Different Strokes on the State of the Union
I unabashedly admit I fell asleep before the SOTU address even started. However, I woke up just in time to hear Obama say that he wanted Eric Holder to work with the states’ attorney generals to go after banks, credit unions and other mortgage lenders who practice predatory lending…inferring of course that it was only those evil banks, credit unions and mortgage companies to blame for the housing mess. The government, of course, had NOTHING to do with it. And now that the lynch man, attorney general is gunning for bankers that misbehave, it will be even harder for folks to get a loan.
I groaned and fell back asleep.
Of course I caught the highlights of the speech on the news and favorite blogs. Check these out:
Twilight’s Last Gleaming: The President’s State of Deception Speech Gets Fact Checked
RightHook38: Fact Checking the State of the Union Address (via Washington Post)
Be Sure You’re Right, Then Go Ahead: Obama: Carpal Tunnel President
Lorinov’s Blog had another take. Instead of talking about what President Obama said in his address, he wrote an essay about what he WISHED the president had said: SOTU: What a Real Leader Might Have Said,
Lorinov is in good company. John Stossel had the same idea with his opinion piece:
The Speech I Wish Obama Had Given by John Stossel
“Has Barack Obama learned nothing in three years? Last night, during his State of the Union address, he promised “a blueprint for an economy.” But economies are crushed by blueprints.
An economy is really nothing more than people participating in an unfathomably complex spontaneous network of exchanges aimed at improving their material circumstances. It can’t even be diagrammed, much less planned. And any attempt at it will come to grief.
Politicians like Obama believe they are the best judges of how we should conduct our lives. Of course a word like “blueprint” would occur to the president. He, like most who want his job, aspires to be the architect of a new society.
But we who love our lives and our freedom say: No, thanks. We need no social architect. We need liberty under law.
That’s it.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/25/speech-wish-obama-had-given/#ixzz1kb3zhVj0
My Take on the Real State of the Union?
We’re on a High.
Higher unemployment. Higher than ever debt. Higher numbers receiving government entitlements Higher than ever foreclosures. Higher than ever attacks on personal liberty.
With highs like that, there’s no place to go but down.
Reblogged this on YOU DECIDE.
Good to see that John Stossel is still moving his mouth… Your observations made me smile. I’ll check out the links.
I think I’m missing the Stossel reference/joke. Or maybe it’s just late and I’m tired? He is a freedom fighter, that’s for sure.
Pingback: The Man Without a Plan – Jan 27, 2012 | Is the End soon?
Pingback: Sylvia Bokar Comments Below | Sandia Tea Party
Good Morning Freedom
Your Article here has made front page on all three of my internet news papers this morning………. Congratulations my friend
How delightful! Thank you, Sami!
I watched a DVD of “Justified” instead of the SOTU … now I support Raylan Givens for President. Didn’t need to listen to the speech to know what Oblather was gonna say … same stuff he always says. But like all carny hucksters, ya can’t let his patter distract you from watching his hands (which are always reaching for your pocket).
So true, Bob! The Artful Dodger, that one.
Honestly, I fail to understand how anyone could sit through Obama’s bloviating and self-praise of the 2012 SOTUA.
The few minutes I accidentally saw made me think of “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the greatest one of all?” Pfffft.
Honestly, I fail to understand how anyone could sit through Obama’s bloviating and self-praise of the 2012 SOTUA.
The few minutes I accidentally saw made me think of “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the greatest one of all?” Pfffft.
It’s just as well that I caught up on my sleep.
Brazen self promotion: http://www.paradisegone.com/2012/01/25/state-of-the-union-utter-failure-followed-by-continuing-deterioration/
I looked at it from a slightly different perspective.
I watched it only because I am a critic of Obama, but to be honest FbtW, you didn’t miss much. It was a campaign speech, nothing more. Headlines today are saying it was written at the lowest reading level of any SOTU address in decades. I agree with the assessment. I have never thought he was well “prompted”,. And don’t think he is nearly as intelligent as the media would like us to believe, if he was it wouldn’t have ever been an issue.
