It’s the Economy, Stupid!

How Many Americans want to Live in Socialism?

Former-President Clinton made the sound byte “It’s the economy, stupid!” popular. In the last two weeks leading up the to 2008 election, pundits are telling us that the reason Obama’s ratings are on the rise is the economy. I don’t get it. It seems like that ought to be the reason his ratings should be tanking. Why do I say that? Well, simply because when it comes to Obama’s economic policies, he is a full-orbed socialist. Is that what American’s want in 2008? Just in terms of his economic policies, Obama will be as bad, if not worse than Lyndon B. Johnson or Jimmy Carter.

Many in the younger generation weren’t even born when Carter was President. Mr. Carter was the thirty-ninth President of the U.S. (1977-1981). Sound economists have termed his dismal administration the “epoch of misery.” Unemployment soared into double-digits, as did the interest rates. Today, the non-thinkers in America, the “nation of sheep,” only view Carter as a kindly grandfather, who is out building houses for Habitat for Humanity when he’s not out usurping protocol as a former-President by hobnobbing with Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro. Make no mistake: Carter was a national disaster as President in a wide variety of ways, especially economically. Obama and his economic policies are cut from the same piece of (socialistic) cloth.

The real question Americans must face today, then, is quite simple: Do they want America to become dominated by Socialism or do they want a free market economy where they can all strive to make a living through personal effort and responsibility? In other words, do they want a “womb to tomb” nanny state, high unemployment, extremely high taxes, and a universal health care system that will sending doctors packing and give us long lines and sub-par health care? So that’s pretty much the question: do we want Socialism or a free market economy?

For those who find Socialism attractive, I invite you to move to a socialistic country and live there for about 5-10 years before you decide it’s a good thing. You really need to get a taste of how that system works, or rather, doesn’t work before foisting it upon this nation. Utopia doesn’t exist folks, and Socialism has failed, and failed miserably, wherever it has been implemented. Sweden, for example, is in the process of sharply cutting its corporate tax rate. Why? In order to stimulate a stagnant and stagnating economy. Sweden is also getting ready to give real tax cuts to citizens for the same reason and not the faux phantom cuts Mr. Obama is promising. Think about this: If Mr. Obama is going to give 95% of Americans a tax cut, 50% of that 95% doesn’t pay any taxes at all. So what he’s offering them is not a tax cut, since they don’t pay any taxes, but a government handout. It does make you wonder why a country that is socialistic through and through like Sweden is now turning away from Socialism, doesn’t it; especially if Socialism works so well. Here’s the dirty little secret: Socialism doesn’t work well; it never has; and it never will. Redistribution of wealth is a very, very bad idea; it is devastating for the economy.

Joe (the Famous) Plumber

For those who haven’t seen the clip of the Ohio plumber, Joe, talking to Mr. Obama or read the transcript, you owe it to yourself to do so. It’s a casual, impromptu conversation where Mr. Obama’s Socialism comes rushing to the forefront. Mr. Obama tells Joe the Plumber that he’s not trying to penalize him for hard work, he just wants to take care of those “behind” Joe. Those “behind” him? Who might they be? Mr. Obama knew nothing about Joe prior to that conversation. Maybe Joe worked his buns off and finally, through hard work, long hours, and personal responsibility just got to the place where he’s earning a decent living. Maybe Joe has a kid or two in college or a couple on the way to college. Joe and the wife are doing their best to be responsible, law-abiding citizens and Mr. Obama’s message is akin to Hillary’s when she said in a June 2004 speech, and I quote: “We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.” Thank you, comrade.

But it’s the end of Obama’s comments to Joe the Plumber that are the most telling. Here’s a snippet of that conversation: “It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success too.... I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” (Emphasis added.) What did he just say to Joe and Mrs. Joe? There are others behind you; others who, for whatever reason, don’t make as much money as you do. He doesn’t consider education, incentive, personal responsibility, or any other factors. That doesn’t matter. These folks “behind” Joe and Mrs. Joe need a “chance” for success and Mr. Obama will solve the problem in the classic socialistic way: he’ll redistribute the wealth. Ironically, Socialism gives them no chance for success because the government bureaucracy, in a futile attempt to level the proverbial playing field, squelches all incentive to excel. Prices and salaries are fixed by the government. Obama laid his cards on the table when he said to Joe, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” You? Who is the “you” in Mr. Obama’s statement? It’s Mr. Obama and his socialist government, of course. Did you hear what Mr. Obama told Joe? He clearly stated that he will implement a government that redistributes wealth and that is the classic definition of Socialism.

