It became clearer after President Obama’s re-election that we're two Americas. Has our country been this divided since the Vietnam War, or perhaps the Civil War? Mr. Obama captured just fifty-one percent of the popular vote.
Last November, I anticipated more reaction from voters in the Center, due in part to the now infamous, “You didn’t build that” quip. I believed it validated deep concerns held by many Americans that President Obama remains anti-business and anti-free market. I also believed there was no way to take such a gaffe out of context (as claimed by the President and his defenders) and that the ripple effect would devastate the President's campaign. I was obviously wrong about the fallout as far fewer swing voters in the Center cared about the issue than I'd imagined. Setting aside the unpredictable American Center, the two Americas of Blue and Red remain far apart in their belief systems.
Much of Blue America believes that since car tires rolled on public pavement while building businesses, or since career success came after attending public universities --- government funding enabled positive economic outcomes.
Last November, I anticipated more reaction from voters in the Center, due in part to the now infamous, “You didn’t build that” quip. I believed it validated deep concerns held by many Americans that President Obama remains anti-business and anti-free market. I also believed there was no way to take such a gaffe out of context (as claimed by the President and his defenders) and that the ripple effect would devastate the President's campaign. I was obviously wrong about the fallout as far fewer swing voters in the Center cared about the issue than I'd imagined. Setting aside the unpredictable American Center, the two Americas of Blue and Red remain far apart in their belief systems.
Much of Blue America believes that since car tires rolled on public pavement while building businesses, or since career success came after attending public universities --- government funding enabled positive economic outcomes.
Red America concedes that of course, some large scale public works projects and excellent public universities influenced America's growth and as our population grew, a corresponding increase in the size of federal government was necessary.
However, Red America doesn't believe our nation flourished exclusively, or even principally, for these reasons. Red America believes, it was limited government, free markets and personal freedom that enabled growth and prosperity in the first place coupled with initiative, smart risk-taking and hard work. Red America points to history that suggests the inevitable outcome of unchecked deficit-spending and taxation courts disaster and that we're already witnessing our decline.
Red America remains convinced that one of the most perilous problems faced by our nation today is federal spending and that added taxation, by any other name or game, is more of an enabler to the fiscal problem, than a cure. For this view, Red America is often labeled by Blue as extremists.
Leaders of Blue America welcome new tax increases like the 2% payroll hike on all taxable wages up to $113,700 (which Blue dismisses as end of a tax "holiday") and the new Medicare adder of 0.9%.
However, Red America doesn't believe our nation flourished exclusively, or even principally, for these reasons. Red America believes, it was limited government, free markets and personal freedom that enabled growth and prosperity in the first place coupled with initiative, smart risk-taking and hard work. Red America points to history that suggests the inevitable outcome of unchecked deficit-spending and taxation courts disaster and that we're already witnessing our decline.
Red America remains convinced that one of the most perilous problems faced by our nation today is federal spending and that added taxation, by any other name or game, is more of an enabler to the fiscal problem, than a cure. For this view, Red America is often labeled by Blue as extremists.
Leaders of Blue America welcome new tax increases like the 2% payroll hike on all taxable wages up to $113,700 (which Blue dismisses as end of a tax "holiday") and the new Medicare adder of 0.9%.
Class warfare and the politics of envy are often used to justify tax increases. This historically has been Blue America's mantra to increase taxes. Paying one's "fair share" is whatever they want it to mean.
And on the spending side, a reduction in the rate of increase to any budget item, is still decried as a spending cut by Blue America. By contrast, Red America welcomes the prospect of a nominal $85 billion spending reduction from a government that spent over $3.5 trillion last year.
Sadly, the yoke of two Americas remains firmly in place.
And on the spending side, a reduction in the rate of increase to any budget item, is still decried as a spending cut by Blue America. By contrast, Red America welcomes the prospect of a nominal $85 billion spending reduction from a government that spent over $3.5 trillion last year.
Sadly, the yoke of two Americas remains firmly in place.
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| White House Fiscal Adviser? Wikimedia Commons |
March 23, 2013 UPDATE: CBO projects only a $42B reduction in the current fiscal year.
"The $42 billion figure is CBO’s estimate of the reduction in cash disbursements in fiscal year 2013; much of the remaining outlay reductions from the 2013 sequestration will occur in fiscal year 2014, though some will occur later."
"The $42 billion figure is CBO’s estimate of the reduction in cash disbursements in fiscal year 2013; much of the remaining outlay reductions from the 2013 sequestration will occur in fiscal year 2014, though some will occur later."