We’ve seen Obama enough times “off prompter” and he’s not so quick on his feet, I agree.
Hi Freedom,
I have just been catching up on my blog reading lately…been tired and sick lately. As always, you’re doing a great job and always get me thinking…
Every time I hear John Stossel, he says this that sort of stuff. But he has never lived in a country like the one he wants us to live in. He has had the privilege and opportunity to grow up where there was a “framework” for civilized society at time in the U.S. when our roads, education, job opportunities (many of which came about because of the initial government investment R&D provided through Nasa & the cold war) were the envy of the world.
In short he’s a hippocrit who would not last 6 months in a place where “complex spontaneous network of exchanges aimed at improving their material circumstances” is practiced. I’ve been there. They are awful! That’s were bribes and tyranny are rampant.
Then there is this fundamental problem with his economic arguement: What happens when material circumstances are ideal? We are seeing ourselves overrun with attachment to material things — and intensely disconnected — mainly to keep this economy moving. There’s nothing noble about that. His plan what is practiced (and doesn’t work) in 3rd world countries. In the U.S., we need something different.
But Freedom, you came to mind when I was watching it. His suggestion for the states to mandate education to 18 years old was NOT something I agree with for a host of reasons, one of which is enforcement of that sort of policy. So you and I can agree there.
I know I am not the cool kid in the room when I say that I thought the rest of the speech was spot on. I like his vision for the future and still support him.
Heather, I appreciate your POV, but I can see I have a long way to go with you before November! We have to have some regulation on business and commerce because man is ultimately greedy and evil. There is a quote–but I can’t recall the author–”If man were perfect, we would have no need for government.” Many 3rd world countries have no protections in place for personal freedoms–which includes the freedom to make money and spend money and engage in trade (and sue when wronged) which is why bribes are rampant, governments corrupt and there is no middle class.
Obama can give a good speech, which is one of the big reasons he was elected the first time. But seriously, the democrats controlled both houses and the presidency for 2 years: Why has he not been able to fulfill his “promises”? Why is the average American worse off?
Why is unemployement higher? Housing prices lower? More Americans than ever on food stamps? Energy costs higher? Our debt at over $15 trillion? The stimulus packages did not work. that is plain. BESIDES all of the failings of the current Obama presidency in practice, I do not agree with his view of the world. I believe less government is BETTER government, as did our founders. Progressives believe government is the only path to prosperity. I say more government is the path to our shared destruction as a nation. Economically we are headed the way of Greece.
I don’t know what rainbows you see on the horizon with four more years of Obama.
I see the real possiblilty of economic collapse. I see freedom as nothing but a ghost of a memory for my child. I will be fighting desperately for Obama’s defeat and just as vigorously to rid our nation and my state of all politicians, no matter the party, that do not hold dear constitutional values and liberty.
btw, Heather, nice to have to visiting again.
Yes, I keep visiting because I respect you POV and you lay out your case nicely…but don’t hold out for total conversion
President Obama is still my choice because:
Why has he not been able to fulfill his “promises”? I consider updating health care, creating access to mortgage refinancing (for middle class americans like me), lowering taxes (ours are the lowest ever!), lowering the payroll tax (my January paycheck just got a bounce), various international successes fulfilling promises. I voted for him to do those things. He did.
Why is the average American worse off? This depends on where you are. Personally, we are doing just fine. We cut back on things we have not needed and actually my hubby and I got nice raises in 2011. All my friends have gotten good jobs. My company is hiring. Maybe you need to consider a move to L.A.
It’s really getting better here.
Why is unemployement higher? Depends on where you are. Alot of this is because companies are hoarding cash and trying to look profitable inspite of a more conservative consumer. When people save money, this creates a domino affect. Businesses can start hiring if they want to repair roads — but they wont unless the government pays them to make a profit to do it.
