The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

The Student News Site of Malvern Preparatory School

Friar's Lantern

Mitt Romney: 2012

The overriding theme of this election is one which has a direct influence on the relationship between government and US citizens. Do we, as a nation, wish to embrace a government centered on society, or one of individual liberty, freedom, and self-determination, as set forth in our founding documents? The differences between the two candidates in this election could not be starker.

In the four years since Obama’s election, the size of government has expanded at unprecedented levels.  The Federal workforce has expanded, while the private workforce has contracted.  The same positive and negative growth holds true for the salaries of each sector.  Government has intruded into business, individual lives, and religious institutions—something that has happened at an alarming rate.  Much of this “fundamental transformation” has occurred by executive fiat rather than by traditional legislative process. In those areas where the time-honored legislative systems were used, such as healthcare reform, the partisan division was astounding. Not a single Republican vote was had and a Senatorial Parliamentary process, reserved for budgetary matters, was used to the bill through by a narrow margin. At the time, the bill was rejected by a clear majority of Americans, and remains equally unpopular to this day.   In other areas, what was not possible through legislation has been instituted through regulation.  The result has been diminished individual liberty, a stifled business climate, anemic economic growth and a hyper-partisan division within the country.  This is not the “hope and change” that was promised four years ago.

In areas of spending, taxation, jobs, the economy, healthcare, energy, immigration reform, foreign policy, religious liberty and individual liberty, Obama has chosen to follow a clear leftward path. His model seems to emulate the failed policies of Western Europe rather than the traditional constitution template set forth by the brilliance of our founding fathers. Thus far, the results have also mirrored those which we have seen in Europe. Poverty has increased dramatically, as now one in six Americans is in a state of poverty. Food stamp rolls have increased by 17 million people, the total workforce has shrunk, and unemployment has been at alarming levels for four straight years. Despite spending six trillion dollars, the total spending from Washington to Clinton, these have been the results.   Obama has left us with two credit downgrades, debt monetization, a $16 trillion debt, new food stamp recipients seventy five times greater than new hires, debt to GDP ratio out of balance, diminished growth each year, and other factors which represent clear failed policies.  Most recently, American foreign policy has shown similar deficiencies with astounding events in the Middle East.  A new path and a new leader is needed.  Mitt Romney is that leader.

Romney is a man uniquely qualified for the times we face. He is a man of demonstrated integrity and clear economic mettle. He is a proven economic guru with a skill set suited to the challenging times we face. In private business, he turned around struggling companies leading to a net job creation of over 100,000 jobs. He was called upon in 2002 to rescue a struggling Winter Olympic Games; one plagued by corruption, scandal, and fiscal disaster. Remarkably, he did so within a ten month period. As governor of Massachusetts, he turned a three billion dollar deficit into a two billion dollar surplus. This surplus occurred despite a legislature comprised of 85% democrats. This contrast in bi-partisan ability could not be more glaring when compared to the record of President Obama in this regard.

Aside from his clear record of accomplishment, economic success, and bipartisanship, the basic tenets of Romney’s campaign are perhaps his greatest asset. His advocacy of our founding principles, individual liberty, freedom, self-determination, and America’s unique role in the world, are what is needed in this trying time. Rather than a “fundamental transformation,” America requires a return to the principles which have made us great in these many years. Rather than emulate failed policies from abroad, we should seek to re-embrace the successful concepts that are uniquely American. It is these values and ideals that have set us apart and made us the economic engine of the world.  This engine has provided the much needed power to be the global force for good that America represents. Failure to maintain that status undoubtedly will lead to a vacuum, one which other nations such as China will be all too willing to fill. Is this the state of the world we seek?

No one denies the importance that the role of government can and should play in our lives, but we must not become a government-centered society. The needs of the sick, the elderly, the impoverished, and those who cannot fend for themselves should be of great concern for our nation. There is no question that the Federal Government has a unique and important role in helping our citizens.  However, our families, our churches, our communities, and our states have that same responsibility. These are the institutions on the frontlines. These are the ones who stepped up in times past, but are starting to be replaced by an ever expanding Federal apparatus. Compassion knows no single party, and it is a folly to believe that governmental largess is indeed compassion. This country can successfully care for its citizens while remaining a nation committed to individual liberty and free enterprise. Further, when debating these issues, we should shun the class arguments reminiscent of Robespierre, Karl Marx, and others throughout history and do so in a way which unites us all. Those who seek to drive a wedge between citizens for political gain only serve to harm our country. Unfortunately, the divisions in this country run deep today. With that in mind, I say that Mitt Romney is the proven leader ready to unite rather than to divide. His record of accomplishment far exceeds that of the President prior to his election. Romney provides a vision for the restoration of the country, a vision which will spark economic growth, job creation, and stability across the nation.  A vision for the restoration of our founding principles and a return to American leadership are what is needed in these difficult times.

“The larger the government, the smaller the citizen.” This sentiment is more than enough to show the stark contrast between our current Commander-in-chief’s failures and Mitt Romney. His beliefs of smaller government and free market capitalism are what this country needs in order to put itself in a better position for the future.  Through his leadership, we can regain our international and economic strength which have been so badly diminished these last four years. We need Mitt Romney in order to save the United States of America.

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