Tuesday Quick Hit

 We just finished a 23 month long campaign, where a good many politicians promised us everything from tax cuts, rebate checks, mortgage security, national security, wealth, health care, and basically anything else they thought might get them elected.  Considering the frequency at which the electorate is lied to, I would hope that most would view these promises with a healthy dose of skepticism. 

 According to a new poll, 72% of Americans think that President-elect Obama will fix the economy.  In my opinion, that is 72% of Americans drinking a lot of Kool-aid.  I don't want to speculate on whether his plan (whatever it turns out to be) will be successful, but considering that he hasn't even taken office (and won't for another two months), wouldn't it be wise to temper those hopes a little bit?  If things improve next spring, no doubt both parties will try to claim responsibility, which will be an entirely different discussion I hope we're having in 8 months.  However, we don't even know what plan the President-elect is going to go with, so placing a lot of hope in him seems a little naive.  Especially considering that if the economy improves, it is going to be the private sector doing the work, not the government.  It is impossible for the government to create jobs, unless they tax us more to do it.  The best they can do is enact policies that encourage growth, and we won't see what the new administration will do for quite some time.  

 Of course, I've always been one to believe that every elected official should be held to pretty high standards, and trusted as far as we can throw them.  No one we put in the office is going to be our savior, and in fact I already have One.  I wish the President-elect all the success in the world as his policies will directly affect me, but am prepared for the very real possibility  that he'll do more harm than good.  He has promised us the world, and I will give him the benefit of the doubt until I see exactly what it is he plans on doing, at which point we can dissect his plans.

 For now, I'd suggest those 72% get off the gravy train and start viewing our government officials with a little more guarded skepticism.