FFM

Capitalism is broken and needs fixing or must be further regulated to protect the consumer and worker from oligopolies. This is directly related to the inequality of income in this country.  If we desire to fix inequality, we must fix capitalism. The United States was founded on the principle that everyone is born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Early on our forefathers decided the best economic model to reach these pursuits was capitalism. Free markets was chosen to  best attain the nations  economic objectives. Capitalism is here to serve society. Society is not here to serve capitalism.

The criteria for the best presidential candidate is one having experience, character, an understanding of the problems facing the country, is living family values and will not sacrifice what is best for the country to improve his chances of winning in 2016. Barack Obama is the only candidate meeting this criteria. He made mistakes early including allowing health care to side-track focusing on the economy, not recognizing the need to build coalitions with the Republican leadership in the House and Senate and failing to capitalize on the work done by the Bowles-Simpson Committee; even though he recognizes the need for a balanced approach to solving our debt problem. We are better off than we were four years ago. With hindsight we know we were deeply involved in a sub-prime mortgage meltdown that almost brought on a depression. This meltdown was partially brought on by relaxing financial regulations and allowing institutions to get to big to fail.

American politics is one of the few jobs where you are allowed to hunt for another job during 98%  of normal working hours and continue to be paid for your present position. WE CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN THIS TIME! "Republicans hope Mr. Obama’s pronouncement that a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut was the last “must-do” piece of legislation for the White House will work in their favor, making them look as though they are trying to create jobs while Mr. Obama is busy campaigning." Boehner Faces a Restive G.O.P. and New White House Attacks , Jennifer Steinhaurer, New York Times, January 14, 2012 In 2012 we have the following items that demand national attention: the presidential and congressional elections, the Afghan war,  Iran building a nuclear weapon, high unemployment, a teetering economy and a national debt with no plan in place to solve it. These are just the items on the top shelf.

"  Reaching what one organizer called an “unexpected supermajority,” a meeting of more than 100 conservative Christian leaders voted on Saturday to support  Rick Santorum  for the Republican presidential nomination."   Conservative Religious Leaders, Seeking Unity, Vote to Back Santorum, New Ypork Times, January 14,2011,  By   ERIK ECKHOLM   and   JEFF  ZELENY Here comes the first relgious super pact

In these difficult economic times should we be looking for a Presidential candidate that has CEO type qualities? The duties of a CEO of a business does not come close to the responsibilities of the President of the United States. Per a textbook used by many colleges for their introductory course in finance , it is the objective of the CEO to "maximize the wealth of the corporations shareholders". Foundations of Financial Management, Page 12, by Stanley B. Block, Geoffrey A. Hirt,  Bartley R Danielsen

Obama is getting blamed for the high unemployment numbers and our current economic downturn when in fact we should be pointing our finger at the Bush administration. The country's eyes were taken off the economy by the disaster of 911 and it was exasperated further with the unjust war in Iraq. This is a Bush depression that has its roots in the early part of the last decade. This depression did not happen in one day. It evolved over time. We presently have an unemployment rate of 8.5%, compared with a rate of 4.2% in October 2008.

Revised: January 6, 2011 . In an opinion published in the New York Times by Paul Krugman titled Nobody Understands Debt , he says; Of course, America, with its rabidly antitax conservative movement, may not have a government that is responsible in this sense. But in that case the fault lies not in our debt, but in ourselves. So yes, debt matters. But right now, other things matter more. We need more, not less, government spending to get us out of our unemployment trap. And the wrongheaded, ill-informed obsession with debt is standing in the way. I agree we should use debt to stimulate now to reduce unemployment and improve growth. I did this with some reservation that our high dependence on imports would surely dampen the affects of any stimulus. However, as the chart below indicates, imports hovered around 16% of GDP prior to 2008 and this should not cause a significant concern. We do need to focus on a plan to reduce our debt; not immediately but soon.