It’s (NOT) the Economy, Stupid!
January 28, 2012 at 2:40 pm in Blog by Steve Davies 26 Comments
By Michael Prell -
What happens if the economy gets better?
If you are a Republican candidate, who has built a campaign around being a better manager of the economy, a better economy (without the benefit of your management) would spell the end of your campaign.
We can see this happening right now.
A small downtick in the jobless rate from a catastrophic 9% to a slightly less catastrophic 8.5% has spurred an obedient media to declare that the economy has turned a corner, thanks to the management of the Obama administration, and to change horses now would put America’s economic recovery at risk.
None of this is true. But none of this will matter if the Republican nominee runs a campaign on which candidate will better manage the economy.
The 2012 election is not about the economy. It is a battle for the heart and soul of America. The American idea. The American philosophy.
Barack Obama is a philosophical warrior. He set the philosophical stage for his re-election campaign in Osawatomie, Kansas on December 6, 2011. In that one speech, he invoked the name of ‘fairness’ fifteen times.
“It’s not fair” is one of the first things we say as children. This non-thinking urge for fairness lies dormant within all children, and becomes dominant within those who fail to grow up. Case in point: the Occupy Wall Street Movement, whose one unifying idea was that it was “not fair” that some people had more than others. That worldview resonated with Barack Obama, who said to them in November: “You are the reason I ran for office.”
But, as any child who has spent less than four years on earth understands: life is not fair. President Obama, who has spent less than four years in the White House, does not understand that life is not fair. Or worse: his polling shows that he can stoke the childlike instincts of a plurality of voters, and get re-elected under the banner of fairness.
A child with one cookie will look at another child with three cookies and cry to his mommy: “It’s not fair!” A bully child will forcibly take one cookie from the other child to restore “fairness.” But a truly bad child will demonize the other child for having three cookies, whip up the playground into a jealous frenzy, and march on the “unfair” child to take away his cookies.
If it’s childish when a child does it, then what is it when the leader of the free world does it?
We used to have something called “The American Dream.” It was the belief that America was the land of opportunity. The place where the world’s huddled masses could come to make better lives for themselves. The land where anyone could grow up to be President.
This desire to be #1 is deeply ingrained in the American character. If being #1 means having more cookies – congratulations – you have achieved the American Dream. And your “unfair” allotment of cookies (or cars or cash or corporations) will stand as a beacon in this land of opportunity: an inspiration to those who use their blessings of liberty to pursue the American Dream.
They might even open a cookie store.
In the late 1970’s, America suffered under a president who sought fairness over freedom and equality over the American Dream. In his now-infamous “Crisis of Confidence” speech in 1979, President Carter said “Our nation must be fair…I will lead our fight, and I will enforce fairness in our struggle”
Carter’s philosophy was defeated by Ronald Reagan’s philosophy, which he articulated when he launched his campaign: “I cannot and will not stand by and see this great country destroy itself. Our leaders attempt to blame their failures on circumstances beyond their control, on false estimates by unknown, unidentifiable experts who rewrite modern history in an attempt to convince us our high standard of living, the result of thrift and hard work, is somehow selfish extravagance which we must renounce as we join in sharing scarcity. I don’t agree that our nation must resign itself to inevitable decline, yielding its proud position to other hands.”
The philosophical heir to Jimmy Carter is in the White House now. It took a philosopher to beat Jimmy Carter. And it will take a philosopher to beat Barack Obama.
It’s not the economy, stupid. It’s the philosophy.
Michael Prell is a strategist for Tea Party Patriots, and an award-winning international communications expert.
This isnt going to happen. the fact that the Feds have just settled with the banks around the auto signing process around taking homes back – should let you know that even if the basics around econ recovery had been in place. the MASSIVE amounts of homes that will start to be foreclosed on sometime around june of july of this year will kill ANY recovery that MIGHT… MIGHT have been in the pipeline… but no such recovery exsist. when the news of these take backs start people will hold on to what little money they currently have. some companies will start laying people off again. the econ will crash again
Plus, they are atificialy holding down the interest rates. Once the election is over watch those skyrocket no matter who wins.
