Barack Obama says that nothing is getting done because of Republicans. “Their willingness to say no to everything – the fact that since 2007, they have filibustered about 500 pieces of legislation that would help the middle class just gives you a sense of how opposed they are to any progress – has actually led to an increase in cynicism and discouragement among the people who were counting on us to fight for them,” Obama said. He’s exaggerating for effect, but the petulant attitude is what’s troubling. That and the idea that the federal government is the solution to every “middle class” problem. As Obama added, “They need us. Not because they want a handout, but because they know that government can serve an important function in unleashing the power of our private sector.” Funny, but it actually never does.