Mocking Joe

Do you remember that off the cuff remark Obama made in San Francisco when he thought all the cameras were no longer rolling and he spoke of some of the folks in PA as holding on to their guns and religion? Far too many have forgotten that statement. Now, with some of the polls showing Obama/Biden with a substantial lead (beware of polls, folks!), both men openly ridiculed the “Joe the Plumbers” of America yesterday and today. That’s right. They’re making fun of McCain for defending Joe the Plumber. Obama laughed and said, “He’s out there trying to defend a plumber!” Laughter: his and his audiences. What’s so funny about that? Wait a minute! I thought Obama and Biden were salt-of-the-earth, heartland America candidates. Shoot, Biden is so patriotic he still stops by Katy’s restaurant where he grew up for a slice of apple pie and vanilla ice cream, even though Katy’s closed twenty years ago. I’d call that commitment.

Now, both men are cracking jokes and making light of the middle class they claim to love and support. Is Joe the Plumber in Ohio the same as those rednecks in Pennsylvania who hold on to their guns and religion? Obama and Biden are mocking the middle-class Americans they say they’re looking out for. I hope all the plumbers, gun owners, and religious people in the States are listening.

Caviar Anyone?

All this nonsense about caring about the middle class was juxtaposed last evening in a glaring contrast. One film clip showed Gov. Sarah Palin stopping in at a Wal-Mart to pick up some diapers for her infant son. It was an amazing shot. Here is a woman running for Vice-President of the United States shopping at Wal-Mart. Unlike Joe Biden, she’s shopping at one that didn’t close twenty years ago. She’s just doing normal wife and mom things like buying diapers. These were not Calvin Klein or Armani diapers; no, they were just your garden-variety, run of the mill, global warming causing disposable diapers. Just like the rest of the Joe the Plumbers of the world, you watch Mrs. Palin swipe her card, pick up her diapers, and head back to the campaign trail. Nice touch.

Meanwhile, back at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, Mrs. Obama ordered room service that included two lobsters, Iranian caviar (you glow in the dark after you eat it. They haven’t quite perfected the nuclear thing yet), and champagne. Now look, don’t get me wrong here. We all know that religious nuts, gun nuts, and Plumbers who make under $250,000.00/year eat this kind of stuff on a regular basis. Why we had some rednecks over to our place just last week. One brought a .50 caliber machine gun; one brought a case of Boone’s Farm Apple wine; and one brought a case of Iranian caviar. We fired the machine gun, drank all the wine, but left the Iranian caviar. Someone said, “Iranian caviar again? I’ve eaten so much of that stuff it’s runnin’ out of my ears! Belch!”

When you need to energize the economy and put an end to poverty, Iranian caviar is just what the doctor ordered. Not for everybody, mind you, but certainly for the Obamas. By the way, has anyone stopped to notice that since the days of Lyndon B. Johnson (the Great Society), Jimmy Carter (the Great Economic Meltdown), and through both administrations of Bill Clinton (the Great Scandal) that the true poverty rate in the United States has stayed pretty much the same? So what have the Democrats done to improve it or change it? Nothing. Year after year they promise change and improvement, but year after year it’s the same story. What has Nancy Pelosi and her ethical Democrat dominated House of Representatives done to alleviate poverty? Heck, what have they done period? Can you name one thing they’ve accomplished apart from plummeting approval ratings? Is this the Democrat formula for change and progress? In point of fact, much of what Obama is saying in this campaign is, with the necessary changes being made, the same old worn-out promises that Carter made and could not deliver. If Obama wins and does deliver on his promises, that will be the end of America as we know it. The economy will never survive this man’s irresponsible policies. Besides, you can never overturn universal health care. You can only tinker with it, tweak an irreparable system, and try to stop the bleeding of its disastrous results.

Therefore, the question before us today and for the next fourteen days is this: As an American, who understands the price that has been paid for our freedom and the price that’s being paid that still allows us to live in the greatest country in the world, do you want to take the road to serfdom (F. Hayek): Socialism, or do you want to continue to live in a land of opportunity and personal responsibility. When you go to the polls on November 4^th, remember this: It really is the economy, stupid.