Barack Obamas Dreams from My Father is a bibliographical book where the author represents the sequence of his reasoning about life prospects and details of it which, in fact, were concerned at some extent with the father whom the author hardly knew. The authors deepest intentions to find out the relation between personal remembrance of life details and his genealogical identity are displayed with points on different stages of the authors life. In this respect it is vital to mention that as the Japanese people say: a man without a hope has no future. Thereupon, the book by Barack Obama discloses the realities of the authors life while growing up and while thinking about his use for the society. The paper comprises the advantages and limitations of the authors flow of thought, his manner of own life details description, and the effects which are seen nowadays in the political career of the author. The story of Barack Obama is a result of his mature evaluation of the American society throughout the outlook of personal participation in it.
Discussion
The book itself is a great narration of how the American realities were reflected in the consciousness of Barack Obama since the early childhood up to the times of his living in Chicago. The title of the book describes a great concern about his father and his genealogical roots, in particular. In this respect the author promotes a discussion about personal reflections of what happened on each stage of his life including the news brought to him in the age of 21. The uniqueness of Obamas story is depicted in the fact that he was born when racial segregation was highly represented in the American society. Living with mother and grandparents from the age of two, particularly, the author pretends to show his own view on the problem of racism and his inheritance of two different racial unities. It is so due to the fact that his father was a pure African representative and his mother was a white woman having long history grounded in the United States and in Kansas, particularly. The need for writing this kind of book is not logical, from the first sight, because when providing political campaigns probable candidates are trying to write about the successful destiny of the country with them being in office. An impetus for Obama in writing this book is concerned with the news about the death of his father in order to underline soulful feelings of the author while confronting with such spontaneous information:
At the time of his death, my father remained a myth to me, both more and less than a man. He had left Hawaii back in 1963, when I was only two years old, so that as a child I knew him only through the stories that my mother and grandparents told (Obama 5).
Moreover, Barack Obama is personally interested in the biographical data about his background, so that to explain such success in life at the time, which then appeared to be an implementation of many African American dreams about black people being in the highest echelons of power. Barack Obama is accurate in stating his position about the issue of racial framework in the United States and personal contradictory opinion toward such unfair attitude of Americans. The issues of race and inheritance seem to be of great significance in the book, so that to illustrate that there is no drawbacks in a definite race. If a man wants to survive and achieve the tops of the life, then only his will and insistence matter.
This sort of political biography impresses with the fact that it was written with a gradual succession of actions and clear plot. It in turn underlines episodes which touch upon the inner reality of a readers soul and mind in terms of the authors traits of character and his will to win. Thus, there is no problem in reading and comprehending the book. One of the observers, Erin Britton, notes: Dreams from My Father is an unforgettable read, illuminating not only Obamas personal journey of discovery but also the universal desire that people have to understand their history and what makes them into the people they are (Britton para 2).
Evaluation
When looking at the structure of the book one may take into account that the main motives while writing this book were considered with the inner desire of the author, being successful at the time, to seek for the moral values related to the family and its significance for people. The need to find out the roots of genealogical individuality is shown in a form of the deepest self-esteem and confidential attitude of Obama toward the problem. The book impresses even with the fact that such direction in writing the book did not impact negatively on the launch of official political program of Barack Obama. It one more time outlined the individuality and sincere approach of the author in the urge for making changes in the American society. For a reader the book may seem as an ordinary read so that to grab more attention on the figure of the author, but, on the other hand, such position can be changed from the first lines in the text, because the book is built in a descriptive key without any complicated structures.
All stages of Obamas life are crowned with a mere extent of success. It is particularly shown in the fact that he was a President for Harvard Law Review and joined a church in Chicago, so that to show that his moral and leadership framework is excellent. Nonetheless, the book provides not only biographical peculiarities of Obamas life and pathway toward personal triumph. It is reckoned with the personal approach of the author to write about touching themes being so familiar for Americans. In fact, it is one more new story of an American dream and its representation in practice.
