A little piece about politics today.
This is a fun election coming up, because it’s going to be close and brutal. The Super PACs are going to chew up both sides and leave them for dead. Politics ain’t beanbag.
The Presidential race is what I am wrestling with. I voted for Obama in 2008 because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime and because McCain, who I preferred as a candidate, was stupid and desperate enough to pick Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Today, I am undecided.
Obama’s record is a mixed bag, for sure. He made bad choices when he took office by allowing the Congressional Democrats free reign to blow untold billions of dollars on pork. Then the Republicans took a hopelessly negative counter response.
On the other hand, he passed a health care law that has the potential to improve life for a lot of people. We do not know the cost, but I am taking a wait-and-see attitude on this one. The Supreme Court may overturn it, which could give the next Administration a chance to make it better.
Obama passed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which helped business, and despite a lot of bad things happening, the economy has improved a lot. If we ask the simple question, “Are we better off now than we were four years ago?” I can absolutely say, yes. Economically, the country is far better off.
The controversial U.S. automaker bailouts must be considered a big success. GM and Chrysler are doing well. You can be an ideologue and complain, but in reality the attempt to save the auto industry worked better than anyone expected.
Mitt Romney is a disappointing Republican candidate, as he isn’t the mobilizing charismatic symbol of change that we need. He is an unauthentic technocrat, but he has a great record as a doer, which I respect. He has a completely different vibe than Obama, who I would love to shoot hoops with. Romney seems like a Mormon Al Gore.
I really want to vote Republican in November – I believe in business and in an efficient, smaller government. The Social Conservatives scare me about as much as the Leftists and Greens.
So, as of June 1, 2012, I am officially on the fence for this election. Obama is weak but Romney has no vision and seems to lack commitment to a single set of political principles. He is against the health care legislation he fought for as Governor of Massachusetts.
Normally, I like gridlock in Washington, but the vicious partisan gridlock we have now is pernicious. We need a grand compromise on spending reductions, including the military budget, and shared pain on taxes. But neither guy nor party seems to have the guts or leadership to get us where we need to go.
I am waiting – probably right into November – to make up my mind. How about you?
Question: Is the United States better off today than it was four years ago?
92 Comments
Umm. Lloyd? Isn’t voting for a president BECAUSE he’s black just as racist as NOT voting for him BECAUSE he’s black? I would hope that most of our electorate would simply vote based upon the issues of today, and how the candiates views fit their own.
If you are undecided about electing Obama to another 4 years – YOU ARE STUPID !
HE AND HIS REGIME ARE DESTROYING THE AMERICAN FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM TO REPLACE WITH A GOVERNMENT TOP DOWN CONTROL. IT HAS NEVER WORKED EVERYWHERE IT HAS BEEN TRIED AND IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY
People need to vote according to what a person has done in their past, you can’t vote based on what the person says they will do, it must be backed up by something.
Voting because of the color of someone’s skin is the simplest form of racism! My we haven’t grown as a nation yet! The rest of your article has some sense to it, but your opening comments are appalling to me as an American; it’s called reverse discrimination!
The economy may be a little better but I don’t think the additional trillions in debt got the results we would have seen if the money was spent on defense like Reagan did.
Sorry, but if you voted on those reasons, you’re voting for the wrong reasons.
Please explain how the country as a whole is better off now than say circa 2006? 5 trillion in debt in 3 years that we can’t pay for, and no end in sight. Unemployment on the way back up, payroll flat, cost of living up, energy up because we aren’t allowed to go get our own, etc… oh, and yeah, free health care no matter what. Add in all the new taxes that conveniently are “backside” loaded into his legislations, and no budget in 3 years, since even the Dems won’t vote for it, and I think we are way worse off. I’d vote for my show over Obama at this point, the show would at least not make things worse.
As a business owner, I can report that my company is doing very well under the Democrats. As a woman, I would be insane to vote Republican with their mean, ideologically-driven attacks on women’s reproductive rights that are going full blast across the states with Republican legislatures. As an American, I would never vote for a party that is anti-gay, anti-immigration, anti-voting rights. Obama gets my vote.
