Challenges Of America, The Obama Agenda, The Need For Radical Change
Friday. May 1, 2009
Today's Zinger:
It's Not How Much You Have To Do, It's How Much Time You Have To Do It And How Much Money Available To Get It Done. Time And Money Are Running Out.
Morning Briefing
The Obama Adminstration has a full plate. The budget, social programs, deficits, bailouts, war, health care, education, international relations, energy are just a few items that have serious issues that must be addressed. I think it is fair to say no President in our lifetime, maybe no President in history, has undertaken a more robust set of challenges. More importantly, these challenges come at a time that truly require solutions. Unlike past Congresses and Presidencies, we can not talk a good game but must, I repeat must, come up with real answers. The United States is looking a lot like Chrysler these days. For years making the motions and getting by. Chrysler tried to make change, incremental change, but failed to make the necessary change. Well, the loans are coming due and the prospects of paying the loans are dim for both Chrysler and The United States. The United States needs some radical change or we risk the same fate as Chrysler, looking for a bailout parnter or going bust.
Discussion:
The first 100 days are history and I think it is fair to say that President Obama has a very full plate, partly due to what he inherited from his predecessor and partly due to his own choosing. Depending on which side of the political fence you stand, you may immediately react to his agenda as right or wrong. There is a lot of political positioning going on by both parties. It is very unfortunate because the truth is there are significant issues that need to be solved immediately. Issues that have been around for more than a few decades. Each President, and more importantly Congress, had partially dealt with these issues in different ways, but each failed to deal with them adequately. As a result, we are still talking about the same agenda that has been around since Reagan’s second term. Here are just a few of the critical areas requiring radical rethinking:
1) Education: With a 20%-40% high school drop out rate (depending on location), college costs rising so rapidly that most Americans can no longer afford to send their children to college and household income in America declining, it is critical that we, as Americans, deal with this crisis. Education is the clearest path to prosperity in the future. Should we not deal with this, we will place the security and prosperity of our country at risk.
2) Health care: As someone who has significant experience with the health care industry, our system is broken. It is majorly broken. Access to affordable health care for our citizens has reached critical mass. The cost of health care and medical lawsuits has pushed the cost out of the reach of most individuals and small companies. An efficient marketplace is not the solution to health care as it ends up insuring the healthy and the unhealthy cannot afford the cost. It may be easy to blame the unhealthy for their situation, but don't forget, we will all be there someday. This is not sustainable.
3) War and Terrorism: While the Iraq war is going well, relative to the past, Iraq remains an opportunity for success that could be lost if we withdraw too early. Losing focus will open the way for Iran, or others, to enter the country and build another stronghold for anti-west ideology. This will create further risk in the world. Iran continues to operate outside the world of nations and has done so since the late 70’s. With a commitment to the destruction of Israel and the growing threat of long-range nuclear weapons, the need for action grows. Afghanistan: The Obama Presidency has shifted focus back to the origins of Taliban rule and is rapidly ramping-up our involvement. North Korea: Has remained the same for more than thirty years with on-again, off-again nuclear ambition used as a chip to blackmail the world, especially the west, of money to sustain their declining economy. With regime change immanent, we can expect more posturing for power.
4) Pakistan: Probably one of the most volatile situations in the world. The Taliban and al-Qaida have negotiated concessions of the elected government. They are now expanding their hold on the region.
5) International relations: There is no question that under the Bush Administration the relationship of the United States with its allies had become strained. This is partly due to our allies reluctance to take on difficult issues and Bush’s approach to diplomacy. Our future will be as a team player and not the big gorilla in the world. Even the largest enemy can be destroyed by a thousand cuts coming from many places. This is not sustainable.
6) Immigration: There are now an estimated 15 million illegal immigrants in the United States. This situation has been building since Reagan legislated amnesty for the last large group of southern trespassers. Bush attempted to legislate an immigration policy that centered on a guest worker program, but not amnesty. The 2007 Congress saw an opportunity to add 15 million new Democratic voters and blocked the immigration legislation while supporting other efforts for easy passage and work in the United States (including not enforcing current laws). President Obama will have to deal with this problem since it will impact the security as well as the financial health of the country. The fight centers around what is right for America versus what is right for the Democrats. I don't really see this any other way.