I am not an activist in the Occupy Movement, nor am I extremely politically-involved. However, I think this article sweeps the “99%”, (for lack of a better, less-stereotypical reference), under the rug by missing the entire point of the FREEDOM to protest. Being on the very low end of the 99% myself, I’m not one to say that someone who has worked extremely hard deserves to have ANYTHING taken away from them; I agree that that’s immature, as you put it, and wrong. I also strongly think that our country needs some serious evaluation as far as leveling the playing fields here. Personally, I came from a poor family, am currently attending Michigan State University, and I have busted my ass my entire life, after watching my parents try to do the same. For you to make the implication that people are in the lower positions they’re in due to a lack of hard work, well, I think you’re selfish, and ignorant at that. Perhaps you’ve never been through the slums of life trying to scrape by to feed your family every day of the week, but I was raised in that exact situation, and I’ve never felt anything but a stronger sense of self, until I got to college. Now that I realize I can’t afford to do my laundry, feed myself, or have any of the opportunities my peers have, I’ve lost faith in the American dream of endless opportunity. I took a huge leap coming to such a big university, and I currently have a 3.4 GPA and two jobs. None of my friends here work as hard as I do, and they’re all getting college paid for; I have over $13,500 worth of loans out and I’m not even into my junior year yet. I was practically told I HAD to come to college to be a success, so I chose a prestigious school, earned better grades than most that I know, (I was also told I had to get ahead of everyone at my school for a chance at success), and now after all of my hard work, what do I have? An empty plate at night, while my peers eat at restaurants all around campus that I’ve never been to, and bags under my eyes from seemingly endless hours of homework and work. What kind of damn American dream is that? It’s all about the money that came before you, and that is NOT what our country was founded on. Our equal opportunities are gone, and people don’t realize it because they’ve never had to deal with it themselves. I’m a slave to this government, and no matter how hard I work I will be in debt for YEARS before I’ll ever even live a middle-class life. And hopefully, just HOPEFULLY, I can enjoy the fruits of my labor after I work well into my fifties. All I have to say is most people in the 1% have done next to NOTHING to earn it, and I have been working harder than ever with nothing to show. Freedom for everyone…? Or freedom for the ones who were born with it?
If you keep working as hard as this, it WILL pay off!
Well said. I couldn’t agree more. Both the top and bottom one percent are considered more than those of us who toe the line. We and the 99% er’s are two sides of the same coin. We are under represented and taxed severely. I sympathize with our predecessors the colonists. Working from within (Tea party candidates) has done little to improve our lots, hard work and stress are leading us to early graves. What remedy exists for us?
You have my sympathies and my support. However, ‘leveling the playing field’ will only spread the misery equally. That, I’m afraid, won’t work. Ask the Soviet Union, Cuba, N. Korea or the victims of Pol Pot, if you can find them.
Very well said. It is truely unfortunate that the OWS (old world socialists) and B.O. have such child-like minds that they cannot understand that fairness is not about equality of result. Fairness is about equality of opportunity where all are required to play by the same rules. Equality of result is not guaranteed.
Even better said. Socialism is an immature and in fact, childish response to perceived inequality in social status. Most of us don’t wanna be rich. We’re happy without all that. But lots of folks are busy ‘priming’ the wrong pump and don’t understand that ‘making’ money is not gathering money, it’s making the economy bigger. Tax cuts prime the pump by getting the rich to invest directly into the economy and not in just confiscating their wealth. BO bailed out the wrong people. If you’re gonna use taxpayer money, bail out the taxpayers, not AIG.
All it took was one article from this group to make me realize what a disaster a Tea Party Presidency would be. Thanks for the heads up.
My thoughts exactly!
You are completely missing the point. For most sane people no one cries unfair for having more cookies. What is being protested, what is unfair are the rules by which those cookies are obtained. If your kid with 3 cookies got them by stealing from other kids, then your bully is not a bully, he is a hero. This is why most of the self made wealthy people in this country like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who made their money through their own innovation and not through the old boys network support President Obama. They don’t need laws that favor the wealthy to succeed.
Ideology
The populous has to come to the realization that the ideology of freedom is not flawed. The progressive right thinks the managing the economy better is the answer; however, the slow and consistent influx of compromise in ideology is why we are at the current crossroad.
