Fritz Pfister

Are you familiar with Groundhog Day? Not the one with the shadow, the movie one where every day the same thing happens over, and over?

From the SJR February 17, headline; Gasoline prices hit another low for 2010. February 20 headline; Two-week rise puts oil prices near $80.

February 17 headline; Economic signs boost stocks. February 19 headline; Report: Job market improvement may be slowing.

February 19 headline; Fed bumps up rate banks pay for loans. February 20 headline; Low inflation rate gives Fed room to keep rates down.

February 17 headline; Homeowners farther behind on payments. February 20 headline; Fewer homeowners falling behind. (Sub-headline; End of pain in housing bust a long way off).

Are you clear on foreclosure, price of gas, interest rates, unemployment, and the economy now?

All week long President Obama and Joe Biden have traveled the country campaigning on the stimulus worked platform, while it was reported filing for first time claims for unemployment benefits rose (gasp) unexpectedly last week by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 473,000. That stimulus sure is working! Keep campaigning fellas! You make Tiger look sincere.

While the economy continues to shed jobs, what is the solution being proposed? Groundhog day 2009 continued into 2010, health care reform. While a group of 20 select Democrats are nearing finalization of reconciling the senate and house bills, that has been roundly rejected by the American people, the Obama administration presses forward. Forget Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, town halls, tea parties, polls, and the will of the American people?

Republicans make reform proposals which are killed in committee never seeing the light of day, somewhat like the health insurance lobbyists, and big pharma meetings with Obama in the White House, only to be called the party of no. Obstructionists are these politicians to what the American people don’t want.

A great read on the inside dealings of the Obama administration is “Obamanomics” by  Timothy P. Carney. If liberals would read this book they would be jolted from their mesmerized groundhog slumber, and would start to believe the presidents real name is Barack Ryan Blagojevich.

Health care reform is a trillion dollar bill according to the CBO, paid for with tax increases on job creators, and cuts in Medicare. In reality it is a 2.5 trillion dollar bill according to The Heritage Foundation, and will cost another 1.6 million jobs.

For what reason?  A bill that accomplishes nothing Obama, Reid, Pelosi say it will. Lower costs, improved care, and 30 million more insured all for less money? According to our own Aaron Shock more people (7%) believe Elvis is alive, than the people (6%) who believe the stimulus worked. I guess that’s why Obama believes he can sell the notion we can save money by spending money.

Just perfect timing to go further in debt. Mr. Michael Boskin a professor of economics at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution wrote an article titled; “When Deficits Become Dangerous.”

Quoting the last paragraph of the article;

Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker famously called Reaganomics—with its defense buildup, tax cuts and budget deficits—a “riverboat gamble.” (Which, by the way, worked out well.) Mr. Obama’s fiscal strategy is more akin to the voyage of the Titanic. Let’s hope he changes course soon enough to prevent disaster.

To read the article that provides evidence to arrive at such a conclusion, follow this link: http://www.hoover.org/pubaffairs/dailyreport/archive/84216767.html

In the final analysis the Obama health care plan isn’t about health care, it’s about a big government agenda with the ultimate goal; the takeover of the health care industry to make every American dependent upon government. The progressive dream come true.

If Republicans attend this progressive-fest on February 25th, I fearlessly predict the results; Groundhog Day.  If Obama and the Democrats win on this issue, the American idea, and people lose, at least temporarily.

If Reid, as reported by the AP, is prepared to use reconciliation in the senate to bypass a filibuster by Republicans, and forces a health care bill down the throats of Americans that they do not want, election day November 2010 will make the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre look like an episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Groundhog Day 1994 style.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of Fritz Pfister, or identified sources, and not those of RE/MAX Professionals Springfield, or RE/MAX International.