Listening to the President’s address last night, I was struck by how similar his remarks were to those he made when accepting the Democratic nomination for the Presidency in 2008. His faith in the federal government’s ability to best control the economy has not wavered. In 2008, candidate Obama spoke disparagingly of the long-discredited Republican belief that the best way to create economic growth is through less government intervention and enacting policies that encourage people to take risks, build, create jobs, and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Barack Obama offered instead a new vision, which was really a repackaged old one, of achieving the right kind of growth (as he sees it) through taxing and spending and regulating. His rhetoric promised to take America to new heights, unfortunately only the National Debt has seen them. After five-plus years of Obamanomics, the unemployment rate remains nearly what it was when he took office, and true unemployment much higher. We have the lowest labor participation rate since the early 80s before those “long-discredited” policies implemented by Ronald Reagan, Republicans and many Democrats brought about what some have called “America’s 25 year boom.” The United States experienced the greatest economic expansion in its history, creating tens of millions of new jobs and causing unemployment to drop to under 5 percent.

The truth that Barack Obama should now be able to see, but apparently still does not, is that Big Government does not work. It is the lesson we have had to relearn as a nation about every 30 years since the New Deal. America can once again be the land of opportunity the President spoke about, but it will require policies that encourage risk and business expansion, not punish them through higher taxes and onerous regulations.

We can also reform healthcare, so costs are brought down and Americans are able to control their health choices and keep their healthcare plans, but it will require repealing ObamaCare. The Affordable Care Act’s perverse incentives are causing premiums to skyrocket and millions of Americans to lose their coverage, contrary to assurances made by the President.

America can build upon its position as the energy development leader in the world, but it will require a Chief Executive who is a friend and not a foe to one of the brightest spots in the American economy. Obama boasted of the nation’s record oil production under his tenure, but that development is, in great measure, on private lands. Development on public lands, including here in Alaska, is being thwarted at every turn by this Administration. Exhibit A is its intransigence regarding opening ANWR, despite majority support for it in the state.

Finally, and most importantly, in seeking to implement his vision for America, the President’s complete disregard for the Constitution is unprecedented. Nothing could be more antithetical to the republic our Founders established than the President Obama’s refusal to enforce laws duly passed by the Congress or to “act” without authorization from the people’s representatives or the Constitution.

The President needs a new faith: the path to restoring the American dream does not come from more government bureaucracy, it comes from more American ingenuity.
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Randy DeSoto co-wrote the documentary film I Want Your Money, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. He authored the book We Hold These Truths.