The Case of President Obama

Obama has made a case for Change.

But there are no details of that 'Change'.

Is he simply talking about the skin tone of the man in the White House? Is he talking about bringing Change as someone out of the 'elite class' from Yale or Harvard? (He attended Harvard, just for the record). Is he talking about being out of the 'typical Washington' or a Change away from the normal massive political systems? Sadly, he's a Senator and from the Chicago Political Machine... and his running mate has a decade on his opponent - so there's no 'Change' from those two perspectives. It originally seemed a logical divergence from his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton. That's the only time 'Change' meant anything. But it stopped being about Hillary back in late July.

No, the case that Obama brings as Change is the call for Socialism.

Obama's opponents have called him a 'historic' figure. They say he's the most inexperienced and most liberal candidate that the Democrats have ever put on their ticket.

Yes. Exactly.

The last eight years have seen Enron, 9/11, two on-going expensive foreign wars, fuel and food prices rising, home values declining, and now an economic collapse caused by a shell game with nothing under the shells. It appears - and that's appears - that the free market is fatally flawed, and it's time for something - anything - new. Here comes Change.

The assumption is that the free market has failed. Chris Rock said it best, "George Bush has f*cked things up so bad, that he's made it hard for a White Man to run for President." The Change has already begun too. The rejection of free market philosophy on a high governmental level with the bail outs of banks and insurance industries. The Nationalization of those companies in trouble has swung open that door of 'Change'. A complete reworking of society and government has started. Which is, what I assume, the message of Change is.

Folks in America are preparing to allow or are already willing to let their government tell them the right way to live, work and take care of themselves. Apparently it's no longer safe for us to do it on our own. You and I have messed it up pretty bad. The 'self' is no longer as important as the 'group', and with a group mentality you find a different philosophy to govern. "I mean, come on - look at what a great job we've done so far!?" is the prevailing wind swirling around.

That's why the story of Joe the Plumber is important. (Transcript) It highlights the theme of the Change philosophy. The collective "We" know how to "spread the wealth around" better than you do, Joe. We know how to teach your kid his book learning. We know how to take care of your retirement funds. We know how to give you medicine. We know how to get you to work, and take care of you when you're not qualified. We'll get you a house, and some food to eat. Don't worry about it. Just get fat, and make sure you keep voting for us.

The "We" is the Department of Education, Social Security, Medicare, Employment, HUD, Food Stamps, Welfare... and pretty much all of FDR's New Deal, and LBJ's Great Society that I might not have pinpointed. It isn't important if any of these programs are successful, or have any measurable benchmarks worth mentioning. It's more important that they MEAN well. And it's always better to expand on them if they aren't successful, because obviously IF they're ineffectual it can only be because they're just not funded enough. There must not be enough enough administrators or middle managers.... we need more, so be sure to offer giant pay raises with no provisions other than longevity. And be sure to offer huge fat pensions, too.

You can hear this philosophy in Obama's campaign stump speeches.
He talks gloriously about giving tax breaks. But WHO is he giving tax breaks to?

“I think it’s time to give a tax cut to the teachers and the janitors who work in our schools; to the cops and firefighters who keep us safe; to the waitresses working double shifts, the nurses in the ER, and yes the plumbers fighting for their American Dream. These workers are the backbone of our country. They’re the ones that Washington has forgotten. They’re the ones I’ll fight for,”

Allow me a second to check my scorecard, but aren't most of these folks Federal or State employees already? Is he planning to nationalize the hospitals and restaurants too? No, not the restaurants. Or the Plumber's Union.

President Obama's America?

If the people believe that the country really is hosed, and that it's time to try something else - i.e. that the People have accepted Change. What are we going to get? We're going to get Chicago. Probably not the Change you were looking for. Sorry.

Obama's America is going to take Chicago's bloated, over funded, corruption and cronie run city hall and county government to a National level. Expect skyrocketing taxes - sales and income taxes, and an end of the Bush Tax cut that encourages companies to buy more stuff so they can write it off. Also expect tons and tons of Nanny State styled legislation - which limit freedoms - simply because you and your poor choices aren't as important as 'protecting the children.' Look to all those wonderful Chicago bans for some examples: Smoking bans, gun-bans, bans on certain breeds of dogs, cell phone bans, texting bans, bans on foie Gras, bans on dice games, bans on pet pigeons, bans on bans. That's only the first couple that rolled out of my head.

Then there are the ever increasing fees and sales taxes. Just like Chicago, businesses will be fleeing and firing in the wake of Change. As a result National unemployment will skyrocket just like Chicago's. As a result there will be a dramatic increase in the crime rate. If we're lucky, the Nation will only look like Chicago, and not downtown Detroit. Don't worry, the accountability will conveniently be passed back to George Bush. The Obama Administration has the potential to become a haven of corruption and cronieism not seen since the Grant Administration. And this has nothing to do with Obama himself - it's just the way Chicago governs.

And what will be done about it? The hearings and the constant watchful checks and balances of The House and Senate? You're kidding, right? It'll be packed with like minded folks lining their pockets with an endless supply of hard working people's tax dollars... just more than usual. That's if anybody who pays those taxes will still be working. The push to Nationalize medicine and steal that one Hillary Clinton 'comeback' platform will be on. Never mind it won't work - look at Hawaii's success with that. Remember, it's only about good intentions - not success or failure.

But who cares? If they don't get enough cash they'll just keep raising taxes. This philosophy works pretty well for Mayor Daley! (And a side note, if there isn't a Daley brother in President Obama's cabinet I'll be VERY surprised.) What is the recourse? All they have to do is say, "what're you going to do? Elect a Republican?! Shame on you for even suggesting that idea. They messed things up so bad that we came in as your Savior, remember?"

So if America's ready for Change - in the repackaged message - then they will have it.

Yes, that's the Change you can believe in....