THE "KING'S " SPEECH AND THE FLAW WITHIN

He's not really our king, but the closest to one we have, and if he were, he would not need speech lessons. This week's State of the Union speech was one of President Obama's best. It was perfect in pitch, tone, and style. But substance? Not so much. It was more of an effort to soothe our concerns, cheer us up, and convince us that he is now more of a peace maker, than a politician. It was air tight in terms of covering all the contentious issues and the opposing views to each, such as high unemployment,lack of jobs, the health care bill, and the deepening debt crisis---he knows about these things, feels our pain, and plans to work on them---he's on it. But exactly what he plans to do, was not clear. There was the frequent mention of investing in our infrastructure, clean energy, and education, which may be fine goals for the future, but will not bring enough jobs and will increase our debt even more. He will instigate a 5 year freeze on all government spending, but that is far from enough and will at at the same time lock in all the heretofore many programs he has advanced since he has been in office, which are considerable. In other words, the borrowing will go on, and the national debt will continue to rise. There was, disappointingly, no mention of entitlement cut backs, as that is too hot to handle for a president seeking a second term---but is precisely the source of much spending.

To Obama's credit, he did say he would vetoe any bill which has earmarks attached to it. But that had a familiar ring to it--he had said that during his campaign run--and unfortunately broke his promise. It was like he had thrown a cookie for us to munch on, while we continued to wonder where the real meal was.

He tried to rally our flagging spirits by telling us that we are still a great country---even strong. Yes, we used to be thought of as "exceptional", but I don't think he used that word---too politically proud. Somehow and regretfully, all the pep words rang hollow. There is too much wrong now, and not enough going right. We don't feel great or strong, and there is a sense of gathering gloom. One had the feeling that Obama was trying to recapture his popularity and the passion from those who voted him into office. Unfortunately,his first two years have been so filled with partisan attacks and forced legislation, like the health care bill, that it's hard not to sense hypocrisy and self serving lip service.

But this was a speech that had to be made. President Obama is nobody's fool---and his time is running out. The American people spoke loud and clear during the last mid-term election. He either has to change his course, correct more to the middle, or go down with his ship. And so, we saw a very different man last night. His words were encouraging, softer, very civil, and even at times filled with the hint of compromise on some things. But so far, they are just words---the President's speech was almost classroom or kingly perfect---no stutters, or gaffes. But we're not a classroom, and Obama's not our king. Many of us were left wondering why we didn't feel better about it---this is two years after his election, and we are in big trouble. We desperately need jobs, jobs, jobs and the feeling that there is light at the end of the tunnel under this crushing, ever growing debt load---and all we're hearing is that our roads and bridges need repairing, along with developing cleaner energy, and more financial support for education. All of them are noble pursuits, but not helping the urgent needs of now, ways to get the economy moving again. That will take much more than pretty words,like "sputnik moment". We need a more specific road map, and one which will include less spending(investments) and more incentives and opportunities(fewer taxes and less government intervention) for the innovation and entrepenurial advancements the president spoke of and for which we have always been known. Those two things do not come from more government programs---and therein lies the core of the president's speech flaw. It's hard to speak of individuals seeking the American dream, becoming innovators and entrepenuers, while simultaneously seeking bigger and more expensive government---the two simply do not mix well.

Government was initially meant to provide a safety net for those in need, not a tent under which we all must labor to keep it from falling down. It certainly has never been known, as witnessed by other nations, as a breeding ground for creative and industrial people. President Obama in his heart believes in bigger government,and that it is the answer to society's woes. His challenge as he moves toward the next election will be to temper his own ideologies with the practicalities and the reality of the days we are living. If he continues to do nothing more than "invest" and construct an even bigger bureacracy that must be eventually paid for by higher taxes, he will make a mockery out of his speech, and perhaps an even weaker country. If on the other hand, he manages to blend his own beliefs with those of the other side, we may just see the evolvement of a young President into a true leader. Believe it or not, I still think that's possible---miracles happen.

The proof will not be in "the pudding", but in the president ---who, as he is learning on the job, may start to see things differently--- that the power to move forward, is not found in the government, but within its people who are given enough freedom to build, grow, innovate--and who are not constrained by over regulations, higher taxes, and unaffordable entitlements. The American dream Obama spoke of in his speech was a dichotomy to his own native thinking, which believes more in the can-do of a government ruling class,than individual effort, risk, and enterprise. May he dream a little bigger.

If there was ever a time for change, this is it---and the change must come in great measure from Obama, himself. He is only one man, but he is at the helm and must see through the fog of politics into the reality of our situation, which is dire and needs more than platitudes. The clock is ticking toward 2012, but our crisis is now. May this be, if not our "sputnik moment", at least one in which we decided to lighten our load, fly again, and not crash into the heap of history, which is littered with other failed countries like Greece and Ireland. How? The suggestions have been there all along--- start with repealing the very expensive Health Care Bill,which needs retooling and more bipartisan input; go through the budget and cut all unnecessary spending, line by laborious line; and yes, take a hard look at all entitlement programs, even social security and medicare---not to mention pension and high union benefits. And then, take the tight reigns off business and corporations-- regulations are necessary, but not to the point of suffocation and stagnation caused by fear of government retribution--and lower their taxes, which are the highest in the world, all of which would would encourage expansion and hiring again.

These are difficult words, not pretty or soaring---but the kind of help that could go straight to the bleeding wounds of our problems. It was lovely to see both parties sitting cozily together during the president's speech---a nice touch, but not really what we hired them to do---to just get along. We expect robust, couragageous debating, even passionate hashing out of our problems---and we expect hard decisions to be made, based not on personal politics as usual, but what is fiscally best for this country. There are always going to be differences of philosophies and opinions, and the ruling administration wields the most weight--but also bears the burden of finding the right balance, not the most politically expedient.

The last two years were a glaring example of one party forcing its will, ideas and policies against the other and onto the public. They did so at their peril---and the results were the mid term rising up of the electorate. Speech or no speech, now is the time for action---bring it on, and civil or not so much, find us a way out of this hot mess, and back to what we used to be---exceptional. We were and still are healthy, and strong enough to help not only our own, but others in need around the world. Let's get our house in order---China is knocking at our door--- some say to measure the drapes--- and I hear they're not nearly as friendly to their citizens or their neighbors.