The end of President Barak Obama’s first year in office was official marked by his first State of the Union Address. But for anyone who has actually been paying attention over the last year, it sounded more like the President was expressing a state of denial.

The President refuses to accept that the American people don’t want more government programs, with more government spending. So, that’s what he offered. He refuses to hear the people when we say we are tired of the class warfare. So, he plots out a tax policy that supposedly targets the middle class, but in fact raises taxes on those who actually create jobs in this country. He put forth a call for ideas from Republican lawmakers, after a year of ignoring every proposal put on the table by the GOP.

In total, President Obama’s State of the Union address signaled more of the same. More gridlock; more name calling; more ignoring the voice of the people. And just like here in California, the people are fed up with it.

The only thing that separates Sacramento from Washington DC is our inability to print money. In both cases liberal leaders have sought take government in a direction opposite that which the people think it should go. In both cases, calls for transparency and bipartisanship ring hollow as Republicans are locked out of the room while Democrats cut deals with left wing interest groups behind closed doors. And in both cases, the 2010 elections are shaping up to be the first battle in what is sure to become a major taxpayer revolt.

Victory will go to those who respect the people’s inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It will go to those who recognize that the money we pay in taxes does not belong to the politicians, but belongs to the people. It will go to those who are not about empowering the government to fix our problems, but about empowering people to help themselves and one another.

Some in our government have heard and are responding to this rally cry. Others, like our President, continue to wallow in what can best be described as state of denial.