“Obama’s record is a mixed bag, for sure. He made bad choices when he took office by allowing the Congressional Democrats free reign to blow untold billions of dollars on pork. Then the Republicans took a hopelessly negative counter response.”
Try ONE TRILLION DOLLARS on the failed porkulous spending. “A hopelessly negative counter response?” You mean like how the Republican controlled House of Representatives has sent multiple budgets to the Democrat controlled Senate who in turn ignored them? Yeah, that’s pretty negative. January 24, 2012 marked the 1,000th day our government has functioned without a budget because of the Democrat Senate.
The reality of what we’re facing is:
Our spending and debt problems are not imaginary and they’re no longer theoretical problems that we can deal with decades in the future. Countries are collapsing under their sovereign debt now. It will be our turn sooner than we think.
We haven’t actually dealt with the problems that caused the 2008 crisis. All the debt and toxic assets that caused the original crisis are still with us.
Fiscal stimulus has failed and monetary stimulus has failed. There are no more “magic bullets” left (even if we assume there were any “magic” options in the first place).
No realistic tax increase and/or economic recovery can adequately resolve our fiscal course over the long-term.
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Here’s some great info (with cited facts and figures, not whimsical liberal feelings about unicorns and rainbows):
“Obama’s Keynesian Zombie Economy”
http://www.craigsteiner.us/comments/350
The “experts” were wrong about the prospects of Obama’s stimulus, Cash for Clunkers, bailouts, QE1, QE2 and have been “surprised” over and over again. At some point I think the public must conclude that the “experts” are wrong and we have the wrong leaders.
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America’s future in Manufacturing will be decided this election cycle. A vote for anyone but Romney will mean a CERTAIN end to our reign on the throne. Don’t sit this one out; make sure everyone you know votes for Romney this time around.
It is so unfortunate for our country that many women voters today are so misguided about the Republican position on reproductive issues that they believe that it is actually anti-women. I used to be one of them when I was young and stupid.
Many Americans want to obey the law, even when it comes to immigration and voting laws. Those who do not only have self interests in front of the rule of law – a foundational American principle. Obama’s record on unemployment, poverty, destruction of free enterprise, and government spending is what is troubling. We will soon not even be able to fund our armed forces. I think a change is required.
Lloyd,
Even though you have always leaned right, I have always found you to be a centrist who looked at both sides and never voted pure party ticket. Your vote for Obama clearly states that. As for all of the people taking you to task for your reasons for voting for the first black president, I think I know you well enough to know that your reasons were many and nuanced. You may have not chosen the best way to state that but I’m sure you factored many things into your decision. I’m guessing what you meant was that all things being equal, you liked the idea of being part of putting our first black president into office.
And by the way, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Women are next!
Many of the responses you received above including the one calling you stupid in all caps are a microcosm of where we are as a country right now. Apparently a person cannot say that they want to study things more and get a better feel for what each candidate stands for. This reminds me of W saying “you’re either wit us or witout us.”
This division is tearing our country apart. I am certainly not happy with every move that Obama has made but Romney as an alternative is way too scary for me. I will trust in Obama’s intelligence to win the day.
I am a woman business owner of multiple manufacturing companies and even though my business is doing better it is through a lot of hard work, not politics, that has made my business successful through the recession and in the current work environment. I acknowledge that political extremists that are successful in getting their personal agendas approved make it more challeging to do business; however, my businesses are in an “At Will” business environment so if a person does not want to work, happliy, I do not need to keep them.
I think we should join the Europeans; give up our firearms, give everyone free health care and free college. Then we should tax the daylights out of the rich and give it to the poor until everyone is equal. Who do those rich people think they are, anyway? Getting good grades in school, paying for college and graduating with employable degrees, then working their butts off to make a better life for them and their families. How dare they? After all, President Obama did say, “I think there is a point where you’ve earned enough money,” or something like that. Then, we can file bankruptcy as a nation, have our young adults scream and protest because they have to actually pay for their educations, and eventually kill off the old folks because we can’t afford to give them their medication for free anymore. Sounds like a grand old socialist country to me! And voting for someone because he’s black? Really? Is that any different than voting for someone because he’s white? That sounds pretty racist to me.
