Talk about the sequester to most people and their eyes glaze over. Most do not know what it even refers to. That controversy, which they could not even define, and everything else about politics seems so petty to them and . . . their focus of blame is on Congress. Of course all they hear from the dominant media are challenges from Obama for Republicans in Congress to do the right thing i.e. what he says is right. There is no equal time.
They hold this opinion as if there are no differences between which body has passed a budget and which has not . . . or which Party has compromised on taxes and which demands more taxes. Yet people hold Congress in contempt generally (their own congressman not so much and only on a partisan basis). They continue to give Obama a pass as if he is not responsible for the problems now five years into the office of President. Is there a change in the wind and if so is it an ill wind? Our senior editor has some thoughts on the matter. RM
Poll after poll tells us what a likable person Barack Obama is. We are constantly reminded by Republicans and Democrats, pundits from both ends of the political spectrum, all of his media supporters, that Mr. Obama is not just so darn likeable but he’s also a great family man, a wonderful father, a really, really nice man.
Well, I believe we are about to see a new, never before revealed, side to our president. If the GOP does not fold, as their record indicates they are likely to do, we will see just what a petulant, vindictive, dishonest guy American voters chose last November to lead their country for four more years.
He is about to show us little folk just what the consequences are of defying his wishes…those simple desires of his, like just asking those really rich folks to pay a little bit more to his government.
Sadly, GOP leadership has chosen not to highlight the fact that, even if sequestration becomes effective, the federal government will still spend $15 billion more this year than last,! By any measure this is a modest action. It doesn’t cut spending. It modestly reduces the rate of increases in spending.
In business, there are occasions when a company must trim expenses. Managers may be told to cut 10% from their budgets. Distasteful as they find this directive, they do it and, they do it responsibly. A good manager will take great care to pare wasteful or marginally effective spending in order to minmize any damage to their own departments or to the greater enterprise.
Mr. Obama has already signalled he will bring hellfire down on the nation. Ray LaHood will shut down the airports.Food inspectors will be furloughed and meat will become scarce and expensive. Criminals will roam the streets at will with fewer police. Fires will rage uncontrolled in the cities as firefighters are furloughed, Mentally ill will be released by the thousands as facilities are closed and as Debbie Wasserman Schultz has warned, many lives will be lost in the future because universities will be unable to hire researchers or fund programs.
Yes, all of this our president has suggested will happen. Because he is the one who will choose where spending cuts will be applied, He is telling the American people that he intends to make these cuts as painful as possible, while he characteristically attempts to Republicans.
If these things come to pass, it will not be because of modest decreases in the increases in federal spending resulting from the so called sequestration.. It will be because our president has decided to inflict maximum suffering on the American people for their refusal to force Republicans to cave to his demands. DLH