Housing prices lower? L.A. is stabilizing but again depends where you live.
More Americans than ever on food stamps? Part of me would probably agree with you that this is happening because there is a faction of people who are too lazy and would never work a day in their life. The other part of me says this is also because many businesses would go under without it. Then the cynical side of me goes a bit further when I think about the people who profit from this food stamp/business relationship (financiers and they don’t work to do so) — So basically it’s a non-working population subsidizing a non-working population. The business though wins!
Energy costs higher? Talk to wall street speculators on this one. Our energy costs are so heavily subsidized we are finally starting to see the real cost. It should teach us to be more conservative with this important resource.
Our debt at over $15 trillion? This issue has a great deal to do with the complexity of the international exports/imports/commodities/currency trading system at work. I’m just learning more about it but the more I learn, the less fearful I am about this.
The stimulus packages did not work: See my other responses
If we are not shown were to look for the good things, we will believe only the bad. I see rainbows ahead…I do
You’ve inspired a post!
I have to admit I find this statement intriging: “Many 3rd world countries have no protections in place for personal freedoms”. People there are quite free in those countries. Free to rape, murder, steal. Alot of what they do is roam around freely and do little else. There is no civilized structure. We have our issues in the U.S. but this statement sort of advocates for some government intervention in respect to personal freedoms which I know you do not favor, so I request clarification on that point.
I agree that the government is insanely bloated but that is because of our economic system. Thoughts?
I am very happy that your and your family are doing well, esp. since CA is near bankruptcy and businesses are leaving your state for more favorable tax situations and regulatory climate.
National healthcare will be the death knell for our economy. We cannot afford the entitlement programs we have now, this will place an additonal, undsustainable burden on the the American taxpayer.
When I speak of personal freedom in 3rd world countries, I am also speaking of the freedom to be “secure in your person” which would include adequate law enforcement. If someone commits a crime against me, they have taken away my freedom–our government is designed to prevent that or punish the transgression.
As you are aware, I am not an economist, but I have found a site that you may find interesting with regards to capitalism.and free markets : http://freemktproject.com/
You know I am opposed to the government doing more than regulating the housing market. Real estate, like any commodity, is prone to swings. The government meddling of late has not let the market reset naturally. And until it does, it will never hit bottom and be allowed to swing back up. I fail to understand why Americans think they are entitled to NOT assuming risk with real estate. Why should any leander receive less money for money they loaned? It”s ridiculous. At least when you purchase real estate, you have something of intrinsic value that will last, no matter how much the monetary value fluctuates. When I buy a car, I am “upside down” on the loan the day I drive it off the dealer’s lot…and can expect a lifespan of 10 years if I take care of it.
I agree that things are too big. But the economy is heavilty manipulated. For all their talk about “big government”, Republicans/Libertarians never say exactly how they would dismantle the very system that made them rich — and describe what the alternative would be. People take advantage of the system because they are not incentivized to do much else. On that we can agree. But fixing that involves a host of other issues, many of which I think you and I would agree on (parenting, community, etc…)
Most people do not keep their loans 30 years anyway. Restructuring performing loans is a great stimulous. We get $7,000.00 more to spend every year. We already are booked for a trip to Hawaii, planning repairs to the bathroom and HIRED a cleaning person. We are job creating!
I’ll check out this site and your response. But I’ll make that last point here and see you on future posts as always.
By the way, just had to mention the healthcare thing.
I personally was just sent in the mail information that Kaiser is going to start offering individual health care plans in CA starting at $120/month. My company currently pays about $300 to insure me now. This is $180 cheaper and can move the onus off my company to cover me directly. I can start paying through medical savings accounts.
Also, may company has received 2 large refund checks from our healthcare provider because of the administrative 2% profit rule that the law placed into affect — again a big help to the company I work for.
I’m seeing the law in dollars and cents, black and white. I wish more people knew this!!!