If you were expecting a giant crawl of yellow text across the front of this page underscored by some brilliant John Williams music, I’m sorry to say the technology has yet to be invented. I will, however, try to make up for it with some epic words of my own (feel free to stick your iPod in and jam to Mr. Williams as you read this).
Nearly four years ago, in the wake of one of the worst financial meltdowns in recent history, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was sworn in as our 44th president. With Mr. Obama came the promise of a new America, one that stood united in the face of the most daunting of challenges. He dared us to dream big and to renew our faith in this great country of ours. He was going to restore hope and prosperity to a fledgling nation. Fairness and equality would be the new order.
I sit here in 2012, four long years later, still waiting for the hope and prosperity that we were promised time and time again. For some strange reason, I see an America more divided than ever, desperately clawing and scratching for some kind of good news.
The economy was supposed to improve after the disastrous final years of the Bush era. It has done quite the opposite.
We were supposed to be done with costly wars in the Middle East. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were escalated, and a third front, Libya, was added to our tab.
We were promised a healthcare system that would benefit everyone. It’s done more to bankrupt us than benefit us.
We were promised transparency, yet in the wee hours of a warm summer night, Obama had his Democrat-controlled Congress shove a Healthcare bill down our throats that, ironically enough, many in our legislature failed to read. He also failed to realize that an overwhelming majority of Americans DIDN’T want it in the first place (#Greekfinancialmeltdown).
If I were to sum up the Obama doctrine in a short phrase, I think I would call it “Deer-in-the-Headlights.” Ever since he took office it has become increasingly clear to me that this man, however charismatic and intelligent he may be, is not cut out for the toughest job in the world.
Another common theme of his presidency has been “fairness.” The incredibly high corporate taxes, in his words, promote “doing your part.” I heard this wonderful analogy from comedian Dennis Miller that helps illustrate this: 10 friends go out for an expensive, $500 meal. One guy is stuck paying $495 of it while the other nine guests split the remaining $5 among them. That is the current state of our “fair” tax code.
Instead of rewarding hard work, the President is seemingly discouraging success and exceptionalism with ridiculous tax rates across the board. No one — middle class or otherwise — has benefited, and in the long run, neither will the economy.
The high note of Obama’s presidency, many would agree, was the killing of Osama bin Laden. The magnitude of such a victory cannot be overstated, yet I can’t help but get a sour taste in my mouth when I turn on the news and discover that we are currently working out a prisoner exchange with the Taliban as a part of ongoing peace talks (to any women reading this article, I encourage you to pick up a copy of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and then tell me this is acceptable).
I think it’s worth taking the time to say that I believe Obama, like any president before him, has our nation’s best interest at heart. However, the course we are on will not lead to the bright and starry future for which he campaigned and we all originally hoped. If our path is not diverted to a more responsible and practical form of governance, we can say goodnight and good luck to a stable future for our children and grandchildren.
If Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich is elected president in November, pray they have courage to make meaningful spending cuts, and more importantly, restore balance to this proud nation.
If President Obama is given a second chance, pray he has the wisdom to realize that his current policies lead only to hypocrisy and disaster. There is still time for redemption, but he and he alone must make the active decision to use his power to promote real change.
Business as usual in Washington, whether under Democratic or Republican control, cannot be tolerated any longer.
Help us Democracy, you’re our only “hope.”