Conclusion
The book Dream from My Father by Barack Obama is interesting in how the will and desires of a man related with his race and inheritance promote the further positive outcomes in life. In other words, the book under analysis shows a reader a wide scope of problematic issues having happened in the authors life, which helped then to clarify the identity of a man in comparison with others and his place on earth as well. Furthermore, such discourse is colored with the personal experience of the author, so while reading the book everyone may feel the events maintained on its pages personally only with the help of rightly-constructed understanding of environments within which the author grew up as a would-be successful politician.
Works cited
Britton, Erin. Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, A Story of Race and Inheritance.Web.
Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004.
Many authors have used racism as an important theme in American literature. Many books, poems and other literary works have attempted to portray racism in different ways. However, narratives based on personal experience seem to be one of the best ways of portraying the challenges that being black creates for Americans.
The books Dreams from my father by Barack Obama and Frederick Douglasss Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave provide some of the best examples of using personal narratives to portray the evils of racism. Although written at different historical times, they portray the challenges created by virtue of being a black person in the US.
What challenges did racism have in the social and career lives of Obama and Douglass?
Challenges in early life
From the two narratives, it is evident that both authors were able to overcome racism and its challenges to become famous people, although at different times and in different ways. On his part, Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Bailey in 1818 as a slave child in Maryland. He worked as a slave in several farms in Maryland.
He mainly received self-education through his contacts with some educated and freed blacks before escaping to New York and eventually settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Eventually, he became a popular anti-slavery and human rights activist. He used his literary skills and public speaking to mobilise people against the evil.
On his part, Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Ann Dunham of Kansas and Barack Obama Sr., a PhD student from Kenya. In his narrative, Obama portrays his first-hand experience with racism as he struggled to fit in an American society, access education, establish a law and political career to become the first African-American president of the US (Atwater 126).
According to Douglass, beatings, physical torture and other cruel practices were typical of slavery during his childhood. In fact, he says that this was &a common custom in the farms& (Douglas 942).
For instance, as a child, he wondered why his aunt was beaten mercilessly for falling in love . On the other hand, Obama did not face such challenges, but bullying in school and neighbourhood, especially by white children and neighbours, was common.
Education
According to the two narratives, the challenge of being black comes early in life. During his childhood, Frederick Douglas remained enslaved in the farms. While white children were in good schools, Douglass and other black children had to work on the farms. The white farmers took the advantage opportunity of making it hard for slave children to access education.
This made the blacks more and more ignorant. White children would be sent to the best schools to improve their future careers. According to the narrative, it was a custom for the white farmers to keep their slaves ignorant in order to perpetuate slavery. Douglas quotes Master Hugh & education can spoil the best nigger (slave) in the world& (Douglass 46).
As a child, Douglas did not receive the right education. Instead, he had to educate himself. This is comparably different from the case of Barack Obama. During Douglasss era, slavery had not been abolished. In addition, education was yet to be made compulsory. Education was for the whites, wealthy people and freed blacks.
On the other hand, Obama did not receive such challenges because education was a basic right during his childhood and slavery had long been abolished. Nevertheless, Obamas narrative shows some evidence of similarly with Douglasss experience.
For instance, Obama lived among the blacks as a child, attending schools that were mainly for blacks and poor people. As such, the education was not as good as the one offered to the children of the whites and wealthy people (Atwater 124).
Parenting and identity
Challenges in parenting and search for personal identity also emerge as some major themes in the two books. For instance, Douglass did not know his father, but it was rumoured that he was the son of his white master. According to Douglass, slave children hardly knew their origins, dates of birth and relatives because they were normally separated from their relatives early in life.
For instance, the white farmer separated the child (Douglass) from the mother probably to avoid any disclosure of the fact that Douglass was his biological child. Like other black slaves, Douglass did not know his origins, the exact date of birth or his parents.
