Has Barack Obama's first 100 days pleased you or not?

not

1 of 8

by RNH Nello

• 

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

No, I am not pleased with the actions taken by President Obama during these early days of his administration. For the most part he is pretty much what one would expect, a student of the Progressive approach to government as exemplified ay past presidents such as President Franklin Roosevelt and President Wilson. Even so, while he has so far demonstrated that he is one of the most far reaching of those of the Progressive Movement, he is not totally consumed by it and is also a practical politician.

In this latter context he has demonstrated that when faced with the illogical nature of some of his desires, he can reverse direction. For example, the reinstating of the military tribunals for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay demonstrates that there is 'no other' realistic process. I suspect that the practical nature of potential political 'fallout' played a large role in President Obama's recent decision. So too I suspect a similar decision making process with his recent decision not to release the interrogation photographs.

It is beginning to appear that the pressures of political reality will, at least periodically, over weigh his ideological desires. While such is positive, it would be better if his decisions were the result of understanding the foundations of the Constitution and the Capitalistic Free Market System. His lack of understanding of the latter area is exemplified by the continuation and expansion of President Bush's economic bailout approach. Both of these Presidents have exhibited big and intrusive government solutions to many (if not all) of the ills of the country. Ills that are rightly within the umbrella of the private sector and not that of government. Now, this approach combined with the Progressive approach to government of President Obama, threatens the very foundations of our Constitutional Representative Democracy.

During the recent years acts by both the banking system and the American automobile industry have demonstrated poor management judgment at best. A case could be made that such management judgments evolved from a set of incentives developed from overly intrusive federal regulation of both industries. Even so, such misdirected regulation did not demand compliance by these industries and they could have fought them in the courts. But it appears that following them without resistance was the easier road to travel. As time past these regulations became the incentive for a management (in multiple industries) to rely on government intervention as opposed to capitalistic free market innovative management. Therefore, while the economic mess we (the United States) has found itself restrained by has been caused by both intrusive government and management at its level of incompetence, more of the same is not the solution. As was demonstrated by analysis of the 'Great Depression' returning to economic basics and allowing failure to generate new and better approaches, was, and is, the best and only path.

Currently the major efforts of President Obama's administration to address the challenges of the American Banking system and the American Automobile Industry are similar in that they are primarily infusing both with unheard levels of funding from the federal government. This has resulted in the federal government debt load through (primarily foreign purchases of United States financial instruments) rising so high that the financial rating of the United States in international markets is on the edge of dropping to a level where no country is interested in purchasing them. To continue then with President Obama's plan to centralize the Health Care System and invest additional monies into the private sector industries of the United States will be dependant on printing large increases in the United States Money supply because we won't be able to raise monies through the selling of federal securities.

If this path of President Obama's is followed it is highly likely that the U, S. Dollar will no longer be the foundation currency for the world. This possibility is considered quite possible in other countries as those with significant monetary reserves (such as Saudi Arabia) are beginning to purchase large amounts of gold reserves.

These programs of President Obama's (currently initiated and proposed) are also removing private sector businesses from private ownership and moving them to governmental ownership. In the auto industry this has resulted in the private sector owners of Chrysler and General Motors dropping to around a 15% ownership with the rest of the ownership being divided between government and the Unions. While those of a Progressive perspective may applaud such a event, the result of this is to drive private sector investment out of such companies. Private sector investment requires confidence in a stabilized economic future, having the government change the rules on a near whim evokes no such confidence. This brings to mind governmental efforts of the 1930s most particularly Italy and none of this worked.

One of the other results of this is that government people are laying new rules on how to run these private sector businesses. This is truly a potential disaster for future generations as the current trend will likely continue with private sector jobs disappearing and with the reducing of wages of those that are left, while the numbers of governmental jobs are increasing with wages increasing, just the opposite of a healthy economy.

President Obama is apparently going to continue with his proposals on healthcare (nationalizing by any name) and with the current structure of the Congress he will likely succeed. Beyond the fact that the country cannot afford such an approach, there is no need for it. While the current health system of the United States has its challenges, it is still the best in the world with the shortest wait times, the least rationing and the most new procedure and drug development. In addition, although it may be through public clinics and not your doctor of choice, the reality is that any one can get needed health care in the United States.

The point is that, while these programs of President Obama may technically not be socialistic, they do not represent the Capitalistic Free Market System and do not represent the Constitutional concepts of the Founders. They certainly continue the increasing restriction of individual freedoms.

Many could make (and some have made) the case that they have not been pleased with the American foreign policies of the last several years. With what appears to be the foreign direction of President Obama, it looks as if the United States is embarking on a direction it has never take before. His very first foreign trips saw him apologizing for America's existence. In addition it appears that some of his policies will likely lead to war more dangerous than has existed since World War II. While the policies of President Bush relative to Afghanistan and Pakistan left a lot to be desired, at least the Taliban had been (to some degree) contained, now the Taliban has not only resurged, but actually is threatening the government of Pakistan. If the Taliban succeeds the possibility of nuclear war has increased many fold in that with control of the nuclear weapons both India and Israel would be in danger. Neither of these two countries will stand for that situation to occur.

However, it is more significant in Israel where our Secretary of State has informed the Government of Israel that they will have to get rid of their nuclear weapons and they will have to accept a two State solution with, or without, a guarantee of the existence of Israel. Clearly, if either or both of these goals happen it will only be with an absolute guarantee by the United States to protect Israel and with the current administration there will never be confidence such will occur. It is more likely that Israel will not agree to either and that the current administration would announce a neutral position on whatever might happen. That or something nearly like it would be a near assurance of war. With today's meeting between President Obama and the Israel Prime Minister, Israel may have made sure that president Obama understands the reality of his potential actions, we can only hope so.

It will also be very interesting to see who President Obama nominates for the Supreme Court. Current best guesses are not promising and we can only hope he places the Constitution before his personal goals. So too with his life long resistance to individual gun ownership. With the most recent Supreme court cast of Hellar vs. Washington DC this would seem to be a no brainer but all indications are that he is continuing his desire for additional gun control.

In short, I have no confidence in President Obama's ability to handle foreign affairs to assure our safety or to handle domestic affairs within Constitutional limits on government. To me, all indications are for a very rocky road ahead.

Learn more about this author, RNH Nello.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.