Furthermore, these kinds of spending policies have been ridiculed in the past by Barack Obama himself. In July of 2008, Barack Obama’s economic policy advisor Jason Furman criticized the Bush administration’s spending by declaring, "These have been years of unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility. That's an important issue in this election because Sen. McCain is proposing to continue the same Bush economic policies that put our economy on this dangerous path and that will drive America even deeper into debt" (CNN.com, Jul. 2008). Furman continued by stating that Obama will “restore balance and fairness to our economy by cutting wasteful spending, shutting corporate loopholes and tax havens, and rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, while making health care affordable and putting a middle class tax cut in the pocket of 95 percent of workers and their families." The year before George W. Bush took office, the United States of America held a total public debt of $5.67 trillion (Wikipedia, Jan. 2009). Our current public debt is listed at $10.626 trillion (Treasury Direct, 2009). Therefore, if one does the math, the deficit grew by $4.95 trillion over Bush’s eight year term from 2001-2008. That averages out to an astounding $618 billion per year average. Even this figure, the largest annual average increase under one sitting president in the history of our country, is being dwarfed by Barack Obama’s stimulus package. The $825 billion figure set aside by Obama and the United States Congress could grow to as large as $1.2 trillion, and that is assuming that the debt will be paid off as scheduled.

The current economic situation in our country is both daunting and unpredictable. Despite the extremely negative factors that include but are not limited to the drop in retail sales, the collapsed housing market, the billions of dollars in debt our federal government is spending, and the continued rise in the unemployment rate, the data I have found leads me to believe that we may not be approaching an economic collapse on the same scale as the Great Depression.

In terms of job loss, the current economy would have to lose an additional 2.34 million jobs before reaching similar job loss numbers of the 1981-1982 recession. Since 1947, there have been four separate recessions that have had similar job loss percentages. These recessions have been running approximately in ten year intervals. The first occurred between 1969 and 1970, then 1979 and 1980, followed by 1989 and 1991, and following up with the year 2000 and 2001. There have also been five separate recessions since 1947 with much worse job loss percentages. The first years of these recessions were in 1949, 1953, 1957, 1960, and 1982. Although our current recession is not over, it is clear that recessions of this magnitude or even worse are not uncommon even in our recent history.

The percentage of industrial decline is currently standing at a loss of 4.5%. Typically, however, post-war recessions produce much larger industrial losses. In fact, since 1947, only the post-war recession of 1990-1991 has had a more positive post-war loss in industrial production. The main recession indicators lead many to believe that our current economic environment is going to get worse and could be worse than many recessions in the last 40 years. These numbers, however, are not even remotely close to reaching those of the Great Depression.

Certain aspects of our modern economy may allow for a softer landing than previous economic environments would have allowed. For instance, inventory and technology has significantly advanced. Large retail stores can track inventory needs more efficiently than ever before. Technological advancements in the stock market allow for quicker and more informed business decisions. Tax rates, as a whole, are currently lower than during other recessions. Gas prices are significantly lower across the country than they were a year ago. Also, overseas production costs have been rising in the past few years and an increase in American production jobs relative to the number of jobs being sent overseas could be a positive factor for our economy as well.

The current economic climate is unlikely to drastically improve over the next few months or even over the next year. However, it is also vital to keep a solid historical perspective over our current predicament. The media, which has been producing thousands upon thousands of negative economic news stories, is not accurately putting our current recession in its proper historical place. In fact, the negative media may be causing more harm than it is good. The most important factors for our economic wellness moving forward will be for the government to avoid overreacting with hindering economic policies, the government avoiding raising income taxes too high on the segment of society responsible for job creation, and for federal government to restrain themselves from increasing the capital gains taxes that could slow trading in the stock market and the movement of capital.

I am praying for Barack Obama's future success. This country has only rarely been blessed with a president that possesses the astounding charisma that the now 44th President of the United States of America has. His words have inspired a nation, unified a racially divided society, captivated the youth of our nation, and have caused millions to put their faith and families in the hands of a proud African American man.

And yet, even though this may all be absolutely and indescribably accurate, I am left here pondering what precisely our president has accomplished. Hope, dreams, inspiration, and faith are important but are rarely productive. Ultimately, policy is the only true measure of a president's value. His personal characteristics are only important in that they determine how well one determines, defends, or explains great policies. Charisma and vitality are astounding traits but are worthless if they remain in solitude.

President Obama's policies are unknown. Yes, he has advocated various pieces of legislation and plans in the past. Until he actually enacts these promises in the form of laws and executive orders, they mean nothing. I find the majority of his thoughts thus far to be at the very least, ineffective. If he were to go through with enacting higher taxes for those who create jobs, or negotiating with terrorist organizations, or even allowing the continuation of a nuclear program in Iran, then the consequences of his policies would be dire. No amount of charisma or profound oration could possibly hide these results of Obama policies. But until this day arrives, I will provide Barack Obama with the opportunity to be a good president, and quite frankly, we all should.