This was a form of psychological challenge to the black communities. On the other hand, Obama experienced psychological torture trying to know his father. He was separated from his father after the parents divorced and the father returned to his native Kenya. His mother had little knowledge of his fathers origins and relatives, yet the boy wanted to know his real identity.
Challenges in adulthood and career development
In their youth and adult lives, both Obama and Frederick provide adequate evidence of the challenges that their skin colour created. In addition, they describe the limitations that racism had on career development. For instance, the lack of proper education in childhood, the quest for self-education and the need to escape from the farms were major challenges in Douglasss life.
Although Douglass had the chance to escape from the farm, he had to wait for years because education was an important tool for the escaping slaves (Miller 54). The process of self-education was obviously long, which delayed his escape and made him a slave for a long time. Even after planning to escape, Douglass had to meet strict terms and conditions for leaving the farm.
For instance, he says that he had to get only two dollars per week, work with calking tools and miss a number of other privileges. In addition, even after leaving the farm, he had to live like a fugitive slave. To buy his freedom, Douglass had to make endearing friendships, tour Europe and risk his life as an organizer of anti-slavery movements (Miller 73).
On his part, Barack Obama faced problems as he sought to establish his career as a lawyer, educator and politician. First, his life as a youth and early adult was almost destroyed by the &party lifestyle of drugs and alcohol& (Obama 93).
According to his narrative, most victims of drugs, alcohol and tobacco were the blacks and poor youths who were mainly unemployed, barely educated and hopeless (Obama 94). Like Douglas, getting education did not mean that Obama was free from the challenges of racism. For example, Obama had to face the negative perception of a black leader in his campaigns for election as the president of Harvard law review.
Conclusion
From this analysis, it is evident that racism has been portrayed as the main theme in the two books. Douglasss story revolves around his life from slavery in Maryland to a pioneer activist, author and political leader. Similarly, Obamas book shows his experience with racism as he struggles to fit in a society that has little regards for the blacks.
Works Cited
Atwater, Deborah F. Senator Barack Obama: The Rhetoric of Hope and the American Dream. Journal of Black Studies 38.2 (2007): 121-29.
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. New York: Crown Publishing Inc, 1990. Print.
Miller, James A. Frederick Douglass 1818-1895 The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Boston: Houghton Mifflin 1998. Print
Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father. New York: Random House, 2004. Print
In the book Dream from My Father by President Barack Obama, the story begins in New York where he has just received the news of his fathers death through a tragic road accident (Obama 5). Obama can only relate to his father as a myth rather being a man and the news brings back several memories as he tries retracing his familys unusual history. The history includes his mothers family migration from Kansas to the Hawaiian islands and the love that her mother found with a Kenyan student, nurtured by youthful innocence resulting into something more (Obama 6). The story also incorporates his fathers later departure when Obama was just two years of age as the effects of power and race reassert themselves as well as Obamas own awakening as concerns doubts and fears that were existent within himself (Obama 7).
He makes an effort to work to turn back the ever-increasing despair of the inner city against the backdrop of racial and political conflict (Obama 12). Obamas story blends together with the individuals he works with while in Chicago as he gains knowledge concerning the necessity of healing old wounds, the value of community as well as the possibility of faith even amidst adversity (Obama 13). He finally decides to go to Kenya and see those he had never gotten a chance to meet (Obama 27). He also realizes that he is innately bound to sisters and brothers living an ocean away and that he can finally reconcile his divided inheritance by embracing their similar struggles (Obama 44).
Essay
Stanley Ann Dunham
Stanley Ann Dunham was the mother of President Barack Obama and was also an American anthropologist in addition to being a left-wing social activist (Obama 45). She was born in Kansas to Madelyn and Stanley Dunham and graduated in 1960 (Obama 45). Her family then moved to Hawaii. Shortly, she began engaging in inter-racial relationships in an effort to get back on the community. She later met Barack Obama Senior who hailed from Kenya, in her Russian language class (Obama 46). They fell in love, married when she was just 18 years of age and Barack Obama Jr. was born in 1961. Barack Obama Sr. returned to Kenya on obtaining a Masters Degree and attained a position within the Kenyan government. Unfortunately, he died in a car accident in 1982 (Obama 47). Maya, Obamas half sister was to be born later on and they moved back to Hawaii.
