Betting the Farm

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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Let's Do the Math

Let’s do the math. Many people were shaking their heads when Obama last week announced that his top priority is now the deficit. After a full year of profligate spending, he suddenly decides that the deficit is (or will be) a problem. Is the president schizophrenic? No. There is a plan. Obama is doing exactly what he said he would do: re-distribute America’s wealth.

He has appointed - not one, but - two commissions to study the deficit. No doubt, they both will declare that the only way to solve the deficit problem is to raise taxes (on everybody). Obama will declare to the nation that the findings of these commissions make tax hikes inevitable - that it would be absolutely irresponsible for him to ignore these findings - that the U.S. economy would simply collapse without tax hikes. Even Republicans would have to go along with it if they wished to escape the wrath of the American people for a collapsing economy.

Seems a plausible argument, never mind that increasing taxes is certain to keep job creation and, hence, sustained economic recovery at bay for decades to come. Though, the president could claim (as he does) that, without his policies, jobs currently held were actually ‘saved’ (by him) and that the overall economy would be even worse.

Republicans must resist the temptation to focus on the deficit. They must focus on growth. Taxation, even at present levels, kills growth. And growth is the only bullet we have left to keep our economy from totally collapsing.

Republicans must keep in mind Obama’s priorities which do not include job creation or saving our economy. His ultimate aim is to re-distribute the wealth of America; to take from those who have traditionally had and give to those who have not. This is the socialist model that has historically consistently failed wherever it’s been tried.

The Pit and the Pendulum

‘No plan’ is a plan. What can never be, can never be. Choosing to do nothing is a powerful choice. Bush could have done so after 9/11. Who says we’ve got to do anything? Why not pretend we aren’t even here? It’s not too far fetched, after all. People did alright before we were born. They’ll do alright again, after we’re gone.

Then there’s ‘doing nothing’ as a strategy: Lighting the fuse and watching it burn; then, ducking behind the sand bags. Which part of this is the active part; which is passive? Max out the credit card and then sit back and see what happens.

The determining factor in all this is ‘intent’. I’ve said all along that Obama’s intends to implode the economy; bust the dollar. He hasn’t said so explicitly, but look at his policies. How can any sane person come to any other conclusion? And he’s by no means alone. There are many people in this country who honestly believe that America is and has always been the vortex of evil; that the world would be much better off with an America that is diminished. They believe that global conflicts would cease without undue American influence; that ‘global warming’ could be reversed without American appetites stoking consumerism; that America’s success must be pared down for the rest of the world to enjoy prosperity. It is an argument that has achieved some degree of consensus, even among Americans. What is the meaning of (the) ‘redistribution’ (of America’s wealth)? What is the meaning of ‘social justice’? Is it not the diminution of America?

If our economy survives the Obama administration, it will surely not be due to Obama’s policies. It will be despite them. Ditto, if Israel survives. It will be proof positive that America’s destiny is assured; that, despite all, America’s spirit lives. Both Germany and Japan were bombed into the Stone Age. How quickly it took them to build themselves back up into what they are today! Just the other day I received an e-mail showing pictures of Hiroshima right after the bombing, followed by pictures of Hiroshima today - then, Detroit. The contrast could not be more striking. It is a testimony to the spirit of the Japanese people who alone deserve credit for having made this miracle possible.

Today I read that only 34% of our eighth graders can read at the eighth grade level. This is a disaster not unlike the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Who is the architect of this failure? Who will be held to account?

I do believe we will survive this administration. We may disassemble in the short run; but, in the long run, the pendulum will swing back; and it will do so before any other nation or ideology can dominate us. We will find a way to fight back. We will prevail without sacrificing our principles. Every disaster our enemies foist upon us will strengthen our resolve. Even those of us who chose to do nothing for now, are just biding their time, waiting for the right moment. If we have learned anything, it is that ‘haste makes waste’. Our enemy wants our decisions to be hasty; half-baked.

It’s taken them so many years to bring us to this trough. They honestly believe they are on the verge of striking the fatal blow. They have advanced the great stone to the very top of the mountain. Even Sisyphus knew it couldn’t remain there forever. It’ll be our turn when it once again reaches bottom.