Lloyd, you are clueless ! Hell No we are better off now. Maybe the corruption in IL has you thinking this fool is doing good. Romney has no vision ?? and this Bozo does ?
Mitt has made it big by being smart and driven. Nobama is making Jimmy Carter look smart ! Nobody has Ever been more of a Flip Flopper and sneaky , and Liar than this clown . With this thinking, no wonder your business went in the toilet !
You & everyone that thinks like you are decieved. Obama has a plan to destroy the USA from within. The economy is certainly no better off than it was & the fact that Obama has put the country more in debt in his term than all the other presidents combined, is proof of his plan to destroy the USA. If you want to be part of Obamas plan to undermine the American way of life along with Harry Reid & the rest, go ahead & cast your vote for the bastard. I will not vote for Obama.
It is very simple…if you value the Constitution, Patriotism, American Values, Capitalism and a Free Market System, vote for Romney. If you don’t believe in any of those things, keep the current guy in office.
What a racist!
Are we better off? Yes we are. Four years ago the economy was on the brink of total collapse and job loss was heading for 750,000/ month. Anyone who wants to hand the economy back to the people that put us in that position needs to think.
I have to say you are the first person that I have found in the business world that will openly admit to voting for Obama.
It is sad to me that you also admit to voting for him just because of his skin color.
I think Americans deserve more than that.
You have been brain washed into the black and white issue and our country deserves more that than. We need to look at the man and what he stands for and what he has done in the past before we cast our vote. You brought up that Mitt Romney is Mormon – Obama claimed to be Christian and yet he wanted nothing to do with the National Day of Prayer and to my knowledge is never attended a church since in office.
We the people have got to get more involved with the political system.
Ladies I am also a buisiness owner and I would NEVER vote for Obama.
He will tell you one thing and do something else. Which I am also sad to say that most of our politicans are like this. It depends on which group they are talking to.
The best that I can tell someone to look for in trying to decide on who to vote for is look for the candiate that wants less government control.
We need to go beyond the Presidental election and seek for laws to be passed to stop what’s going on in Washington – no elected offical should be able to vote their own pay raises – the people should vote for this. No elected offical should have different insurance than the people that elected them. They should have to pay into social security and they should have to draw social security. They will fix it when this is done. I don’t think our country is better off after 4 years of Obama because of Obama – it is because the American people have dug down and fought back to stay afloat.
As Americans we are better than the representation we are getting in Washington.
I feel if Obama is re-elected this country will be in worse shape – the Medical Community is already going sour due to the legislation that has been pasted on the Obamacare.
Don’t sit on the fence vote ROMNEY.
Have to agree with some of the previous commenters. Lloyd, I love your blog but I’m having a real hard time with your comment that you voted for Obama because you wanted to see a black president in your lifetime. I’m no Palin fan, but at the time her and Obama’s resumes weren’t all that different.
Obama said follow my lead and unemployment would be at 6% or less the majority of his term. We did. Unemployment has never fallen below 8% during his time in office. He needs out.
Re: Romney. I’m 29 years old. There has never been a more qualified candidate for the White House in my lifetime. I’m not sure if there ever will be again. This guy founded Bain Capital for pete’s sake. Community activist/career politician vs. founder of Bain and savior of the Salt Lake Olympics and people are still debating whom to vote for?!?! SMH.
Obama’s treatment of the oil and gas industry and the effect that has had on the US economy is a sad commentary on his “intelligence” someone noted above. The US is on the cusp of total energy independence from the Middle East and Latin American tyrants. My business is great in great measure due to the innovation of energy service giants and their ability to do things like shale gas extraction. There is more to be done in exploration and development which would create tens of thousands of jobs across the country. Obama has given me no reason to vote for him and give him four more years to drive us into real socialism. To the lady who said Republicans are against immigration. Get real, Ms Alexaner! Immigration or illegal immigration….BIG DIFFERENCE!
Lloyd, I can’t believe you or anyone would say “Economically, the country is far better off today than 4 years ago”. If your wife ran up a credit card bill of $142,000.00 would you say all is well? I think not!!!
