Can You Hear Us Mr. President? We Are Tired

A tired and frustrated America went to the polls on Tuesday to send a message to President Obama and the Democratic Party - the same message republicans received just one year ago: "If you don't do something to help us, we will find someone who will."

Skyrocketing unemployment rates, unprecedented government budget cuts and billions of dollars wasted on big business bailouts have finally taken their toll on a recession-weary population. From local civic races to major gubernatorial campaigns like those in Virginia and New Jersey, voters were once again overwhelmingly in favor of change.

In the Buckeye State, people made it known that they are more worried about jobs and state revenue than the evils of gambling. After five failures on the ballot, the hotly debated casino amendment, Issue 3, was approved 53 percent to 47.

There were apparently few fact-based arguments against the casino issue and opponents chose instead to use a smear campaign including demonic images. Clearly all of that subliminal Bible thumping was not going to keep people from trying to get more work and money into Ohio.

While not a landslide by any stretch of the imagination, the successful passage of Issue 3 is another symbol of a struggling people willing to take a chance on the unknown to improve the fiscal situation. Voters also seemed in favor of local levies that did not raise their taxes, unless there was adequate reason, such as keeping the public libraries open and providing services to the elderly.

Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin lost her bid for a third term to republican-endorsed independent Gary Leitzell. Hardest hit most recently by the collapse of the automotive industry, Dayton has struggled to find sustainable economic growth since NCR and GM began closing factories more than 30 years ago.

McLin's plan for improving Dayton's situation has been to throw all of the region's resources into the aviation industry - a risky plan, to say the least. If the aviation industry collapsed, as did auto manufacturing, the economic disaster could once again throw the region into another crippling recession.

People are sick to death of policies that do nothing to help the general public but instead fuel the materialistic ambitions of self-serving power-hungry business executives and politicians. Hopefully, the president got a good dose of reality from this week's election returns, assuming that his entourage of "yes men" (and women) even allows him to see such things.

Probably insignificant to Washington big-wigs, people still went to the polls Tuesday and expressed their dissatisfaction. The Obama administration and its congressional drinking buddies might want to take a second, third and even fourth, look at how they are handling things.

In the eyes of the average person the administration has, so far, only managed to help flush the U.S. automotive industry, make corporate fat cats richer, increase the unemployment rate and cause a panic over health care. So what happens now?

The answer to that question may be waiting in the results of the next few elections. Right-wing media giants like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity might simply be unqualified, radical noise-makers, but both may be right (no pun intended) on one point. If things don't change the chances of a democratic re-election to the White House in 2012 will erode along with the president's waning popularity.

Are you listening Mr. President? If your administration continues to proceed solely to defy the efforts of the Republican Party rather than operating in the best interest of the general public of America you will be thrown out of the Oval Office three years from now, just as the democratic governors of New Jersey and Virginia were ousted this week.

Despite the socialist mentality promoted by the current government, the Constitution is still in effect and we, the people of the United States, will make our voices heard through the peaceful democratic process set forth by our forefathers.

The first job of the President of the United States is to protect and defend the rights guaranteed by the constitution. Mr. Obama, come down from your throne - be one of the people - and help us as you promised twelve months ago.

Columnist Gery L. Deer is a freelance journalist and speaker based in Jamestown, Ohio. More at www.gerydeer.com.