We’ve come a long way in two years; from candidate Obama’s “we are the change that we seek” to President Obama’s “things could be worse.”
Despite reams of radical legislation – - the stimulus, the healthcare bill and the financial overhaul – - the country remains in the financial doldrums. Most voters see little if any improvement.
The $767 (read “$862″) billion was supposed to cap unemployment at 8 percent. But according to a new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) report, unemployment, currently averaging 9.5 percent, will hover around 9 percent next year and remain over 8 percent through 2012. And of course the official numbers count only those collecting unemployment benefits, not part-time workers who need to work full-time or the unemployed who have given up trying to find work.
The refrain in 2010 is, as Obama claimed in Racine, WI last month, “The [stimulus] did its job…. We avoided a Great Depression…. Things would have been a lot worse… Unemployment is still at 9.6 percent, yes, but it’s not 12 or 13, or 15.”
Lowering the basketball hoop in 4th grade intramurals because the players are still learning is legitimate, but lowering unemployment benchmarks equates to failing the American people.
Elections aren’t about policies; they’re about results. And Democrats don’t have a lot to show for all the deficit-swelling, socialist-leaning, constitution-stretching legislation they’ve rammed through Congress. Lowering the hoop isn’t a winning strategy.
November can’t come soon enough.
Amy H Laff is a StateBrief.com partner. A graduate of Univ of Penn and Stanford Law School, Amy practiced law and mediation on the east coast before relocating to the Valley, where she founded and chairs the AZ chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Amy makes frequent media appearances, including AZ Law Channel and Tony Katz Radio Spectacular. Additionally, she works with companies and candidates on branding and communication. 
