An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Urkel With The Credit Card
Cutting spending in N.J.
Garden State governor offers Obama an example of fiscal courage
The Washington Times
President Obama could learn a lot about fiscal responsibility from New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie. The governor is making hard choices to close a $2.2 billion state budget deficit by freezing spending and erasing surpluses to meet current needs.
Mr. Christie is cutting money for schools, colleges, hospitals and the New Jersey Transit system – 375 line items total. He is removing noncitizens from the state health care system and canceling a jobs program that mainly created jobs for government bureaucrats. His cuts are intended to impose efficiency and accountability on government spending, concepts people generally do not associate with New Jersey politics.
Honestly, I don’t think many of the states up in that area would have the cajones for this type of ‘get tough’ move. And before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, cutting spending for schools and colleges is not a bad idea. Public schools have become a black hole, and education has gotten worse. The rest? Kick ‘em where it hurts Mr Christie! 
Mr. Christie is taking withering fire for his efforts, which is a knee-jerk response to making hard choices, particularly when they affect government spending that some came to view as entitlements. But he is doing what he was elected to do. Mr. Christie’s rationale is that, “We cannot spend money on everything we want.” It’s an approach refreshing in its simplicity and common sense.
Just exactly when did the folks in this country go from hard working, independent minded to YOU OWE ME? The ridiculous “social programs” have done more damage to our society than anything I can think of, including war. It’s nice to see at least one politician stepping up to the plate, using REAL common sense.
On Feb. 2 in Nashua, N.H., Mr. Obama lectured the American people on fiscal responsibility. “When times are tough, you tighten your belts,” he said. “You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage.” However, his budget proposal is the most fiscally irresponsible in American history. It lavishes billions of dollars on unnecessary programs, pet projects and pork for cronies. There is no belt-tightening in his reckless budget; he does not believe in budget cuts. He’s the guy who can’t pay his mortgage but decides to buy a boat, a sports car and a home theater and then browbeats his unemployed neighbors about doing more to make ends meet.
Do as I say, not as I do! Obama is the kid in the candy store, and no one has the guts to tell him NO? Let him throw a tantrum, then take him home and paddle his behind!
Mr. Obama’s proposed deficit commission is another gimmick, a front to allow him to avoid responsibility for necessary hard choices. This is evident before the commission has even been formed. Mr. Obama admitted he is “agnostic” about middle-class tax increases, and that it would be up to the commission to assess if that is necessary. He is laying the groundwork to break a critical campaign pledge and shoving responsibility onto others. Presumably the American people elected a president to make these decisions, but a vote for Mr. Obama always was more a fashion statement than a realistic assessment of his executive abilities, as is now painfully clear.
Fashion statement. Now that’s funny right there. Heh. Seriously, many people voted for the man because of the color of his skin, and actually knew nothing about his policies. They hung on every word, but didn’t hear a thing. Fortunately, many are now waking up to a new world they helped create, but don’t recognize. It’s not to late to bring sanity back, but it won’t be easy. I applaud Mr Christie for taking these first steps. Hopefully, many others will follow.
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