Thomas Paine once noted that "Society is in every state a blessing, but government even in its best state, is but a necessary evil."  An astute Thomas Jefferson also wisely observed, "the government which governs least, governs best."  One would hope that Mr. Obama would get a hint from these words of wisdom, but it seems he's doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over and over again.

Obama recently exclaimed in Ohio that he's "astounded" with the rising unemployment figures.  Well, who isn't stunned by them?  Each job loss has a multiplier effect that reduces investing, productivity, and spending in the economy.  However, Obama shouldn't be shocked by the numbers of jobless, if only he realized that excessive regulations and taxes are the primary culprits in creating the current recession. 

Add to this mix the pork-laden deficit spending of some states and the Feds, and the result is an economic mess.  The main upside is the fact that government programs are notoriously inefficient, and it gives enterprising people time to find better solutions as they work around the bureaucracy. 

The current Congress and the Obama administration claim they inherited the deficit, and the Wall Street meltdown.  The truth is that politicians in Washington played a major role in generating an economic tailspin.  Certainly, a few greedy businesses and individuals contributed to the economic downturn by cutting corners and discarding business ethics.  However, it's unlikely we would have experienced the implosion of so many banks absent the coercive pressures of the CRA, as well as Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac mandates.

It's laughable that national bureaucrats tell the American people to abide by the law and live within their means, yet they constantly burn up taxpayer dollars as if money grows on trees.  The hypocrisy emanating from D.C. is simply staggering in scope.  It would have been better for the long-term health of our economy and national security if Obama had done little, instead of using a "crisis" as an excuse to increase bloated spending. 

Each time that Obama unveils another socialist scheme, the markets head South.  The Dow Jones has fallen 3,000 points since election day, and over 7,000 points in 18 months.  Why?  Because most folks understand that the private sector is far more effective than government at recovery efforts and fostering growth.  Obama is searching for answers in all the wrong places as he juggles too many balls in the air at once.  The "change" he promised has certainly arrived with immoral gargantuan spending that will shackle future generations.

Just visualize how much better the economy would rebound in the future had there been no TARP, no "stimulus" plan, no auto bailouts, no inflated budgets, and no Omnibus Bill!!  We could have saved over two trillion dollars, which could almost eliminate deficit spending and chip away at the national debt.  Moreover, it would have forced businesses and the Feds to get their houses in order.  By the way, kudos to Ford Motor Company for resisting the temptation to come begging to Congress a second time with hat in hand.  The same can't be said for mismanaged corporations such as Chrysler and GM.

Obama needs to learn that rewarding individuals and institutions that continue to practice poor judgment, is a huge mistake.  By contrast, rewarding the folks who make better decisions and work hard, is a no-brainer.  The best reward for folks with an entitlement mentality is to withdraw support from them, in order to promote autonomy, character, and personal responsibility.  That principle could strengthen our great American republic and make it a better leader of the free world.