Sunday, July 08, 2012

A Misery Index Fit For The 21st Century

Obama isn’t working. His big government policies have left Americans with the most tepid recovery since the Great Depression. Standing next to Greek columns at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Candidate Obama proclaimed that “we measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage”.

By his own assessment, President Obama has failed. His slogan should be “moving forward in the unemployment line,” as 552,000 jobs have been lost in his term. Forty months of unemployment above 8% is not the change we were hoping for.

Over $800 billion dollars later and not one net job created, it’s clear that this presidency is one for the history books. Americans are tired of President Obama’s lack of leadership and his focus on short-term political gain. But even in the short-term, his economic policies haven’t worked.

The President’s advisers predicted that the stimulus would lower unemployment to 5.6% by the end of his first term. They argued that “the American people can see exactly what this plan will mean for their families, their communities and our economy”. Three years later, we can see the reality of the Obama Economy: higher unemployment, more debt, and less hope. This President has brought Jimmy Carter’s misery index into the 21st century by continuing to imitate his failed policies.

The American people need a change of pace and a breath of fresh air. We are itching for a new “morning in America” and a president who focuses on jobs and promotes economic growth. With President Obama promising four more years of the same policies, it’s plain that he’s not our man.