The populous points blame at companies, banks, and any organization and or person that is successful; their anger is misguided. By allowing the constitution to be diluted and the expansion of central planning has driven the masses to misinterpret the causation of our plight.
The expansion of government into the personal lives of the individual will only continue. The lack of conviction by our congressional leaders in our constitutional principles has allowed Obama to step outside the constraints of the office into a semi dictatorial position.
Everything he organized against in Chicago he has become the bourgeoisie; he blames the masses for his own aspirations. By pointing out the perceived flaws of others is an attempt to convince the populous his ambition is righteous.
NDAA “National Defense Authorization Act” which gives authority for American citizens to be arrested on American soil and detained indefinitely without trial. This act (NDAA) is clearly a violation of our Constitutional rights. It all stems from the Patriot act. States are beginning to introduce legislation nullifying this act under the Tenth amendment. Washington State has introduced this bill, Virginia, now Maine is about to introduce it. The same type of nullification legislation has been introduced in many State legislatures to nullify the “Food Safety Modernization act” which essentially prevents you from selling vegetables from your garden at a roadside stand or at a farmers market. Again an infringement on our rights. A farmer in California was arrested and held on 130,000 bail for selling raw milk to a health food club. The health food club owner was arrested for improper egg temperature, again held on 130,000 bail. In Maine, a Farmer is being sued for selling raw milk.
There are many other cases where Federal agencies have gotten out of control. Federal Agents raided Gibson Guitar for improper rare wood size under India law.
US Dept. of Justice filed a court brief advising Gibson guitar if they move their manufacturing overseas, their problems would be rectified. (Wall Street Journal) Again, in Maine, Berg Sportswear was raided by Homeland Security agents because they were printing “anti-Obama” T-shirts and coffee mugs for the Republican Party and the Howie Carr radio show in Boston, Mass. They were charged with “tax evasion” and “money laundering” because $30,000 was found in their safe.
I could go on but everyone needs to understand what is going on in this country and it is not good. When businesses are being raided and shut down by Feds where the Feds have no place in a states jurisdiction or on baseless claims it is reflective of progression to a former Soviet style government. DHS now standing for KGB!
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/legislation/liberty-preservation-act/
A Republican needs to clearly illustrate the clear difference between he and President Obama or it will hurt him if he goes along with an agenda that Obama is clearly deploying across the USA.
Other items:
* Executive order directing federal agencies to accede to the United Nations “Law of the Sea Convention” (not ratified by Congress)
* US EPA going to sustainable development approach utilizing United Nations principles under Agenda 21, effectively nullifying property rights.(not ratified)
* US Dept. of State $138Billion over the next 6 years to United Nations Population Control (like we can afford this)
* Chinese government owned construction company building the Oakland Bay Bridge with Chinese workers, the Alexander Hamilton bridge in New York, subway stations in New York, refurbishing the Brooklyn bridge (reference ABC news report) Reason: Chinese labor is cheaper than American labor and claim America does not have enough qualified workers.
It’s what the Obummer, the RINOs (read Romney) and the DC elitist want it to be if we don’t get busy. Fla. was bought; we can only hope Fla is not a rerpresentation of how ‘dumbed down’ the whole country has become. Careless also, one might add.
Why have we, as Americans as a whole, stood quietly by for so long? I do not understand. We got upset when Enland did pretty much the same things to us…and this is our own gov’t, not one 4,000 miles away.
I hoard my tools in my man cave but in the back of my mind I know that tools mean work!!!
Do ALL Voters in the other States realize that in Nevada ONLY (eight ) 8 % of registered voters showed up to VOTE on 2/5/12 ?
Bishop ROMONEY won ! TRUE,…. but HE CAN NOT generate a passionate loyalty !
He is there but he is NOT inevitable any more !
HE WILL LOSE TO OBAMA FOR SURE !!
NO one ( except himself, family and friends ) is truly exited about his NEVADA WIN with such DISMAL , bordering in deprecatory TURN OUT !
SANTORUM. PAUL, GINGRICH,,,, YES !!
