Knowing The Limitations

"While there's plenty that government can and must do ... there's a lot that government can't and shouldn't do and that's where active, engaged citizens come in." - Barack Hussein Obama, October 16th, 2009

Remember that quote the next time the Obama administration attacks a Tea Party protest or a group of outraged citizens at a Town Hall meeting. Speaking at a community service forum in Texas - hosted by former President George H.W. Bush - Obama laid out the limits of government in contrast to the capabilities people.

Calling on all Americans to volunteer in their communities, Obama asked for that which he has been critical of in the last few months, when millions of Americans have given willingly of their time and resources to save their country from ruination. His vision of community service must differ greatly from that of most Americans who are increasingly at odds with this administration. When he says do this, what he really means is do this, not that.

One must wonder - at the rate that Obama and the democrats are tearing through funds - if the idea of volunteerism will soon be required at the work place, as businesses may one day lack the means by which to actually pay for services rendered. In less than one year in office, the U.S. Treasury Department reports that the budget deficit for 2009 came in at $1.42 trillion, the largest percentage of gross domestic product since World War II.

To be certain, it is the epitome of hypocrisy that the party that only a year ago complained bitterly about George W. Bush's $400 billion deficit has managed to more than triple it in record time. Worse yet is the fact that as they gorge themselves on the peoples' money, they actually defend the red ink.

Add to this the fact that Congress raided the Afghanistan military funding to the tune of nearly $3 billion. Money that was supposed to go toward the troops in Afghanistan was stripped from the war funding bill so that it could be used on pet projects in congressional districts, such as $25 million for a World War II museum in New Orleans (couldn't whatever monies be better spent in that town??), and another $20 million for an institute in Boston to be named after Ted Kennedy.

All of this, and they're not done spending yet. Obama is trying to "community organize" America as a whole, and it is the one thing at which he is succeeding.

"...there's a lot that government can't and shouldn't do and that's where active, engaged citizens come in."

That's right. For once I agree with the man, although the legions he is calling into action are not what he had in mind. The more he does, the larger his opposition grows. Thank you Mr. President, and thank you Congress, for finally getting the people engaged. But don't expect any apologies from me when you realize that your creation has gone awry.

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