In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposes policies that make things worse for the economy and worse for Americans:

• Higher government spending,
• More dangerously-high government. debt,
• Continued meddling in needless, costly foreign conflicts,
• More rules and regulations,
• Higher taxes,
• And more assaults on our freedom.

Despite whatever response Republican politicians serve up, their proposals — and their votes — do the same thing: Preserve and grow Big Government.

The Republicans say they want “limited government.” Limited to what? A $3.8 trillion federal budget? A nearly $5 trillion budget?

Look at the Republican budget plan crafted by Congressman Ryan. That’s what Democrats and Republicans are planning to raise spending to over the next 10 years. “Limited?”

Democratic and Republican politicians are planning to raise the debt from today’s $16-and-a-half TRILLION — to over $20 Trillion dollars. “Limited?”

How high does government spending and debt have to be before Democratic and Republican politicians say it’s too much? Will they spend until the economy literally collapses — while workers struggle year after year to find decent jobs?

While retirees are trapped in poverty? And the middle class disappears?

​Gov. Gary Johnson's response to President Obama's State of the Union Address:

Friends,

Barack Obama said something remarkable Tuesday night. Standing in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol, delivering his State of the Union speech, the President of the United States spent an hour laying out government programs for everything from “investments” in energy and roads to helping us pick the best colleges for our kids. THEN, with a straight face, he told us his list of “solutions” wouldn’t increase the deficit “by a single dime”.

And many of our Congressmen and Senators actually applauded -- as though he was serious.

Unbelievable.

You can read my full response to his speech here: OurAmericaInitiative.com, including my conclusion that his claim that a mind-boggling array of government programs and “solutions” won’t increase the deficit must be based on the same math that has given us a $16 trillion debt.

There was a time when the State of the Union message was a simple written report sent to the Congress.  Not a bad idea.

In fact, as I listened to Obama Tuesday night, I was reminded of Jefferson’s first State of the Union “report”, sent to Congress in writing.  Explaining his efforts to scale back a federal government that he believed had grown too large and too powerful, he wrote:

"Among those who are dependent on Executive discretion I have begun the reduction of what was deemed unnecessary. The expenses of diplomatic agency have been considerably diminished. The inspectors of internal revenue who were found to obstruct the accountability of the institution have been discontinued. Several agencies created by Executive authorities, on salaries fixed by that also, have been suppressed, and should suggest the expediency of regulating that power by law, so as to subject its exercises to legislative inspection and sanction.”

Wow.  If only we had a President now who could send those very same words to Congress today. Imagine someone in Washington being able to report, truthfully, that we had “begun the reduction of what was deemed unnecessary” in the federal government.  

But, unfortunately, we don’t have anyone in Washington today who can say that. In fact, there are very few who can honestly say they even want to reduce anything.

That leaves it to us.  As a Governor, I proved that government and its cost can be reduced, with the result being more jobs, less regulation, and greater freedom. The same can be done in Washington, if only the politicians can get the message that America doesn’t need -- and doesn’t want -- MORE government.  We demand less.

That, in a nutshell, is what the Our America Initiative is about.  Beginning in April, we will be taking the message of less government and more liberty to college campuses across the nation.  Likewise, we will be taking our message to the media and to the Internet at every opportunity.  

I hope you will join me.  Your support is crucial.  Make a contribution at OurAmericaInitiative.com to help us spread our message.  Get a Live Free t-shirt at CafePress.com/OurAmericaInitiative.  And most important, get involved. We have a LOT of work to do!

Thank you, as always, for your friendship and for your dedication to liberty, economic freedom, and restoring individual rights.  

Governor Gary Johnson

Honorary Chairman, Our America Initiative
 

P.S. Tomorrow, I’m headed to the International Students for Liberty conference in Washington, DC, where I will be joining a special taping of the Stossel Show.  I’m looking forward to such a great gathering of young people who “get it”.