Posted on 01/02/2012 7:52:19 AM PST by Kaslin
President Obama may best be known as the president who took kicking the can down the road to new, unimagined levels. Obama has demonstrated an unusual ability to delay decision-making, to obfuscate issues, to divert attention from matters of critical importance, and his preference to take half measures when pushed to the brink is now well known. Obama is the Grand Master of Kicking the Can Down the Road.
But in 2012 that seems likely to change—the can is going to kick back.
The problems besetting our nation can only be ignored and obfuscated for so long—and the past three years of the Obama Administration shows that things have gone about as far as they can go.
Here are some likely can kicking back scenarios.
• Young adults and college-aged students get angry. Bad as matters may be for taxpayers, small businesses and minorities under the Obama Administration, matters are far worse for young adults who have the highest unemployment rates, both short-term and sustained, and little hope, in the short-term of improvement. College student loan rates have reached legendary highs and with parents who are also either unemployed, overextended credit-wise and facing diminished retirement savings, these young adults are facing a tsunami of debt in the upcoming years. Soon, these young adults are going to wake up to the realization that the added $4 trillion dollars in indebtedness, courtesy of the Obama Administration, must be paid back by their generation. Team Obama has falsely promised an ever-expanding set of entitlements that the country can’t afford and the young are left with the bill. The young adult population, which almost overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the last election, are going to wake up to the unhappy realization that Obama’s promise of “hope and change” is really just host and chains—a 21st century version of parasitic slavery—with young Americans enslaved by debt. That can will kick back fiercely and the inter-generational animosity, aware of Obama’s unfair wealth redistribution plan that forces the next generation (and most likely the one after that too) to pay the costs of this generations fecklessness--will be fierce.
• The economy does not recover. Small business owners and entrepreneurs who have been the brunt of many of Obama’s attacks, through excessive regulation and increased fees and taxes, are not able to ignite the American job machine as they have in the past. Small businesses account for 3 out of every 4 jobs created in the United States, but Obama persists in demonizing these work-horses of the American economy. Obama’s attempts to incite class warfare (and other examples such as Harry Reid’s determination to ignore the contributions of business owners in this country) may cause this “can” to kick back. Already, the reports are in that show that during 2011 there were less IPOs than in the past 10 years. IPOs, while not the sole indicator of success, are an indicator of the state of small businesses and entrepreneurship in this country since IPOs are one of the ways that businesses obtain access to capital, measure growth and financing for long-term enterprise expansions. Even in the federal market, small businesses are being hit hard as surveys show that in 2011, there were far fewer, first-time, entries into the government contracting arena and that far fewer small businesses provided first-time goods and services to the federal government.
• The can could also kick back over Obama Administration scandals—of which there is a large menu—but where “Fast and Furious” and “green contracting” endeavors such as the bankrupted Solyndra top the list. Americans should expect that these are just the tip of the iceberg of bad Obama Administration policies in action. And, Americans should also expect that the oversight from congressional committees such as the House Oversight committee led of Chairman Darryl Issa will be fair, measured and balanced but will undoubtedly uncover even more egregious excesses from the Obama Administration’s partisan politicking and crony capitalism.
A new EPA leader will be required. Americans for three years have watched an assault on job creation and economic growth in a quixotic effort to achieve dubious environmental goals. Yet somehow, Obama has not been held accountable for the many weird decisions (attempts to kill of coal fired power plants, regulatory maze to prevent the exploration of oil and gas are just two). Our nation needs a coherent energy plan that allows for safe production of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power as well. The biggest impediment to developing such a plan is the EPA’s extremist environmental views that now intrude on every aspect of American lives and has been given expanded powers to regulate our every breath of air. The path we are now on is just plain crazy.
Lastly, 2012 should see the can—finally--kicking back on Obama’s tendency to define as “racist” any voiced disapproval to his ill-thought, ill-executed policies. The United States is a nation that has elected its first minority president, a nation that provides more supplemental assistance to minorities than any other country in the world, and should not be labeled “racist” by the very man benefitting from the open-mindedness of the American people.
