President Barack Obama campaigned on change. Since his Inauguration, with the help of impressive Democrat majorities in both houses of Congress, he's gone full speed ahead in delivering on that promise!
He's committed trillions of dollars in spending, dramatically worked to expand the reach of the federal government in energy, healthcare and student loans, and launched expanded rescue plans for institutions "too big to fail." He's outlined timelines for withdrawal from Iraq and adjusted strategy in Afghanistan.
For a new president, he’s already planted numerous seeds in America's political ground. History will show whether those seeds come up weeds or bear fruit. Unfortunately, with a media engaged in a continuing lovefest, who’s even challenging the administration's talking points?
Could it be that the drop of popularity in newspapers and media coverage comes from a loss of trust in their balanced reporting? Hard-hitting coverage of what Obama’s liberal juggernaut could mean for America's future is rarer than the spotted owl!
In the movie, "State of Play," Ben Affleck plays an up-and-coming Congressman involved in a critical sub-committee inquiry. Russell Crowe plays his long-time friend and newspaper reporter, Cal McCaffrey. Without giving away any plots, Cal and his partner Della soon find that their hard-hitting journalistic digging forces them to overcome their own biases in pursuit of the truth in a very troubling murder. They dig as politicians dodge in an engaging story that brings viewers face-to-face with the difficult role reporters must exercise in a country committed to maintaining a "free" press.
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We need an army of reporters like Cal McCaffrey. Voters have questions, and inquiring minds want to know the truth.
Our public debt stands at over $11 trillion and grows daily. In the first quarter, our GDP shrank at a 6.1 percent yearly rate and over 6.3 million Americans are unemployed, but President Obama continues to promote new entitlements and more spending. Where’s the scrutiny on the administration's rosy projections about program costs and future revenue? Before we take on more debt, what debts are we already facing that we have no plans to address?
Columnist Walter Williams quoted Mike Whalen commenting on last year's Social Security Trustees annual report: "The report on the state of entitlement programs is rather grim—the combined unfunded liabilities (obligations that are not covered by an asset of equal or greater value) of both programs (Social Security and Medicare) are $101 trillion." Since entitlements never cost less than politicians first predict, what will Obama's expanded healthcare coverage add to our debt?
Our annual GDP is only $14 trillion when it’s healthy. Where will the money come from to fund these liabilities? Is it true that you could take all of the income of the top 5% of American taxpayers and not make a dent?
Reporters frequently cover President Obama blaming the Bush administration and everyone but Democrats for our current economic mess, but what hard-hitting journalists are exposing the Democrats’ role in blindly pushing banks into affordable housing? Where's the coverage on how Rep. Maxine Waters and Rep. Barney Frank consistently defended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and blocked Republican call for more regulatory oversight? Is it true that, as a senator, only Chris Dodd received more campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than Barack Obama?
When Obama says that "responsible" scientists support man’s contribution to global warming, where’s the coverage of scientists who dispute these findings? Reporters question any funding by oil companies, but what funding do "global warming" advocates receive by promoting the global warming hysteria? What could Obama's cap-and-trade tax plan do to our weakened economy and to Al Gore's wealth?
When Obama says all responsible economists support his economic spending plan, where's the coverage of reputable economists who disagree? Where are the stories isolating relevant history as to what economic policies work?
Many focus on the Great Depression, but what lessons can be learned from the severe economic downturn of 1920-21? To fight World War I, America significantly increased its money supply. When the Fed started to tighten at war's end, production fell 20 percent. Why didn't this become the first great depression? Because President Warren Harding did what Obama said can't work—he refused to intervene. That's right; you can do nothing and make things better! By letting businesses fail and prices fall, the economy was able to right itself.
Propping up failed companies by over-taxing successful ones has never been successful in sustaining economic growth! Instead of letting the economy right itself after the Crash of 1929, both President Herbert Hoover and FDR raised taxes, launched public works, extended emergency loans to failing businesses and lent money to states for relief programs. FDR further expanded government and entitlement programs. Sound familiar?
It was the post-World War II economic growth that brought America back. It's easy to beat your global competition when their cities are in ruin! It's time for our free press to its job in making current political majorities sweat instead of leading their cheering section!
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