To the Editor:

Opinion

October 24, 2012

To the Editor:

Submitted FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER The Daily Southerner Wed Oct 24, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT

TARBORO — To the Editor:

We have had a rough four to six years in this great nation of ours. The last four have been devastating to many within our nation. The devastation really started in 2007 when the control of the United States Congress changed hands.

On Jan. 3, 2007 the Democrats took control of the Congress and we have been on a spending spree ever since. Let us look at what has happened in just the last four years since President Obama became president:

• The longest period of unemployment over 8 percent since the Great Depression.

• Labor participation rate at the lowest level since 1984.

• More than 88.3 million individuals not in the workforce.

• More than 23 million out of work or wanting full-time work.

• Wealth reduction with a decline in median income to the 1995 levels. A reduction in the number of millionaires, and a reduction in the number of billionaires.

• Highest number and percentage of people in poverty since 1983.

• Food stamp participation has increased to over 47 million individuals.

• The National Debt has increased to over $16 trillion and is now more than the nation's productive output (Gross Domestic Product or GDP).

• The growth in our nation's productive output is below that required to maintain full employment for the nation. The output would have to increase to 4.5 percent growth for one year or more to reduce unemployment by one percentage point.

• This past year we spent more than a trillion dollars on poverty programs without improving the poverty level in our great nation.

In addition to all the above we have an administration that is in denial about the United States’ status and reputation around the world. The recent events surrounding Benghazi are a prime example of that denial. Benghazi was an attack by an old enemy. Instead of recognizing the attack for what it was, a terrorist attack, the administration continually presented the attack as a spontaneous mob protest in response to a movie trailer. The attack on Benghazi was a preplanned and well-coordinated attack. The evidence available in real time to the State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Programs, Charlene Lamb, showed not one protest sign in the group. The assault was by a large number of terrorists with heavy weaponry.

Finally, we must ask ourselves can we tolerate four more years of an administration that has weakened our economy at every turn while at the same time failing to recognize the failures that have happened in our foreign policy? I would believe not.

I believe that it is time for a change to something other than an emotional wish for "Hope and Change." The past four years of "Hope and Change" has left many of us with empty pockets and broken hearts.

Ray Shamlin

Nash County

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