Coincidence or Failed Policies?

On the first day of Homicide School an instructor told his class, “In a homicide investigation there are no coincidences.” This is not exactly true, but it points out an important part of any inquiry. When there is a coincidence, it is important to explore the lead until it can reasonably be discarded. Most often a coincidence turns out to be anything but an accident.

After five years of Liberal leadership in this country we are finding a number of coincidences. It may be time to look at these with a more critical eye.

President Obama promised a fundamental change to the country. Conservatives were warning he would try to socialize this country and make it into a Western European style nation. Supporters argued he would make things fairer for the common person. Since the 2008 election more people have dropped out of the work force than any time since the great depression. The number of people on food stamps is exploding. Health insurance prices are rising, and the program to help those with preexisting conditions is closed due to lack of capacity. Taxes are rising and good paying jobs are declining. Compare the U.S. of 2008 with the U.S. of today. Does this look more like a Western European Nation or more like the U.S.? Is this a coincidence?

When Congress refused to stop the “Sequester” the President closed the White House to tours. The President’s administration tried cutting the number of air traffic controllers because their hands were tied by “Sequester” rules. We recently learned Congress had offered the President the power of flexibility, within the budget, to avoid cuts which directly affected the public while cutting less essential services. The President declined, saying this would be an equal pain process. In other words, the President wanted people to feel the maximum pain from any cut in the Federal Budget. The President is making it clear that change equals pain. Can you remember another President who inflicted pain on the public in order to make his programs safe from cuts? Is it a coincidence fundamental change equals larger government? Is it a coincidence any attempt to limit government equals pain to the public?

Senator Max Baucus became the seventh U.S. Senator to announce he would not be running for re-election. You will remember old Max as one of the major supporters of Obamacare. A couple days ago Max expressed concern that the implementation of Obamacare would be a “train wreck.” Others who have announced they are not running for re-election include Carl Levin, Frank Lautenberg, Tom Harkin, Joe Lieberman and John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV. All these senators voted for Obamacare and have now decided “the time was right” to retire in the same year Obamacare rules go into effect. These folks all voted for a law more than 50% of the American people did not want and now they are leaving before an election. Coincidence? In all fairness, two Republican Senators are also retiring, Saxby Chambliss and Mike Johanns.

I once worked with a lady who was very precise with her language. When we kidded her about it, she would reply, “Words mean something.” Of course she was right and in the course of politics this little fact often slips past us. Much like a murder case, in politics there is very little coincidence.

When President Obama promised fundamental change, he was precise with his language. When President Obama said he would make sure the rich paid what he considered their fair share, it was not a campaign slogan. Right after the election of 2008 the President said the Republicans had put the car in the ditch and he was going to pull it out. The President went on to say the Republicans were welcome to come along—in the back seat. The President told you about his strategy and plans with these comments.

Now the President owns this economy. It is a Liberal Left economy. The President owns the mess that will be the “Affordable Care Act.” The President’s team came up with the Sequester; this was their tool, allowing them to increase the national debt. What is happening and what will happen until we change direction is no coincidence.

With the coming 2014 mid-term elections it will give us a chance to change direction. If we fail in that effort, the further decline of America will be no coincidence; it will be from failed policies. This is not a deliberate attempt to hurt the country, just a lack of knowledge on the part of a Chicago politician who believes bigger government is better government. His results are not a coincidence, it is all tied together.