 months. Projections show trillion dollar deficits for the next decade. We're told to expect 10% unemployment as a new reality. We're proposing a slew of new taxes. Social Security and Medicare are not just about third-rail politics anymore...they are realistically going to be bankrupt soon. We're talking about a VAT now. The list goes on.

Say the above to an Obamatron, and you'll get this: WELL!..Bush started this with tax cuts for THE RICH! He bailed out the banks! He started TWO WARS! You cant expect Obama to clean up BUSH'S MESS right away. Give him a CHANCE! We have to do SOMETHING! We NEED healthcare reform!

I think that encompasses it.

Let's do this: Put aside Bush for a moment. Put aside blind hope. Put aside your personal dislike or affection for the President. Put aside partisanship, hatred of Republicans/Democrats, the fact that Barney Frank sounds like Elmer Fudd and that Sean Hannity is probably a GOP-created robot (I AMMM REAG-A-TRON!). Put it all aside, and consider:

-Can we survive trillion-plus dollar deficits as far as the eye can see?
-Can we print money without massive inflation? What does massive inflation do to us?
-What do high taxes on the middle-upper class and upper class do to an economy?
-What will a VAT do the economy?
-What will a Carbon Tax do to the economy?
-Do we have any chance of ever even REDUCING out debt load, much less paying it off?
-What are we going to do about Social Security and Medicare?


-Most importantly: Are we doing what's right for the country? Our children? Grandchildren?

In my opinion, a lot of Americans are feeling like me right now. That is why we see Tea Parties and Obama approval ratings approaching the high thirties. Given his actions, one wonders what the man's goals are. Does he want America to be the dominant economic and military power in the world? I don't think he does. And therein lies the problem. We have a President that doesn't want America to be great. I'm not saying he hates America---I'm not being partisan. I think he actually believes that America's success is the problem. Instead of trying to be great, we need to be more fair. Apparently, not even Obama believes that what he's doing will be good for the country. That's the whole idea...it's not about America and its self-interest...it's about being a citizen of the world to him.

Obama is, in every sense, the anti-Reagan. Reagan once stated that of all the wars he had seen in his lifetime, none started because America was too strong. Obama believes just the opposite, but not just militarily. Obama believes a weakened America is good for the world. I believe--and many Americans believe that a strong America benefits the world.

Which do you believe?

Exactly. And I still think the kind of VAT you'd be talking about would hamper business. Some VAT's are 22%. Wow.


It stands no chance, period. Weakness invites attack and defeat. We've seen it happen militarily, and we're seeing it economically.



We part ways here. These policies will very likely impact you, me and every citizen personally. When inflation goes from 5% to 50%, it's going to affect you. When you eventually can't get more than a 50% mortgage, it's going to affect you. When gasoline is $9 a gallon, it's going to affect you.

We also disagree on the past 8 years. The deficit and debt were manageable under Bush, even if we didn't like them. The rate of increase to the debt was sustainable in relation to the growth of the economy. I would have preferred much less spending, of course. However, the preceding 8 years don't hold a candle to what is happening now. I say again: We've seen more deficit spending in 18 months than we had in 8 years. Liberals went apoplectic when we had $400 billion deficits. Now we're running $1.4 Trillion dollar deficits. We're talking a difference of black and white here.

OK, I see your point. A severe economic crisis could affect you, but not significantly or directly. Fair enough. As for no debt...yeah...I'm not there. I am working on eliminating credit cards first. Getting divorced and remarried with one child will sort of do that to you. My plan is to wipe that out by the end of the year, then start working on the car payments. Mortgage will be last. Maybe by the time I'm 50.


Agreed.


I disagree with this. There is a difference between borrowing within your ability to manage the debt, and borrowing with reckless abandon. I'd rather not have either, but they are not the same.


Agreed there. Totally.

Here's exactly the kind of Obama comment I'm talking about: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100418/D9F58FG01.html


I think that sums it up. The man despises the fact that we need a military and grudgingly accepts that we are the world's power. While better than openly advocating weakness, it's not that much better. One can presume that he will not pursue policies that will strengthen America.

We have a President that honestly wants America to be weaker in every sense.

I don't take issue with advocating peace. I take issue with the grudging acceptance of our superpower status.

He said


Come on. He didn't say "whether we like it or not, we get pulled into conflicts" or "whether we like it or not, conflicts occur--and as the dominant power we get pulled in." He said what I posted. Words mean stuff. Get real.

Back to topic: Obama is still blaming Republicans nearly 18 months after taking office. He's going for the record!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100513/..._economy_obama



This is bordering on insane. The GOP is responsible for very little of the current deficit, and he knows it. The deficit is now 4x higher than Bush's largest deficit. And, the Democrats have been in control since early 2007. How could the GOP possibly be responsible?

And really..."their attitude is that if Democrats lose, we win?" That's just incredible. This, coming from a party that did everything in its power to prevent business getting done, and personally savaged the sitting President to boot. Kennedy said--on the floor--that "the president concocted a war for political gain." Harry Reid called the president "a loser." Please.

That is completely and utterly false.

1. Tax cuts are not spending.

2. Tax cuts for the people that pay taxes DO stimulate the economy.

3. Social Spending might make you feel good, but it's dead money. It doesn't stimulate economic activity. It doesn't create jobs in the private sector. It destroys work incentive and promotes government dependence.

4. War: Which war...Iraq? We can't just "pull out" of Iraq. We are drawing down, which is what needs to be done. I actually am OK with his Iraq policy, though I'm irritated that his administration is now taking credit for successes there. As for Afghanistan, we've got more to do there. What should we do...pull out, after spending billions of dollars and 1,000 American lives?

Well I'm glad that's settled. Of course, every piece of evidence over the past 50 years suggests otherwise, but hey...no worries.

No, it's called "jimmac edited his post after the fact." I quoted original post, which actually was more coherent than the edited version.

He won't listen and will continue to be willfully ignorant. A good post, but a waste of you're time...I'm afraid.