Originally posted by Byrd
I hope to see some of the Bush admin abuses undone. I think he will move very carefully, though. I like it that he's not hasty about his decisions.

The problem is that it looks like that on the economic the response to the credit crunch will continue to head in the wrong direction that Bush has help point it towards . Throwing money away in the form of bail outs will not restore confidence in the credit market nor put an end to the greed and corrupt corporate cultural that has screwed us all over .

On the credit side of the ledger the expected beginning of a renewal of focus on the War in Afghanistan can only be a good thing ( that is unless you are Don ) . Hopeful Obama can ensure that additional resources are sent to Afghanistan , there is better co ordination between allies and that aid money is spend more effectively e.t.c .

I have to agree that the only way government can raise the money it needs to work with less borrowing is through raising taxes.

You don't need to be a genius to figure that out.

When it comes to losing jobs because increases in taxes we all know that we are at an unemployment high right now due not to Bushes raising taxes but because companies are sending their productions and their jobs oversea and then the ones that stay in the US are using workers visa to outsource here in the US.

That is a fact and a reality.

So blaming loses of jobs on raising taxes is at this point just speculation.

Because we are already losing them.

The policies behind NAFTA, WTO and the VAT TAX are all killing America and anybody that is behind all of these are guilty.

Obama will not raise taxes in his first 100 days he may do that later on during his administration but not in the beginning.

Excellent thread grover.

I haven't yet caught up on all the posts to this point yet, but I'm working on it.

I hope to offer a unique viewpoint to the discussions here as soon as I feel I am ready.

I love what what I'm seeing so far though.

Originally posted by grover
...what do people think about this high profile transition as opposed to the more traditional subdued, behind the scenes one.

I'm going to weigh in based upon the OP, without reading the rest of the thread, first. Being blessed with an outsider's perspective, I'd like to make the following observations:
First, the Bush Administration was characterised by fear. The population, and to a large extent, the world, was held in thrall by an unending pummeling by threats and atrocities to the national psyche. Fear served as an instrument of power. The US conceded or diluted many of the strengths and checks designed by the founding fathers, in return for protection from the Great Terror.

Obama set as his mantra the simple word change. Folks are tired of fear, tired of being held in a state of stress...they want change. Is there a Obama-flavoured kool-aid? I believe so. We of the Great White North had an election about the same time as our American cousins. I had the interesting experience of watching as my Ontario rural/small-town riding overwhelmingly voted Conservative (think Bush-Lite) while folks on the street wished we had an Obama too. Well...we did have parties that opposed the neo-con status quo, but they were not able to dislodge that thinly-held grasp upon power. The guy/girl on the street wanted change, but they could not give it shape and act upon it. Hmmm...

So...to address the OP's question of the high profile transition of power, I have a great deal of hope that the people have spoken and the democratic process has set America back on the right path of moral leadership. I hope that Obama can reach out to all Americans and unite them. The people want change and they want relief from fear, and they want it big time, and they are in no mood for subtleties or nuance. They need to see it happen, and the administration-in-waiting is delivering.

But I am also something of a cynic and I have seen enough movies for a 'Good Cop/Bad Cop' scenario to set off my Bravo Sierra detector. Still...I am not above hoping that I am wrong.

I have to say I am really pleased with the quality of posts here so far... they are excellent and very well thought out... indeed ATS at its best... and we've seen what its worst can be so lets keep up the good thinking.

What I am afraid of Marg is sooner or later... and with the United States in danger of losing its AAA bond rating... I am afraid it will be sooner.... the holders of our debt... China, Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia will run out of patience and call their loans in.

It would send the global economy into an overnight depression for sure but at this point in the game I wouldn't blame them one bit.

[edit on 1-12-2008 by grover]

Very troublesome future that the Obama administrating will have to face.

This quote from the article tells all.

As for a stimulus package, there is not much of an industry left to stimulate back into life, Hennecke said.

I guess Mr. Hennecke has lost fait of an America recovery.

Right now, China loses on their manufacturing is getting in the danger zone and Japan is already on a recession and they both are our biggest lenders.



[edit on 1-12-2008 by marg6043]

Originally posted by marg6043
As for a stimulus package, there is not much of an industry left to stimulate back into life, Hennecke said....

... Right now, China loses on their manufacturing is getting in the danger zone and Japan is already on a recession and they both are our biggest lenders.

Exactly right on both points... how can we rebuild our industry when the corporations have essentially abandoned us (for cheaper places) except as consumers?

And how long will nations already in or approaching recession keep floating our debt?

The proof either for or against Obama's skills will be as much about how he handles these situations as much as any foreign affairs will.

Originally posted by grover
how can we rebuild our industry when the corporations have essentially abandoned us (for cheaper places)

By (gasp) lowering taxes on them.

A lot of those corporations have left and gone overseas because it's cheaper to do business there. We in America have made it far too difficult for businesses to succeed. We have imposed numerous burdensome regulations and environmental standards on them to make it hard for them to operate efficiently.

By raising their taxes we are only going to further encourage them to take their jobs overseas where they won't be penalized for making too much money.

I know that Obama and some of this colleagues see big businesses as the enemy, but they need to reconsider that viewpoint. Let the private citizens pay a little more taxes if you must, but give the businesses a break. That's the only way they are going to keep and create jobs here in America.

I just finished watching Obama roll out his National Security team. I was completely impressed! That's quite a team and I have a good amount of faith that Obama will provide the strong leadership they need. I noticed on this small team, he had males and females, black and white, Democrat and Republican, tall and short!

I didn't like the choice of Hillary at first, but as I've heard what others have said about her knowledge of the military, I feel pretty good about it. And who knows? Bill Richardson's personality may not have fit in well with the rest. In any case, I think Obama will do as he says: listen to the dissenting views and make good judgments.