According to Barack Obama, his mother was the dominant figure in his formative years and helped shape his development during his early years (Obama 47). Obama continues to state that the values that his mother taught him continue to be his touchstone when it comes to how he goes about the world of politics (Obama 48). Stanley Ann Dunham had high expectations as far as her children were concerned. In his book, Obama describes her as a mother who worked, a single teenage mother who not only went to school but also raised her children at the same time (Obama 52). He also refers to his mother as a single constant in his life. In one of his paragraphs, he writes, I know that she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known, and that what is best in me I owe to her (Obama 47).
Growing up in a part of the world where racial discrimination and social conflict was dominant was hard for young children especially those of minority groups. With this in mind, Obamas mother would wake him up early in order to give him extra lessons while residing in Indonesia, so as to ensure that he was secure as far as his racial identity was concerned (Obama 48). In this book, he comments as concerns the issue of race, I ceased to advertise my mothers race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so, I was ingratiating myself to whites (Obama xv). Being a cultural anthropologist, she played a vital role in the development of Obama in that he grew up appreciating the fact that he was different and at the same time having the belief that even though he was different, he could make a difference in this world (Obama 51). Her mother was also to shape the direction in which he would take as concerns religion. Despite not being raised in a religious background, Ann was in a number of ways considered the most spiritually awakened individuals that Obama has ever known (Obama 61). As concerns his own belief in connection with his religious upbringing of his parents, despite his father being from a village which was dominated by Muslims, Obama considers himself as always having been a Christian since he was raised by his Christian mother who was from Kansas (Obama 66).
Auma
Auma is President Obamas African half sister and in this book, her story creates one of the most interesting chapters as far as the author and other individuals are concerned. Even though Obama did not spend most of his time with Auma during his developing years, she played a key role in enlightening him concerning his father. The story begins with Aumas 10-day visit to Chicago and a conversation is carried out concerning their father, one that would run deep into the wee hours of the night (Obama 218). Obama always refers to his father as the Old Man and this can be attributed to the fact that he lacked personal knowledge of his father. In the course of conversing, Auma describes their fathers personality, identity as well as character for instance the fact that their father was a brilliant young graduate from the University of Hawaii (Obama 220).
However, it was also revealed to Obama that their father, Barack Obama Sr. had his flaws as well and they included being somewhat abusive towards his family and other individuals, controlling, at times drunk and having a tempter (Obama 221). This is what finally led to his downfall as a Kenya bureaucrat. Obama had tried to uphold his father as a noble and great hero, only for him to realize the reality that Obama Sr. had plenty of demons that destroyed his charismatic persona (Obama 222). In relation to this, he wrote, The night wore on; I tried to regain my balance, sensing that there was little satisfaction to be had from my new found liberation&&Who might protect me from doubt or warn me against all the traps that seem laid&&&The fantasy of my father had at least kept me from despair. Now he was dead, truly. He could no longer tell me how to live (Obama 220).
Nairobi
In his quest to find out more about his heritage, President Obama traveled to Kenya and discovered the sense of community and warmth amongst Kenyans (Obama 302). While visiting Nairobis Kibera slums, he got a better grasp of common mans woes as compared to his counterparts back in the US. He narrates his encounter with poverty in his book, Dreams from My Father. He recalls his very first visit to Kenya way back in 1987 where he had to spend a night on a couch in the living room of his half-sister, Auma (Obama 307). Obama also recalls in his autobiography taking most of his meals downtown Nairobi in tiny hotels while he stayed there for a month (Obama 307). While traveling to Kogelo, where his origins are from, he went by train and matatu and he notes that he was squeezed in the 12-sitter matatu where passengers sat facing each other carrying chicken and collard greens (Obama 308).
