I’ve been puzzling about something. President Obama is frequently branded a liar. Case and point: Obama and Democrats repeatedly claimed that passage of health care would not raise premiums. Yet, now we learn that people’s health insurance premiums are indeed rising dramatically. Companies have either had to increase deductibles or dig deeper into their bottom line. Was this not foreseen? Did the framers of this bill rely on faulty data? Or were their own calculations wrong? Any way you look at it, those who were in vocal support of this bill can be said to have lied now that the reality of the effects of Obamacare have come to light. I have never been one of those who believed that Obama is (or ever was) stupid. To accuse him of lying, however, seems to miss the mark as well.
Obama and Democrats may not have been lying at all when you consider whom they were talking to, and the overarching goal outlined by this administration early on: the redistribution of wealth.
A redistribution of wealth presupposes two factions: the rich and the poor. Rich and poor can be defined arbitrarily by drawing a line. The number most commonly heard is $250,000. Incomes above $250,000 a year is considered rich; below that number is considered poor. In truth, the number could be anything.
When Obama promised that premiums would not rise, he was not talking to the rich. He was talking to the poor. The poor don’t run companies; they do not hire people; they may never even have been insured. Thus they would remain unaffected. It’ the rich that were meant to feel the sting. This dovetails precisely with a program of wealth redistribution.
So, again, when Obama promised that premiums would not rise, he was not talking to the rich - though they thought he was. They conveniently ignored the rule that begins, “if it looks too good to be true…” Furthermore, they thought Obama was speaking to the country as a whole. Most presidents have taken pains to do so. Not Obama.
Now, a drive is underway to nationalize private retirement plans. Again, the pitch will be made that it’ll be the best thing to happen since sliced bread. Those apt to be taken in should remember what has already happened with health care reform. Additionally, before anyone rushes mindlessly out into the street with their slogans and pom-poms in support of Obama‘s policies, they should first determine whether or not they are in the group that will be said to benefit before betting the farm. For if they are not, they’ll be paying for it.
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"they thought Obama was speaking to the country as a whole. "
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a saying a saleman used to repeat often: "I may not tell you everything I know, but I won't lie to you."
That's a very narrow definition of a lie. It is certainly not a definition that can nurture or even sustain the trust of a nation's citizenry, especially when Trust is the nation's most valuable--and its most fragile--commodity for maintaining civil health. Nothing is more difficult to replace than a trust that is lost. God help us all if that is the kind of leadership that is left to us. I guess it depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is.
On the Jon Stewart show appearance, the President claimed that stabilizing the financial system cost only 1% of GDP. That figure isn't even in the same town as the ballpark. I think the Fed has printed about $3 Trillion already, and plans to print more. Dollar destruction. This is not a cost counted by Obama, but it is a cost all of us pay.
ReplyDeleteHe's either lying, or he's delusional. If he's delusional, he should be removed for diminished capacity. I'm fine with that.