I have to balance my budget, politicians need to balance our budget also!!
My problem is that I’m afraid NEITHER candidate will fix the mess we’re in. We’ve had politicians from both parties promise us a “smaller” government for years, only to see them fail miserably. Frankly, none of them want a smaller government, because that in turn would shrink the amount of money (and therefore power) in Washington that they can peddle to the highest bidder. Put simply, politicians from both parties stopped doing what was best for us, and the country, decades ago, and instead cater to the special interest groups and lobbyists who can provide the big bucks to help get said politicians re-elected. Look at campaign finance reform, for example – every attempt at it so far has resulted in any legislation seems to maks some progress until you see that all they have done is left loopholes in the laws (the latest being “Superpacs”) that still allow nearly unlimited contributions by the wealthy and the corporations and SIGs. Until the politicians can be seperated from the money, nothing will ever get better. And the have proved that they won’t sepreate themselves on their own – they will no doubt have to be forced into it by us.
I see plenty of Republicans here claiming that Obama is spending the country into oblivion, but you need to look at the most recent Bush’s record to see that he (or th eRepublicans) were not exactly spendthrifts either. There’s plenty of blame to go around.
Obama promised “change” in Washington, but it is still business as usual. Romney promises change in Washington – do you REALLY think it will happen if he gets elected? Interested in any ocean-front property in Arizona?
Please take me off your mailing list.
I too am an owner, of a small business and all I had to do is read to the point in your article wherein you thought that the federal government had a chance of improving our lives by taking over healthcare and I was done with the article and you. That thinking is somewhere between naive and, or uninformed. Look at the mess that Medicare and Medicaid are in or how about the Post Office.
When one makes important decisions on the basis of “I voted for Obama in 2008 because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime” it only reinforces the reality of the pathetic situation our once great nation is in and how we got here. Do you hire people on the basis of gender, race or religion or on their qualifications?
May I suggest you get out of the machining world and start writing for CNN or MSNBC.
As you can see from other’s comments jump into the political arena as a business can be risky, especially when much of what you say is STUPID.
Better off for whom? Rambling thoughts…Three plus years of unemployment benefits, health care-better for some-really?-no one is denied health care today- now we need health care reform-for whom?-the cost was supposed to be the answer and it’s not going to be better for anyone–so!! Jobs- HA-look at this months numbers!-60,000, now the worry is recession again!, OK, unemployment HA-8.4% RISING- um failed policy’s maybe!! Social welfare/Morality-more divisive than ever before, gay/lesbian, 99% with sign, OCCUPY THIS or THAT, OK, let’s look at housing-FORECLOSURES WILL BE PICKING UP STEAM/concealed under new names to circumvent “foreclosure process”, OK how about GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT-you got me there!, OK-how about contentious union activity–see Wisconsin, highest level of “contagen” ever, OK, how about home construction-still devastated from Barney Franks/Chris Dodd FREDDIE/Fannie failed policy’s. Oh ya, OBAMA has guaranteed there debt too!
OK, what I come up with is this administration has turned a 2-3 year recession into a 25-50 year MESS, don’t believe me, fine, let’s see what our children and grand children and great grand children have to say about this… Social unrest worst I have ever seen this since the 60’s, appears we all need and demand special rights except everyone wants to pass the bill to a few, the chosen.
Hmmm, I think we are worse off. Too bad the unemployed, government, teachers and unions and a few well minded but misguided make up 51% of today’s population …,instead of a chicken in every pot, our President gives us ACORNs!
Mr. Graff for anyone within the value added manufacturing sector to even pose that question makes them either terminally naive or a Socialist parasite dependant on Government largess of one sort or another!
“Mao-Bama” is without doubt the worst President I have ever seen and his willful disdain for our founding documents and adherence to his Marxist Pragmatism that has been drilled into him by his father, professor’s and mentors throughout his formative years is destroying our Country!
All anyone who has any brains or common sense has to do is look across the Atlantic to see what is happening right now in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, France and Italy to see what happens when you allow unbrideled entitlement/welfare ideologies to creep into a society. Socialism, Marxism, Communism and Progressiveism have FAILED everywhere they have been tried and the proof is right in front of those who keep trying to protect those failed ideologies!
