Welcome to an America based on facts

Published 4:16 pm Thursday, February 25, 2016

I feel sorry for those who live in Alan Jackson’s America (“We must not be blind to risks that surround us,” page A4, Feb. 12 Herald).

I live in another America, where we base opinions on facts.

Jackson’s America has gone through “… recent years of downward spiral and watching this great country sliding off track.” Let’s examine those recent years of downward spiral — say, since Mr. Obama took office.

Violent crime has gone down every year to the lowest rate in four decades.

Unemployment is at its lowest rate since 2007, with better annual job growth since Clinton was president.

We now produce more oil domestically than we import; yet, due to the president’s policies, renewable energy production is growing at a rate that will see it produce one-third of our electricity by decade’s end and it has become profitable.

Due to hated ObamaCare, health-care inflation is at its lowest rate in five decades and more Americans have access to health care than ever, and the neat part of that is that ObamaCare requires most people to be responsible and pay for at least part of their health insurance.

Rand Paul claims that “nine out 10 small businesses fail,” but the failure rate has held steady for more than six decades at about 50 percent after five years, and it goes down after that.

Interest rates are still low and inflation is still nonexistent, despite constant fearmongering for the past seven years.

Consumer confidence is high. The housing market has recovered.

When Mr. Obama was inaugurated, two of the big three American car companies were in receivership and are now out of it and very profitable.

The dollar is the world’s reserve currency and its current position of being too strong is the only thing holding U.S. manufacturing back.

Therefore, I would like to invite Mr. Jackson and those who feel as he does to join us in “fact-based America.” Come out of the echo chamber, spit out the lemon peel, take off your blinders and be thankful you live in this great and prosperous land.

All you have to do is smile and say, “I love America.”

Tom DeBor
Poulsbo