A View from Left Field- Let's Take a Lesson from the British

Under the Conservative government of David Cameron, Great Britain’s economy has ground to a screeching halt.  Unemployment has risen to record proportions, as the average Briton struggles to make ends meet.  Does this sluggish economic message sound familiar? 

My fellow citizens, don’t be duped.  Cutting taxes under President Bush didn’t create jobs then, and it won’t now.  I’ve said it many times, “trickle down” doesn’t work, unless you’re a dog and you found a hydrant.  One of our major problems is that America is underfunded.  As enrollment fees soar, many families are hard pressed to “pony up” college tuition for their kids.  Services to the less privileged are cut so the more affluent have “funny money” to invest or waste away.  That’s not fair and it detracts from the basic benevolent nature of our American society.  We need to get back to a true and fair progressive income tax.

I listened to Michelle Bachman’s speech, terminating her presidential candidacy and I nearly puked. Doesn’t she know that God doesn’t take sides in football games or presidential elections?  Bachman seemed shocked that her self-righteous “exemplary” life didn’t translate into votes.  Had she made more substantial pronouncements instead of wearing God on her sleeve, she might have placed a whole lot higher in the Iowa Caucuses.  Voters are tired of politicians traipsing around with the “Anointed by God” label.

The new Republican mantra, “we have to take our country back” has such a hollow ring.  Last time I looked, we still had our country.  As a matter of fact, it is growing better by the day.  Unemployment has declined and retailers overall had a most robust Christmas season.  Chrysler alone had a 37% sales increase in December 2011 over their December 2010 figures.

President Obama pump primed the economy by infusing life into its dead body.  Sure he spent money, but it saved an enormous number of jobs.  Otherwise, we would have fallen into a depression without his efforts.  My criticism of him is that he spent too much bailing out Wall Street and not enough saving Main Street.  When he took charge of the ship of state, it was already listing.   However, he’s begun to right our economic flotilla, but his work is by no means completed. President Obama deserves a second term, because after some terrible angst he has the nation headed in the right direction.

Great Britain, under failed right wing leadership, is being torn asunder.  On the other hand, the U.S. economy is beginning to see some daylight.  Forget the slick slogans.  Watch and see which party and which candidates present the best plans of action to bring America back.  There’s where your votes belong.