I just finished watching the State of the Union Address. Since Mark is not here to discuss this with me, I sat down to write out my thoughts. I guess he can read them later! Throughout my childhood my mom always was told me that the constitution would be hanging by a thread and the “elders” of the church would have to piece it back together. (Talk to Rex Rammel for the exact quote ha ha) Throughout my life I have been trained to have an opinion and be involved- so here I go… sharing my opinion with anyone who cares to hear it.
I think that the reason America is going through such rough times is because we have lost the personal responsibility as far as spending is concerned. This lack of responsibility is being passed down and becoming magnificently worse with each rising generation. This is why I disagree with the President’s wish to increase the credit offered for small businesses to stay viable. Why would we encourage our banks to increase the amount they will lend businesses who just aren’t making the cut? Is that not exactly what got us in the “mortgage” fiasco? Why does each and every solution the President proposes involve increasing spending power to those who aren’t making the cut? For example- cash for clunkers…. Why would we encourage people to get rid of cars that they could afford “clunkers” and encourage them to go out and get a loan for a new car? Don’t get me wrong, I understand how the money and spending cycle work; in order to get ourselves out of the ‘slump’ we must spend, but in the long run we will never get to the root of the problem: American’s are spending too much money on things they cannot afford. But as the President said, “he does not want America to be 2nd place”. This is the attitude a lot of people have with their neighbors and peers. I don’t want to be 2nd place in regards to my house, the type of car I drive, the clothes I wear, the activities I can afford for my children. That really is the typical American’s thought process. I would rather have America be in 1st place for values, trustworthiness, and fiscal responsibility. But that’s just me.
Also in regards to buoying up the small businesses: If we want to fix the unemployment problem faster; we will quit pushing all of our money towards small business. These big corporations that are laying off employees by the tens of thousands are the ones that should be getting our attention first. In a time of economic downturn people are less likely to jump into risky entrepreneurship. America would be nothing without its small businesses, but please don’t throw big corporations under the bus. If you read the news, you would see how the decline in big business is crumbling the economic stability of this country faster than the President can “spend money” to stimulate it.
“The best anti-poverty action is a world class education.” I found this statement by the President very intriguing. I agree, but part of the world class education being offered in this country is how to rely on the Government for our every need. We are teaching ourselves and our children to quit trying and sign up for all the free money out there. Why would anyone even want to become a small business owner? A more profitable occupation would be to learn how to qualify for each and every government program. (p.s.: the way to qualify is to not have a job and claim “out of this world” disabilities that prevent you from ever working a day in your life. Yes my friends, many of those poor American families the President was referring too don’t want a job. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to reap the blessings of unemployment and work an 8 hour shift.) Unfortunately our President and his Democratic Congress is defiantly giving the rising generation a world class education on these principles.
Debts forgiven on student loans, Universities cutting costs? I thought we were just talking about creating a world class education?!? Who in their right mind would want to become a professor when they could make more money doing something else? The only way Universities will cut costs is to pass it on to the salaries of the professors. Sad but true. (Or take a little from BSU’s head football coach- but let’s not get our priorities mixed up in this quest for world class education. If we didn’t have BSU’s team many Americans wouldn’t know that there was a State called Idaho!)
That’s how budgeting works? Really Mr. President? Usually when I budget it is for immediate solutions to my money problems. Please don’t joke around about how “budgeting” works. The American people know that budgeting starts today to make a difference in the future. Starting 1 year from now will be 1 year too late.
And what is with the undermining of: Scott Brown’s election, the past President, The Supreme Court, Republicans. I especially thought his Supreme Court comments were very in bad taste. Maybe you should take your smooth talking pointer finger and point it at yourself once in a while. President Obama is a good speaker, but obviously this quality hasn’t equated good leadership. I want a President to quit spending a major portion of his day blaming and start making America great.
And what was with Harry Reid’s clap? Seriously he knows he’s going to be on the camera a lot, so maybe he should practice his clap in the mirror so he won’t look so WEIRD!! If you didn’t notice it- seriously go back and watch it.
I am proud that the Republicans are saying no to everything. It means they are not selling my values for the pleasure and comfort of the President and the Democratic Congress. The reason they keep saying no is not that they just want to be difficult; it is because they don’t believe the legislation is good for me.
If you want to be enlightened on the current war, you should read the book “Three cups of Tea”. I knew very little of what was really going on until I read that book.
Speaking of enlightening books: the book “Love is Eternal” helped me to see how difficult living in the public’s criticism really is on the President and First Lady. And that book was about the Lincolns, they lived before TV and internet! I do feel bad about the criticism the First Family receives on everything from politics to clothing choices. I just wish I could be confident that the decisions President Obama is making will be good like the ones Lincoln made.
So to be totally honest- I think the President is an awesome speaker, and I don’t disagree with everything he proposes. I respect him and his office….. but I really don’t think we can have another President like him ever again. America will be in absolute shambles by the end of his 4 year term.
So what did you think of his address?
