OBAMINATION

Congratulations to Obama. From his paid advertisement that aired tonight, it looks like he’s already placed himself in the White House. How presumptuous to appear as though he’s already there with the American flag to one side and a desk with a window behind him.
These will be my last comments on the upcoming election in my neighbouring country – I think. I have a lot of good friends who live in California, Arizona, Utah, New York, Maryland, Iowa, and Florida and we may not all agree on the candidates. But that’s okay – it’s what is great about both the USA and Canada – we’re democracies and we have the right to our opinions. So to Sylvia, Daryl, Mark, and others who are proudly supporting Obama, I apologise if it appears that I offend. That is not my intent. There are a few points that I’d like to make, though.
First, Obama spoke about the money that is being spent in Iraq and questions how many schools, hospitals, and medications that money could buy for the average American. At the same time, he takes the average American’s money to the point that he has more than he needs to spend on his campaign. What did he do with your money? He spent it on a public advertisement that caters to the emotions of the average American - you. Think about it for a minute – he took your money that you scraped to earn. You decided he needed it more than you did. You didn’t take your kids to that movie or that football game or out for ice-cream because you gave it to Obama. How many schools and/or hospitals could have been built with that money? How much medication could have been bought to ease the pain and suffering of those who don’t have any medical coverage? How many shelters could that money have built for the homeless? Or food to feed hungry children?
Next, Obama used regular folks to exemplify the terrible conditions that you average Americans are suffering. Well, I’m sure that the majority of you are not suffering that much. You’re living your average lives like most folks do. We work to pay the bills. We prioritise our needs and if there’s any left over, we get to have some wants. But as an example, Obama uses a Ford employee whose job has been cut in half (difficult, for sure) but at the same time films the entire family eating out at a restaurant. How many of you eat out at a restaurant when you’re complaining of not having enough money to live?
Another couple is now retired with their home entirely paid for and nice looking cars (plural) sitting out front. The husband went back to work for some years to help pay the bills because the wife needs to take quite a few different medications for her arthritis. I don’t mean to appear harsh or unsympathetic, but, isn’t that what we just do? There are no handouts in this world and nobody promised that life would be easy.
This leads me to another point. I keep hearing about how people need to earn enough money to give their children an education. Notice the verb – GIVE. Since when do parents have to give their children an education? The government provides public education for every child in the country. It is the law. If the child wants further education outside of high school graduation, why do the parents have to pay for it? Have they not told their kids to get a job to pay their own way? Surely, all parents want to help their kids out, but they also need to teach their kids that there are no free rides in life. I paid my own way to university by working from the age of 16 (when it was legal to work) and saved my money. I paid for my entire tuition and books, clothing, and residence fees. While living in residence I got a job slopping food on the plates of fellow residents and then worked the entire four months of summer vacation. I didn’t get to go to Florida or California or Hawaii to play during the summer. The summer was for working towards the next term.
I ran into a former student in the local grocery store last week. She is taking a year off to work full time in order to pay for her own education. She doesn’t want to be in debt from government loans. She wants to pay her own way in life. I think she is a credit to her generation. Another former student is now working as an apprentice in plumbing. Sure, he won’t make a lot of money for a while, and although he may not ever be "rich," he’ll be set for life in an honourable profession. Not every child needs higher education. Higher education should be for learning something that will assist people in making a good life for themselves. It could be at a trade school or a local college where they have courses in everything from legal secretary to shoeing horses, to electrician, to dog training. There are too many PhDs working at fast food restaurants because their degree is not worth a dime in everyday life. I know a woman who works on the counter of a delivery company and complains all the time because her PhD in Women’s Studies isn’t appreciated. I must say, however, that it is a shame that a high-school diploma won’t get a young person a decent job these days. Maybe that’s something else that Obama should be looking into – practical education programs.
Okay, the next comment is regarding Obama’s claim to ending the USA’s dependence on mid-East oil. I’ve already made my readers aware of the fact that the USA is not dependent on mid-East oil NOW…Canada is its #1 source of oil! I have not heard Obama refer to Canada ever as an ally or a source of anything for America. Granted, I haven’t heard every speech he’s made, so if anyone has heard him refer to his great northern neighbour, I’d appreciate knowing about it.
Finally, Obama is pandering to the emotions of Americans. He talks about the death of his Mom. Yes, that is sad but we all go through the loss of our parents eventually. And he says that he was formed more by the absence of his father than his presence. Yes, that is also sad, but how many others didn’t or don’t have a parent in their lives yet go on without giving the impression of "Oh, look at poor me!"

Obama is sucking Americans in through style without substance. He’s a great orator but really doesn’t "say" much. His policies border on socialism that would put Canada to shame. His latest public advertisement, paid for by you regular American Joe and Jane, is, in my humble opinion, disgraceful overkill. I hope those of you who get to vote in your wonderful country will think twice and hard before marking your X or pulling that lever or whatever it is you do to choose the president of your country.
And please remember that Canada has a Prime Minister, something that Mr. Obama doesn’t seem to know.