Taking Charge

Yesterday, President Obama announced an agreement with the GOP to extend the Bush-era tax cuts. Most citizens will simply gather the importance of the extended income tax cuts for all Americans, renewed jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, and the grant of a one-year reduction in Social Security Taxes. The announcement came amidst virtual ubiquitous democratic uproar. Many democratic party members now view the head of the executive branch as a traitor to the cause while many republican party members will consider his announcement a surrender to their cause. One party celebrating victory over an evil enemy. One party in shock and awe over the failure of their beloved. In this epic worthy of Homer, the true victory goes unnoticed.

President Obama, the hidden protagonist, sacrificed what little good graces of the public he still clung to, and most likely any hope of reelection, in order to facilitate the legislative process. It is not only possible, but probable that had the executive branch not intervened, the Bush-era tax cuts would have expired. Without the extension, the economy would have most likely had a relapse of the recession due to the sudden loss of consumer spending in the financial markets. My point being that President Obama certainly made the less popular choice in the interest of the stability of the nation. Those intelligent enough to look past the headlines and slander will see a man who stood up for the best interest of the nation, despite the obvious political fallout. While I do not agree with many of his ideals, I do support President Obama in principle. The entire nation would be much better off if every branch of our government were filled with men such as President Obama. Men who put the country before their political careers. That is what America needs now more than ever if we are to survive the next century as a dominant world power.