Staying focused

Media will gladly talk about the Republican primaries and ignore the economy and Democrat policies which ensure the economy will only get get worse. Healthcare costs will continue to rise, and now that the flimsy wall left between private sector healthcare and government run healthcare has been demolished, the resulting confusion will call for more government "solutions" which will cost us even more. Income stagnation among the middle class is due in large measure to employer healthcare costs, and the uncertainty surrounding Obamacare will keep employers from hiring.

EPA regulations have increased energy costs. Just as soon as there is any sign of recovery, once banks start lending the huge amount of cash on hand, inflation will attack the middle class as a hidden tax. Obama had the opportunity to implement free market principles in 2008, but here it is 2011, and Obama, after spending his political energy passing Obamacare and Dodd-Frank, has stopped governing to run for re-election -- he stopped about midway through 2011. The American people shouldn't lose focus on what's obstructing recovery -- liberal policies and statist incompetence.

I won't be surprised if we're in a war with Iran before the year is out. Will Republicans do any better? They can't do any worse. Obama asked a crowd in one of his re-election speeches if anyone believes the financial crash was caused by too much government oversight -- he was being facetious, but the answer is Yes. Government intervention in the economy, statism, caused the crash, and government interventions are making it worse. I know that I should give a more nuanced accounting of the crash, but, basically, this is true -- government caused and government mismanaged -- period.

Yes, it's very entertaining that Newt is in revenge mode and is going to tear Mitt a new one, but, seriously, let's stay focused.