In Obamaland All You Need Is The Willing Suspension Of Disbelief ….

In September 2007, when Senator Clinton was questioning General Petraeus about the war in Iraq, she commented that his report on Iraq required "a willing suspension of disbelief." Little did we know that what she was really doing was giving the nation a “heads up” on what we need to understand what is currently happening in Washington DC.

How else can one explain the spectacle of hearing our President tell us that he now supports PAYGO (pay-as-you-go rule) budgeting . Under PAYGO, new spending or tax changes can not add to the federal deficit. According to Wikipedia, “new proposals must either be ‘budget neutral’ or offset with savings derived from existing funds. The goal of this is to require those in control of the budget to engage in the diligence of prioritizing expenses and exercising fiscal restraint.”

According to our President, “Congress can only spend money if it saves money elsewhere. Entitlement increases and tax cuts need to be paid for because borrowing to finance them is not a sustainable long term policy.” And, my personal favorite “paying for what you spend is basic common sense.”

Listening, I was thinking: This is like hearing a lady of the evening suddenly extolling the virtues of virginity. If you’re outraged by this comment, consider some (inconvenient) facts. Within sixty days of ascending to power, the Congress and the President passed a Stimulus Bill, and a Supplemental Appropriation in excess of One Trillion Dollars (actually about 1.2 Trillion Dollars). Then the President submitted a Federal Budget in excess of 3.5 Trillion Dollars, with annual deficits in excess of One Trillion Dollars for years to come. And when you factor in that this new found fiscal discipline does not apply to discretionary spending, or about 40% of the federal budget, you can only conclude that neither the President nor the Congress has even a remote interest in “paying for what you spend.”

Beyond the spending issues, there is the job situation. This Administration loves to talk about the number of jobs that have been saved. Never mind the fact that this is the first time we are hearing about a “saved job” statistic, and that it is impossible to validate this statistic. What is important to note is that at the beginning of January, 134.3 million people were employed; at the start of May, 132.4 million Americans were working. That sure looks like a net loss 1.9 million jobs, instead of an increase of 150,000 “saved” jobs? We were told that unless the stimulus bill passed unemployment would go over 8%; today the unemployment rate (even with the passed stimulus bill) stands at about 9.4%.  Does anyone bother to check these facts before making speeches?

Now the President tells us that the proposed new health care programs will not cost the taxpayers a dime even though the Senate estimates that  the price of these health care “fixes” at 1.6 Trillion Dollars over the next ten years. That is why you need to have a “willing suspension of disbelief” (where a speaker creates a fantastic tale with human interest and a semblance of truth in order to get individuals to suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the tale), to understand our leaders.

Folks, these are not Donkeys or Elephants issues; frankly, it makes no difference if you’re a Republican or Democrat. What does matter is that citizens check the facts after hearing all these great speeches. And since the traditional media sources such as the newspapers and major TV networks apparently have no interest in checking the facts, you’re going to have to do it for yourself and ask the important questions.

For example, will annual deficits in excess of One Trillion Dollars have an impact on our country or our standard of living in the future? As one pretty smart economist noted: “No one has repealed the law of gravity.” What he was really saying is that actions have consequences. Government stimulus during a recession is important, but we have gone way beyond stimulus. Our government has taken over major financial institutions, two auto companies, and if they have their wishes, they will dictate the quality of health care in this country for years to come. Is this what “hope and change” is all about?  

Let me close with a challenge to our readers: You have a choice to make. When your kids and/or grandkids ask you what you did, or where you were when this great nation mortgaged its future for generations to come, how will you respond? Will you tell them that you sat on the sidelines while the game was being played because you were too busy or perhaps you just didn’t care?. Or will you be able to say that you stood up, made your voice heard, and did every thing you possibly could to pass on to them a brighter future? It is a decision that only you can make.

Taking the first step to get in the game is simple. Call your Senators and Congress person and telling them to stop mortgaging and giving away our future.  

TranzAct Technologies, Inc.