Obama needs to understand that it is not the “color of his skin” that causes problems with the American people, but, rather, the “content of his character”, that leads him to disrespect the first principles that have made this the greatest nation on this earth, that causes the push-back from many Americans.
No other President in American history has been so determined to avoid pressing issues, to delay until tomorrow the unpleasant, and heap the costs and bills to be paid on the next generation--all because Obama is not able to summon the leadership required.
Obama has taken can kicking to “unprecedented” levels during the past three years. You’d think, by now, his foot would be tired.
But, watch out Obama—2012 is the year when the can kicks back.
As horrible as he is, Obama stands an excellent chance of being reelected.
If he is, then God help this country
...play golf on vacation.
An excellent article! And that it’s written by a female African-American is all the better in helping to avoid it being dismissed as “more Tea Party racism”.
She identified a number of urgent, difficult problems that MUST be dealt with to restore our national prosperity. Obama has had his chance, and he has failed. It is now time to replace him, but these challenges will not be easy to solve, no matter who is at the helm. However it will be a start to at least get the ship of state pointed in the right direction!
I agree. I still vote, but am absolutely convinced the ballot box has become a worthless lost cause.
Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?
Obama now has a record. While the media won't examine that record, you can be assured the Republican ads will highlight it.
” you can be assured the Republican ads will highlight it. “
Really??
What, in recent history, leads you to believe that the Republicans will campaign so aggressively (and, in the process, risk being called names by NYT, WaPo, et.al)??
I’m hopeful, but hardly ‘assured’.....
“Most people just take abuse without ever fighting back.”
I agree with you. Among my circle of friends and associates I’m seeing fatigue set in and a weariness with the constant stream of bad news. I’ve heard many say neither party represents their interests and they now just ignore the media while they struggle to survive. Most seem to believe the system is rigged and Obama will win. Even my wife from time to time wants to raid our savings because she believes the Obama will win reelection and the government will eventually take private savings.
To reverse the malaise the Republican candidate is going to have to inspire and energize the population. We desperately need a real leader, not a nominee who has paid his dues to the party. The winning strategy is to run a campaign that makes people want to vote “for” a candidate. Unfortunately the Republican establishment seems intent on running once again on the “you may not like us but we’re better than the alternative” platform. There is nothing inspirational about that.
2012 THE YEAR OF CONSEQUENCES!!!
You’re absolutely correct; 2012 will bring no improvements and the election is, for all practical purposes dead on arrival. Even if Romney is elected, which I seriously doubt, (and the other candidates are as pointless), there won’t be any changes because at least 2 things have become quite obvious; 1) Congress is pointless, there are no political solutions comeing from Congress.....ever, at least not without serious institutional reforms and 2) on many domestic issues, and more obviously on the international stage, both parties play from the same “play book”, apparently authored by un-named elites that are the gov’t puppet masters.
Thus, on the Domestic issues, we see unfettered immigration through the open borders program; economic ruination in the form of expansion of entitlement programs such as HUD, etc.; take-over and ruination of the economy by the unelected regulatory bureaucrats at the EPA and other such agencies, and on, and on, and on. Meanwhile, the U.S. is forced to play “world cop” and forced to support a super-military and its huge budget.
The can will kick back as the national debt continues on past 15 Trillion to 20 Trillion and ultimate, bankruptcy. They who hold dollar bills in this debacle will be ruined.
I firmly agree with you, but what I find interesting is how many others don't see the oncoming train as they walk the tracks.
It is surprising how many others can’t see the truth of this and I think there’s a number of reasons for it. First off is that fully 50% of this population is dead/numb from the neck up; they only think about the next pair of tennis shoes or video games, bling, Cadillac escalades, etc. They are essentially just taking up space. Of the remaining 50%, 60% are unthinking “Democrat/Independents”; they’re Kool-Aide drinkers, but worse, they have absoutely no real education other than gov’t propaganda. That leaves 40% of 50% or 20%, that have a decent “classical” education, but only approximately 40% of that 20%, or 8% of the population, has any real “financial/economic” background, whether self-taught, or by educational pursuit.
