Obama Government Whines Too Few On The Dole

The Federal government recently declared that “too few” Americans are on the government dole. The government apparently conducted a poll which discovered that only 15% of Americans turn to the government during tough times. Apparently during difficult financial times Americans are more likely to dip into personal savings (44%) or rely on help from family (21%). This is an outrage according to the bureaucrats in the Federal government who believe you people need to be relying on them for your every need. This sort of nonsense coming from the Obama administration provides Romney with the perfect argument against Obama’s policies. Obama wants us dependant on government, Romney needs to make the case that we should continue to depend on ourselves.

Of course the numbers from the government poll are questionable. Nearly 1/3 of Americans receive some sort of check from the government, thus implying we aren’t completely relying on savings and family. Granted, much of that is social security which people continue to believe is some sort of trust account. Still, nearly 50 million Americans are on food stamps. Obama has increased the number of people on social security disability by nearly 4 million, many with questionable permanent disabilities. Government dependence is still astronomically high and it has only gotten worse under Obama.

Nevertheless the government poll does suggest that Americans don’t run straight to the government. They do what’s right first, they look to their own savings then to family. This is how it should be, though I would add people should look to the church as well and the church must be there to help. The biggest mistake the church has made in the last century is ceding their duty to aid the poor to the secular government. Considering though all the people on food stamps and other forms of welfare, even if Americans didn’t run to government first we have a massive problem on our hands.

The welfare system we have right now isn’t sustainable. We cannot continue to have the bottom 50% not pay anything in income or capital gains tax but suck up billions in welfare and food stamps. We need those people working again. Under Barack Obama unemployment has been above 8% for his entire administration. Long term unemployment is at its highest since Jimmy Carter. Middle class salaries are down 5% during the Obama administration. The top 1% pay 60% of all income and capital gains taxes yet Obama wants them to pay even more and is willing to increase taxes on the middle class in order to get it. The system we have right now isn’t sustainable and is headed for collapse if Obama is re-elected.

Romney needs to be making these arguments. He needs to attack the Federal government’s admonishment that Americans don’t look to government for assistance first. He can do it in a positive way, praising Americans for looking to themselves and their families first. The government’s poll in the least suggests that we still believe in individualism. Romney can contrast that with the collectivism of Obama and his administration.

Getting the economy back on track will result in increased middle class salaries and decreased reliance on government welfare programs.Romney needs to make the case that Obama has failed in the last four years to get the economy back on track and he further needs to make the case that his plan will work and bring the economy roaring back. The economic numbers during the Obama administration are damning but Romney has got to make the case that he has an alternative that will work. The choice must be between a failed economy plus government reliance and an economic comeback and self determination. If Romney can successfully make this argument, he’ll win.