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President Obama gave his State of the Union address recently and brought up his typical talking points. Here are just a couple of topics that stood out.

Tax Reform

Before the State of the Union address, GOP candidate Mitt Romney released his tax returns showing a 14% tax rate. While most people realize that this rate is on his investment returns too many, including President Obama, think this too little. In fact, Obama uses the example of Warren Buffet and his secretary to claim that rich people pay too little in taxes. But let’s take a step back and analyze this.

Many people, like Romney and Buffet, invested money into the economy years ago, and continue to do so. The money they earned and used to invest was originally taxed as the usual income tax rate (what the average American pays). But because their numerous investments have yielded high returns, they have become rich. These returns apply to a completely different kind of tax rules because they are called capital gains. The capital gains tax is around 15% and the reason for that is to incentivize people to invest and keep the economy going. Without investments, the economy would grind to a halt.

So Romney and many other investors out there are reaping the benefits of their investment returns and are paying “their fair share,” as Obama would put it. The real problem is with spending. While some federal aid is important to many middle class Americans, there are government-funded programs out there that have become a black hole for money. Instead of destroying the economy by increasing the capital gains tax, Obama needs to focus on cutting back spending on programs that aren’t helping anybody.

Education

Also during the State of the Union address, President Obama urged states to require students to finish high school, essentially banning them from dropping out. While this may seem like a great idea, there really is no way to enforce that requirement in the law. For example, if a kid were to drop out, would the state send them to jail? Fine them? Community service? Escort them to class with a cop? Yes, it would be great to keep our kids in school, but there is virtually no way to do this, not to mention it is against the constitution.

According to the constitution, everyone has the right to life, liberty, and happiness. States should require students to stay in school if they decide they are happier by dropping out. Though it doesn’t make much sense in the long run to drop out of school, each person has the agency and the right to choose to do so. Taking away that agency is against what our founding fathers fought for so many years ago.

Where would we draw the line? If we feel it is necessary to ban kids from dropping out of school, why not force them to go to college and get a job after they graduate? In fact, the government could even decide which job is appropriate for each person to better grow the economy. Oh wait, that’s what China does.

Conclusion

While Obama does deserve credit for proposing salary tax cuts and budget cuts, there are still some things that need to be changed if he wants to stay in the White House four more years. The Congress does carry quite a bit of the blame for the damaged economy and jobless rate, but President Obama needs to take some responsibility and try something new.

Obama in Trouble

For today’s poll question, MSN asked readers who had previously voted for Obama in 2008 presidential elections if they would do so again for the 2012 election.

About 62% of those who voted, voted that he was a “one and done” deal.

Only 32% voted that he should be given more time to turn the economy around, with another 6% saying they were not sure if they would vote for him again.

Indicative of Obama’s Current Approval Ratings

MSN’s poll results are almost a mirror image of the current presidential landscape at this time. According to an MSN report, President Obama’s approval rating is at an all-time low, as only 44% of the nation approve of the job he’s doing.

Even worse, when Americans were asked about the economic situation of the country and Obama’s handling of the problem, only 37% approved of the direction he’s heading with the economy.

All of this information leads up to Obama’s planned joint Congress session to be aired on national television this Thursday, September 8th. In the session, Obama will address his economic plan, and his strategy for turning the country’s current blight around. This address may be Obama’s last chance to win voters over before we get into the meat of the 2012 presidential election and race.

Republican Front-Runner

Along the lines of the 2012 presidential race, it looks like Perry has taken an early lead over Mitt Romney in a(n) MSN report. Among GOP voters, Perry would be the first choice for 38% of them, while only 23% of Republican Party voters listed Romney as their first choice.

Paul and Bachmann, the other two GOP presidential candidates at this time, sit a distant third and fourth place from the two front-runners. Paul garners 9% of the first-choice vote, with Bachmann coming in at just 8%.

Bachmann’s campaign manager recently left her post, saying that Bachmann was no better that a “third-place” candidate. This tidbit certainly does not bode well for Bachmann, who may be a little too eccentric in her opinions for many voters. As for Perry, he’s been picking up steam in the race to see who will face-off against Obama next year ever since winning the Iowa straw poll.

Lastly, Romney’s Mormon counterpart, Jon Huntsman, sits a very distant fifth in the GOP presidential candidate race at this time.

Several of Beiber’s concerts, performances and appearances have been canceled due to public unrest and nuisance. Cops have had to threaten him with arrest so he wouldn’t leave his hotel and cause a riot.

What gives this boy his power? Well he was discovered by Usher. I wonder if Usher thinks about the Beibster in the same way Einstein does the nuke?

We’re soon going to all have to sign Anti-Beiber Proliferation Treaties.

To many of us it’s too early to be thinking of who can be the most viable GOP Candidate for 2012. Maybe there will come upon the scene our ideal, unblemished candidate. Someone waiting in the wings with an armful of conservative credentials to burst out into the spotlight; clean,  constant and compelled to run. Now others will be thinking in terms of “So What?’ That question may be followed up with an introspective inquiry about who will be the most viable of the Democrat divas. Well here is a brief analysis from AP writer Phillip Elliott. What are   your opinions and insights; and does it matter, because you think President Obama will triumph in ’12.

By PHILIP ELLIOTT

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney is the godfather of what Republican critics call Obamacare. Newt Gingrich is an adulterer on his third marriage. Tim Pawlenty is too green — environmentally, that is.

Jon Huntsman worked for President Barack Obama. And Haley Barbour has come off as dismissive of racial segregation.

Is any potential Republican presidential nominee without vulnerabilities that could alienate voters, especially those in the GOP primaries, and provide ready-made attacks for opponents?

Not in this crop.

The 2012 Republican field is deeply flawed, lacking a serious GOP contender without a personal misstep or policy move that angers the party base. Each of those weighing bids has at least one issue that looms as an obstacle to White House ambitions, and that could derail the candidate if not handled with care.

 

So who do you see as the best of the best to run this country at this time in our history?