Yes He Can...if the Republicans let him

Not long before setting up camp in the White House, President-Elect Barack Obama put forward in his weekly radio/youtube speech his plans of a multi-billion dollar stimulus package, which could be worth more than $800bn including $300bn of tax breaks.  10 percent of the money will be used to expand unemployment insurance and healthcare relief for those without jobs. 

Obama’s chief objective of the proposal, however, is to create jobs. If the government doesn’t act now, he believes ‘we could see a much deeper economic downturn that could lead to double-digit unemployment.’  The ‘American Dream’ will consequently be reduced to a mere fantasy, not to mention reverberate badly throughout the world.

Unfortunately, though Obama is keen to have his plan implemented in time for his monumental inauguration on January 20th, Congress is less enthusiastic, subtly pushing for mid-February to allow room for further scrutiny.  The sheer magnitude and expense of the project has, unsurprisingly, many Republicans already critical of such scheme.

Doubts: we’re all going to have them.  Even fellow Obama-supporters have expressed somewhat reserved suspicions regarding his comprehensive economic plan.  And despite being an Obama-plugging-fanatic myself, I for one must admit my own uncertainties.  But it’s only natural given that the American people have been preconditioned with a fierce distrust for any kind of government expenditure supposedly designed to benefit one’s livelihood.  You’ve got George W. Bush to thank for that.  

Further scepticism has been fuelled by other members of the Republican party, such as Senator Mitch McConnell. Disingenuous as always, McConnell believes Obama’s actions are a deceptive ploy to ‘rush to get (tax dollars) spent.’  It’s highly amusing that a minion of the Republicans believes he is a worthy judge of sensible money management.

The infamous phrase of trying to ‘spend your tax money’ is nothing but unintelligible jargon perpetuated in the media. Nevertheless, this perhaps may be true of the Bush administration but don’t forget the significant difference here: Obama’s in charge now (well, soon).  Sure, it’s a grand plan but the present climate compels him to step up and rip into the futile GOP economic policies deployed by Bush.  Beneath the huge amounts of money consumed is a genuine and elemental desire to not only stimulate the economy, but create jobs for the unemployed and give people more affordable healthcare. 

Does that not seem, if not morally righteous, at least logical?  In a land where the dire populace desperately seek a glimpse of hope for the foreseeable economic future, surely we’re witnessing so far promising delivery from Obama.

Instead of the junk Bush has been pumping money into, it’s clear that the economy could benefit from making investments into areas that have been neglected for far too long like education, health care and energy – all of which Obama is keen to tackle.  His proactive approach to promote US economic growth is not only refreshing but sincerely inspiring and no doubt will serve to invigorate a nation eager to rekindle the once-tenacious American spirit (as well as their, and thus our, economy).

So take away his race, his lack of experience, his fist-bumping ‘terrorist’ gestures. Here is a President who has something many politicians are completely devoid of: heart.   In any case it’s perhaps not the wisest decision to be too emotionally involved in Government schemes but the last time the population expected a man to exercise shrewd rationality to run a country, the population trusted Bush.

Can he do it? Tune in for the next installment of my societal meanderings.