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Do Not Raise The Debt Ceiling!

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired.

When Obama told us that he would "totally change the economic system;" "totally change America;" and "totally change the world," he wasn't kidding. There has been much speculation that he "doesn't know what he is doing." In a sense they are right, but in one thing they are dead wrong and that is he intends to carry out his promises as they pertain to the country's economic system, its social system and how America fits into the international order. To think otherwise is to ignore the obvious.

Observing the United States of America destroy itself from within is one of the most heart rending, angering, events imaginable, but it is happening. Several years ago, I included sarcastic comments in an essay for the benefit of Osama bin Laden, exhorting him to be patient because all he had to do was wait and the US would destroy itself. Tragically, that sarcastic admonition is in advanced stages of coming to fruition.

The USA, once the economic envy of the world is fast becoming its whipping boy, its laughing stock, and its economic and social black hole. Once the defender of righteousness and good, it is declining into a pit of self-delusion, over-indulgence and Rome; except that it took Rome longer to fall than the length of United States history from its founding, to date.

The International Monetary Fund is based on the U.S. Dollar but if one has been paying attention of late, there have been some heavy weights that have called for a change from the dollar to some other form of international currency. Even light-weight, Islamo-facist Iran made similar calls during the past year. And despite Obama's now comical overtures directly to the Iranian people; his embarrassing "reset" with Russia; whatever gimmick he comes up with for China; his wild inflationary spending, dollar devaluing; financial markets takeover intended to generate pressure for a "total change to the world economic system," Obama voters told voters what he intended, now he is delivering. So, why the surprise?

In an AP article dated March 21, 2009, by Andrew Taylor, "Agenda on Track Despite Worsening Deficits" Taylor explains the projection of Obama Administration multi-trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. Deficits of that magnitude were not caused by the "failed policies of the Bush Administration" about which Democrat Candidate B. Hussein Obama railed with regularity during the 2008 election cycle. Whereas it had its beginning during the Bush Administration, the magnitude and scope of the present crisis is entirely and directly attributable to Obama's initiatives.

Bush Administration deficits were child's play, at $500 billion annually, by comparison to Obama's who in league with the socialists in Congress planned the failed multi-trillion dollar spending spree; which incidentally began with his $787 Billion "Stimulus Bill," followed by the $410 billion Omnibus, earmark-bloated spending Bill. Both of which are on top of the Bush Administrations paltry $138 billion stimulus bill and the $70 billion dollar bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and $30 billion Bear Stearns bailout.

In a laughable moment during a White House Press Conference Obama stated that we would move the economy from "borrow and spend to save and invest," this on the heels of the largest expansion of government spending in history. Of course leftist and RINO "lemmings" lapped it up, but reality is that the statement was made on the heels of ten year projections of multi-trillion dollar deficits. So, either Mr. Obama didn't have a clue, or he was, in a word, "prevaricating." Worse yet, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence that Obama and Democrats intentionally overspent to bring the dollar and economy to bankruptcy so that people will beg for a complete government takeover. And what would such a takeover be called, a bailout; or the advent of totalitarian communism?

Democrats and Obama repeatedly bashed President Bush for his "failed economic policies" for, "tax breaks for the rich," "excessive spending" (if one can believe that coming from Democrats, and the cost of the "unnecessary" War on Terror, albeit we are still at it notwithstanding Obama’s pledge that we would be out within three months of his taking office). Their stated theory was that if the rich had been adequately taxed there would be no need for deficit spending and associated borrowing. They point to the "surplus" from the Clinton years to the deficit in the Bush years to buttress their argument. Additionally, they blame the cost of the War on Terror as contributing to increased deficits and National Debt. If that was the case, why are we still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan? Heck, he’s even started a third one in Libya. (Aside: No amount of bombing short of a willingness to bomb Libya back to the Stone Age will remove Gaddafi, and even then it will likely not succeed.)

Why are the rich still benefiting from the Bush tax cuts, which Obama now, again, wants to stop, although six months ago he favored extending to save the economy? Wasn’t all this nonsense supposed to stop the moment he took office? Of course that was campaign rhetoric but he does continue working feverishly to "totally change the economic system," this time with another massive incremental increase in the Debt Ceiling.

With the benefit of a "retrospectrascope," it is fact that the downturn in the economy began when Democrats took over the Congress in 2007 after six straight years of economic growth under the Bush White House and Republican Congress. Further, Democrats including Obama voted in favor of the "Bush" stimulus bill and the bailouts for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Bear Sterns albeit those did not ignite the recession, that “miraculous” event was accomplished by the collapse of the housing sector thanks to Congressman Barney Frank and Senator Chris Dodd, both Democrats.

Obama repeatedly blamed President Bush for the "hand he was dealt," which like all good prevarications, contained elements of truth. But from the beginning he didn't divulge that his budget deficit projections were in the trillions of dollars, not for one budget or election cycle, but as far as the economic eye could see. All the while he smoothly intoned that he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his "first" term albeit with any luck at all, there won’t be a second term. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how he planned to do it. 

