Okay, so the “biggest election in your lifetime” is over (once again). I know, it was massive, it was huge, blah, blah, blah. Now it’s back to business as usual. No, really. Did you really think this was going to change anything?
Will this change health care? Nope. The Democrats still control the Senate. It is Obama’s signature legislation. He will veto any attempts to remove it, and that’s a done deal. Sure, Judges can still rule on it, but the election didn’t change that.
Do you think spending will change? Not likely. After all, we’re spending $200 million a day so the president can go on vacation. House Republicans, where spending is supposed to start, will have a choice: stand on principle, reduce spending massively, and have the Senate disagree. If the House Republicans stand firm, the government will shut down. I believe they won’t allow that to happen. Instead, the House Republicans will whine and complain, but in the end they will take their second option: pass a spending bill that increases spending across the board, “to keep government running.” Then they will claim they need you to vote for them in 2014 so they can do better. Net result? More spending. Lots more.
Do you think the economy will change? HA! Keep in mind, right now the government actually believes prices are too low. No, I’m serious. The fed is about to buy bonds. This is at the same time the treasury is borrowing more money. And the only reason you buy bonds is to increase inflation. I’m completely serious. The fed WANTS TO INCREASE PRICES. Only one guy in the Senate seems to get it. Prices are increasing massively. We are in a downward spiral, artificially supported by massive, record government spending. It will get worse before it gets better.
So, what signs would there be that I’m completely wrong?
Watch how the Republicans in the Senate treat people like Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski. Rand Paul ran as an outsider. If he is turned and starts supporting earmarks and like, there will be more of the same. Lisa Murkowski won on an independent ticket without the support of Republicans in her state. A principled Republican Party would let her start over, and let her ask for things. A Republican Party that’s doing business as usual will let her retain all her power and seniority.
Watch the House — this is supposedly a great “mandate for change.” But who will be running the house? Boehner? He’s been there 20 years. If he’s in charge, how will anything change? Sure, he says he’s for “smaller government,” but we’ll see, won’t we? A true, radical change, would be to elect one of these new people as House Speaker. Now THAT would be historic.
Watch North Carolina, and especially Wisconsin. North Carolina has a Republican legislature for the first time since the 1800s, even if it’s with a far-left governor. Wisconsin went from Democrat control to Republican legislature and governor. If there is actual change, these states will just completely slash spending by over 50%. They will throw out massive amounts of regulation. I mean radical actions that will bring out the press in record numbers (with criticism). If it’s business as usual, watch for tiny amounts of spending cuts (which will be portrayed as killing children).
Now I do hope I’m wrong. But I’m guessing I’m not. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb now and make some predictions for 2014 (yes, already, why not?).
The economy will continue to suck. Government spending will increase, the debt will increase, the dollar will continue to fall making things more expensive. Government will deny that things are more expensive and will trumpet that the recovery is awesome. More people will be on food stamps and government will spend more. This will be reported as success. The Bush tax cuts will expire, giving the government even more money to spend.
There will be a showdown in the House and Republicans will blink. The campaign in 2014 will be:
Republicans: Oh, we were so close. We almost did it this time. Send us back with a Republican president and we’ll really do good THIS time.
Democrats: Wow, that was too close! Those Republicans almost killed all the old people and children. And look how bad the economy is now with Republicans in power! You really need us Democrats back now.
Obama will run again. He will get 102% of the black vote and 105% of the Democrat vote. Republicans will again pick some moderate wishy-washy guy (like McCain or Romney). A third-party will make a strong showing (Paul, Keyes, someone else?) so that Obama wins again. The press will evoke enough fear and enough people will have so little money, Democrats will show up to vote in droves. People will be told that if you don’t vote Obama again, you’re racist and slavery will be back in place the day after the election. Republicans and Tea Party people won’t show up in large numbers because they’re annoyed that 2012 elections gave them zero results. All 3 branches go back Democrat. Obama, in his last term, with the help of House Democrats will run the country into the ground and by 2016 the US dollar will be worthless and the government will declare bankruptcy for protection from Chinese-owned debt. Most people won’t notice, because they’re trying to make sure little Johnny isn’t late for soccer practice.
I hope I’m shown completely wrong.
But enough with the realism, how about a nice, rosy picture? Here’s what I’d love to see happen:
House Republicans grow a spine. On the first day in office, they make the so-called “Bush” tax cuts permanent. Next, they pass a rule that says that if the government “shuts down,” all spending levels continue at 50% of their current levels and there is no funding for Congress. They write a budget that actually reduces spending massively — not just reductions in increases. In the meantime, they start getting rid of moronic government regulations, starting by tossing out the EPA, the dept of Education, ATF, and the dept of Energy. They stand on the budget and refuse to give in when the Senate refuses to pass it. Obama, the Senate, and the media all start screaming about how evil the House Republicans are — and the House adjourns and they go home, leaving government running at half-speed.
Obama issues executive orders to spend money, but no one listens to him. Government workers, who now have only half-jobs, actually start looking for training and start trying to get jobs where they have to be productive. Due to the government reductions and reductions in regulations, businesses can actually start producing again and can hire the former government workers as burger flippers, as the former burger flippers, now that they have shown they can work, move up.
In 2014, Obama doesn’t run for re-election. He claims it’s because of his health or something, people don’t really notice or care. Ron Paul somehow secures the Republican nomination for president. Hillary runs on the Democrat ticket, but only wins NY, VT, FL, CA, WA, and OR. Republicans win the House (losing a few seats) and get 50 seats in the Senate. Paul then sets about setting up a government based on the US Constitution.
Hey, I can dream of a better world, right?
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