OPINION

 – By G. Miller Thompson – 

In last week’s State of the Union address, the President attempted to convey a message of hope.  The speech, however, was tainted by a series of unsolved scandals and an American populace that is deeply dissatisfied.  In the end, it was only more of the same.

“It is you, our citizens, who make the state of our Union strong.” President Obama said (at least he is not attempting to take credit, right?).  I said last week that I believe the state of our union is uncertain and I stand by that; however, I am not surprised by the President’s characterization.  Unfortunately, a recent poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal shows a stark disagreement in the American people and the President as only 3% said they believe the state of the union is “strong”

The President renewed his calls to improve public education and close the digital divide in America and on and on and on.  In all honestly, the most important aspect of this address was the economic side.  Americans are concerned about our nation’s fiscal misery.

President Obama called for “a year of action” in Washington, which includes significant job creation.  Calls for simplifying the tax code and closing loopholes that “punish businesses investing here” were some of the first to make an appearance.  Then, Obama touted the jobs plan he has had from day one:  more government jobs.  Instead of saving the money from tax reforms, he wants to put more Americans to work on government contracts primarily for improving infrastructure.

Obama is failing to take into account one inconvenient but essential detail:  $17.3 trillion.  That is the monumental debt we have incurred as a nation.  With that mass of money hanging over our heads, creating more government contracts is not the answer (and let’s not even discuss the fact that he plans to sign an order mandating a $10.10 minimum wage for those workers).  Mr. President, close the loopholes.  Incentivize corporations for investing in America.  But, most importantly, stop thinking you are the answer to our nation’s problems.  If getting America back to work is truly your prerogative, government must get out of the way.

One thing the President said really frightened me.  “When our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources energy,” he said, “I want us to be able to say yes, we did.”  Caring for the environment in which we live is important.  That being said, if Barack Obama would place the same emphasis on fixing our bleeding economy as he does on climate control, I might take him more seriously.  I will forever remember the Obama regime as one of misplaced and misguided priorities and a disappointment to young people across our great nation.

On January 14, Obama told his Cabinet that he has “a pen and a phone”, the pen he intends to use “to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative action.”  This point was reiterated in his address when he said, “Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”  This president believes that when Congress tries to keep him in check, he can still do as he pleases.

If we are not careful, the “people’s president” may soon become a dictator.  Proceed with caution, America.

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The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Edgefield Advertiser.

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