Two political idealogies were on display. Both were dear to the hearts of the respective audiences. Both are seeking to gain ascendency in Washington. However, only one will win. Only one of these diametrically opposed political philosophies can guide the country toward success and freedom.
From Obama's speech:
"...what troubles me is when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad," said Obama, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree. "When our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it ignores the fact that in our democracy, government is us."Well, it sounds as though our President has been watching Fox News, which I heartily recommend he do frequently. While he correctly states that "government is us", he makes an error in referring to our form of government as a democracy. It is not a democracy, and one would expect a sitting president to know that, especially one who allegedly taught consitutional law. Our form of government is a democratic republic, constructed in that way by our Founders to avoid a tyranny of the majority.
After saying that our government is roads and speed limits, our military and our mine inspectors, he states that the financial meltdown was a result of too little government regulation, when history has shown that the lending institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were indeed following the law.
What led to the housing market crash was, and remains, the Community Redevelopment Act. This law had the good intention of allowing more Americans to own their homes, a worthwhile goal. But the way in which it attempted to sidestep the traditional method of homeownership in America with a good job as the foundation, led to many receiving home loans who did not make enough money to pay their mortgages. When this law was revised during the Clinton administration, it created the massive amount of toxic assets that were bundled in an attempt by financial institutions to make money from a bad law.
Soooooo, Obama misstated his point. The financial meltdown was the direct result of a bad law that remains on the books. This problem won't be solved unless and until this law is repealed.
It's just that simple.
Obama then turned to the subject of political discourse.
Obama urged both sides in the political debate to tone it down. "Throwing around phrases like 'socialists' and 'Soviet-style takeover,"fascists' and 'right-wing nut' - that may grab headlines," he said. But it also "closes the door to the possibility of compromise..."At its worst, it can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response."Mr. President, when we who know history see a failed pattern about to be duplicated, it's our duty as citizens to sound a warning. We see in your administration an attempt to move away from American values and toward more governmental interference in our daily lives, and we are correct to speak up. Or as Sarah Palin correctly noted, "The fundamental transformation of America is not what we all bargained for".
Compromise, as it's been practiced for the past few generations, has meant that conservative ideas are surrendered in favor of more governmental meddling, often unneeded, and generally counterproductive. More government was not what we voted for when you were elected, Mr. President. We expected a continuation of our form of government that recognizes and reinforces the liberty and freedom of the individual.
We have not seen that during your time in office.
We've seen something foreign to us and our way of thinking. We see the philosphy of government as sole arbiter and dispenser of goodness, and the first and last solution to every problem, replacing the American people and our inherent wisdom. We, who were born and raised here, view government as a necessary evil. Not embraced, but held at arms' length.
We'd much prefer to solve our own problems by ourselves, Mr. President, not go running to Mommy Government every time we have a dispute with our neighbor.
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