In a recent speech in Oakland, California, President Obama told the American people that we’ve tried his economic plan, and it’s working. He said this in a city where the unemployment rate has hit 13.7% as of May 2012. So as not to take his words out of context, let’s remember that he used the government takeover of GM as an example of his success. By that plan, GM and Chrysler were forced to close scores of dealerships across the country, costing the economy thousands of jobs. In an article in the LA Times in Aug 2, 2012, GM’s US market share dropped from 20% to 18% in the past year. This is Obama’s measure of success, and his plan is working.
In November 2011, GE announced it will invest $2 billion dollars in China, training 65 engineers, and opening six research centers. GE spokesperson Ms. LeGrand said GE expects to be developing 20 to 25% of its x-ray equipment in China over the next 3 to 5 years. Remember that the CEO of General Electric, Jeff Immelt, was appointed by President Obama as his jobs czar. But his plan is working.
The Obama administration’s moratorium on off-shore drilling has led to the loss of at least 13,000 jobs, and the outsourcing of those jobs to Brazil. Through the efforts of the EPA under the Obama administration to eliminate fossil fuel generated electric power, the cost of electricity has risen, as predicted by candidate Obama in 2008. His plan is working.
The latest jobs report by the Labor Department showed the US added 163,000 jobs last month. Consider in those numbers that in a month of real recovery, you would see 500,000 jobs added in an average month, not 163,000. This is not growth. The Labor Department also reported the unemployment figures last month rose from 8.2% to 8.3%. The U-6 figures, which take into account not only those on unemployment, but also those who have dropped off the rolls but still unemployed, brings the actual unemployment rate to between 15%-17%. So the weak job growth numbers are offset by the increase in unemployment. This is his plan at work.
By his plan, we are suffering economically as we have not suffered since the Great Depression. By his plan, this country is divided culturally as we have not been divided since the Civil War. By his plan, freedom and independence are being replaced by dependence on government. Though these statistics are dismal, there may still be a silver lining in this cloud. By his plan, he may have caused the extinction of the Democrat Party that elected him.
Barry Powell – Roanoke
