By Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 24th, 2009
Let’s face it: The chief reason Barack Obama now sits in the White House is that he definitely is not George W. Bush.
The first few days of the Obama Presidency have provided proof of that. From the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison to actual ethical commitments for Executive Branch personnel, it’s clear that a new chief executive is at the wheel.
But while those matters clearly are important, the top matter on the minds of most is what Obama plans to do to heal this broken economy. That is the prime reason Americans have chosen the first clearly liberal president this nation has had since JFK–and why they have soundly rejected the neo-conservative policies which have (mis)ruled this nation for about the last 30 years.
Fair enough, but what exactly does Obama plan to do? Americans of all stripes need to know precisely in what the new president plans to invest…and precisely what he plans to cut.
We’ve all heard the brilliant rhetoric, and most have understood the basic plan. Now it’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts of putting our economy–and our nation–back on the right track.
“With each passing day, families across America are watching their bills pile up and their savings disappear,” proclaimed a recent White House statement on the economy.
“President Obama believes that if we do not act quickly, this recession could linger for years,” the statement continued, “and America could lose the competitive edge that has served as the foundation for our strength and standing in the world.”
The essential parts of Obama’s economic recovery plan, as quoted from the statement, are clear enough:
- Doubling the production of alternative energy in the next three years.
- Modernizing more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills.
- Making the immediate investments necessary to ensure that within five years, all of America’s medical records are computerized.
- Equipping tens of thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities with 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries.
- Expanding broadband across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
- Investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries.
The Internet version of this statement also provides readers with a presentation of remarks which Obama gave on January 8th, 2009. It delivers one of the most clear, yet detailed explanations of the new president’s economic plan so far released.
The White House also has provided on its website Obama’s first weekly address as president–and in it, he just happens to speak about his recovery plan.
