A Bridge Too Far

EconomicNoise.com

Tom Lester, a concerned American, explains why he writes and why he cannot vote to re-elect President Obama:

As an American I began writing some four years ago expressing my views to anyone who would listen or read my words. To say the least, I was a reluctant voice but did so for two reasons: First, to make amends for the many years in which I had sat idly by and watched, and undoubtedly silently complained, of the increasing governmental encroachment in all our lives. And secondly, to be hopefully a small voice in alerting my fellow citizens that growing government would negatively impact their offspring and grandchildren in ways we could only imagine.

Some will allege that I am a conservative. Guilty. Some will think that I always choose Republican over the Democratic view. It’s partially true in that the GOP espouses the principles of smaller government, balanced budgets, less state regulation and lower taxes. ”Espouses” yet Republicans too often depart walking the talk in the pursuit of expediency and attuned much too often to the next election cycle.

Some will note my criticism of the President and his Administration. Again guilty. Admittedly, I did not vote for Barack Obama in 2008, nor will I in 2012, because of his failure to specifically explain the meaning of “transform America” and unambiguously provide the details of how “Change” would be implemented. Contrary to what some may think, I was hopeful that the fears I had with Obama’s election would be unfounded. It was historic that America elected to the highest office our first Black president. It signaled, for me, the cessation of the endless argument that a man would never be allowed to achieve his potential because of the color of his ski

 

Had the new President focused on the economy and job creation with free market policies, his re-election would not be in question today and perhaps I would view him as one of our better presidents. He believed, I think, the economy would recover on its own for which he could have taken credit, and focused instead on social programs with massive government spending, and in so doing confirmed my fears. I can’t know if Obama is a socialist at heart but I do know that my reading of history compels me to compare many of his actions with social governments past and present. The outcomes of the departure of the free market has been catastrophic, ultimately leading to the demise of the governments of those countries.

The success of America has always been vested in the strength and growth of its economy. Today after almost four years, we have over 8% unemployed; that’s 23 million unemployed people! And there are an estimated additional 9% underemployed and those who have lost hope. That’s a national disgrace. We have an anemic economy averaging about 1.7% quarterly GDP growth. We now borrow about 40 cents of every dollar the Federal government spends, and the national debt just reached $16 trillion.

None of us can know with any degree of certainty that Mitt Romney will be a great President or even a good one, only history of his record can make that judgment. But we can judge the four last years and it’s not a record to be applauded. Ask the 17% unemployed, underemployed and those who have given up hope, “Would you prefer to have the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, estimated to cost $1.7 trillion in new spending through 2022 and add over $500 billion in associated tax hikes, or would you prefer having a job?” I think history would tell them we need a change.

For me and for those who honestly base their judgment on logical thinking, voting for the re-election of Obama is simply a bridge too far.

Tom Lester

Mr. Lester can be reached at tlester2010@gmail.com

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