Obama wants America to fail

It appears to me that President Barack Obama wants the America that our fathers and forefathers fought for to fail. He wants to turn this country around – away from capitalism and toward socialism.

And he is using extortion to do so. If States don’t take the so-called stimulus money under his terms, the citizens can’t receive their own hard-earned tax dollars at all. Forget that the money Congress is obligating how comes both from enterprising Americans and our future generations. Forget that in taking the stimulus money, we are obligating our children and grandchildren to higher taxes and unprecedented government spending.

I agree with Rush Limbaugh. I don’t want America to fail – I want my country to succeed. To do so, we must have a capitalistic system where entrepreneurs are encouraged to succeed, and pick themselves up when they fail.

I’m a West Texas gal. I grew up in Midland and Odessa. My dad didn’t go to college, but he was the smartest, hardest-working man I knew. John Meek wore a short-sleeved shirt in the summer. We used folding lawn furniture in our den while my Dad was launching his own business – John Meek Oil Field Equipment Company. He had fought in WWII and when he got out of the Marines; his older brothers had already made their fortune in oil. He ventured off on his own and started his company with little more than a wing and a prayer.

There were good times, and bad times. Mostly, times were tough.

Dad would leave the house early in the morning driving his pick-up to his business, and spending most of the day in the oil fields of West Texas, delivering equipment. He had employees – but he was always “hands on” and while he was out making deals on equipment, my mother kept his company’s books.

When my Dad took his shirt off, he had the markings of a working man – looking as if he were wearing a white t-shirt, with dark brown arms and pale chest and shoulders.

The only time he wore a suit was when we went to church, and he always had a handkerchief in his pocket – whether it was work pants or dress pants.

My Dad was the epitome of the American dream.

I believe in an America which allowed my Dad to succeed – and to fail. We had good times, and bad times.

But he was free from overly cumbersome regulations and taxation. He lived the American dream.

I’ve been a single mom who didn’t ask for or receive any government help. My daughter and I are paying for her college education through our hard work and student loans. Meanwhile, low income students can receive grants and graduate debt-free.

Her education – coupled with hard work and personal responsibility – will allow her the chance to succeed.

I agree with Rush Limbaugh – this a great country.

So it makes sense I would want the America that I love to succeed – but socialist policies to fail. They always do.

And I want my daughter to live in a country which allows her the opportunity – not the guarantee – to achieve the American Dream.

-- Peggy Venable