So…do we need a new President that actually understands capitalism, the constitution and individual freedoms and rights because this pretend “Genius”…..AIN’T.
We are way better off over the last 4 years! The manufacturing company I work for has seen sales double since Obama took office. It’s not all gloom and doom out there like a lot of Republicans paint it out to be. We need to keep moving forward, instead of going back to the old policies that got us into this mess. The choice is clear!
We aren’t voting for prom king. The prom king might suggest giving $10,000.00 to the needy in lieu of having a prom. What a guy!
Maybe we should be voting for class treasurer. The treasurer might say we only have $5,000.00 in the till.
The situation got out of hand because most people don’t understand debt, pension funds, inflation and so on. And they assumed their elected representatives would take care of things. It’s time to wake up and stem the damage. Which candidate is more likely to do this? Tell the truth, now.
After reading your commet ” McCain, who I preferred as a candidate, was stupid and desperate enough to pick Sarah Palin to be his running mate.” I cancelled my subscription. You, Mr. Graff are an idiot.
I was fortunate to serve President Reagan. He certainly inherited a mess form Jimmy Carter, but at this point in his administration he was well on the road to the 24 million jobs created due to the fiscal environment he created through lower taxes, less regulation and privatization.
We are now at the the tipping point in this country where we will decide if we remain a capitalist, free enterprise system under a Republic and constitution of laws, or if we become a full bore socialist nation and continue to tinker with and change the constitution to fit our new morals and standards.
George Washington warned that a corrupt society will wind up with a corrupt government. We have watched a parade of public officials crash and burn based on their morality in the last 20 years. We elected them, what does that say about our society? What does it say for a government that continues to spend more than it takes in day after day, year after year and then borrows and finally prints money to pay for our excesses. This will not end well, but if we have any hope of turning things around, it will not be with Obama and the Democrats where there is no fiscal restraint, the only hope, and its not much, is with the Republican Party, where at least there is some restraint.
If you don’t think our financial problem is bad, think of it this way. IF we cut the current spending in half (not going to happen), and applied that $500 billion in savings per year towards paying off our debt, it would take over 200 years. Do the math yourself.
There is no restraint in Europe and the only fiscal restraint in the USA resides inside the Republican Party. We all should be terrified at the prospect of $100 Trillion in unfunded liabilities and should therefore demand leaders that believe in the constitutional limitations and fiscal restraint.
Good luck all, you cannot change the laws of finances any more than you can change the laws of gravity, no matter how much you would like to.
All Americans, including congress, had better start to show more signs of urgency and less signs of indifference.
How can anyone be undecided at this point. Since Obama took office, debt has hrisen dramitally, gas prices the same and other little things like unemployment. Obama had so many promissed of what he was going to do and now look at it. Better than four year ago?… no way! While manufacturing has improved a bit in the past few years, it has nothing to do to what his administration has done. his policies has made the recovery much slower. While Obama looks cool, calm and collected, speeks with a silver tongue, this does not define a good leader. His deviciveness and arrogance to ignore over half the american population’s opinions in issues sucha s health care is alarming to say the least. Lastly, your voting for a person for his skin color is a predudice position and very short sighted. Thanks to people like you, we have a poor leader in the oval office that has tried to turn America into a socialistic country. As for Romney, while he is not the ideal candidate, I would take any of the GOP candidates over Obama in a heart beat because of what they believe and not because of skin color.
Lloyd
First of all – not sure what world you live in but if you think we are better off than 4 years ago – I would say you need to get down in the trenches with the business owners who have not only struggling along with the economy but being pounded by the free reigns of regulation by the EPA rulings and every other regulatory commission and committee that have grown 10 fold during this administration. Now they have to justify their jobs at the expense of every business. Then drive by your local DFS office and look at number of cars in the parking lot. Tell the people that have lost their homes, jobs and everything else how much better off we are. I hope you’re standing close enough they can bloody your nose. I’ve been in the machining industry for 40 years and owned my own business for the last 15. The current administration has been the worst for free enterprise in my working career. “Wait and see on the heath care bill” how much more do you want to see of what is in it? Or have you even been keeping track??? As it stands business will pay and then the costs will trickle down to every hard working employee in America. The only benefactors will be those already on entitlement programs. Romney may not have all the answers but Obama has had his chance and only lead us down a path of debt and destruction that needs to be turned around NOW… One term of this guy has been way more than enough.
