The end of traditional America

By Steve Malzberg

In my little town of Fair Lawn, New Jersey the threat of rain forced the annual July Fourth fireworks celebration to be pushed to the night of July 5th. But this wasn't the delayed start that would eventually break my celebratory spirit.

This year, instead of attending the event at the town pool, my son, my ex-wife and I accepted an invitation from Vincent and his family to watch the show from their front lawn. Vincent is one of the coaches of the nine-year-old summer baseball travel team. So my son and his teammates had a ball taking it all in. The parents also had a good time. I tried, and for a while, I did enjoy what I was watching and hearing.

As the booming blasts of light exploded to the sounds of "Proud to be an American," "Coming to America" and "God Bless America,” it wasn't hard to become transfixed in the moment. It wasn't difficult to go with the flow, to shut out reality and convince myself that we were all going to be alright. But as I watched my son proudly holding his sparkler, I suddenly cringed as a wave of panic swept through my mind and body. You see, I know too much, and the others, most Americans, not enough.

Suddenly, the monologues that I have given each day on my radio show since President Barack Obama was sworn in were beginning to echo in my head. As I looked at my son and his buddies, I couldn't help but fear for their futures—and my future and the future of our great nation.

This July Fourth was not like the others in my lifetime and maybe it was unlike any other in our country's history. For the first time as America celebrated her birthday, the man sitting in the White House was busy plotting his course to continue in his quest to fundamentally change our nation, our policies—both foreign and domestic—and by doing so, our cherished way of life.

I looked around at the parents of the kids on the baseball team and wondered just how many of them—of us really— may be among the next batch of the half million Americans who are losing their jobs each month. I wondered how many of us would eventually be unable to give our kids the luxury of summer baseball, summer camp, a new bike or a new video game once taxes start to kick in.

The saddest part is that most Americans haven't a clue about what Mr. Obama is plotting. If you think things are tough now, just wait. We are where we are and the "Bush tax cuts" haven't yet expired. That's one tax hike coming. Next, Mr. Obama needs to tax you in order to “lower your health care costs.”  Along with your newly-rationed care, which is really the most frightening part of it all, comes possible taxes on the benefits themselves: on food, drink and obesity. Did I mention that the mortgage interest deduction along with the charitable deduction will be lowered? Tax hike, tax hike.

The global warming bill passed by the house in June is being called the biggest tax increase in American history. And to top it all off, look for the European style Value Added Tax (VAT) of as much as 10 percent added on to everything you purchase or use. Did I mention, tax hike?!

If Mr. Obama succeeds, look for the unemployment rate to soar through double digits. This is what he wants. He has already destroyed untold wealth in this country. This will nearly complete the mission. What is the mission? To force as many of us as possible to turn to the government for our very survival. That's what Mr. Obama is advocating and who he is.

As I looked around at the spectators at the July 4th celebration, I wondered how many had a clue that Mr. Obama is also the president who had just told the nation’s biggest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group that they will be very pleased with his administration by the end of his first term. He then went on to spell out his LGBT agenda. This consists of ending "don't ask don't tell" in the military, eliminating the Defense of Marriage Act and passing legislation which adds LGBT's and others, including pedophiles, to federal hate crime protections.

Are we prepared to have our children grow up in Mr. Obama's America as described above? Are we prepared to have our children’s lives put at risk by a president who no longer sees a "war on terror"? Are we prepared for a president who tours the world assuring one and all that there is nothing special about the United States, that we have a tarnished history and that we are just another one of many nations?

Are we prepared to tell our kids that Mr. Obama was correct when he told the Muslim world that we are not a nation of Christians, Jews and Muslims, but rather a "nation of citizens"? I bet the parents of my little town of Fair Lawn, New Jersey would say, “No,” to this and to Mr. Obama’s vision of America. If they only knew.

-Steve Malzberg is a nationally syndicated talk show host on the WOR Radio Network and a frequent guest on many television cable shows. He can be reached through www.worradionet.com.