MORMON BISHOP ROMONEY ???.. NoooooOOOO !!!!!!!!
SANTORUM stronger than ROMONEY against OBAMA ! Nationwide poll )
It is not too late for the people to get behind Buddy Roemer. Excluded from the debates so far because he refuses PAC money and limits donations to $100 or less. A former governor of Louisiana, a 2 time Congressman, a small business bank owner that has not received a baliout and a true conservative.
Search: 2
Romney’s Mormon Problem
ROMNEY LIES
SANTORUM stronger than ROMNEY against OBAMA – Nationwide poll
People Power greater than money power
We dare to dream, We’re AMERICANS ! WE DREAM BIG !
Dream power much greater than Lies power -
It’s so incredible that the Tea Party is about to sell its soul and vote Romney in? This guy is clearly standing for big business and big lobby and big government. This party is selling its soul so fast it’s not even funny!
Mitt Romney, A Subtle Manchurian Candidate ?
Please Forward this article to your friends.
In Richard Condon’s 1959 novel “The Manchurian Candidate”, the son of a prominent, right-wing political family was brainwashed as part of a international Chinese Communist conspiracy. In addition to the overt brainwashing described in the novel, a more subtle form of brainwashing can occur when the victim is exposed to methodical propaganda reinforced by positive feedback in the form of wealth accumulation. The most likely candidate is someone from a cult background that sees the world in stark black and white terms. Click here for a more detailed explanation of brainwashing and mind control. Please note that I am not claiming that there is an office in Beijing directly manipulating Romney, all I am suggesting is that he has been subconciously coopted by a foreign pro-China influence. If I made as much money shipping jobs to China, I would probably be co-opted as well.
Is the front runner in the GOP nomination process, Mitt Romney, a Subtle Manchurian Candidate? Because of the delicately complex nature of subtle mind control, we cannot know for sure; but, if we can answer three questions with yes, then we should be concerned. The three questions are: 1) Has Mitt Romney been exposed to methodical propaganda reinforced by positive feedback in the form of wealth accumulation? 2) Does Mitt Romney come from a cult-like background? 3) Does Mitt Romney see the world in stark black and white terms? Each voter should ask themselves these questions before supporting Mitt Romney for the Presidency of the United States.
For those who question whether China would engage in such subtle mind control, remember, Chinese leaders pioneered brainwashing during the Korean war. Remember, also, that the leaders of China have supported programs that allow companies, such as FoxConn, to enslave the young workers of China in a workers hell – far from the workers paradise promised by Karl Marx. If the Communist Chinese leadership is willing to enslave its own people, they will be willing to enslave the people of the United States of America.
Question 1: Has Mitt Romney been exposed to methodical propaganda reinforced by positive feedback in the form of wealth accumulation?
In 1983 Bain Capital was co-founded by Mitt Romney. The name Bain comes from Bill Bain, the founder of Bain & Company, a consulting firm for which Mitt Romney had worked. Bill Bain supported the creation of Bain Capital as a way of obtaining more clients for Bill Bain’s consulting services. Out-sourcing and off-shoring are among the consulting services provided by Bill Bain to Mitt Romney. Click here to see the Bain Company website in which they tout their expertise in out-sourcing and off-shoring. In other words, Mitt Romney raised private equity capital in order to acquire control of companies, many of the manufacturing jobs of which were subsequently out-sourced from the USA to offshore sites, primarily China. Mitt Romney became famously rich by taking advantage of globalization’s international ideology of “finding the cheapest labor market”.
Generally, conservatives in America laud financial success unless it was acquired through unethical practices. In a nutshell, ethics involves the basic concepts of right and wrong. Mitt Romney is acutely aware of the economic paradox of short term economic benefits and long term economic damage. In 2008 he was quoted as saying “I recognize there are some people who will argue for protectionism because the short-term benefits sound pretty good, but long term you kill your economy, you kill the future.” Now, after reaping his own rewards, he condemns the parasitic nature of Chinese involvement in the global market place. Is this simply another Romney flip-flop, or is he running from a pattern of sinister behaviour? A case can be made that, as a result of the subtle effects of his meteoric financial success, he has been brainwashed to accept a pro-Chinese agenda. In other words, the answer to question 1 is YES. Mitt Romney has been exposed to methodical propaganda reinforced by positive feedback in the form of wealth accumulation?
