It is November 2009 and the nation is floundering in a protracted recession. In 2008 we elected a charismatic, young president who promised us change that we can believe in. He is a nice guy but he hasn’t learned how to prioritize. What are the country’s top priorities? If you listen to the polls and the pundits they are the economy, health care reform, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, energy independence, the housing crisis, banking crisis, etc. Getting these priorities right is of paramount importance to the nation’s well being. Mr. President, the nation’s top three priorities are jobs, jobs, jobs!
But, what about priorities like health care reform and energy independence? Isn’t health care a crisis? Yes, health care has been a crisis since I have been alive. President Truman spoke of it in his 1952 presidential run. It is very important but it is not our top priority. Energy independence is also important but Cap and Trade is not about that. It is a thinly veiled attempt to transfer American sovereignty to unelected, unaccountable, international bureaucrats. We can debate the long term solutions to long term challenges, but today our top priority should be to get the 800 lb. gorilla off our collective backs. Mr. President, we need to stimulate the economy, increase production, and put people back to work.
It is the holiday season. Merchants will be running ads, slashing prices, jumping through hoops, and doing just about anything to get us to us to purchase their goods. In the end they will be feeling blue and seeing red. The reason for this is one of the most under- reported stories of the year. Lost in all the hoopla about the stimulus was just how the large major banks were able to pay back their tarp funds. They did it by doubling interest rates and reducing credit limits for their loyal customers. We bailed them out and in return they put the screws to us. The merchants will feel the pinch as a result of these banks’ actions.
The unemployment rate is 10.2 % and likely to go higher before it gets lower. The stock market is doing well due to the falling dollar. Tax revenues are down but, Mr. President, you plan to remedy that by soaking the rich. Soak um. However, that will more likely slow rather than increase job creation.
The engine of job creation is small business. I was encouraged to hear in your interview with Fox News that you were willing to ease the tax burden on small business. You also stated that you would encourage the banks to lend to small business. Could you add cutting capital gains and reducing unnecessary regulations to the list?
We should keep sensible heath care reform and energy independence on the table. Yet, with the dark shadows of a double dip recession, the steady loss of jobs, and a mounting, staggering national debt, the economy is in a real crisis and must be our immediate priority.
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