Passed on by Cathy Craddock
Well – we heard from our friends, neighbors and fellow countrymen yesterday. Their choice (by a squeaker), Obama and his big-government, socialist-style vision. Given the damage he’s done over the last 4 years, I’m concerned that we’ll even recognize our country at the end of his second term. The market is heading down, price of gold is up and the value of the dollar has dropped relative to the Euro. Pretty certain that today will be a big day for gun sales. Get ‘em before you can’t (like in NJ). ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank are now firmly secured. The EPA’s plan to shut down 200 more (of our remaining 400) coal-fired electricity plants will go ahead as planned. Harvesting our energy resources will continue to be prevented and our foreign relations house is in shambles. It is a new day in America but it looks a lot like yesterday.
I think we’re in for a long four years. On the positive side, Obama has more “flexibility” to deal with our Russian friends. And we can finally move forward with the investigations on “Fast & Furious” and Libya.
How could this have happened? Conditions were set to create the proper mood: 8 million added to Social Security Disability rolls, 42% increase in food stamp recipients, 23 million unemployed and skyrocketing food and gas prices caused insecurity for those who are still working. Once people are “set up” in this way, it’s easy to herd them. Obama put on the most negative, petty and mean campaign we’ve seen. Once people are fearful and insecure, all that’s needed is the further threat (Paul Ryan is going to throw grandma off the cliff, Romney is going to take away your welfare benefits, etc) of insecurity. Based on lies and twisted truths, Obama won the day by appealing to the fear and insecurity that he helped create. He appealed to the basest fears and worst part of human nature to re-acquire the once-venerated office. Fearful people don’t usually act their best or make good decisions. The Obama campaign counted on this.
Those who were not financially insecure, simply seemed to vote of ideology. By what measure is it possible that thinking people could argue that the incumbent has done a good job? I’d be interested in seeing someone try without reverting to blaming Bush or claiming that “things could be worse”. Can’t be done.
The electorate rejected a man (Romney) who, by all counts, is a decent, thoughtful man with actual business and management experience. What does this say about our country? What, exactly, about decency and talent did they reject?
Does this signal the “tipping point” of the republic? Are there finally more who are riding in the wagon than pulling it? What will our friends and neighbors vote for next?
We are still in the financial morass that started 5 years ago now. We’ve “adapted” to higher costs for basic necessities and lower incomes (in both real and inflation-adjusted terms). Where is the rational explanation for expecting anything different in a second Obama term than the first? A second term finds any president liberated from the need cater to any constituency for re-election. We are sure to get more and bigger this time.
I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.