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 Ethicalego Speaks
Ethicalego (Kenneth Brooks) discusses current events from a critical thinking perspective rarely expressed elsewhere
Romney's remarks show him deceptive or confused about the economy By Kenneth Brooks 6/6/12
Mitt Romney traveled to the Solyndra Solar Power Panel plant in Fremont California to highlight its closure as a failure of President Obama's leadership. He said, "The president is always quick to find someone to blame. First, it was George Bush, then Congress, ATM machine, then Europe. The truth is, the job of the president is to get America back to work. Crony capitalism like this did not help." The assertion of the president with the duty and ability to get America back to work is irrational and unconstitutional. Article I of the Constitution grants Congress power to regulate commerce and to coin and regulate the value of money. This power comes close to imposing a duty on Congress to create jobs. However, it does not do so, because no person or group can create commerce or jobs with laws. The Constitution only grants the president the duty to recommend considerations to Congress about the state and as head of the executive branch to carry out approved law. Romney has a credibility problem. He asserts responsibility to President Obama for job gains and losses in the nation. Hence, he advances the idea presidents control job creation in the nation. However, he credits job gained in Massachusetts from 2003-07 to him as Governor and not to President George W. Bush. Hence, he promotes the idea that governors control job creation in States. He also takes credit for creating jobs as a business owner. Hence, he promotes the idea that business owners are responsible for creating jobs. However, he assures voters that if they elect him, that as president he will create jobs and get America back to work. Again, he advances the idea that the president creates jobs. Obviously, he believes all job growth begins with him no matter his position. A truthful leader would explain to voters the complex factors that influence the economy to create and to destroy jobs. However, Romney promotes a reality most likely to win voter support for his weak or absent leadership ability.
Romney says that Obama uses former President Bush as an excuse for the high unemployment rate in the United States. This charge against Obama suggests the state of the economy results purely from Obama policies. I do not recall hearing President Obama blaming Bush directly for current defense or economic conditions. Nevertheless, voters exist in fantasyland if they believe that each president begins his or her administration with a balanced budget, no national debt, and ideal employment levels and without negative influences from past policies. Voters need to know the true state of the economy over the past two decades to evaluate President Obama's accomplishments based on the challenges he faced and to evaluate the qualifications of his opponent. The reality is the United States experienced net job losses for twenty years. This condition shows serious continuing problems in our economy that will continue unless addressed. Romney does voters a disservice by convincing them that high unemployment and problems job losses in the United States stems result only from economic policies of Obama. Romney shows that he is a presidential candidate in over his head, when he accused President Obama of using Europe as an excuse for the slow job-growth rate. His absurd remark suggested the complications of the European Union banking crisis do not affect the U.S. economy. He appears unaware of the global system of money and banking inflicted on Americans by politicians, major corporations, and big banks. They use this international money system to promote goals of world trade that cancel national tariff protection for businesses and workers. Europe is the world's largest single market and a major consumer of American exports. The European monetary crisis affected buyers and investors' confidence and their willingness to purchase products, to invest in new businesses and to buy stock and bonds. Romney of all people should understand how monetary crisis affect investors willingness to start new businesses that create jobs. Perhaps he does not understand this economic reality if he believes the president directly creates jobs. Many voters, especially Republicans, will dismiss Romney's irrational remarks as unimportant because they are part of a strategy attacking Obama. However, they overlook that remarks by candidates serve two purposes. First, they educate voters about the social and economic factors the elected position addresses to promote the general welfare of society. Second, they try to convince voters of the candidate's qualifications for the position. Candidates' claims touting their leadership ability and opponent's inability often extend out of the realm of factualness without doing too much harm. However, candidates that assert or suggest false social and economic factors affecting our nation create confusion among voters and harm to the nation. Copyright © 2008-2012 Ethicalego.com Reproduction without written permission for profit making is prohibited. Reproduction for personal use and distribution that include the Ethicalego copyright and address is permitted.
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