It is discouraging that there is so much noise (mostly nonsense) in the media about the presidential campaign. We are at a crossroads in the US and we need to focus on what the candidates will do if elected. I never believed that the choice particularly mattered until George W. Bush proved otherwise… now we have experienced the real damage that can be done if decisions are based on ideology rather than on facts.
Will Barack Obama just put the US further in debt through unbridled government spending? Will he stifle the economy by taxing companies or will he energize small businesses and give more money back to the struggling middle class? Will he inspire Americans and help to counter the pessimism that has gripped the US? How will he get us out of the mess we made in Iraq?
What is Barack Obama saying?
In his own words (from barackobama.com):
“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007
Here is one of the segments of Barack Obama on David Letterman from September 10th. I chose this because he is talking about the post-9/11 choices made by the current administration. If someone like Barack Obama had been in office in 2001, we would certainly not be in Iraq and I also like his ideas about focusing Americans on energy alternatives. The other mistake that President Bush made was in not capitalizing on the support and sympathy of the rest of the world. In his post-9/11 speeches it was apparent that American lives are worth a lot more than non-American lives. I would not see that attitude coming from Barack Obama.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uzTOpJRIs&hl=en&fs=1]
What about big government?
The biggest concern that I hear from Republicans and Independents that lean Republican is that Obama will spend, spend, spend because he believes that the government can solve our problems. This is the typical concern with any Democratic leader. Personally, I don’t believe that it is up to the government to fix all of our problems while taxing hard-working (and yes that includes high-salaried) Americans. There was a point when half of my income was going to the government so I take this issue personally! So what does Barack Obama say about his economic policy? Read what he says directlyat Barack Obama’s official site rather than hearing how others interpret what he says.
More on government spending
Here is a video from 2006 where Barack Obama is talking about a bill that he sponsored that would make the government more accountable for its spending.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYgDAmtrcJQ&hl=en&fs=1]
{ 0 comments… add one now }