Obama completes one year in office
on 20th January, 2010
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
Sugar Land-Houston-USA
The unprecedented economic recession and large scale unemployment forced large numbers of Americans seek help from the government funded programs. The Obama Government has left no stone unturned to overcome the situation and create confidence in lakhs of Americans. “Food Stamp Program”- enacted as a pilot scheme way back in 1961, is now handy to the federal American Government to help very needy people to get through very difficult times. Food stamps program is more or less an Indian equivalent of the National Food for Work program. Today nearly six million Americans are receiving help from this.
The numbers of American citizens, who once had a six-figure monthly income, six bed-rooms luxurious house and an investment property is on the increase. For many such unfortunate lots as well as the erstwhile jobless-income less lot, the support comes from an income in the form of zero dollars in monthly cash and few hundred dollars in food stamps. The program now is expanding at a pace of about 20 thousand people a day. There are about 240 counties out 3140+ in USA, where at least a quarter of the population receives food stamps. In more than 750 counties, the program helps feed one in three blacks. In more than 800 counties it helps feed one in three children according to sources available.
In fact their numbers were rising even before the recession as tougher welfare laws made it harder to get un-employment cash aid. Now they have soared by about 50 percent over the past two years. About one in 50 Americans now lives in a household with a reported income that consists of nothing but a food-stamp card. Across the country, the food stamp rolls can be read like a scan of a sick economy. In a way it is not different from cash welfare. Anyone whose monthly income plus any cash on hand or in the bank is less than the rent paid plus utilities or gross monthly income is less than $150 and cash on hand or in the bank is less than $100 is eligible for obtaining food stamps.
The America that I first visited ten years ago in July 1999 was different from that of today. Second time when I visited in March 2003 USA was involved in fierce war with Iraq that started couple of days ago. Signals of “Future Shocks” could clearly be seen and felt then. Today it is totally a different America. From politics to social life to routine life to approach to various aspects everywhere and in every bit of activity noticeable contradictions of conflicting nature are seen explicitly.
America as nation is built over years on a very strong foundation. Ever since George Washington forced the British to surrender and was unanimously elected as the first President two centuries ago, the country had grown from 13 separate colonies into the present free strong nation. Historians recorded various facets of country’s physical, economical, social and international growth and finally as the Super Power. President James Madison was responsible for adding the “Bill of Rights” to the constitution ensuring to every citizen liberties such as freedom of speech, press, religion etc.
During Herbert Hoover’s Presidency, USA suffered the great economic crash of 1929. More than 12 million Americans were out of work. Banks and businesses were failing on a large scale. His successor Franklin Roosevelt launched the “New Deal” reform program. Public funds were used to create jobs for the unemployed and provide food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless. Farms and banks were saved. He also led the nation to victory in World War II.
After the World War II, under the Truman’s Doctrine spread of Communism was stalled. Truman also sent troops in the Korean War in 1950 in response to UN appeal, an action that became a routine in the international politics later. The “International Terrorism” had its roots in this move leading to more and more wars. Truman’s successor President Eisenhower worked hard for peace travelling on goodwill mission all over the world including India. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty-John F Kennedy’s chief accomplishment during his brief tenure-was signed by USA, Soviet Union and Great Britain, the so called super powers of those days. Lyndon B Johnson during whose tenure the “Food-Stamp Program” was adopted, plunged the nation deeper and deeper in to the tragic conflict of Vietnam War by stationing half million US troops there.
Nixon had undone the wrong done by Johnson by withdrawing US troops from Vietnam and winding down the war that had deeply divided the nation. Jimmy Carter worked hard to combat inflation and unemployment of late seventies but failed to solve the problems. His efforts for the release of the American Hostages in US Embassy in Iran dragged on for more than a year resulting in his defeat. “Reaganomics” of Reagan slashed spending for welfare and unemployment programs. The senior Bush benefited from the solid economy and the collapse of Communism. Internationally his popularity increased due to his role in the 1990 Gulf War when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Back home, the economy slumped and social problems got worse while at the international level, terrorism was gaining strength.