How could Obama possibly cut the deficit in half by the end of his term? After piling up enormous deficits for several years, all it would take to fulfill his promise to reduce the deficit by half during his first term would be to cut the obscene spending during his last year in office, and Voila! The deficit would be cut in half. Far fetched? Does one think he might be leading up to it in ongoing budget negotiations?  Anyone care to bet a dinner for four at Ruth's Chris Steak House? The reason he is resisting so mightily at this time is because the timing isn’t right to achieve the desired effect in the forthcoming elections.

In the event that Obama eventually agrees to cut the quadruple inflated budget in half, he would still be devaluing the dollar at a rate that is more than double that of the Bush years, but will have kept his promise to reduce the budget deficit in half (albeit there has not been a budget for the entire time Obama has been in office thanks to continuing resolutions by Democrats under Pelosi leadership).

The Unites States is on the cusp of a game of political chicken as has never before happened in this Nation. At stake is whether or not the U.S. will be brought to its economic knees by a President and Democrats who are in point of fact working to bring about a socialist/communist state with them in perpetual charge. Or will Republicans and conservatives in the Congress have the spine and skill to stay the course of economic freedom and emerge victorious over tyranny cloaked as populism.

There is plenty of current income for the Federal Government to pay its obligations! THE DEBT CEILING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RAISED, OBAMA KNOWS IT, GEITHNER KNOWS IT AND ANYONE WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION KNOWS IT! If it goes south without a raise in the Debt Ceiling, it is because Obama chose to do it in the way he prioritized spending. Eliminating the 400 thousand jobs he has added to the Federal Government since he took office would go a long way toward reducing the deficit/addition to the National Debt.

This fight is not about money, it is about changing the character and structure of the United States of America. U.S. citizens who believe in economic freedom should make your thoughts known to your Congressman and Senators! Otherwise, stand by for the fast ride into a Cuba, Russia, China, or some other "workers paradise."

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © July 24th, 2011 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author's expressed written permission.

Wonder Why Americans Are Frustrated?

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

Many, if not most Americans watch and listen to media news stories that are aired within minutes of occurrence if not presented in real time, then are analyzed until there is little left.  But to milk them, initial stories are followed by commentators who analyze further and predict which person or party would gain or lose. For example, the scandal that has the Murdoch Media Empire rocking back on its heels, another is Obama using scare tactics to frighten some seventy million recipients of Federal Government checks when he stated that he can’t guarantee they will be paid. (Could there be a political motive in his threat?)

In an essay written shortly after Obama took office we opined that Obama would bloat the budget to obscene levels, then to illustrate that he was fiscally responsible would strike a deal with the Congress to cut the budget in half (just as he promised). Voila! Two years later, the prediction unfolds with exactitude, not because of any clairvoyance here but because when reading his books and listening to him it became evident how he would play the “game.” 

Many in the media bemoan Obama’s “incompetence,” his ignorance, and his inexperience, indeed some even cite his “stupidity;” the left wrings its hands that the economy is failing to revive despite their having “tried everything.”  In keeping with standard White House communications procedure, Obama, grins and chuckles as he opines that the economy was worse than he expected and that the “shovel ready projects” he touted while pushing the “Stimulus” Bill weren’t shovel ready after all. With that in mind, Obama is no less culpable with respect to “shovel ready projects” than was G.W. Bush about WMD’s in Iraq, but do we hear any leftwing media (yes, “leftwing media” is mostly redundant) outrage?

For two and a half years we have been pointing out that the economy is not in a slump due to Obama’s incompetence, it is intentional!  All one has to do is to read Obama’s books and it becomes abundantly evident what he meant when he promised to “totally change the economic system,” “totally change America,” and “totally change the world.” This present economy is intentional, although the financial market and housing disaster brought about by Barney Frank and Chris Dodd may have been serendipitous to Obama’s goals. Obama’s intention is to destroy the Free Market system that has served this country not perfectly, but better than any economy in the history of the world and replace it with one that is along tribal or communal lines; or, stated another way, socialist or communist lines. 

Democrats enacted Obama’s 800 billion dollar “stimulus;” unilaterally enacted “Obamacare;” repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” bloated the National Debt some twenty five percent in two years where the interest alone is ten billion dollars per month, and printed so much paper that the dollar price of gold has tripled, oil has doubled, food prices are well on their way to doubling, and transportation costs driven by oil distillates such as gasoline are soaring to unprecedented levels. Someone recently pointed out, “but there are no soup lines as during the Great Depression.” That is because they are masked by the fact that 40 million, or about thirteen percent of the U.S. population receive food stamps.  Hey, he’s just spreading the wealth around!

