Now We Know Where He Truly Stands...

A lot of people are talking about President Obama's "You didn't build that" speech.  Many say the comment is being taken out of context.  I say if it is taken out of context, it's not by very much.  In this short speech, Mr. Obama has laid out his plan for America, and it isn't pretty!

Here is the entire speech:

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

"So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the G.I. Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President -- because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together."

There it is in all it's glory.  He said it.  He means it.  He's not taking it back.  And it's completely, incredibly, stunningly, ridiculous that someone with these views could get elected President of the United States of America!  I know many of you may disagree with me - and somewhat agree with Obama now that you see the comment in full context.  I'll comment paragraph by paragraph to illustrate my point.


Paragraph One:

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there."

Nothing is preventing wealthy Americans from giving back if they so desire.  The have the means to do so.  They are not required to give more than they do already just because they have become successful!  Yes, Mr. Obama, there are a lot of smart people out there.  Some of them also have the initiative and the guts to take the risk - many risking all they have! homes, fortunes, time - to actually put their smart ideas in the public eye and see if they have what it takes to "strike it rich" in this country.  It doesn't just happen.  Just because you are born here doesn't mean you get an equal share in everyone's success!  It doesn't work that way.  You want to share in their success?  By a cell phone, drive on those roads (more on that later), get a computer and use the internet (more on that later, too).  Oh! And here's an idea - get one of those jobs that have been created by these risk takers!  See how they did it so you can learn to do it for yourself!  Yes, there are hard working and smart people out here.  But neither hard work nor being smart is a guarantee of success.  People have to like your "product" - whether that be your business or your work ethic or your talents - or some combination thereof.

Paragraph Two:

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet."

Yup, somebody gave me help alright.  But not until I worked, trained, educated myself, and displayed a talent that someone wanted!  It didn't just happen all by itself!  People just don't walk up to strangers and say, "You look like you could use some help.  I'm going to give you [money, education, etc.] so you can be successful" without first seeing some initiative, some talent, some sacrifice.  That's the way it works.  Sure, there were a few great teachers in my life.  That's what they truly wanted from life!  They are successful because they do what they love.  Is that someone giving me help or is it just someone doing their job well and me being lucky enough to land in their class?

Yes, someone helped create this unbelievable American system that we have that allows people to thrive.  But it's not because of you!  It's the very same capitalistic system that you hate so much that is  what made this country thrive.  The same system you are bad mouthing every day!  The same system you are trying to destroy!

"Somebody" invested in roads and bridges?  Yes,  you know who they were?  Businesses!  Roads and bridges aren't built unless there is a destination.  What creates those destinations?  Who pays the taxes for those roads and bridges?  It's all because of business!!  Good God, man!  It's as if you think that someone built the roads and then the business popped up.  Sure, some businesses piggy back on the success of others and it may appear that the roads caused business activity.  But I guarantee that the road was built because there was some place to go first.

Finally, the internet.  Yes, government research created the internet, but not because it wanted businesses to use it.  It was built so that research departments from colleges and universities all over the county could communicate.  It was paid for with tax dollars from ... who?  Businesses and the people that work for them!  If it weren't for a capitalistic society and individual ingenuity, the internet would still be nothing more than a simple electronic file service.

Paragraph Three:

"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires."

Yes, that's true.  We do succeed because of our individual initiative and because we do things together.  But not because we have to do things together.  Which is what you are trying to force us into.  We do things together because it benefits us when we do.  You buy a shovel because you need to dig a hole, somebody has to sell the shovel to you, somebody has to produce the shovel, somebody has to deliver the shovel to the retailer.  Oh, one more thing, you have to have the money to buy the shovel!  You don't get a hole just because you want one - get a job, create a job, find a way to make money or trade your talents for a shovel.  That's the way it works.  That's the way it always has worked.

Oh, and the fire fighting thing.  Cities and counties do have their own fire service.  And they are highly organized at fighting fires.  Even when different cities and counties combine to help each other fight large fires!  Do you really think that some Federal government entity is responsible for this?  Even if individuals had their own service, someone would step up and help organize it.  It's amazing, but we don't need the government to scratch our ass when it itches!

Paragraph Four:

"So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the G.I. Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President -- because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together."

I'm sorry, what?  The government created the middle class? 

Yeah, we're not on our own.  We have a government that increasingly spends more than it takes in, wants more and more of our tax dollars, and will do anything to keep from changing it's behavior and becoming responsible for its actions.  Well, we are sick and tired of it.  We are responsible and we can't afford you or your wrongheaded ideas.

President Obama and people like him have a very different vision for America than most of us.  He wants to punish success by placing limits on it and then taking the "excess" and using it as he sees fit.  Limiting success?  I wonder how much effort Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would've put into their businesses if there were limits on the amount of success for them or their companies.  How far would they have gone before they just stopped trying.

People like Obama would rather destroy this country than to see people succeed while others do not.  Well, guess what?  This is America and in real life everyone doesn't get a trophy just because they live here.  You want a trophy?  It's there, waiting for you.  Go get it...