The bone chilling weather we’ve been having is nothing compared to the chill that went through my bones when I read the article about Obama’s presentation to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in last Monday’s Gazette, “Obama: Businesses ‘have a responsibility to America.’” For those who are paying attention, his words are steel through the heart of free enterprise and capitalism in this country.

Here are some phrases quoted in the article and new to his faux business vernacular. He called for a “cooperative relationship” between the private sector and the government. Replace the word cooperative with “coercive” and you will have the true meaning of his intent. This is evidenced by the long list of government takeovers of the private sector under his reign which were by no means cooperative but forced upon business in a way never seen in our history. It is also dramatically evidenced by the overwhelming growth and power of the EPA, one of the single greatest threats to liberty and business that this nation has faced.

Touting some newfound business acumen, Obama asserted that his administration wants to “invest” more on entrepreneurs. Here, replace the word invest with “own” because there is not one of these federal “assistance” or “stimulus” programs which does not come with Federal strings attached. These strings take away control. They tie the hands and hold captive the private sector to the will of the federal government. They take away local control and local representation, all with no recourse against the now too powerful federal hand.

As I am working with our local Chamber of Commerce and citizens throughout this county to balance and reduce our own reach and improve the business environment right here at home, I am constantly battling the long arm of the federal government and its regulatory strength in our own backyard.

Obama further asserted that his administration wants to “foster greater innovation.” The greatest thing that fosters innovation, and has throughout the history of this nation, is freedom! Freedom to innovate, to compete, to profit and to prosper all in an effort to accomplish more than has been done before. The government is generally not a driver of innovation except to the extent that it protects individual liberty and free markets. Once government extends beyond those boundaries, beyond the reasonable rule of law, all efforts within the private sector to fight against the tyranny of oppressive bureaucratic oversight become futile as the control shifts from us, the people to the collective government machine.

Second only to freedom as a driver of innovation, is incentive. Without an incentive to capitalize on achievements, the private sector, no matter how small or large the enterprise, will not grow their business and hire more workers.

In Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged,” this is best illustrated by her epic understanding and portrayal of the balance between the consumers and producers within our society. Consumers will have nothing to consume if producers have no incentive to produce.

After trying to trick us all into forgetting his actual actions to be wooed by his new words, Obama couldn’t help but remind us all that “The perils of too much regulation are matched by the dangers of too little.”

Hear these words! This is carefully crafted to lull us into acceptance of why it is OK for the federal government to step in and take away freedom and control within the private sector.

Bit by bit, we are to be convinced that the government understands our businesses better than we do and that allowing them to tighten the shackle just a little bit more is in our best interests. We are frogs in the pot, slowly being boiled without the notion to jump out and save ourselves before it’s too late.

As the media bathes and swoons in the glory of Obama’s newfound business prowess, he delivers an unchallenged death blow to business by declaring that “greater profits and bonuses for those at the top” are not to be allowed. Profit capping, Mr. President? Eliminating incentive within the private sector? Not in America, Mr. President.

America is where freedom has been planted and must flourish and where business is the pride of every generation. I call upon the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and all Americans who understand the gift of free enterprise to resist the lure of slick words and tales told without truth in action to back them up.

Amy Lathen is the El Paso County Commissioner for District 2. Readers can contact Lathen atAmyLathen@elpasoco.com.

Sapphire leaps into the therapy pool at Paws ‘N’ Tails in Peyton. Paws ‘n’ Tails owners Coni Fisher and son Mike Hasty work with Alex and Sappire, two shepherds owned by Helen and Ron Carlisle of Monument. Photo by Stuart Wong, The Gazette