While still in Nairobi, he learned that he belongs to a certain Kenyan tribe by the name of Luo and continued to learn more about the tribe, its origins and cultural practices (Obama 321). He expresses his feelings by saying, Without power for the group, a group larger, even than an extended family, our success always threatened to leave others behind&&.it was as if we Auma, Roy, Bernard, and I were all making it up as we went along. As if the map that might have once measured the direction and force of our life, the code that would unlock our blessings, had been lost long ago, buried with the ancestors beneath a silent earth (Obama 331). His main objective of visiting Nairobi on his way to Kogelo where his father, Barack Obama Sr. was born, was to get a first-hand experience of poverty raging within most regions of Kenya (Obama 323). Obama was willing to forego the luxurious lifestyle that he had become used to and humble himself enough to live in the not-so-conducive environment for one month. In his book, he mentions how his half-sister Auma tried to find ways of fulfilling her familys expectations as well as how his half-big brother, Bernard struggled to find employment (328). He quotes, In Kenya&&&a commitment to black empowerment couldnt help find Bernard a job. A faith in participatory democracy couldnt buy Jane a new set of sheets. For the first time in my life, I found myself thinking deeply about money: my own lack of it&&&&&.I could see Auma [sister] now making as she tried, in her own way, to fulfil the familys expectations&. (Obama 329).
Conclusion
Dream from My Father is a book written reflecting President Obamas superior language skills with an honest description.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. Three Rivers Press, 1995. 2004. pp. 5 438.
Recently, the United States Congress passed the health care reform bill, popularly known as Obamas health care bill, the bill that President Obama signed into law days some days later. Indeed, this is one major milestone towards reforming America pending the fact that approximately 48 million Americans were either under covered or had no healthcare insurance. Nevertheless, the question that stands tall is what the bill contains. It is imperative to note that the passage of the bill involved wrangling from what appeared as proposition and opposition sides of the Health Care Reform bill. Many Republican Congress representatives opposed the bill saying that it would babysit the less industrious Americans on top of adding more taxes. As for my case, I will make some slight amendments, which I perceive are very necessary to all Americans. The paper summarizes the most important provisions of Obamas Health Care Program; provisions that will steer changes in the healthcare sector over the next ten years; provisions that will see all Americans access affordable and quality healthcare services. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest some alterations within the provisions of the bill, which will occur in five major phases namely changes happening in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018 (Smith, p.1).
2010 Changes
In 2010, Obamas Health Care bill proposes an insurance cover to all persons under the age of 26. These persons, considered children, will receive healthcare services under the insurance plans of their parents. Additionally, any health insurance company that fails to cover children will be subject to interdiction. All medical recipients will receive a sum of $250 to compensate the doughnut hole until 2020. The provisions also propose medical coverage for riskier health insurance pools to all adults already covered, something that will continue until the new healthcare exchanges come into effect fully. Furthermore, there will be no more yearly and lifetime remittances. Another provision bound to take place in 2010 is the restructuring of health insurance plans to offer precautionary services at no extra costs. Additionally, retired Americans aged 55 and 64 will receive additional health benefits on top of those provided by their respective health insurance companies from a transitory reinsurance plan. Perhaps to make some small adjustments to the bill, I propose to create a health care plan for expectant mothers so that they can receive prenatal and antenatal services for free (Health Care Reform, pp. 1-10).
2011 Changes
The Obamas Health Care bill proposes the establishment of a new health insurance plan, Medicare, which will offer wellness stopovers at no costs for the whole year, and other preventive services devoid of out of pocket costs. Interestingly, medical recipients operating under schemes such as Drug and Medicare will buy drugs at half the normal price instantaneously. Although the help many Americans spend less, I propose a price cut of 25 per cent to help sustain pharmaceutical companies. I also propose a tax rise of 5 per cent to replace the 20 per cent as stated in the bill. At least this will relieve the already burdened Americans. I also propose a new model to be included in the bill, small business program-tax-free and with no additional administrative costs, which will take the place of a cafeteria plan.
