Loss of Faith

Yesterday, Vice President Biden spoke at a fundraiser in Dallas. In his speech, Biden lamented the sagging confidence of the American public in the efficacy of federal government. "I did not anticipate the degree of cynicism that had been reached by the American public" he said, as if his administration bore no fault. Biden went on to blame former President Bush. He claimed that the "greatest damage the Bush administration did - more damaging than the recession, their foreign policy - was the loss of faith the American people had in their government to be able to deliver on anything." That loss of faith has proven frustrating to the administration in its attempt to remake American society. The administration is relying on that trust but they are having a hard time earning it. They need every bit of it they can get their hands on if they are to achieve their ambitions.

Biden effused on how he didn't run for office just to administer the federal government. "I came to make a difference" he said. The administration is not concerned simply with managing the nation's affairs, they want to change America. Putting the cart before the horse, Biden asserted that "If we take care of the next generation, we'll win the next election" As if the American people needed government to take care of them. It is not readily apparent how the administration's policies will affect the future. There is at least one election before the future is here. Nor is it apparent how saddling the future generations with a mountain of debt can be understood as taking care of them. Biden's statement was a reflection of many liberals' desire to be needed by the people. Many liberals live in fear that the people might grow up someday and no longer need them. They want to keep the public at home where they can keep an eye on them and take care of them. Liberals need the public to want the government to take care of them if they are to succeed. They need to be needed.

Speaking with Vice President Biden was Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Durbin spoke with near rapture of the recent passage of of the administration's health care overhaul. "This is the biggest thing I've ever been involved in in my political life. It's new day." Durbin's remark reflects the administration's motives better than Biden's. They are less concerned about the welfare of future generations than they are in carving their names in history.

If the public has lost faith in the efficacy of government, it is not the Republicans' fault. Nor is it the Democrats' fault. It is both their faults. The federal government has run rough shod over the public in recent years. Each party has come to view victory as licence. While Bush often proved indifferent to public opinion, particularly in regard to foreign policy, the Obama administration has proved near contemptuous. The current administration viewed its impressive electoral victory in 2008 as an enthusiastic endorsement of its ambitions. The growing public unease at the administration's policies and the hardening opposition to its agenda suggest that, if there was a genuine endorsement of its policies rather than a simple desire for change and a frustration with Republicans, the public is coming to weary of it. Obama's sagging approval ratings and the optimism of Republicans concerning the Fall elections would seem to indicate that the bloom is off the rose for Obama.

At the moment, the administration is almost giddy over their victory on health care. The narrowness of that victory and the bitter contest that preceded it was not simple cynicism on the part of the public. It was genuine disagreement and distaste for the ambitions of government. Obama and the Democrats' heavy hand and strident rhetoric in pushing legislation through Congress has done more to embitter the electorate than Bush's policies. Biden has evidently forgotten the enthusiasm with which the electorate embraced Obama's election and the optimism it engendered as well as the message of hope that they ran on. If that optimism and hope are now spent, it is not the fault of Republicans. It certainly is not Bush's fault. It is the administration's fault.

It was Obama that tried to remake America. It was Obama who strove to create one new massive program after another. If there is a frustration on the part of the public as to the ability of government to right all wrongs and fix every problem, it is the government's fault for suggesting that it could right all wrongs and fix every problem. Reality is not as pliable as politicians would have us believe. The cynicism of the American public is the result of its realization that politics is politics and that it has fallen for a pitch yet another time.

In the face of waning public support for health care and increasing unease, the administration only increased its efforts to get its legislation passed. They didn't want the public to catch up. They did not want to wait for the fall elections to see if the electorate supported their efforts. Their reliance on bribes and procedural maneuvers to get their health care legislation through Congress was the very height of Washington politics and deal making. The massive spending by the Obama administration has cast a pall over Washington and the nation in regard to the nation's future and undermined the optimism of the American public. Its ambitions have made the public uneasy. Its stumbling in regard to the economy has done little, if anything, to restore confidence.

