By Larry Oscar
The New Year is here, and, being an election year, you can count on a lot of laughs as the political clowns running for office get cranked up.
Over the past eight years we have seen a rapid decline in the United States economy and the standard of living for Americans. The average income for US households has fallen from $57k per year to $53k per year, a 7% decline.
We are still the leading country in average income per household, but if this trend continues future generations of Americans can expect to see their hopes for a better life than their parents evaporate. Not many people thought our country would decline so rapidly. However, it was President Ronald Reagan who said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. “
The poor leadership this country has suffered through for the past eight years has not only led to an economic decline, but our country is now in decline when it comes to worldwide leadership and influence with other nations. When our politicians started buying votes with promises of government handouts our fate was sealed. It was Thomas Jefferson who said “Democracy will cease to exist when people realize they can vote themselves more money“.
Tom was obviously right about that one. It is my belief that our politicians don’t realize the extent of the damage to our society that their behavior has caused. Our president is supposed to be the president of ALL Americans; not just the poor, or middle class, but all of us. That includes the poor, middle class, and yes even the rich.
Instead we have seen these politicians proclaim that they “ want to be for the middle class”, or “I am a champion of the poor and the downtrodden.” Then they proceed to make promises of big government handouts and entitlements in return for votes. It is illegal to offer money for votes, and it is immoral to offer government handouts for votes when they are funded with other people’s earnings.
These same politicians preach about immorality and fairness, and then the hypocrites turn around in the next breath and try to buy your vote with promises of monetary government handouts. Unfortunately, I don’t think Americans are smart enough to see through this and realize the damage it is doing to the fabric of this country.
The people who vote for these bozos are indeed selfish and unpatriotic. They are cutting off the opportunity for their children and grandchildren to have a prosperous and productive life. The future Star Trek movies will no longer have the Vulcan phrase “Live long and prosper”. It will be “Live long so you can pay for your grandfathers’ debt.”
Our founding fathers and ancestors would be appalled at what we have become.
Larry Oscar is a graduate from the University of Tulsa and holds a degree in electrical engineering. He is retired and lives with his wife on a lake in Oklahoma where he brews his own beer, sails, and is a member of numerous clubs and organizations.