Answer Me These Questions Three

Three questions went through my mind during the domestic laundry list section of Barack Obama's speech last night:

- How?

- How much is it going to cost?

- No, how much is it really going to cost?

For example:

And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost?

In fairness, Obama did provide a bit more detail in this area:

As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power.

Is tap a euphemism for drill? Aren't most environmental groups opposed to that as well as clean coal technology? And don't we already know how to safely harness nuclear power, but have stopped building new nuclear plants because of unfounded fears perpetuated by environmentalists? We're back to the "how?" again.

I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.

How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost?

I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.

How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost?

On to the next promise:

Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.

Again I ask; How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost?

And again we have some details:

I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

And again we see that even when it take down a level, the basic fundamental questions remain unanswered.

On health care the promises are even grander and the details even vaguer:

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

Again I ask; How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost? He's promising better coverage of apparently everything to everyone at lower costs. No mentions of trade-offs at all.

One final promise that needs questioning:

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.

You know the drill; How? How much is it going to cost? No, how much is it really going to cost? The FMLA isn't enough? We need another round of government mandates on employers? If I owned a business in the U.S., Obama's speech would have me considering relocation.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow.

Corporate "loopholes" and "tax havens" that companies currently use to try to avoid one the highest corporate tax rates in the world. The pathetic irony is that while Obama's economic plans call for creating and keeping more jobs in America, his ideas for economic change would likely have exactly the opposite effect. How is that going to be good for anyone?