Do we need a new President? Hell yes! Unless you want this country turned into another Greece in the very near future.
How can anyone within the value added manufacturing community ask a question like that in the first place?
“Mao-Bama” is not the Genius he was sold to everyone as…although Democrats always say that about whoever their nominee is. His disdain for the Constitution is on record and his adherence to his Marxist Pragmatist upbrining and education is on display, even though he does his best to hide it, with every new attempt to get around the now Republican House.
Let’s not forget where he comes from and who his mentor’s are and have been. His father was an avowed Marxist/Anti-Colonialist. James Cone and Reverend Wright are steeped in Black Liberation theology which is based on Marxism and if you don’t know who William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn are they you need a quick education in politic’s!
“Is it time to change presidents?”…it past time to change presidents! On the economy and jobs alone we have gone no-where but down and he’s still making excuses, telling lies and/or passing-the-buck! We just had lay-offs today with probably another company (us) closing it’s door’s this September. That’s not counting the national debt, national security, etc…we jumped from the frying pan into the fire!
I can see how some high minded people might have been fooled by Obama’s fine speeches and campaign rhetoric. But Lloyd, I am amazed that anyone would admit how badly they were fooled. Especially to admit they would even consider making the same mistake again. And I find it hard to believe that anyone with enough sense to start a business (unless you are funded by stimulus money) would be fooled by the Democrat agenda. The Democrats are buying too many votes already. The more you do for people the less they will do for themselves. In my younger days it was considered a stigma to accept charity or government help. This day and age the attitude is that you are a fool if you don’t grab all you can get. The Obama administration is taking that to a whole new level. Even paying recruits to sign up people on food stamps. Anything they can do to create more dependents to vote for even more government programs. Even though the media tried to cover up O’s history, there was enough info out there to scare the daylights out of any normal person.
And by the way, Sarah Palin was the best candidate on the McCain-Palin ticket!! And she had more experience and more common sense than Obama will ever have. The only thing Obama knows is how to divide the country and how to give away other people’s money.
Anyone can be popular if you have unlimited funds to give away! Thank goodness for the tea party revolution in 2010 to slow down the madness!!! Hopefully we can finish the job in November………………..I could go on but I have to earn my own living.
Short answer to “Is the US better off today than it was four years ago?”:
No
My take is, I’m voting for anybody but Obama.
I give him negative grades on foreign policy, energy policy, leadership and healthcare.
I give his administration negative marks for:
Justice Department (Fast and Furious and the Black Panther fiasco),
Senate control yet unable to deliver a budget,
Energy Dept for the billions of dollars lost in loans.
Van Johnson
EPA and targeting of coal fired electrical generators
I will give him credit for someone in his administration making the call to finish off Osama Bin Laden
I also have to give him negative marks for the encouragement of class warfare, aligning with OWS crowd, his opining on Travon Martin, my personal opinion that he would throw Israel under the nearest bus, given the right opportunity and for his decision on the Keystone pipeline.
Observing the media coverage of Obama, gives one pause as to the accuracy or slant of any report.
IMO, he needs to be replaced – he had his shot. By now, I hope that he’s paid back all of his IOU’s – if not too bad.
I had to chuckle about his comment caught on the “hot mic” in Europe – paraphrasing “…hold off until my second term and then we can finish the deal…..”
A second Obama term, IMO, is not deserved.
Gee…you’ve got a current President that is openly hostile to commerce, business, and the private sector in general—-and you can’t grasp that re-elected, he won’t be good for the economy?!?! I find it also a shocking insult that you’re so cavalier about the lives of your fellow Americans, that you voted based on a novelty. Betcha you think Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize too! I mean, why not give him the Nobel Prize for Physics? He just as much earned that as he did the Peace Prize! Voting for someone because you think his race makes it cool, does NOT make you “enlightened”…it makes you a buffoon with poor decision skills.
