ITEMS FOR WEEKEND THOUGHT

As the first week of the last month of 2009 comes to an end, a number of loosely related matters demand some additional exposure.

A British journalist attended President Obama's recent West Point address and was not impressed. The comments in his next day article were that this speech by the leader of the free world on the future of Afghanistan were "guarded" and "defensive" and "less than entirely convincing". The impression also was that America, among other things, was going to "back off Pakistan" particularly an open "unity" with Pakistan and pursue "dealing with Pakistan clandestinely". Clearly he saw that a waste of more American lives, assets and prestige would be the net result of this latest Obama decision.

Speaking of the "war", Congressman David Obey, who is a Democratic and who is Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, continues to promote a "war tax" that will separately fund the expenses of our military efforts in Afghanistan. His expressed concern is that current federal government revenues must be balanced between "war costs" and "rebuilding the US economy". This "war tax" money raising scheme can not be successfully passed at this point in time so more money must come from some where and our wealthier citizens, who generally are stock investors, have been focused upon by Democrat Representative Nancy Pelosi. She is not promoting a "war tax" but does urge a "stock transaction tax" which would impact that section of Americans who still have money to invest in the stock market. As she says, "this transaction tax still has a great deal of merit." Her opinion is for Americans to sell there stock for a profit and give some, maybe alot, of that profit to Washington.

Of more concern are published statements by American economists/investors. Martin L. Gross has confirmed that, contrary to recent Obama Administration statements, the American national debt is not $1,400,000,000,000.00 but is actually $1,885,000,000,000.00. This figure of money owed was confirmed by the US Government which forced Gross to further express that this current and growing obligation is taking us down a path of "absolute destruction." Following this sentiment, Jim Rogers has stated that the US dollar is now a "terribly flawed currency" and America has become "the largest debtor nation in the history of the world." Just the amount we owe Communist China has to confirm this opinion.

Following these depressing statements came one from John Hussman who has forecast that given the extent of known American delinquent business loans and leases, there was an "80% chance of a market crash". Wrapping up these negative thoughts was another comment by the said Martin L. Gross that "we are going to spend ourselves into oblivion". The "we" he defined as the Federal Government and President Obama.

As much as I agree with the sentiments of the above quoted opinions, Americans are strong and are resilient and will want to change this nation via the ballot box in 2010 and 2012. Conservative public leaders need only to make themselves known; campaign by promoting traditional American values; and then start a real reconstruction after being elected.