Obama Claus

In a recent column, Dr. Thomas Sowell said, “When someone tries to lay a guilt trip on you for being successful, remember that your guilt is some politician's license to take what you worked for and give it to someone else who is more likely to vote for the politician who plays Santa Claus with your money.”  Unfortunately, we have a person occupying the White House who is more than willing to play Santa with our tax dollars, but I fear his motives are more than just votes.

President Obama recently gave his annual State of the Union Address.  As in previous addresses, he outlined how he plans to use the federal government to make our lives better.  He spoke of helping working families feel more secure and helping them afford childcare, college, healthcare, housing and retirement.  He talked about passing legislation that would guarantee paid sick leave.  He said he would send a plan to Congress that would allow people to attend community college for free.  And, he spoke of raising the minimum wage in order “to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.”

President Obama wrapped his speech in a package of “middle class economics”, telling us that he wants to help not only the poor, but the larger middle class segment of the population; more Santa Claus means more votes.  Are votes his motivation in all this largesse?  I don’t think so.  Obama said, “I have no more campaigns to run.”  So what is his motive? In his address, Obama gave us a hint of what he really wants.  He stated, “the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. We don't just want everyone to share in America's success -- we want everyone to contribute to our success.” 

Like other progressive politicians, Obama wants us beholden to the federal government for our livelihood.  If you’re successful, it should be because the government gave you the tools, the education, and the investments.  Obama’s infamous “You didn’t build that” speech and Elizabeth Warren’s statement, “[t]here is nobody in this country who got rich on his own,” are attempts to downplay the significance of hard work and determination to become successful.  They are attempting to make those who are successful feel guilty for it.  And, more than guilt, Obama wants to punish those who are successful.

Obama promised us that under Obamacare, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it". However, if your insurance policy didn’t measure up to what Obamacare mandated, your insurance company had to cancel your policy.  Hundreds of thousands have already had their health insurance policies canceled, according to the Washington Post.  Those whose policies were canceled had to buy more expensive coverage that covers less or provides coverage they don’t need.  Costs for employer-sponsored insurance plans have risen at a slightly faster rate and individual health care plans have risen at a rate three times faster than before Obamacare was signed into law. And, if you are fortunate enough to have a really good insurance plan, a so-called “Cadillac plan”, you’ll have to pay an excise tax on that plan beginning in 2018.  The reason, to help finance the expansion of health coverage for those that can’t afford it.  Although he said his goal was to provide health care insurance for the millions that didn’t have coverage, it appears to me that he wants us to have only the coverage that the government says we can have or pay a penalty. Also, he wants those who can afford insurance to pay for those who can’t.  Just a quick aside, but did you notice that the government is forcing you to buy a product or get penalized?  Not only is it unconstitutional for them to do that but the Supreme Court declared it legal!

Obama wants to make it free to attend community college, yet proposed taxing the 529 college savings accounts.  First, when he says community college is free, does he mean for everyone, or for a select group?  If people are shrewd enough or fortunate enough to save for college, why penalize them by taxing these savings accounts that can only be used for college?  That amounts to being punished for paying your or your child’s way through college.  That clearly doesn’t make sense if your goal is for everyone to be able to attend college—you’ve just punished those that don’t need to attend for free.  But, if your goal is to tax the “haves”, give to the have-nots, and make everyone indebted to the government for their education, it makes perfect sense.

Although these are only couple of examples, if you dig deeper into Obama’s policies and actions, it is easy to see a trend in his proposals and policies to redistribute the wealth and make the public indebted to the government for our lives and livelihoods.  Thankfully, Obama will be out of office in a little more than 700 days.  Yes, I’m counting.   However, it will take a long time to undo the damage from his and his predecessors’ policies.  And, we must be educated, active, and diligent in avoiding electing more progressives.  If we don’t, I fear for the future of this country—who of the “haves” will be left to provide?