Obama’s Insult of Fiscal Austerity

President Obama today apparently took his Cabinet to the woodshed on spending, admonishing them for their profligate ways and warning of dire consequences if the administration continues with current habits — namely, future generations being saddled with more debt.

So to begin to stanch that reckless bleeding of green (dollars, that is), he has asked his closest advisers to root out massive amounts of waste and abuse, to the tune of $100 million. And next, he’ll address the current horse-drawn buggy shortages down on Main Street …

Wait a minute — you mean this isn’t the 1910s?

Uh … no. Which also means that $100 million won’t even begin to dent the deficit shortage our country faces, let alone the debt. (Note to reader: If you don’t know the difference between our country’s “deficit” and its “debt,” then please look that up. Because the revelation will cause you to faint with fear and trepidation.)

Obama can’t possibly be serious. This move is almost insulting to anyone who cares about fiscal austerity. Even the symbolism is weak and sophomoric. It’s almost as if he’s inviting criticism from the opposition party, which heretofore hasn’t had much traction on the budget message. Apparently, the president was quoted as saying the $100 million “adds up to real money.” Sure it does, in about 2050, and assuming they don’t spend another taxpayer dime until then.

If Obama is even remotely serious about his request this afternoon, then I fear he truly doesn’t understand fundamental principles of economics, spending and the calamitous impact his budget policies will have on our nation’s economy if current trends continue.

Put simply, he’s spending faster than a Vegas wedding. And his moves today have an Antoinette-like disrespect for every hardworking American who will see his/her tax bill rise by the thousands in the coming years — whether in the form of higher payroll taxes for Social Security, or more income taxes.

If Obama is truly about making tough decisions, as he has done with torture, Cuba, stem cells, etc., then how about some equally tough decisions on the one issue Americans increasingly care about the most — spending?

His move today is sheepish, insignificant and downright insulting. We should expect more.

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