Obama knows no bounds
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: Opinion
I am not a run-for-the hills conservative. I did not wear black to mourn the death of my freedom the day after Barack Obama's election. I do not believe the world will end because Obama is now president. However, his inaugural address, though articulate, contained ludicrous material.
I'll admit, his speech sounded good. He delivered his message with style and confidence. Near the start, Obama said America has survived because "people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents." Given the rest of Obama's speech, however, this eloquent statement seems absurd.
Later, he said, "The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward." Obama sees no reason to limit the government's power, as long as it seems to do good things.
Compare this to the ideals of the founding so rightly invoked at the beginning. Our fathers focused on individual rights, using the power of a government only to protect those rights. In their writings, they refer to large, powerful governments as "dangerous," and the very structure of our government attests to that belief. The founders instituted checks and balances, veto power, impeachment, term limits, the Bill of Rights and other means to limit the government's power. Obama professing to support their ideals only to make such a statement must have had them rolling in their graves.
Obama can talk about health care reform and the unending list of other social goals all he wants - but he has no right to roll it up with the founding. The idea of providing benefits to those in need is admirable. Nevertheless, taking property earned by the work of another to do so is close to a form of slavery, the very thing this inaugural claims we have risen above.
Essentially, Mr. President gave a speech that contradicted our country's values under the guise of support.
In between the fluffy lines about soldiers bleeding and dying lies an even more gruesome truth: Obama believes the government's power should have no limits.
I'll admit, his speech sounded good. He delivered his message with style and confidence. Near the start, Obama said America has survived because "people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents." Given the rest of Obama's speech, however, this eloquent statement seems absurd.
Later, he said, "The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward." Obama sees no reason to limit the government's power, as long as it seems to do good things.
Compare this to the ideals of the founding so rightly invoked at the beginning. Our fathers focused on individual rights, using the power of a government only to protect those rights. In their writings, they refer to large, powerful governments as "dangerous," and the very structure of our government attests to that belief. The founders instituted checks and balances, veto power, impeachment, term limits, the Bill of Rights and other means to limit the government's power. Obama professing to support their ideals only to make such a statement must have had them rolling in their graves.
Obama can talk about health care reform and the unending list of other social goals all he wants - but he has no right to roll it up with the founding. The idea of providing benefits to those in need is admirable. Nevertheless, taking property earned by the work of another to do so is close to a form of slavery, the very thing this inaugural claims we have risen above.
Essentially, Mr. President gave a speech that contradicted our country's values under the guise of support.
In between the fluffy lines about soldiers bleeding and dying lies an even more gruesome truth: Obama believes the government's power should have no limits.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Skylar Walker
posted 1/22/09 @ 2:31 PM EST
Immediately following "we intend to move forward", Obama continued with his point:
"Where the answer is no, programs will end."
That looks to me like a boundary. (Continued…)
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