7) Deficits: It was just eight months ago that we were worrying about a $150 billion budget shortfall and an $11 trillion dollar debt. We are now looking at an annual budget shortfall of $1.2 trillion and a total debt, including off balance sheet items such as Medicare, of almost $60 trillion dollars. President Obama formulated his campaign in 2006/2007 based on expectations of spending to change direction. Despite escalating war spending, bailouts and deficit spending to deal with the recession, President Obama has not changed his expectations for social change. As a result, we will have a combined debt of legacy spending and new social spending. This is not sustainable.
8) Social Security and Medicare: Originally put in place during the Lyndon Johnson years, these programs have grown exponentially of late. The unfunded liability, the escalation in costs combined with the aging population soon to join the ranks of the Social Security and Medicare, puts this on the critical list. The Social Security fund will run out in the next 10 years based on new estimates. Radical change will have to be made and it can’t wait for the next President. Prior Presidents have attempted to deal with this to be rebuffed by Congress. It is such a charged issue they didn’t want to take a vote and go on record because they know there is hell to pay. This is not sustainable.
10) Energy: Whether you believe in global warming or come down on the side that it is a natural cycle, we must deal with our dependency on oil. Whether your motive is to sustain the planet or national security, we must migrate to a new energy future. Drilling for more oil in the United States will only temporarily meet energy requirements because it will run out within our children's lifetime. The United States has not had an energy policy in almost four decades. Everyone has talked about it but no one has done anything about it because it meant displacement of relationships and businesses. It is time to move on.
11) Military: We no longer fight conventional wars. As such, we will have to rethink our military approach going forward. It will require balancing conventional force to sustain existing wars with new techniques for terrorism and smaller/surgical theaters. Counter-insurgency techniques will replace battle hardware. We currently spend approximately $570 billion a year on Military along with $160 billion on war activities. This is not sustainable.
12) Bailouts: How much, how long and to whom? We have already committed almost $3 Trillion in loans, subsidies and equity in failing companies. We must extract ourselves and prepare for the next round of trouble. We will soon see credit card debt and commercial real estate suffering the same conditions as the financial meltdown. Soon we will learn of the student loan crisis, but that won’t hit the fan for a few more years. If we do not “keep some of our powder dry” we will not have the finances to deal with these crisises.
13) A culture divided: Our country is now highly divided. Politicians and the media support this. We are no longer a Republic; we are red states and blue states. We are no longer Americans; we are liberals or conservatives. We are no longer independent thinkers; we are Republicans and Democrats. Certain groups wish to sustain the division as it helps them position for power or money. Whether it is politics or race we need to operate as Americans. A band of supportive and like-minded American states is more powerful than individual groups fighting and positioning against each other. Congress and President Obama may now have the 60 votes to ignore the minority but they do so at great risk to America and Americans.
14) The Economy: Lets not forget that our economy has been shrinking and our equity markets are 40% off their peak. Unemployment is in excess of 8%. Real unemployment, which includes people that want a job but have given up on the continued search for a job, is estimated at 11%. Minority unemployment in certain cities is reaching 50%. The Obama Administration has focused on green jobs and construction to put America back to work. These programs are just beginning, yet the markets are stabilizing, equities are gaining and the liquidity crunch is easing. President Obama must ensure the recovery continues and find another 3 million sustainable jobs this year.
Conclusion:
America is at a crossroads. Issues that have been talked about, with little action for decades, are about to reach critical mass. The current situation is not sustainable. Whether you agree with President Obama or not, we need to address these issues. The question going forward is, will it be done from an American point of view or will the usual politics, power and payoffs cripple our ability to get done what needs to be done?
Today's Zinger:
It's Not How Much You Have To Do, It's How Much Time You Have To Do It And How Much Money Available To Get It Done. Time And Money Are Running Out.
Morning Briefing
The Obama Adminstration has a full plate. The budget, social programs, deficits, bailouts, war, health care, education, international relations, energy are just a few items that have serious issues that must be addressed. I think it is fair to say no President in our lifetime, maybe no President in history, has undertaken a more robust set of challenges. More importantly, these challenges come at a time that truly require solutions. Unlike past Congresses and Presidencies, we can not talk a good game but must, I repeat must, come up with real answers. The United States is looking a lot like Chrysler these days. For years making the motions and getting by. Chrysler tried to make change, incremental change, but failed to make the necessary change. Well, the loans are coming due and the prospects of paying the loans are dim for both Chrysler and The United States. The United States needs some radical change or we risk the same fate as Chrysler, looking for a bailout parnter or going bust.