Bill Clinton led the nation during a long stretch of full employment and economic prosperity. George W Bush was in office for two terms. During his first year in office, on September 11, 2001, the twin towers of New York World Trade Center was crashed challenging the uncrowned super power. Bush declared war on the “Al Qaeda” terrorists. As part of that global “War on Terror” Bush ordered an invasion of Afghanistan to capture or kill Al Qaeda leaders. Later beginning on March 20, 2003 US and British forces stationed in Kuwait invaded Iraq to finish President Saddam Hussein on the plea that he possesses “Weapons of Mass Destruction”. Hussein's regime was overthrown. Saddam was captured and hanged later on 30 December 2006. President Bush announced on May 1, 2003 that “Mission Accomplished”. However by May, 2004 terrorists killed almost twice as many Americans as had died in the war. Terrorism could not be wiped out.
The economy during Bush Presidency looked to be sliding toward the recession and the adverse affects continued. A year ago, Barack Hussein Obama - the first African-American to ascend to the highest office in the land, was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009. When he assumed office, the threat of terrorism was on the increase and global economy was in a bad shape. He inherited an economy in recession and reeling from interrelated credit and housing crises. Obama introduced the outlines of a plan before taking office, and spent much of his first weeks engaged in negotiations with Congress that led to the passage of a $787 billion bill to overcome economic crisis. This stimulus package was meant to pump money into the economy to make up for the sudden, sharp contraction of spending by consumers and businesses.
Since becoming president Obama has moved swiftly to reshape the war in Iraq, a war that he opposed from its start. He announced plans to withdraw all combat forces by August 2010. With his initiative, the United States and Russia, on July 6, 2009, reached a preliminary agreement on cutting each country's stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons.
President Obama determined to “finish the job” in Afghanistan and issued orders in November-December 2009, to send 30 thousand additional troops there. He finally figured out how to bring the eight year old long conflict to an end. Obama assured the Americans that he would start bringing American forces home in the middle of 2011, saying the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment. He sought to convince the nation that the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the continued existence of Al Qaeda across the border in Pakistan, which he described as a “cancer” on the region were direct threats to the United States. However, half of Americans think that the US should mind its own business internationally and leave the rest to other countries.
The racial gap continues in USA and remains a serious obstacle in the US job market for African-Americans, even to those with degrees from respected colleges. Despite decades of progress by blacks culminating in President Obama’s election, there is ample evidence that racial inequities remain when it comes to employment. Black joblessness has long far outstripped that of whites. As the recession has dragged on, during 2009, this has been more pronounced between those with college degrees and those without. Education does not level the playing field and seems to have made it more uneven. The unemployment rate for black men with college degrees was nearly a double that of their white counterparts in 2009. Position is slightly better in case of female graduates. In fact, whether Obama’s election has been good or bad for the blacks’ job prospectus is hotly debated in USA. Many are of the opinion that there is resentment toward his presidency among some because of his race and this has affected well-educated, African-American job seekers.
Obama can get away with doing almost nothing to specifically address issues important to African-Americans and instead focus on the white voters. The hard truth is that Obama needs white voters more than he needs black ones. To a large degree, Obama was elected by white people, some of whom were more able to accept him because he consciously portrayed himself as racially ambiguous. In fact, commiserating with the blacks could prove politically problematic.
In general if somebody in US is looking for a job right now, the prospects are terrible. There are six times as many Americans seeking work as there are job openings and the average duration of unemployment-the time spent looking for work-is more than six months, the highest level since the 1930s. Nearly one in six American workers is foreign born, the highest proportion since the 1920 s according to official analysis. The figure of the share of foreign workers that dipped to 5% in 1970 due to immigration barriers has been rising since then to the current 16%.
President Barak Obama could muster enough number of 218 votes needed to pass the controversial Health Care Legislation in the House of Representatives. Some of the House Democrats have openly declared that they would oppose the bill along with Republicans and vote against. Obama threw all his official and personal weight against the lobbying effort to defeat it. Then the Democrats were able to push the health care overhaul legislation in the Senate and could overcome its first major obstacle. With this the so called sweeping measure supposed to guarantee medical coverage for all Americans will be debated to complete the legislative process. The division on this historic reform is now a total vertical and horizontal with Obama like minded democrats on one side and the rest-majority of whom are the Republicans on the diagonally opposite side. How it would ultimately undergo in its final shape is anybody’s guess.
Good news for Americans of late is that there are genuine signals of economic recovery that is unfolding slowly. Economists are of the opinion that Great Recession has indeed relaxed its grip on American life, with the economy sliding back into normalcy.
Notwithstanding all this, in a stunning surprise on October 9, 2009, the Nobel committee announced that it had awarded its annual peace prize to President Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" which he received amidst strong protests subsequently.
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