Thoughts On Obama

     Granted, this may be one of my more dicey entries, being as it delves into the heart of current politics. But after seeing the dozens of entries on Facebook in recent weeks about Obama being everything but the devil incarnate himself (although I'm sure there's someone somewhere who has said that), I feel it is time to offer a few thoughts.
     For the record, I am NOT an Obama supporter. Neither was I a supporter of Romney in the last Presidential election. Neither candidate offered what I thought was a sound vision for America. But the fact remains that a majority of Americans voted for Obama. For those who would say that the majority didn't vote for him, but it was the electoral college that got Obama re-elected to a second term, then the electoral college is where people need to vent their anger....not at the President. We elected him. We're stuck with him for four years. That's how our Constitutional Republic works in the United States. And yes, I did say we're a Republic, not a Democracy. Get rid of the electoral college, and then perhaps the United States can be a true Democracy.
     I am concerned when I see bumper stickers that say "Impeach Obama" and "I Didn't Vote For The A**hole." First of all, the only time that I believe a President should be impeached is if they're convicted of a felony crime. President Nixon was guilty of ordering a burglary at the Watergate hotel, but he resigned before he could be impeached. If Obama is convicted of a crime, then I'll be the first person who leads the charge for impeachment. But until that conviction, Obama remains the commander-in-chief of our country and deserves the respect that goes with that responsibility.
     Furthermore, anyone who uses obscene language when referring to the President doesn't have an opinion that's worth sharing. Everyone is entitled to free speech. But I automatically tune out anyone who uses vulgar language when referring to our President.
     For those would use the Bible to justify bashing Obama for his questionable policies, the Christian's response to our elected leaders is that we're supposed to pray for and support our leaders: "When in Rome, give unto Caesar that which is his. (paraphrased)"
     For those would bash Obama over Obamacare, where is the outcry over Medicare and Medicaid? Why is it okay for the United States to go bankrupt over Medicare and Medicaid, but suddenly it's an evil travesty when we could become bankrupt over the Affordable Health Care Act? If we want to have a TRUE capitalist marketplace, and revert back to the days before President Franklin Roosevelt, and abolish Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Health Care Act, then I could jump on that bandwagon. All the money I save from paying Social Security taxes over the years could pay for my medical bills. But for me, it's hypocritical to say it's okay for one segment of low-income society to have health care, while another segment of low-income society is not entitled.
     For those who would say, "But people pay taxes for Social Security, so therefore they're entitled to Medicare coverage, unlike Obamacare which doesn't collect money from people up front," I would respond the system is still inequitable. I paid Social Security taxes over the years while I worked, but Social Security says I am not eligible for Medicaid coverage. What was I paying taxes for over the years, if I'm not entitled to medical benefits when I need them?
     This brings me to my conclusion and my main point about Obamacare. If Congress and the President, past and present, had the foresight to make the needed changes to Medicare and Medicaid, so that temporarily sick people like myself weren't shut out of the process, there would have been no need, or less need, for Obamacare. It's Congress and Presidents, Republicans and Democrats, who are responsible for the current mess we have with Obamacare. If our elected leaders had done their jobs in the first place and made the necessary reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, they could have averted the current controversy over Obamacare.
     WE THE PEOPLE, have no one to blame but OURSELVES, for the mess that we're in. We keep re-electing the same people to Congress, and yet we somehow think things will always change. President Obama is not to blame for our problems. We the people are.