Discussion:
The first 100 days are history and I think it is fair to say that President Obama has a very full plate, partly due to what he inherited from his predecessor and partly due to his own choosing. Depending on which side of the political fence you stand, you may immediately react to his agenda as right or wrong. There is a lot of political positioning going on by both parties. It is very unfortunate because the truth is there are significant issues that need to be solved immediately. Issues that have been around for more than a few decades. Each President, and more importantly Congress, had partially dealt with these issues in different ways, but each failed to deal with them adequately. As a result, we are still talking about the same agenda that has been around since Reagan’s second term. Here are just a few of the critical areas requiring radical rethinking:
1) Education: With a 20%-40% high school drop out rate (depending on location), college costs rising so rapidly that most Americans can no longer afford to send their children to college and household income in America declining, it is critical that we, as Americans, deal with this crisis. Education is the clearest path to prosperity in the future. Should we not deal with this, we will place the security and prosperity of our country at risk.
2) Health care: As someone who has significant experience with the health care industry, our system is broken. It is majorly broken. Access to affordable health care for our citizens has reached critical mass. The cost of health care and medical lawsuits has pushed the cost out of the reach of most individuals and small companies. An efficient marketplace is not the solution to health care as it ends up insuring the healthy and the unhealthy cannot afford the cost. It may be easy to blame the unhealthy for their situation, but don't forget, we will all be there someday. This is not sustainable.
3) War and Terrorism: While the Iraq war is going well, relative to the past, Iraq remains an opportunity for success that could be lost if we withdraw too early. Losing focus will open the way for Iran, or others, to enter the country and build another stronghold for anti-west ideology. This will create further risk in the world. Iran continues to operate outside the world of nations and has done so since the late 70’s. With a commitment to the destruction of Israel and the growing threat of long-range nuclear weapons, the need for action grows. Afghanistan: The Obama Presidency has shifted focus back to the origins of Taliban rule and is rapidly ramping-up our involvement. North Korea: Has remained the same for more than thirty years with on-again, off-again nuclear ambition used as a chip to blackmail the world, especially the west, of money to sustain their declining economy. With regime change immanent, we can expect more posturing for power.
4) Pakistan: Probably one of the most volatile situations in the world. The Taliban and al-Qaida have negotiated concessions of the elected government. They are now expanding their hold on the region.
5) International relations: There is no question that under the Bush Administration the relationship of the United States with its allies had become strained. This is partly due to our allies reluctance to take on difficult issues and Bush’s approach to diplomacy. Our future will be as a team player and not the big gorilla in the world. Even the largest enemy can be destroyed by a thousand cuts coming from many places. This is not sustainable.
6) Immigration: There are now an estimated 15 million illegal immigrants in the United States. This situation has been building since Reagan legislated amnesty for the last large group of southern trespassers. Bush attempted to legislate an immigration policy that centered on a guest worker program, but not amnesty. The 2007 Congress saw an opportunity to add 15 million new Democratic voters and blocked the immigration legislation while supporting other efforts for easy passage and work in the United States (including not enforcing current laws). President Obama will have to deal with this problem since it will impact the security as well as the financial health of the country. The fight centers around what is right for America versus what is right for the Democrats. I don't really see this any other way.
7) Deficits: It was just eight months ago that we were worrying about a $150 billion budget shortfall and an $11 trillion dollar debt. We are now looking at an annual budget shortfall of $1.2 trillion and a total debt, including off balance sheet items such as Medicare, of almost $60 trillion dollars. President Obama formulated his campaign in 2006/2007 based on expectations of spending to change direction. Despite escalating war spending, bailouts and deficit spending to deal with the recession, President Obama has not changed his expectations for social change. As a result, we will have a combined debt of legacy spending and new social spending. This is not sustainable.
8) Social Security and Medicare: Originally put in place during the Lyndon Johnson years, these programs have grown exponentially of late. The unfunded liability, the escalation in costs combined with the aging population soon to join the ranks of the Social Security and Medicare, puts this on the critical list. The Social Security fund will run out in the next 10 years based on new estimates. Radical change will have to be made and it can’t wait for the next President. Prior Presidents have attempted to deal with this to be rebuffed by Congress. It is such a charged issue they didn’t want to take a vote and go on record because they know there is hell to pay. This is not sustainable.
