Word On The Street

Growing up in the neighborhoods of South Philadelphia, I learned very quickly that there are three common sources in which you could get information. There is of course broadcast media, TV network news and such, you could also scan one of the various newspapers. However neither of these is as effective as the third, word on the street. Word on the street is a powerful & swift moving vehicle, it can expose a secret, stop a crime, or sink a new business venture.

Word on the street is sinking President Obama, In the past few months I have noticed an interesting & refreshing surge in the political dialogue of the casual observer. I originally noticed what seemed like a sense of unease in the people regarding the direction of government, but over the course of the last month this bubbling overall discontent has crystalized into unfavorable and sometimes hostile criticism of President Obama. One of the more glaring examples of this came while doing some grocery shopping at the local supermarket, while perusing the fresh vegetable Isle. (You know the one Michelle Obama says is not available in inner-city neighborhoods like mine.) I couldn’t help but overhear a group of three supermarket workers rabidly criticizing the administrations spending and climate change policy, I say overheard but understand, The tone and volume of their discussion is significant, these men were visibly agitated. The gist of the conversation was to the effect that the administration’s actions in these matters where only going to lead to higher taxes for them and high inflation overall. This is quite telling, these were not rich men but inventory clerks in a grocery store and their age ranged from early twenties to mid sixties. I was tempted to chime in, instead I just picked up some strawberries and went about my business, with a little extra jump in my step.

Another example was outside a local bank just yesterday, Where a group of five fifty-something women was vociferously expressing their outrage at Obama’s “condescending attitude” and “disrespect” toward “the police,” I thought it was interesting that they said the police and not the Massachusetts police officer who arrested professor Gates, but this is understandable being that police in Philadelphia have an extremely dangerous job as it is, without the President inciting racial tension.

This might seem like a few random encounters but it is important to understand that for every one citizen with a particular point of view there are thousands who share it, that’s why congressmen put a lot of weight behind phone calls from constituents and other citizens. Consequently traffic to my own personal blog has increased exponentially, now that might not mean a whole lot, but if The President’s chief economic advisor Larry Summers can say that the economy is getting better because google searches for the phrase “economic depressions” are back to normal levels, well then it might not be such a stretch to draw a correlation between that and the rising disaffection for our President.

The President’s problem is three fold. First, his policies have been unpopular from day one, polls have shown over and over again that the American people do not like this massive expansion of government into what seems like every area of life, regardless of the issue. Up until recently however he has been shielded by his celebrity status and a hapless press which refuse to connect Obama to his policy. Unfortunately for the President he is learning that the campaign is over and voters are now looking for details and not focus grouped talking points or general platitudes.

Secondly, The Deficit is now the top priority among voters along with the economy, far above health care and completely eclipsing climate change. Yet Obama seems arrogantly unaware of these concerns and continues to push energy rationing taxation at the same time horribly underestimating the American people by trying to sell them his mythological health care plan, which according to him will not add to the deficit, regardless of its trillion-dollar price tag.

Third, the president is completely handcuffed by his ideology, and he is noticeably indifferent to the adversarial relationship he is fostering between the American people and himself, who do not view themselves as global citizens. This is why his sliding poll numbers are significant, Obama’s ideas for governing are just more of the same socialist policies that are detrimental to the economic growth that would be his salvation, this leaves him little hope for redemption with a citizenry that is quickly growing weary.

Anthony D Dolpies