Obama is economically inept… and he is getting by with it.

Obama does not understand what makes the American economy successful. Obama tells American youth to go to work for government or a non-profit, a noble career so to speak, instead of working in business. It is evident that Obama does not understand the American free enterprise system.

America is great because of our free enterprise system and the ingenuity of the American worker. The success of Government, non-profits, the entertainment business, sports, and other such enterprises is dependant on the success of American business and its workers. If Obama does not understand this, he is economically inept and should not lead our country.

There is a story about a small town that decided to get rid of a factory. The citizens thought the factory was unsightly and dirty. The owner was the richest person in town. This owner did not want to move his factory. He came up with a unique idea. He decided to pay his workers in silver dollars one Friday. By his next payday; every citizen in the town had a silver dollar in their pocket. The owner did not hear anymore complaints.

Lou Gerstner, past president of IBM, made the statement that IBM is successful because every worker is a leader. When Mercedes considered Alabama for its first American factory, other states said that Alabamians were unskilled and dumb. In other words an Alabama redneck could not built a car. Now Alabama has several auto makers. Auto makers learned that Alabama workers wanted to learn and work. As Lou said, American workers must be leaders. Our country’s economy is successful because its workers create economic success. American workers leadership and know how is the key to their success. America needs the smartest and best citizens to go into business.

The communist economic system failed because all workers worked for the government. The workers said the government makes believe it pays us; and, we make believe we work. Adam Smith’s invisible hand choked the socialist communist economy to death.

Obama’s simple statement about what our youth should do shows that he really does not understand what creates America’s wealth. America’s wealth is created by the successful American entrepreneur and the American worker. Apparently, Obama does not understand that our government’s role should be to create an environment where American workers and business can flourish. Obama wants to tax these businesses.

Obama does not understand that American business needs our best youth to be successful. When American business is successful our government, our citizens, and our non-profit organizations benefit

Oscar James McGriff. Jr.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405

Obama is buying votes…

Obama is promising the vast majority of us no tax increase if we elect him. Obama will take taxes from the rich and business to make sure the rest of us do not have to pay more for the benefits we receive from our government. In other words, we should vote for him out of our own self interest. Yet, he states that the rich and business should perform their patriot duty and pay more. Obama is trying to buy the middle class and poor vote.

I, like most Americans, may benefit form Obama’s tax policy. I pay federal income tax. I can feel patriotic because I am paying for the privilege of living in America. Obama is trying to buy my vote because I would pay less tax. Forty percent of Americans do not pay any Federal income tax. Obama is buying these votes by promising to give these citizens rebate money he takes from business and rich Americans. I hope American citizens, like “Joe the plumber”, conclude that their vote is not for sale.

Obama is also trying to buy our votes because he did not take Federal funding for his campaign. He is taking huge contributions and buying commercial and infomercials. Obama is counting on us being sold by flooding the airways with commercials he could not run had he taken Federal funds. I, like many of you, gave money for this Federal funding when we paid our income taxes because we thought this was the best way to take big money out of politics. Obama has refused to take our money because it will limit what he can spend to buy our votes.

I would benefit from his election because I am not rich. But, I refuse to be sold on Obama’s promises. My vote like “Joe the Plumber’s” is not for sale. That is my patriotic duty. I hope you agree that your vote is not for sale.

Oscar James McGriff, Jr.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Obama and the Democrats have it wrong…

Our Constitution’s preamble states, “provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare…”.This is a contract between the people of our country and allows our government to function for us. Promote the general welfare is the key phrase. Provide for my welfare is not part of the contact.

However, notice where and how the words provide and promote are used. Our constitutional contract states that our government will provide for our defense. This means that we expect the government to protect us from invasion and outside threats. The word promote is used in our contract when we look at our general welfare. This contract realized that government could perform some actions; but, our government could help us provide for our general welfare. Notice also the word is general welfare not my welfare.

Obama and the democrats, and maybe most of us, need to read and understand our Constitution. Obama and democrats will move us to a level of government support that provides for us from the cradle to the grave. This sounds good to most of us. This is not what our founders thought was the responsibility of our government. For example, Ben Franklin and the Philadelphia Junta started hospitals, libraries, and other help for the citizens of the city. We were a poor country at our founding. Our infant federal government could not afford this level of support for its individual citizens.

The question is can our government afford all of Obama’s programs? The simple answer is, NO! So how will they pay for these programs? Taxes! Yes there is no free lunch. We must pay or our government will go broke.

Obama and the democrats know that our government can not afford all his programs; but, they will not tell us. They make these promises to get our votes.

We must be smart and not believe these empty promises. We must demand answers on how Obama and the democrats will pay for these programs.

Oscar James McGriff. Jr.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405

Obama Cocksure…? Remember this interview a few months ago...

Obama in an interview with CBS Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan on Face the Nation made a one word answer to a question that makes his lack of experience shine forth.

Lara asked Obama a question that some people question his lack of international political experience. Obama made the statement that America’s style in the world would be less unilateral and more about building partnerships under his leadership. This is a simple answer to a complicated question. What does he mean less unilateral? How will he build partnerships and with whom? Obama has given Americans the impression that he would never act unilaterally. Does this mean that he would take the country to war if a nation such as Iran was a threat to the Middle East?

 But it was Lara’s follow-up question and Obama’s answer that should give us greater pause. The question went like this, “Do you have any doubts”. Obama answered, “Never”. The answer that he gave to her question is a simple answer. Obama is sure of his ability, as his smile after the answer showed how cocksure he was. This trait is what most Americans saw in President Bush. Now we must wonder if we have a cocksure young Senator with little experience and no doubts running for President. This could lead our nation down the wrong path in another direction.

Individuals with experience in foreign intelligence would never answer that they “never” have doubts about any international policy. They know countries and individuals act in their interests not Americas. Individuals with international policy experience have alternatives should a policy go wrong. Obama has accursed Bush of not having follow-up plans for his actions. Now we must wonder about Obama’s cocksureness. It belies inexperience. Obama has simple solutions to complicated problems and a strong belief that he has the right answer.

The word that describes Obama’s attitude toward decision making is “Hubris”.

Oscar James McGriff, Jr.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Equality led to no equity…

President Bill Clinton and our federal government made a social decision to bring equality to the housing market in 1999 by reducing the financial requirements on loans Fannie Mae could finance. This decision allowed banks to reduce the long standing 20% down payment requirement on home financing.

Now, let us look at a meeting of five people, a banker, a real estate agent, a real estate appraiser, a builder and a purchaser. The purchaser has made a bid on the house. The banker wants to make the loan. The purchaser will not qualify under the tradition financing; but, the banker tells the purchaser he can make it happen. . The banker has a quota on housing mortgages; he wants to meet this quota. The real estate agent wants the commission. The builder wants to sell the house, by the way the banker loaned the builder the money to build the house. The purchaser wants to purchase the house even though he can not afford the payments. The real estate appraiser is told by the builder and real estate agent, “This is the price we need to meet”. It is the price the purchaser has agreed to pay.  The appraiser is off the hook, if the purchaser has agreed to the price the purchaser sets the market. The appraiser just makes the appraisal meet the price.  The deal is done, and the purchaser and the purchaser of the mortgage is done in.

Because the government allowed and pushed a social agenda the deal was made. This is the real problem. The mortgage was bad from the start. The bad mortgage happened at the bottom and was covered up all the way to the top.

Oscar James McGriff, Jr.

682 Homestead Lane

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405