10) Energy: Whether you believe in global warming or come down on the side that it is a natural cycle, we must deal with our dependency on oil. Whether your motive is to sustain the planet or national security, we must migrate to a new energy future. Drilling for more oil in the United States will only temporarily meet energy requirements because it will run out within our children's lifetime. The United States has not had an energy policy in almost four decades. Everyone has talked about it but no one has done anything about it because it meant displacement of relationships and businesses. It is time to move on.
11) Military: We no longer fight conventional wars. As such, we will have to rethink our military approach going forward. It will require balancing conventional force to sustain existing wars with new techniques for terrorism and smaller/surgical theaters. Counter-insurgency techniques will replace battle hardware. We currently spend approximately $570 billion a year on Military along with $160 billion on war activities. This is not sustainable.
12) Bailouts: How much, how long and to whom? We have already committed almost $3 Trillion in loans, subsidies and equity in failing companies. We must extract ourselves and prepare for the next round of trouble. We will soon see credit card debt and commercial real estate suffering the same conditions as the financial meltdown. Soon we will learn of the student loan crisis, but that won’t hit the fan for a few more years. If we do not “keep some of our powder dry” we will not have the finances to deal with these crisises.
13) A culture divided: Our country is now highly divided. Politicians and the media support this. We are no longer a Republic; we are red states and blue states. We are no longer Americans; we are liberals or conservatives. We are no longer independent thinkers; we are Republicans and Democrats. Certain groups wish to sustain the division as it helps them position for power or money. Whether it is politics or race we need to operate as Americans. A band of supportive and like-minded American states is more powerful than individual groups fighting and positioning against each other. Congress and President Obama may now have the 60 votes to ignore the minority but they do so at great risk to America and Americans.
14) The Economy: Lets not forget that our economy has been shrinking and our equity markets are 40% off their peak. Unemployment is in excess of 8%. Real unemployment, which includes people that want a job but have given up on the continued search for a job, is estimated at 11%. Minority unemployment in certain cities is reaching 50%. The Obama Administration has focused on green jobs and construction to put America back to work. These programs are just beginning, yet the markets are stabilizing, equities are gaining and the liquidity crunch is easing. President Obama must ensure the recovery continues and find another 3 million sustainable jobs this year.
Conclusion:
America is at a crossroads. Issues that have been talked about, with little action for decades, are about to reach critical mass. The current situation is not sustainable. Whether you agree with President Obama or not, we need to address these issues. The question going forward is, will it be done from an American point of view or will the usual politics, power and payoffs cripple our ability to get done what needs to be done?
Posted by ZK at 4/30/2009 2:56 PM 
Categories: Federal Budget, Education, Economics, Politics, Social Issues, Congress
Categories: Federal Budget, Education, Economics, Politics, Social Issues, Congress
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5/27/2009 12:09 PM
ZingerKing wrote:
To subscribe to ZingerKing enter your email address in the Subscribe box located towards the top of the purple sidebar on the website. Subscribers receive “The Morning Briefing” at each new publishing with a link to the full story. ZingerKing is Published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.Wed/Thurs May 27,28 2009Today’s Zinger:You Campaign in Poetry, You Govern In ProseThe Morning Briefing:America is being tested. The international community is testing the President's strength and commitment, the allies are playing musical chairs and wondering if he will be a seated president when the music stops, the radical ... -
5/30/2009 1:08 PM
ZingerKing wrote:
To subscribe to ZingerKing enter your email address in the Subscribe box located towards the top of the purple sidebar on the website. Subscribers receive “The Morning Briefing” at each new publishing with a link to the full story. ZingerKing is Published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.Wed/Thurs May 27,28 2009Today’s Zinger:You Campaign in Poetry, You Govern In ProseThe Morning Briefing:America is being tested. The international community is testing the President's strength and commitment, the allies are playing musical chairs and wondering if he will be a seated president when the music stops, the radical ...
Even though I do not support Obama I have to admit there really are a lot of pressing issues. We hear about them each day, but when you put them all on paper and understand how critical they are it gives a better sense of what we are up against. Great article.
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