If you take the appeal and charisma of Obama out of the equation, it is likely the electorate would be downright hostile to government and its policies. It is Obama that is keeping the whole enterprise afloat. A president with less appeal than Obama would be hunkered in the White House by now, not out making speeches and giving interviews. The Democrats can blame the Republicans for the growing distaste for government, but unless they reevaluate their strategies and policies, there is little chance the public is going to change its opinion. If the Democrats insist on trying to change society and stiff arming the Republicans, the animosity in Washington will continue to grow and that animosity will spill over into the electorate. Confidence in government will continue to decline.

The Republicans are not to blame for the growing decline of faith in Washington. Washington is. Time and again, Washington over reaches in its ambitions. Time and again, Washington avows it will achieve some great thing. Rarely are great things be achieved. Washington's greatest achievements in the last 100 years were winning WWII and putting a man on the moon. Other than that, it has largely been a failure. When government fails to realize its goals often enough, the public will start to lose faith. If health care reform fails to pan out as promised, yet more faith will be lost. In that case, the Democrats will have no one to blame but themselves.

Americans don't always want, or need big things from government. Sometimes it is enough if the government would just leave the them alone. But there is no glory in that. The government doesn't want to leave the people alone. Like a doting parent, government constantly wants to help and be appreciated and so is constantly interfering and seeking to gain attention. It is quick to offer help but often inept at delivering it. What help it does provide always comes at a cost. The cynicism of the American people is not manufactured, it is earned. If Washington wants the faith and trust of the American public, it will have to work for it. And, if it achieves it, it will have to keep it.

It's Only Money

It was reported this morning that Social Security will pay out more money than it takes in this year. This was not expected to happen until 2016. This was attributed largely to the current recession. Due to the high unemployment rate, fewer people are paying into the system. Also due to the recession, more people are applying for benefits.

Nevertheless, the news will have no effect on benefits, at least for this year. The higher payouts and decreased revenue were not unexpected. People can rely on receiving their checks. At least for 2010. The program is not expected to deplete its funds until 2037. The Social Security Administration will supply its own forecast later this year. It is expected that the grim predictions will be verified. Former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan warned that "unless we get an immediate and sharp recovery, the revenues of the trust fund will be tracking lower for a number of years."

We needn't preoccupy ourselves over the dour news. President Obama is still on the job. Most agree that the economy will sooner or later pick up. It always does. And, if we are to take the administration's word, that recovery will be soon and it will be spectacular. It is just a question of when. In the mean time we shouldn't worry ourselves. Why should we? Billions have been spent on improving the economy. Nearly a billion more is going to be spent on health care. Things are going to be just fine, even if another billion has to be spent. Once people calm down and realize things aren't so bad, they will be out spending money. Despite the surging national debt and struggling economy, President Obama is not worried, so neither should we be. In any event, it's only money.

Even if the economy doesn't recover, people should not be concerned. The melt down will not occur for years. Obama will be long gone and many of us will be dead before the worst comes to pass. At least we have affordable health care to cushion our slow decline. That should keep people content for a while. As for Obama, if he has hopes of getting his image carved into Mount Rushmore, he may be in for dissapointment. It will be some time before his presidency is evaluated by history. But, judging from the numbers, his prospects at this point do not look good.

Can We Get a Break?

The ink has barely dried on the mammoth new health care bill and many are urging Obama to address the still struggling economy. Despite the $787 billion stimulus bill passed last year, the economy is still foundering. The National Urban League is calling on Obama to address high unemployment in minority communities. Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League asserted that, now that health care reform has passed, "it's time for a strong jobs bill." As it turns out, $787 billion was not sufficient to stimulate the economy enough to affect minority communities. Even the mammoth new health care law will not be enough to close the racial gap in unemployment according to the League: a fine time to point that out. Neither will the $38 billion jobs bill Obama signed Thursday be enough.

The National Urban League has proposed that $150 billion be spent for jobs creation through offering grants to cities and states. The money would be allocated on the basis of local unemployment rates. The goal is the creation of 3 million jobs. At $50,000 a job, it seems like a bargain. It is also proposed that an additional $5 billion to $7 billion be spent to hire 5 million teens from urban areas with high unemployment rates: that's $5,000 or more a teen. If those teens are put on the federal pay roll, the cost will go up significantly since they will have to be paid. The League is calling for a "jobs surge." Those jobs naturally would come with health care benefits. And not just any old package of health benefits, but the same health benefits available to federal employees. At the top of the list is the League's demand is that "a new federal agency be created to guarantee a job to every person seeking work to improve public works projects." A year ago, I would have been surprised if someone demanded a new federal agency dedicated to providing a job to every one who sought one. After last week, I am no longer so. If every American has a right to health care, it is not a stretch to assert that every American has a right to a job.