“I voted for Obama in 2008 because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime” Voting for or against someone because of their physical characteristics they were born with is stupid. It’s like me saying I’m voting for Big Bird because he has yellow hair. Obama was unprepared to be President and now we are paying for it. And I’m a Republican who can admit Hillary is doing a pretty good job as Sec. of State. Obama is not a good president. Admit you made a mistake and move on.
Hi Lloyd-I have been reading your editorials and nothing in all your years has gotten as much comment as this one. Wow!! In any event, our country’s economy is based on new car sales and sales of single family homes. I heard on the radio this morning that nearly every new car manufacturer is reporting record sales, when 3 years ago, they were all in the tank. New single home sales are still down … and will remain down … because of the large inventory of used homes that are left from the home owners that left their home because they couldn’t pay their mortgage. I am a big Obama fan because he actually cares about the mainstream citizen and that he realizes that top down economics doesn’t work for the working class. As a matter of fact, since Romney’s big asset is his business experience, has any president in our history with his primary asset of business experience been a good or even average president? Never!
Joel
I was reading Larry Klayman’s reply and either he is Mr. Graff or he’s as dense and clueless as Mr. Graff.
As for Mr. Graff…It takes some real balls to call Sarah Palin stupid and then come out with “I voted for Obama because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime” that is one of the most braindead, blithering idiot comments you have made Lloyd…and that’s saying something!
Funny I never saw Mrs. Palin using teleprompters….or unable to understand what the spelling of Corpsman was and how to pronouce the word….of course she probably knows what Corpsman are and what they do which is obviously something that is above our “Genius” Presidents abilities in comprehension!
Hmmmm, Romney, he must be the answer to this mess. A good ole boy that pays less than 15% taxes and keeps his money in the Caymans. Way to set an example Mitty!
Oh, but he does know how to run government. As MA governor, his job creation was 47th in the country. At least it was better than 3 other states.
At least Reagan had the common sense to raise taxes when it was warranted. Not something the present day repubs will do.
Obama has done pretty good considering the mess he inherited and the fact the republicans have done NOTHING to help. I don’t agree with everything he’s done (he should have built some prisons and filled them up with bankers and wall streeters, but what the heck, you need those people to finance the next election cycle), but when you get no help from the other side, what do you do? I guess you watch things crash and burn.
It appears we are on the slippery slope and there is nothing to grab a hold of. Just a matter of time before the masses pick up their torches and pitchforks and rectify the inequality.
C’mon Lloyd,
I read and agree with most of what you write however if you call McCain stupid and then vote for the least qualified man ever to run for president just because he’s black……well what does that make you?
I’m personally tired of the same groups blacks, union members, women, always going liberal. Stop it and vote for the people who at least know where the wealth in a country comes from and that is basically manufacturing…..not social programs……I could go on and on……and on……
C2
Hi All,
“Is the United States better off today than it was four years ago?”
The answer from me would be NO!
There are small business niches which are little affected by the politics of the day.
One of these is the screw machine business. By the time you factor all the costs, the price here or from some foreign competitor is balanced, somewhat in favor of the US.
As a contract manufacturer, our company has been most affected by NAFTA and offshore sourcing.
We currently have nearly 50% of our population who depend on a direct or indirect subsidy from the service sector, including the government. These people do not produce anything. A small percentage of their paycheck is recirculated in the economy, but if they spend it, most goes offshore.
Because the corporate ‘fat cats’ were smart, the one’s who built plants in China or Mexico became extremely profitable. Therein lies a tale. These profitable corporations are supported by their shareholders; duh – because they are profitable.
But what still remains unsolved is the steady drain of dollars. I dare anyone to go into a Walmart and find something made in the good ol’ USA.
That’s why our economy is slowly moving in a negitive direction.
As for the current political situation, Lloyd made a great statement;
“He made bad choices when he took office by allowing the Congressional Democrats free reign to blow untold billions of dollars on pork.” We have a socialist organizer who wants to expand government.
