Many recent letters to the editor here at the times have been politically charged and are clearly in proportion to the upcoming election. Both sides have had their say and both have done so valiantly. Clearly the common concern is the state of the union, as it should be. After reading many of the letters it is apparent that there are two types. People who aren't happy with the direction of this country and looking to elect a new president, and those who aren't happy with the direction of the country, but want to re-elect the same person. Obviously we see where both sides can agree. However when we use objectivity, one of these makes sense and the other does not.
Since so many seem to have a hard time accepting the truth of were the blame lies, perhaps we can look at our current reality for the answers. Feelings, emotions, and good intentions are great, but they are subjective, and often leave us were we are now, broke, disorganized, struggling and in disagreement. So here are some objective facts that will help differentiate between how some might like to see things and how things really are and they have all happened under this current administration. Therefore blaming the previous administration is not an objective option.
Fact 1. We have almost $6 trillion in new debt. This one is easy, we know it's a fact because the debt was $10 trillion when Obama took office and now it's $16 trillion. There's no magic in math!
Fact 2. We have been downgraded from a triple A credit rating to a double A credit rating, threatening the stability of the dollar and our status as a financially solvent world power. This is a direct result of a lack of cooperation in congress and a lack of leadership in the white house and out of control federal spending and no will to fix it. (see fact 1)
Fact 3. Current daily federal spending is approximately $3.5 billion a day! All of which is borrowed money.
Fact 4. The country is not just fiscally reckless, but our foreign policies are as well. Our foreign policy, in places like Iran is absolutely irresponsible. This country has been refining nuclear material for more than a year, and has threatened to destroy our ally Israel and the entire western world. Sanctions are not going to work with terrorist countries like Iran, and we will soon see a confrontation between these two, with or without our help.
Fact 5. The unemployment rate Obama vowed to fix has been above 8 percent for the entire duration of his term. The number of people who have stopped looking for work and given up all together, are conveniently not counted in this figure, and if counted would bring it to 11%.
Fact 6. The majority of the country does not believe we are moving in the right direction (55 percent to 39 percent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll 9-18-12) Even Obama supporters acknowledge this, as they were included in the poll.
Fact 7. Gas prices have doubled since 2008, food prices have increased proportionally and utilities have gone up the same.
Fact 8. The average household income has decreased $4,000 a year, that's over $333 a month, as much or more than we spend for food alone, never mind gas.
I am attempting to appeal to the common sense of the reader, the same common sense we all have the potential to realize and the same common sense our government traditionally lacks; both democrats and republicans.
If you are happy and think we are where we need to be as a country, that everything is okay and that things will take care of themself and that continuing to do the same thing we have for the last for years is the answer, vote for Obama. If you think we are even further off course now than we were four years ago, and need to fix what is broken in our government and in our economy by implementing the same common sense we have to apply to our own households, then vote for Romney.
Let's stop the arguing, lets plug in our brains, and get engaged in what's happening. It isn't about a political party, or about who we like, its about common sense and fundamental principles and our future, success or failure, and whether we want to remain successful and exceptional as a nation. Regardless of who you voted for last time or why, clearly the hope has dissipated and the change has not occurred, at least not the change we had hoped for.
Joshua D. Marrone
Marietta
