Obama believes in Fair America. Top down enforcement of whatever the enlightened few believe to be righteous and just. They'll decide everything for you. What to eat and drink. How much money is enough. What prices should be. The economy is the engine of utopia, nothing more.
The Tea Party version is Free America. Bottom up, responsible living by individuals who don't always agree, but agree to play well with others and respect their differences. The economy is interdependent network of millions of people working to be prosperous and independent.
Therin lies the rub. There is no freedom without economic liberty, and there is no fairness without economic control. Obama simply can't deliver on more redistribution if he can't get more control, and eliminate more freedom. Conversely, we can't fix the economy until we can cut entitlements, which are the reigns of social control.
These things can only co-exist for so long before it becomes unsustainable. In 2012, something's going to have to give.
EXCELLENT POST. Your thoughtful and concise post wins the ‘F. A. Hayek post of the day’ award. He would be proud. Regards.