Question 2: Does Mitt Romney come from a cult-like background?
Mitt Romney is a mormon. One of the brilliant aspects of the American system is freedom of religion; and, as a result, mormonism has prospered. Many parts of mormonism are commendable and no aspect of this enquiry is meant to cast aspersions on the religion. No one should be precluded from the US presidency based upon their religious beliefs.
Is mormonism a cult? The issue is hotly debated. For purposes of this inquiry, it is not necessary to answer the question of whether or not mormonism is a cult. The purpose here is whether or not mormonism has cult characteristics. For purposes of brevity, two facts indicate that mormonism has cult-like characteristics. First, the church asserts a tremendous amount of centralized control over its member. Second, in the 2008 and 2012 Nevada GOP caucuses, 25% of the voters were mormon and they dutifully voted almost unanimously for Romney. At the very least this indicates a cult-like pattern of behaviour. The answer to question 2 is YES; Mitt Romney comes from a cult-like background.
Question 3: Does Mitt Romney see the world in stark black and white terms?
Whether or not Mitt Romney sees the world in stark black and white terms is a question of perception. Each voter must answer this question on their own. Why does it matter? Because this is the last and only unanswered question concerning Mitt Romney in this article. If the answer is yes to this question, then it is likely that Mitt Romney, as president, will continue to be an subtle agent in a Chinese fifth column that will see the end of the American dream; notwithstanding what Mitt Romney may say otherwise.
I don’t know the answer to this question; however, I will make some observations that seem to indicate that the answer is yes. Mike Huckabee observed that Romney is more like the guy who will fire you. McCain had called him dishonest. He has flip-flopped on so many issues that it is difficult to keep track. He said no to the GM and Chrysler bail-outs but supported the Wall Street bailouts. He said no to real estate market supports but supported bank bail-outs. He has abandoned conservative ideals in favour of internationalism. He vigorously has engaged with a Communist Country that encourages abortions and slave labor. Soros says Romney is the same as Pres. Obamanation. The Republican establishment desperately wants Mitt. Mitt Romney is neither a conservative, nor a moderate, nor a liberal. Is he is a product of a stark black and white view of the world that blinds him to the complexities of the world and the hopeful answers provided by conservative ideals? The decision is yours.
Conclusion
The blithe response to this article is that Romney is a capitalist. The same reasoning would make Judas a capitalist as well. Romney’s inconsistencies indicate a person who follows his own agenda notwithstanding the consequences to his fellow citizens; and, when confronted, much like Judas, he denies. Please take some time to contemplate the issues presented herein.
Knock the Vote
Fact 1: We are now 15 trillion dollars in debt. Do you believe the Mafia would allow anyone to come in and run their organization? Am I comparing our government to the Mafia? I’ll let you decide.
Fact 2: Since 2000 our government has basically stolen 10 trillion dollars from US citizens. That’s in 12 years. Now I understand we, the United States of America, have had a few problems, wars, terrorism, and extra security but 10 TRILLION DOLLARS WORTH??
Fact 3: Since January 1st, 2011 Baby boomers will retire at 10,000 people per day for the next 19 years.
Fact 4: Obama care coming on line in 2013.
Who is going to pay for all of this? Do we have enough work forces to even support our Country less alone them? I say no.
Now this really isn’t a history lesson or a review but I felt like I needed to provide a little information to explain KNOCK the VOTE. I personally believe that Americans have no choice for president.
I’m not here to argue with and / or even try to change those who support Obama, Romney, Newt and so on. I’m here for everyone who feels naked, lost, and can’t believe what is going on in our country. Those that feels helpless and don’t know what to do.
This is for all Americans among us who feel that all candidates for president are bought and paid for. Those who feel the Republicans are running deep in someone else’s pocket or they have been simply told “you will go along”. Again we are talking 15 trillion, going to 16 trillion and, Obama said “it would go to 20 + trillion dollars”.