The administration's willingness to shovel out money as a solution to every problem is creating a new culture of entitlement. Groups and agencies are lining up to get their share of government largess. It is felt that every social, ethnic, and economic disparity can be remedied through the right amount of money and the right regulations. Government commitment is now measured in billions. The League believes that since the government has seen fit to spend hundreds of billions of dollars bailing out the insurance and auto industries, it is only meet that the government spend billions to create jobs in minority communities. They have a point. Why shouldn't everyone be allowed to drink from the river of money flowing from Washington?

If entrepreneurship was something that could be bought, many, if not all of our economic problems would be solved in short order. It is starting to seem as though Washington exists in a parallel universe where money is limitless. A place where human nature does not exist and the laws of economics do not apply. Perhaps, worst of all, it is a universe in which there is nothing beyond the reach of government and no problem or disparity that cannot be corrected through government spending and manipulation. After spending nearly a trillion dollars to stimulate the economy over the last year, the economy is still struggling. Perhaps spending $150 billion more as the Urban League suggests will be the thing to finally put the economy over the top.

The New Machine

Cheers rang out in Washington and across the country yesterday as Congress finally passed the health care reform bill after a year of bitter struggle. Obama will soon sign the bill into law. They have made their mark on history. Generations to come will look back on this moment, it is hoped, with admiration. Liberals, frustrated that they could not have been there for the New Deal or the March on Selma will proudly, and no doubt tediously, tell their grand kids that they were here for this. A great step was taken forward, at least as those who championed the bill assert. Government has been further ensconced as part of the nation's fabric. Tens of millions will be helped Obama said proudly. Perhaps. But billions will be spent.

Many on the left are downright giddy. They have a brand new tool with which to manipulate society. However what is lost amidst their glee is the realization that the government will not always be in their control. Sooner or later conservatives will get their hands on Washington and with it all the tools and levers liberals have worked so hard to put in place. They will use those tools and levers to very different purposes than liberals will like. Then it will be their turn to gnash their teeth and lament the danger and reach of big government.

The machine that was created yesterday belongs to the government, not to democrats and liberals. It will do what the government wants, not what democrats and liberals want. Those who welcome the new legislation with such satisfaction should be preparing for the day when the machine no longer belongs to them. That day could be coming as soon as this Fall. The time will come when liberals no longer embrace government but struggle against it. Then they will truly experience the monster they are working so hard to create. A key to evaluating policies and programs is to envision what your opponents would do with them if they in were charge. If that prospect is one that you find disturbing, you should reevaluate your support of that program or policy because, sooner or later, your opponents will be in charge.

In any event, millions of Americans will now be beholden to the federal government for their health care. That is just fine with Obama and Pelosi. The people didn't win yesterday. The government did.

That's a Relief.

By most accounts, Obama's health care plan will soon become law. When it does, I will breath a sigh of relief. As will many I am sure. Now, if I get sick waiting in line at the unemployment office for the new job Obama promised me, I can just mosey on down to the clinic and get taken care of. Then maybe I will stroll on over to the dealership to get me one of those cars Obama said he'd help me get awhile back. With the steps he has taken to improve the environment, it should be a beautiful day. No one will beat me up or call me names along the way because, if they do, they will get into big trouble. If I have enough time, I will look at new houses. Obama said he would help me with the mortgage.

With Obama and the democrats in Washington, it will not be long until all my wishes come true. Peace on Earth, a job, a house, health care, a car: it is as if every day is Christmas. Obama is turning out to be the greatest, kindest, and most beneficent president the United States has ever had. He has even won the Nobel Peace Prize. He still has at least two more years. Who knows what Obama will get me next? Maybe he can get me a girlfriend. Whatever it is, I can hardly wait.