Congrats to Obama (OT)

[Archive]

Posted By: LetsGoBucs

First, I also want to wish the new president well. I hope that in four years he wins a massive landslide re-election, because that would mean we've made great strides in the USA.

Second, I'm a "right-wing conservative". I'm also an American and proud of it. For those that want to bash Bush for everything wrong in the country, I'd say blame him for foreign policy (which he is responsible for), blame him for the handling of the war (he is commander in chief), but lets make sure we lay plenty of blame at the doorstep of individuals and Congress for overspending. For regulations passed under Clinton that Congress refused to reconsider and regulators that were a joke. Lets also acknowledge that there hasn't been another terrorist attack in the USA. That doesn't make the war on terror policy correct, but it is a fact (even if you say it was luck). But overall I think everyone can agree that in the past four years especially the country has not made great strides.

Third, I think Obama will be somewhat like Clinton. I think he's pragmatic. I think he's chosen people from a range of philosophies to surround himself with and will listen to. His biggest challenge will be that really for the first time he is running the show. And yes he ran a very effective campaign, but this is just a little bit bigger

The one thing that I really believe pulls this country apart was mentioned earlier. How can half of the people not pay taxes? My father was far from wealthy, far from middle-class, and in a good year was "lower-middle-class". He paid taxes, he never complained about it, he never felt someone else should pay his taxes for him. Our current situation leaves half the people believing things can be "free" and the other half believing they are being robbed. I personally believe in a progressive tax system. I believe those that benefit the most from our freedoms should contribute more to maintaining them. I am willing to pay more taxes as I realize that we have to balance the budget (then I want my taxes reduced). I also believe that everyone has a responsibility to contribute.

I truly hope Obama meant what he said about responsibility. I hope he follows through and that we don't see "bailout" of homeowners that bought an extra 200 or 300K of house that they couldn't afford. That we don't see any more bank bailouts with executives earning millions per year. That he doesn't give California and other fiscally irresponsible states billions to continue spending money on programs that in essence just exist to get people re-elected. We as a country have a lot of cleaning up to do and we do need to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and suck it up and work hard to get back to even. And no better way to convey that message than through actions that force individuals to take responsibility, states to take responsibility, Congress to take responsibility (ok they are idiots but I hope he can use the bully pulpit to force them to at least not do any more damage), etc, etc, etc.

Good Luck Mr President