Do you see them promoting any “EVERDAY JOE “? I for one believe that is what this country needs, but it’s not going to happen. The Mafia will not allow just anyone to come in a takeover. Sorry did I say “Mafia”? I meant Government.
I know I still haven’t explained KNOCK the VOTE.
I’m getting there, but before I do let’s look at Herman Cain. What was Herman Cain? I have no proof but believe he was a plant. He was placed there to give just enough wind under the American Tea party then snatched out. Why? To deflate you into making you feel like you have already been beaten. Just like Michele Bachman, or anyone else that is running under a religious banner that may have had a chance, has been removed from the running.
So I say KNOCK the VOTE. I’m saying anyone and everyone who believes like me to stand up and tell the world that you are NOT VOTING. You are tired of being a slave to the system. Note: Not to get me wrong. I’m a firm believer in this country and our constitution. I’m longing for the day we find the next George Washington, but I don’t see, or anyone like him, running for president. The Mafia will not allow it.
Now you have to have 100 million dollars just to run for president. Do you not believe our presidents are bought and paid for?
Again I’m asking all NOT TO VOTE. Start telling your neighbors. Tell everyone that our government has been hijacked by the RICH, Wealthy, maybe the Mafia, but it isn’t being ran by the people for the people anymore.
Is this statement extreme? Think seriously people – Go to the polls wearing t-shirts saying KNOCK THE VOTE on front and DOWN WITH TYRANNY on back.
If you have any questions please email me at moment_of_faith@ yahoo.com
Our economy is screwed going to get way worse my grand father told me on his death bed he was born in the bad and lived to see the good and I was born in the good and will live to see the bad.He was so right !He told me this in the late 90s when everything was going great scary how history repeats itself.Welcome to our great recession .
~ THIS JUST AIN’T AMERICA ANY MORE ~
(B.M.I. Registry # 12267003 & copyright, Robby Bonter)
(315) 348-7018 Lewis County, N.Y.
This just ain’t America, any more.
When Holy decorations break the law at Christmas time,
And these alley cats in heat have turned your faith into a crime.
They threw the Founding Fathers out the door,
And this just ain’t America, any more.
And this just ain’t America, any more,
Not when they trash “The Good Book,” and the freedoms we fought for.
We’ve got to end this Godless trend that’s rotten to the core,
And this just ain’t America, any more.
This just ain’t America, any more.
When guns and drugs and violence are what they learn in school,
And teeny-bopper day care mommas think they’re really cool.
I’m raising kids but they don’t know the rocks they’re sailing for,
Cuz this just ain’t America, any more.
And this just ain’t America, any more,
They battered down the walls so now they think they own the store.
They demonstrate on Channel 8, civil wrongs are what they’re for.
And this just ain’t America, any more.
(Instrumental bridge.)
Left coast San Francisco is a bath house kind of place,
So when a man marries a woman, he’s a big social disgrace.
I tell you boys we’re in a shotgun war,
And this just ain’t America, any more.
And this just ain’t America, any more,
They occupy our streets and hold us hostage on the floor.
They hate free market enterprise, high taxes they adore,
And this just ain’t America, any more.
You fly the flag, they tear it down and burn it in the street,
I’m seeing red and turning blue from all the Pinkos that I meet.
I bust my buns on “graveyard” till my back is stiff and sore,
But these bums laugh at the life I’m workin’ for.
And this just ain’t America, any more.
When our taxes pay for border-jumpers flooding to our shores.
It wears me out to think about this culture-values war.
And this just ain’t America,
Well this just ain’t America,
No this just ain’t America, any more.
“Love it or leave it.”
********
It seems to me that this is just what they want us all to think. The want this to be about a culture war and not about the economy which they have destroyed. This isn’t a culture war. It’s absolutely about the economy.
It’s unbelievable to me that we are all fighting. Again that is exactly what the left wants. They want us divided, because then we lose our power. They have been calculating these moves for hundreds of years and now have now played their hand. Don’t make this about a culture war, because that is exactly what Obama wants. It’s about the economy and why wouldn’t it be? The government isn’t supposed to have anything to do with cultural aspects of our country. That is enough, we need to stop fighting and focus our time and energy on stopping the left. Why are we fighting people!