Second, of the 30% who are Kool-Aid drinkers and the 12% with “independent” educations but no economic back ground, it can be said that they simply can’t accept “thinking the unthinkable”; the economy, its booms/busts, stock market gyrations, etc., have “all ways been”. They can’t accept or really even imagine things being any other way. I read a fascinating article about this phenomenon and the “experts” have given it a fancy scientific name I can’t remember, but it is a fascinating phenomenon and it explains the Blank Stare you get when you propose the obvious cataclysmic outcome of the political/economic policies of the last 50 years.
So.......I could be off by some percentage points, but my “back of the envelope” calculation leads me to believe that only about 8% get it and I’d be willing to bet that 80% of them are over 50.
And that has implications in and of itself! Face it, the “over 50” crowd were the last recipients of anything resembling a decent education, and second, if other “over 50” people are anything like me, they’ve long since given up trying to explain this crap to anyone less than 50, if for no other reason than we’re all tired of the BLANK STARE!
It is my understanding that the Fed is the only entity doing any major buying at Treasury auctions. Does anyone know if that is true? Cause if it is, then the “can” can no longer be kicked, it’s over the cliff and the die is set, we are screwed.
The downside.. it looks like we're faced with watching the roof falling in before most regain consciousness regarding what's been happening
A large percentage of those will probably be demanding a senate investigation as to how this could've happened.
I swear we've been cast into an alternate reality.
I’m part of the 20% that gets it, but I am not 50 years old, yet...
What is apparent today is the fact that most of the folks that don’t get it are part of the generation that is coming to voting age that is a product of the “participation trophy” group...If 2+2=5, thats ok little Johnny or Sally, at least you tried...
Kick the can down the road...Sounds familiar doesn’t it???
We that get it are going to have to have a battle of wits with those that expect, and demand, something for nothing, based on having no wits to fight or argue with in the first place...
It is a losing battle for all that wish to play...
And those that want to claim political independent (non-commital) status...
Well, get the hell out of my way...I have no use for you...Make up your mind for a change, because you are only adding fuel to the fire that will consume us ALL!!!
BTW, if I am only 47, do I have to claim an over 50 political awareness status??? Or do I have 3 years of limbo I have to endure before I am considered politically wise before my time??? hehehe ;-)
Ha, ha......you brought a smile to my face with this one. In the spirit of humour, I’d have to ask this question. You wrote.....”We that get it are going to have to have a battle of wits with those that expect, and demand, something for nothing, based on having no wits to fight or argue with in the first place...”
Just how the hell are we going to have a battle of wits with clowns that have no wits to begin with?????? Those are the dummies that give me the “Blank Stare”.
Also in the interest of sanity (humor), 47 year old; I remember it well. Yes, you can claim the “over 50 political awareness” status, although......wasn’t I talking about “economics awareness”???? See, the deal is that 47 is the age we typically come to realize that we’re irrelevant. Irrelevance is like, Liberating, in many respects. At 47, we just don’t count anymore; we’ve got one foot in the “its all about youth” place and one foot inching over the cliff of “Elderhood”. Once you enter the abyss of “Elderhood” your really screwed and irrelevant except to people who now begin to eye you as a potential target for rip off, or perhaps inheritance. With Elderhood comes near invisibility; many don’t even look at you when your introduced to them. Doctors eye you with suspicion and then whip out their calculators to figure out what they might charge you for should you suddenly keel over.
So, go for it.....no Limbo for you; hell, at 47 you probably can’t even DO the Limbo anymore!
Its felt like an alternate reality to me for quite some time now; that’s a great analogy.
Another one I use is, its like multiple time lines were available and somehow, I got onto the wrong one along with this awful cast of spastic clowns, cheerful idiots, and whack bastard moonbats.
How the hell did we get on this train?????
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