2013 Changes
No employers will pay the current tax deductions that subsidize the cost of drugs. Merchants vending medical devices will also pay a 2.9 per cent excise tax on their medical equipment except for glasses, hearing aids and other minor types of equipment. The bill also outlines an extra 0.09 per cent rise in hospital insurance tax to individuals or families earning $200, 000 and $250,000 respectively. I support this provision because hospitals would be in a position to finance their services and pay doctors. I also propose that all administrative costs for all insurance companies to be uniform and t insurance companies exchange ideas and data. I propose that the minimum threshold for claiming presumptions should apply to all medical recipients and not only persons aged 65 and above.
2014 Changes
In 2014, it will be compulsory for every American to have health insurance coverage; otherwise, they risk a government fine that increases from ninety-five dollars in 2010 to three hundred and twenty-five dollars the following year to six hundred and ninety-five dollars in 2016. These fines will mostly affect individuals and families where families will have to pay an additional cap of $2,250 in addition to the fine, plus extra fines for every child equivalent to half the fine incurred by the adult. Small firms must cover all their working force otherwise; they risk a fine of between two thousand and three thousand dollars for every uninsured worker. However, I do not think whether it is good to find people who wont have insurance premiums by 2020. I believe people have the right to choose what they want and that it would be unconstitutional if the government forces them. Additionally, employers who fail to ensure employers meet stiffer penalties. However, I propose the scrapping of the fine to motivate employers to continue offering health insurance programs to their employees. Nevertheless, I am for the idea that all insurance companies have uniform health care charges irrespective of health complications, gender and other social differences.
2018 Changes
There is not much to amend in 2018 as the bill proposes a paramount provision of funding health care services called Cadillac. Fundamentally, this is a new scheme of taxing all working Americans if they consume healthcare costs amounting to over $10,200 and $27,500 for individuals and families respectively (Cheryl, p.1). At least, this will bring equality.
Conclusion
The bill provides an elusive method of ensuring every American, rich or poor, access affordable and quality health care amid some small adjustments. Since both Republicans and Democrats agree that America needs an overhaul in the healthcare sector, I believe these adjustments will make it acceptable by all members across the political divide. Experts project that by the year 2020, every American will be under a health insurance plan; something that 48 million Americans have waited for a long time.
Works Cited
Cheryl, Philips. Health care bill summary: What should you expect after the Obama Signs bill into law? 2010. Web.
In the book Dream from My Father by President Barack Obama, the story begins in New York where he has just received the news of his fathers death through a tragic road accident (Obama 5). Obama can only relate to his father as a myth rather being a man and the news brings back several memories as he tries retracing his familys unusual history. The history includes his mothers family migration from Kansas to the Hawaiian islands and the love that her mother found with a Kenyan student, nurtured by youthful innocence resulting into something more (Obama 6). The story also incorporates his fathers later departure when Obama was just two years of age as the effects of power and race reassert themselves as well as Obamas own awakening as concerns doubts and fears that were existent within himself (Obama 7).
He makes an effort to work to turn back the ever-increasing despair of the inner city against the backdrop of racial and political conflict (Obama 12). Obamas story blends together with the individuals he works with while in Chicago as he gains knowledge concerning the necessity of healing old wounds, the value of community as well as the possibility of faith even amidst adversity (Obama 13). He finally decides to go to Kenya and see those he had never gotten a chance to meet (Obama 27). He also realizes that he is innately bound to sisters and brothers living an ocean away and that he can finally reconcile his divided inheritance by embracing their similar struggles (Obama 44).