I honestly believe ‘less is more’ in our current government. Go conservative; not republican or democrat, if you have a choice.
Conservatives lean towards a more libertarian point of view. For the most part they are not ‘anti’ except for government expansion. Compromise unleashes the Devil.
We have experimented with socialism for the last 40 years and all the compromises made to ‘repair’ the inherent flaws have led us down this road. Our founding fathers gave us a system by which we can correct any mistakes made along the way. It’s time to fix these mistakes!
George W. Bush inherited a strong economy, a budget surplus, and a nation at peace.
Eight years later, he left Obama with a shattered economy, a trillion dollar deficit, and two mismanaged wars.
Obama saved the country from another Great Depression with the stimulus, helped rebuilt GM and Chrysler, reformed Healthcare, reformed Wall Street, doubled the stock market, created 10 straight quarters of GDP growth, created 24 straight months of private sector job growth, got Bin Laden, got Gaddafi, and got us out of Iraq.
Obama has done a good job and I will vote for him.
Please take me off your mailing list also.
“When one makes important decisions on the basis of “I voted for Obama in 2008 because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime” it only reinforces the reality of the pathetic situation our once great nation is in and how we got here. Do you hire people on the basis of gender, race or religion or on their qualifications?
May I suggest you get out of the machining world and start writing for CNN or MSNBC.
As you can see from other’s comments jump into the political arena as a business can be risky, especially when much of what you say is STUPID.”
See what the majority of common sense, patriotic Americans in manufacturing think?
(copied from Scott’s remarks)
Please take me off your mailing list.
I too am an owner, of a small business and all I had to do is read to the point in your article wherein you thought that the federal government had a chance of improving our lives by taking over healthcare and I was done with the article and you. That thinking is somewhere between naive and, or uninformed. Look at the mess that Medicare and Medicaid are in or how about the Post Office.
When one makes important decisions on the basis of “I voted for Obama in 2008 because I wanted to see a black President in my lifetime” it only reinforces the reality of the pathetic situation our once great nation is in and how we got here. Do you hire people on the basis of gender, race or religion or on their qualifications?
May I suggest you get out of the machining world and start writing for CNN or MSNBC.
As you can see from other’s comments jump into the political arena as a business can be risky, especially when much of what you say is STUPID.
I totally agree with Scott’s statement above and will remove you from my email. You, Mr Graff, are an idiot.
John Stratton- you do realize that there has been a net loss of a couple million jobs since Obama took office, right? That means that he HAS NOT CREATED A SINGLE NEW JOB.
Stock Market: When you direct the Federal Reserve to print a couple Trillion Dollars it causes inflation; that is what has caused the stock market to rise. Can’t wait for that Carter-Esque Stagflation to kick in at the end of the summer (like most economists are predicting).
As for GM & Chrysler: Yeah, they both still owe the US Govt BILLIONS of dollars. Not to mention all of the retired people’s stock portfolio’s which were heavily invested in GM that took a nose dive when Obama’s 2nd favorite donor group, the UAW, was given a sweetheart deal that absolutely screwed millions of Americans who had purchased its stock over the past 100 years.
Fingers in the ears, la la la la, “I cant hear you”
You better believe I am voting for OBAMA!!! Two years ago we were ready to close our doors,now we are hiring new people.Also I am tired of going to war with every body.The republicans have always been for the wealthy and the Democrats are for the working man.Of course the working men and women are a dying breed.TO MANY FREE HAND OUTS! Lets work on that Obama!!
I just read this Rueters article, this is pure EVIL in my estimation, VOTE THE BUMS OUT!
U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.
The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush’s administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.
On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States. The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.
The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws.
Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.
This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.
Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed.
We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter (Socialism/Dictatorship).
Of course it is time to change presidents. If we vote for Obama it is like endorsing what he has done and I can endorse very little of what he has done. I am amazed he can get the support he has. I only know Romney couldn’t do worse and there is much potential to do better. I will be voting for the hope of things to change and get better. Obama is not the change I wanted or can believe in. If the past 4 years are any indication this is not the change any American should want.