Why not, is has worked and continues to work. As you know, economics goes in cycles, the dollar has fallen some against the price of oil, but that hardly means that the US economy is weak. We have seen continued growth. It has slowed as of late, but it has gone in cycles like this for years, we are in no danger.
I think money should be earned. People want it and should go out and work for it. They should not expect a welfare state to come in and take care of them. It breeds inefficiency. You further assume in your comments about oil that the US lacks any ability to switch over to alternative fuels or to develop new technology that will lessen the demand for oil. The oil consumption rates can be maintained, as we will find new technology to ensure it as we always have. As for your book, I have not read it, but would argue that we already quite interdependent with our current system as is.
There is no healthcare crisis in America. The numbers that are thrown out there are in the 30 millions, but it is ignored that many of these people are young and choose on their own not to have healthcare. Further, illegal immigrants are typically added into these figures to inflate the number and dramatize the problem. I for one do not wish to be taxed at a higher rate because someone who is here illegally to begin with wants to see a doctor.
Further, healthcare is already free to those who cannot afford it. Medicare and SCHIP already cover the children and elderly who cannot afford medicine. Also, Federal law mandates that at a public hospital an ER cannot turn away any patient for any reason, including lack of ability to pay. So while perhaps you may feel inconvenienced that you had to go to a public ER to see a doctor for free, it was still free.
As for energy independence, no we have not made preparations to make ourselves energy independent, and this is a problem, which people like Mr. Obama will make worse by taxing oil companies to death, hurting R&D. He says we cannot drill our way of the problem, which is true, but we can drill our way into more time, and in the process create more jobs for Americans and more wealth at home.
I agree that Obama cannot end the war, I fear however that he will anyway. The only reason Obama can even speak of a pullout to begin with was because McCain fought for the surge (which Obama opposed).
As for the "problems" overtaking our country. I assume you mean the war, energy, healthcare etc. I have already discussed healthcare, so here is my thought on the war.
You cannot set timetables or any guidelines such as that. You must maintain stability in Iraq and give the government there a chance to work. We must continue to train ISF forces because the local populations look more legitimately on operations when they take the lead, as they have been increasingly doing. A phase out will come, but to just assign a time 16 months from now is naive and irresponsible.
I agree completely. But that speaks to the character of Obama more than anything. I understand the situation in Iraq quite well, as you say you owned a business I have a BA and MA in foreign relations fields.
This goes to show me that Obama is a man of no character and will say anything that it takes to get elected, and then do whatever he wants, most of which I disagree with to begin with.
Obama is a change indeed, but after saying you openly think the man is outright lying to the American public, how do you turn around and think he means a word of his "change" message. Obama is no change, he is more of the same, with worse policies.
