If you follow the news at all, you've probably noticed that Barack Obama has been calling for several economic issues lately. He wants to make sure that there's an increase in the minimum wage (currently the federal standard is $7.25 an hour); he wants to make sure that unemployment benefits are extended for the chronically unemployed; and he wants to make sure that we talk about jobs for everyone. Why the sudden shift?
Obamacare. In a word, the president is doing everything he can to get away from talking about his legacy-busting health care reform because it's such a debacle. Why go to those three areas? Because that's what the playbook calls for. In times of trouble, call for a minimum wage increase, call for longer and stronger unemployment benefits, and call the GOP murderers for opposing it (after all, who can be opposed to giving someone in need more money?).
If the economy were going guns afire (and there IS new evidence that shows it is starting to pick up), and IF the healthcare rollout were anywhere near where the White House wants it, you can bet the ranch that he'd be talking about that stuff. But he's not. He's calling for a minimum wage increase, and stronger unemployment benefits.
Smart people that follow the news (and I'm not talking about the sheeples out there that only listen to "how much Obama money he's going to give them"), will tell you this is a move that is born out of desperation. Obama has to start hurling insults at the GOP, hoping that Americans will believe him and think the Republicans are the ones responsible for the healthcare mess, and the bad economy. The problem is, you have to have some credibility on your side to make that happen. Obama's broken promises on keeping your healthcare and keeping your doctor, and the scandals involving IRS, Justice, and State departments are worsening his ability to say something we all believe.
It's an old Democratic dodge. Watch what I'm telling you over here, and don't worry about the thing I'm trying to get you to forget over there. The problem is, that 1970's type of thinking isn't working anymore. Do you know the percentage of people that think wages are a major problem in this country? 1%. That's it. 1% of the people surveyed believe that wages need to be increased. What about 18-30 year olds that are opposed to the president's healthcare plan? 56%. These are the people he needs to sign up to make the whole thing fly. What is the percentage of 18-30 year olds that plan on signing up for Obamacare? 27%. Less than half of what the administration needs to make it viable.
Don't be fooled. Obama got into office with slick talk, few ideas, and a great smile. He took his cue from Bill Clinton...but at least Clinton was smart enough to HAVE some ideas once he got into office. I always thought Clinton was a terrible president. Now, he's looking like friggin' Washington compared to what we have.
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