Common sense will help Obama in first days

Change has come to America! Thank goodness that we the people have elected and inaugurated such a forward thinking, progressive individual to the highest office in this land. Isn't it just wonderful? Even within the first two weeks of his presidency, President Barack Obama has managed to make some huge changes from the Bush administration's failed policies.

The angels sang and the sun shone brightly last Thursday when President Obama's economic stimulus package passed through the House of Representatives. Rather than follow Bush's failed plan of throwing $700 billion at failing corporations, Obama has upped the ante. This latest bill promises $800 billion for "economic stimulus." That's some big change - $100 billion worth of change (about 400 billion quarters, 1 trillion dimes, 2 trillion nickels or 10 trillion pennies). Lots and lots of beautiful, beautiful change.

Another powerful change from our fearless, messianic leader happened last week when President Obama finally removed the restriction on providing funding to abortion clinics in Africa. What a relief. Now all $400 million of your tax money that is sent overseas for "family planning" will have the freedom to provide abortions, counseling and free condoms to people in some of the world's poorest countries. Isn't it a great feeling to know that you're helping people gain access to the basic human right of sex without consequences?

In perhaps the most striking change yet, President Obama has also made huge strides for peace in the Middle East by reversing many of Bush's policies there - oh wait, never mind. That's just wishful thinking on my part. In the real world, President Obama refused to condemn the Israeli offensive in Gaza that cost the lives of 1,300 Palestinians. Instead, however, he praised Israel as one of the United States' greatest allies and pledged to ensure that Jerusalem remains the undivided capital of Israel. President Obama also said that he would not rule out using military force against Iran.

Why don't politicians understand that we cannot be an effective mediator for peace in the Middle East when we unabashedly pick favorites? If the United States wants to be a legitimate peace broker, we have to stop giving guns and ammunition to both sides, stop blaming everything on the Palestinians and respect the results of democracy in the Palestinian territories by including all the factions there in negotiations.

In addition, it's becoming increasingly obvious that throwing taxpayer dollars into the economy won't work. Many of the large banks and financial companies that received federal money also gave their top executives multi-million-dollar Christmas bonuses last year. Recently, the U.S. Treasury Secretary had to step in and stop one company from buying a multi-million-dollar corporate jet. That is absolutely disgusting. President Obama's administration is also considering the creation of a government bank to buy up all the bad debt from existing banks, shifting all that debt onto the backs of taxpayers. Just stop already. The government could have had the banks by the throat and forced them to use the money responsibly and pay it all back. Instead, we seem to just be writing them blank checks to do whatever they want.

Finally, America has to cut back on inappropriate foreign aid. There is no reason to give money to abortion clinics or abstinence promoters. Cut that funding out of the budget and save the American taxpayers several hundred million dollars. That would be a refreshing change - a politician who cared about cutting back nonsensical spending and re-establishing fiscal responsibility.

Here's my hope for America and President Obama. I hope that the government will do more to re-establish fiscal responsibility with the money given to them by taxpayers. I also hope that the president will stop his Bush-style swaggering and belligerence in the Middle East because we all know where that leads. Finally, I hope that Americans will wake up and see what's going on. Write to your Congressional Representatives and Senators. Tell them you don't want to see your money spent on condoms for Africa when people here don't have health care, shelter or food. Tell them that it's foolish to give money to corporate giants who buy jets and give out bonuses when their businesses are failing. Please, tell them to start using their common sense.