Barack Obama has done what nearly all politicians must do:

He has taken whatever steps necessary to rise to the highest of political heights. If this tradition continues, Obama may actually be a better president than many conservatives expect. Radical liberal policies have dismantled multiple presidents in the past (Just ask Jimmy Carter). If President Barack Obama wishes to seek another term, he must continue to appeal to the middle class by acting as a moderate. Beyond any other facet of his presidency, it is my belief that his popularity is not only his greatest asset but also what Obama values beyond all else. Therefore, I could see President Obama attempting liberal policies and then backing off of them. I can imagine four years of Obama constantly testing the water to see what is and what is not popular. This may restrict his political beliefs. Unlike certain other liberal politicians, Obama values his popularity over his beliefs...at least that has been the case thus far in his career.

Some believe that I owe Barack Obama a chance to be a good president. This, however, is absurd. Like every American citizen, I owe nothing to my president...He owes everything to me.

I will give him an opportunity to succeed because that is what our country needs. We live in a time of war, economic chaos, international miscreants, and suffering. We need a leader and I sincerely hope Barack Obama is that man. I did not vote for Barack Obama, but I sure as hell am praying for him.

HaskinsNews.com is reporting that several sources have confirmed that R. Emanuel supported in his own book entitled "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" that all Americans between 18-25 be forced to go through what he describes as basic training.

www.haskinsnews.com

Secondly, increasing taxes on the richest 1% includes small businesses, which means that it is not only the Wal-Marts and McDonald's of the world that are going to be hurt by increased taxes. Of the richest 0.5%, which accounts for 750,000 taxpayers, two-thirds report small business incomes.

During the Ronald Reagan years, (Hate him or love him, it proves my point) tax revenues increased 28% throughout the 1980's. The reasons deficits ensued is because spending increased by 36%, outweighing the gains caused by tax cuts.

Also, in 2005 and 2006, tax cuts on the wealthy led to increased tax revenues by 14% each year. Also, tax revenues at the beginning of 2007 had totaled 2.4 trillion dollars from 2006-2007. This total is $400 billion dollars higher than the collection peak of 2 billion dollars in 2000, the end of the Clinton years.

The economy is struggling now, but those struggles have NOTHING to do with tax breaks. The housing market, poor choices by consumers, and high gas prices are causing our current (or future, depending on how you look at it) recession. I'm not, by any means, saying Bush is doing the right thing. Spending is increasing year after year...but his tax cuts are the problem with the economy as the tax revenues prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

In recent American history, high tax rates often lead to poor economies. Under JFK, who inherited EXTREMELY high tax rates, the unemployment rate was:

1961   6.7%

Following JFK's terrible death, the implementation of his tax program under Lyndon Johnson, which led to tax cuts for the wealthy led to very low unemployment rates:

1964:  5.2%

1965:  4.5%

1966:  3.8%

1967:  3.8%

1968:   3.6%

1969:   3.5%

Under Jimmy Carter, who had marginal tax rates up to 70% for America's wealthiest few, the economy crumbled.
Unemployment rates under Carter:

1978:   6.1%

1979:   5.8%

1980:   7.1%

1981:   7.6%

1982 (carried into Reagan's term): 9.7%

Under George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, the unemployment rate for the last three years has been under 5%, currently standing around 4.8%.

Only three of Bill Clinton's eight years in office had unemployment rates lower than the current unemployment rate.

In all fairness, I must disclose that I would not vote for Barack Obama for reasons regarding foreign policy and taxes...as well as other socialistic principles he holds dear. Also, I would never vote Hillary Clinton because I feel she is just an incredibly dishonest person and has a lot of policy flaws as well.

On the issue of gay rights, there are three distinct groups of people: Those who hate homosexuals or hate the idea of any kind of rights given to homosexuals, those who believe gays should have the same rights given to married heterosexual couples but not the actual right to marriage, and those who feel gay couples should be allowed actual marriage.

Barack Obama, who I have heard speak numerous times on this issue, is againt gay marriage but for providing all of the rights a typical marriage would provide a heterosexual couple to a homosexual couple. So my first question is: If you are a Barack Obama supporter, does it bother you that he does not support gay marriage?

It has become increasingly more clear over time that Barack Obama is going to be the DNC nominee for the 2008 general election. I still feel, despite the recent troubles encountered by Obama, that Hillary Clinton cannot justify stealing the nomination away. This is actually a good things for conservatives, because I truly believe there is no way in God's creation that Obama can beat McCain.

However, let us imagine for just a moment a world where Barack Obama wins. What are the implications of this? What exactly is Barack Obama all about? Most importantly, is Barack Hussein Obama a racist?

Before we can enter into that conversation, the comments of Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's personal pastor and "spiritual guide" for the last 23 years, must be examined. The church Obama has tied himself to must be examined as well. Beyond all of this, we must determine the character of Barack Obama in a way that uses fact and not rumor or hatred.

First, let's look at Jeremiah Wright. Of course, by now, you have heard the comments that have become incredibly controversial, but they need to be examined again with the most troubling aspects highlighted.

The following is an analysis of Jeremiah Wright's comments:

It's hard to imagine someone as far to the left as Ralph Nader being allied with the likes of John McCain. It is true than many conservatives, including a great deal of bloggers within these forums, see McCain as a liberal anyway; I suppose to them it wouldn't be very surprising at all. But in all fairness, based on the record of John McCain's career in Congress since the days of Ronald Reagan, Senator McCain has a far more conservative record than Ralph Nader. In many aspects of policy, especially those relating to the economy and foreign policy, McCain and Nader differ greatly...and yet, liberal blogs are ripe with stories on a possible Nader and McCain connection.