DNC Chairwoman, Wasserman Schultz recently asserted, “We own the economy;” and, while Obama changes his tune minute by minute, he informed Americans over a year ago: “We have turned the corner but still have a lot of work to do.” It is naïve at best to attribute to Obama any interest in improving the economy in classical terms.  The facts in both rhetoric and actions point to intentional deconstruction of the economy from a Free Market model to a Government dominated model just like his father dreamed for Kenya. Anyone who continues to doubt this is out of touch with the reality of: what he promised, what he has done, what he is trying to do and the state of the economy. The essential and vital question is: “In total terms, economic, security, ethical and moral, are Americans better off under this Administration than preceding Administrations since the Carter debacle?”

Democrats’ trite and asinine mantra to solve the present economic crisis is: “Increase Taxes on the Rich,” even though a 90% tax rate on the “rich” would barely dent the increased debt burden they have heaped upon present and future generations.  If Obama is allowed to succeed, it will “Totally Change America” for generations; that is, until the natural yearning for economic freedom re-emerges.  Freedom is in the American DNA as set forth in the Declaration of Independence shown here: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

The Nation is at another crossroad of history, how future generations will fare rests with those presently in elected office.  Every patriotic American should make it a point to contact and urge their respective Senators and Representatives to “Stand fast!” against further expansion of the National Debt. Senator McConnell got it right when he said, “as long as Obama is President, it’s not possible to strike a real deal at all.” So, hold fast!

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © July 13th, 2011, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed, except it may not be used in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

Greece and Democrats

by Colonel Bob Pappas, United States Marine Corps., Retired.

“Let’s see if I have this straight. Greece is, but for Germany and other EU nations bailing it out, bankrupt. The long and short of how that happened is that Greece having joined the EU adopted a cradle-to-grave economic model and embarked on paying its workers dream salaries and retirement benefits, not to mention “universal” health care, such as that is. Costs rapidly escalated given increases both in the number and breadth of government programs. Having found liberal lending at the EU “trough” the cure to its expanding largesse, Greek politicians believed the “borrowing well” was infinitely deep and would be a permanent cure for its spending addiction, much like U.S. Democrats and RINOs. In the meantime, Greek government unions, similar to California, Wisconsin and other places kept beating the drum for more. The government responded by borrowing more so politicians could dole it out to union members who in turn paid union dues, a portion of which was then used to help elect the same politicians who would continue the cycle.

But, interest on the borrowed money i.e. the Greek national debt, began to mount to the point where the EU realized that Greece was too far extended to service, much less repay its debt. The scenario is somewhat reminiscent of Zorba with Greece representing Zorba, in “Zorba, the Greek.” When responsible people at the EU awakened to the fact that it was impossible for Greece to service its debt, it instructed Greece to find ways to economize. For a short time the Greek Government “cooked the books” but was soon found out and forced to begin to tighten its economic belt. Greek Unions/Socialists/Communists reacted by blaming everyone but themselves and the situation turned ugly; Unions foment riots seen daily on TV in response to legislative grappling with the out-of-control economic situation. Were Greeks so stupid like Zorba, as to believe there would never be a day of reckoning? (Are U.S. Democrats/RINOs any different?) That EU membership would not exact a toll on its sovereignty? (Democrats in general could care less about sovereignty.) That borrowing more than the country could produce would have no consequences? Talk about arrogant! “Because I am, you owe me,” a concept with a familiar ring in certain U.S. circles.

Across the Atlantic in Washington, D.C. Democrats and RINOs have the mistaken impression like Greek politicians, that the county’s wealth is theirs to give or take, and if taxes are not generating enough revenue, “raise taxes on the rich,” or borrow more from Communist China. In short those people believe that the Federal Government owns the Country.  Why else would Congressional Democrats unilaterally enact "Obamacare" over the objections of the large majority of U.S. population who will be stuck with the bill? Their mindset is abundantly manifest in the laws they have enacted. Notwithstanding their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, most are interested only in advancing their political careers, serving themselves and pocketing the change. 

Democrat strategy has always been to overspend then “force” an increase in taxes to cover the costs. In the past that worked because of the expanding economy, but this time spending is so obscene that U.S. citizen taxpayers are rebelling.  How to deal with the resultant debt is the struggle in the ongoing budget debate in Washington.

Increasing taxes on “the rich” would not work even if increased to 100% because there is not enough money even at that rate to cover Democrat/RINOs spending. Incidentally 100% taxation was Obama’s father’s “dream” not just on the rich, but everyone. If those who presently pay no taxes believe they will escape, think again, they will be forced to work, the days of the free ride are over, to at long last help carry the load of their “entitlements.” “Where’s my check?”

For decades Democrats/RINOs have spent so much that as of now future generations of U.S. taxpayers will pay taxes that are so high they will essentially work to support the government and government programs. Stated another way, everyone will work for the government and the country will have arrived at the oxymoron of a socialist utopia. This prospect is both the essence and fulfillment of Obama’s and Democrats’ strategy to “spread the wealth around.” Although there is plenty of precedent to show that their model fails 100% of the time, liberals, whether in Greece or the U.S. are endowed with the inherent and inalienable intellectual fallacy that they are somehow uniquely equipped to pick up the clean end of the socialist “turd.” 

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © July 2, 2011, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed, except it may not be used in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.