The same old giveaway mentality

In his State of the Union address, President Obama was in full campaign mode, and he reprised several of his recurring and tiresome themes: promoting class warfare and identity politics, tax increases, soak the rich to cure income "inequalities," Islamic terrorists don't exist and - the perennial goodie - giving away more free stuff.

He claims to have defeated the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan, but his war on society's "makers" - its educated and socially-responsible achievers, risk-takers, savers, and investors who act creatively and work hard to create companies and jobs-goes on unabated.

In contrast, he lionizes our nation's "takers" - the chronically dependent elements who are an endless burden on our society. Mr. Obama is certainly not ignorant, so one must assume that he simply wants to ruin our country.

From the launch of "Great Society" programs to the present - which includes six years of President Obama's programs, giveaways, and spending sprees - our nation has achieved little other than having more people than ever on the government dole.

Thirty-five million are now on food stamps and the real unemployment level nears 20 percent. If society fails to hold people accountable for their own futures and if government passes out endless freebies to them, our nation's inventory of dependent and unproductive citizens will only grow - to our detriment.

Mr. President, if your aim is to destroy, your policies are great! If that's not your intention, then how about dropping your campaign mode, start solving real problems, and supporting the nation's makers - who should be your natural allies in building a stronger economy and nation.

At the same time, how about having the guts to challenge the growing army of able-bodied takers to step up, to be responsible, and to develop enough self-respect to renounce their embarrassing dependence upon their relatives, friends, and neighbors (i.e., the taxpayers) for their sustenance?

Charles F. Falk

Schaumburg