THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

Recently a nephew reposted a blurb on Facebook that suggested there is no difference between Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican Presidential candidate, and the sitting US President, Barak Hussein Obama. I believe that anyone who subscribes to this thought process  lacks enlightenment and most certainly, lacks an understanding of the principles upon which our country was founded.  Further, I believe that they may lack clearly defined principles in their own life.

While there are many areas in which I can agree that there is similarity and that the differences may be miniscule, there is, I believe, a difference in vision competence, leadership  skills and principle. 

VISION Obama clearly believes that government is the answer and to that end he is on record as favoring redistribution of the wealth, and big government as the final “nanny” of our independence.  Romney is a “free enterprise” capitalist and believes in the power of free enterprise.  His comments and positions reflect a belief in a “safety net” but not a reliance on  big government to provide our daily “bread”. 

COMPETENCE.  There is clearly a lack of understanding, organization and good judgment in the Obama administration.   The President has failed to seek and assimilate common goals, find common ground or project an ability to listen, all necessary to competence.  President Obama has approved of and empowered his political base i.e.,  bailout of General Motors,  funding of Solyndra,  implementation of job killing regulations and failed to follow through on what he promised  would be "the most transparent" administration ever at a significant cost to all of us.  The President's vision for the country is his dream and our nightmare. Governor Romney has a record of success and competence both in business, government and public service.  His past reflects a commitment to our Constitutional ideals.  Granted, we cannot know how competent someone will be until we see their performance. However, both the President and the Governor have a record  on which we can decide who is the most competent for the future of our country and  most able to preserve our values.  It is time to bring the power of the boardroom to the Presidency and fire the incumbent.

LEADERSHIP.  Good leadership seeks ideas, conciliates, negotiates and compromises.  The President dictates, mandates and orders.  He has surrounded himself with “yes” people who simply applaud his “brilliance” and empower his arrogance.  His choice of “critical” cabinet members and his willingness to stand by their flawed decisions suggests a lack of principled leadership. Cabinet members who have exhibited less than stellar performance are,  Attorney General Eric Holder, whose Department bears responsibility for misjudgment and cover up of Fast and Furious; Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, who was cited for violation of the Hatch act for making "extemporaneous partisan remarks" in a February speech in North Carolina;  Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu,  who was responsible for the grants to bankrupt Solyndra and similar missteps in his “quest” to lead us into “green power”;  former Secretary of Commerce,  John Bryson whose health issues suggest a flawed and under supervised key strategist; the ongoing spectacle of Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano and the recent debacle of Susan Rice’s Sunday talk show appearances are a few examples of poor leadership and a failure to exercise oversight by this President.    By contrast, Governor Romney co-founded  Bain Capital, a highly successful private  alternative asset management firm;  turned a severely flawed business plan  for the 2002 Winter Olympics into a successful and profitable endeavor and served as Governor of Massachusetts where he applied first hand the principles of leadership for dealing with people of diverse political philosophy and ideas.  Governor Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate suggests a good first step in his exercise of good leadership judgment.

PRINCIPLE.  The President has failed to reflect strong principles on anything beyond his reelection and commitment to his political base.  His ideas and certainly the decisions that he has rendered, seem to suggest that he is a principled socialist in ideology, unwilling to compromise and lacking in moral principles.  By all accounts, he is a good father, husband and  a good person.  He is, I believe, a Teflon man.  Anyone who attends a church for 20 years and professes he did not hear the message from the podium is morally severely flawed. President Obama does not reflect principles in which I believe.  While Governor Romney’s character has not yet faced the test of Washington's reality, there is a striking difference in the two men.  I believe Governor Romney has illustrated his commitment to family, faith and country and that thee is a strong distinction between him and the President’s actual performance. 

There is an ongoing thread of belief within our society that we are controlled by an underlying force of conspirators who are “pulling the cords” to our life and choices.  They believe that no matter what we do,  an anonymous “boogey man” descendants of the Rothschild, Rockefeller and Zionists theory control our ultimate destination. This preamble is as old as Christ who  threw the money changers out of the church.   To those who would suggest that there is an all powerful “one world government” or conspiracy of the elite super rich that makes our independent vote and choices  void, I say “OH YE, OF LITTLE FAITH”.  This suggests a disbelief in the religious principles of our fathers, lack of a compelling faith in the goodness of man and a total denial of the existence of “God” and/or a stronger force that controls our universal existence.   

While we may differ on who or what controls our destiny, there is adequate assurance that the combined “power” of the people can and does make a difference.  For many, faith in the principles of an “unknown” force is not only necessary but instrumental to their lifestyle.  Individually, we have an obligation to be good citizens, honor our commitment to principle, practice our faith and respect those with whom we differ. But, above all, we have an obligation to make our voices heard and for most of us, that is  a simple vote for change or continue with the same. You see dear nephew, I believe there is a difference and one that is significant to your future and that of your children and our country.