On Nov. 6, I will be a brand new 22-year-old. And for the first time in my life, I will be doing something that I have been waiting to do for a long time.
Vote.
I am proud to say I am voting for a candidate who can help boost the economy and help keep it thriving.
In 2008, "hope" and "change" surrounded Barack Obama's campaign. His strategy was plain and simple: reach out to a new generation that was in dire need of a way out of a devastating economy.
Every speech that was made on his campaign was of great political strategy and led people around the country to believe he would be the change he wanted the world to see.
Flash forward four years later. Those words of "hope" and "change" have now taken a new meaning. Instead of being the "hope" and "change," Obama is now hoping he can change the mind of voters.
For me, my mind is already made up on whom I am voting for...
Mitt Romney.
If you are reading right now, let me explain before you look past this column and turn the page.
For the life of me, I could never understand why people choose to abuse the help of government agencies. I am sickened when I see a person at a local grocery store struggling to afford the basic grocery needs, but they are sporting Versace sunglasses, gold chains and have the latest iPhone.
Obama has allowed this to happen by allowing welfare and food stamp programs to be unregulated. With the government allowing this to happen, this has given recipients the choice to not be employed.
However, if there were mandated regulations, it would get rid of those who choose not to have jobs because, well, they "just don't want one." It would save a lot more money.
For those who accept government money and have the ability to obtain a job but choose not to work is equivalent to a mother holding her child's hand through everything, which is good in a sense, but bad because people become dependent on the government, or their mother.
According to the Census Bureau in 2010, 13.6 million households reported receiving food stamp/SNAP benefits during the past 12 months, and 11.9 percent of all households reported receipt of food stamps/SNAP. This statistic was viewed as a 16 percent increase of the 2009 figure of 10.3 percent.
I am most concerned with government benefits. Why? Because more and more people are receiving them, and the more they receive, the smaller the middle class becomes.
Romney has said it best: "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich. They're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of America - the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling. You can focus on the very poor. That's not my focus."
The spending of the budget on welfare has now soared above 32 percent under President Obama. If Romney is elected, the truly poor will experience the government benefits, while the majority will have to face the consequences and take on their responsibilities
The other reason I will be pulling the lever for Romney/Ryan is because of their ability to work together with the other side of the spectrum. Under the Obama administration, there has been a lack of compromise. Both Romney and Ryan will bring more bipartisanship to the government. Throughout Romney's time in Massachusetts as governor, he developed a reputation for "working across the aisle." Also those of the House respect Ryan.
I fully endorse Mitt Romney for President of the United States because of his ability to present himself in a confident, yet well-spoken manner.
So on Nov. 6, while the majority of New York State is rooting for blue, I will be rooting for red.
Email: joseph.konze@ubspectrum.com