Essay
Stanley Ann Dunham
Stanley Ann Dunham was the mother of President Barack Obama and was also an American anthropologist in addition to being a left-wing social activist (Obama 45). She was born in Kansas to Madelyn and Stanley Dunham and graduated in 1960 (Obama 45). Her family then moved to Hawaii. Shortly, she began engaging in inter-racial relationships in an effort to get back on the community. She later met Barack Obama Senior who hailed from Kenya, in her Russian language class (Obama 46). They fell in love, married when she was just 18 years of age and Barack Obama Jr. was born in 1961. Barack Obama Sr. returned to Kenya on obtaining a Masters Degree and attained a position within the Kenyan government. Unfortunately, he died in a car accident in 1982 (Obama 47). Maya, Obamas half sister was to be born later on and they moved back to Hawaii.
According to Barack Obama, his mother was the dominant figure in his formative years and helped shape his development during his early years (Obama 47). Obama continues to state that the values that his mother taught him continue to be his touchstone when it comes to how he goes about the world of politics (Obama 48). Stanley Ann Dunham had high expectations as far as her children were concerned. In his book, Obama describes her as a mother who worked, a single teenage mother who not only went to school but also raised her children at the same time (Obama 52). He also refers to his mother as a single constant in his life. In one of his paragraphs, he writes, I know that she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known, and that what is best in me I owe to her (Obama 47).
Growing up in a part of the world where racial discrimination and social conflict was dominant was hard for young children especially those of minority groups. With this in mind, Obamas mother would wake him up early in order to give him extra lessons while residing in Indonesia, so as to ensure that he was secure as far as his racial identity was concerned (Obama 48). In this book, he comments as concerns the issue of race, I ceased to advertise my mothers race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so, I was ingratiating myself to whites (Obama xv). Being a cultural anthropologist, she played a vital role in the development of Obama in that he grew up appreciating the fact that he was different and at the same time having the belief that even though he was different, he could make a difference in this world (Obama 51). Her mother was also to shape the direction in which he would take as concerns religion. Despite not being raised in a religious background, Ann was in a number of ways considered the most spiritually awakened individuals that Obama has ever known (Obama 61). As concerns his own belief in connection with his religious upbringing of his parents, despite his father being from a village which was dominated by Muslims, Obama considers himself as always having been a Christian since he was raised by his Christian mother who was from Kansas (Obama 66).
Auma
Auma is President Obamas African half sister and in this book, her story creates one of the most interesting chapters as far as the author and other individuals are concerned. Even though Obama did not spend most of his time with Auma during his developing years, she played a key role in enlightening him concerning his father. The story begins with Aumas 10-day visit to Chicago and a conversation is carried out concerning their father, one that would run deep into the wee hours of the night (Obama 218). Obama always refers to his father as the Old Man and this can be attributed to the fact that he lacked personal knowledge of his father. In the course of conversing, Auma describes their fathers personality, identity as well as character for instance the fact that their father was a brilliant young graduate from the University of Hawaii (Obama 220).
However, it was also revealed to Obama that their father, Barack Obama Sr. had his flaws as well and they included being somewhat abusive towards his family and other individuals, controlling, at times drunk and having a tempter (Obama 221). This is what finally led to his downfall as a Kenya bureaucrat. Obama had tried to uphold his father as a noble and great hero, only for him to realize the reality that Obama Sr. had plenty of demons that destroyed his charismatic persona (Obama 222). In relation to this, he wrote, The night wore on; I tried to regain my balance, sensing that there was little satisfaction to be had from my new found liberation&&Who might protect me from doubt or warn me against all the traps that seem laid&&&The fantasy of my father had at least kept me from despair. Now he was dead, truly. He could no longer tell me how to live (Obama 220).
Nairobi
In his quest to find out more about his heritage, President Obama traveled to Kenya and discovered the sense of community and warmth amongst Kenyans (Obama 302). While visiting Nairobis Kibera slums, he got a better grasp of common mans woes as compared to his counterparts back in the US. He narrates his encounter with poverty in his book, Dreams from My Father. He recalls his very first visit to Kenya way back in 1987 where he had to spend a night on a couch in the living room of his half-sister, Auma (Obama 307). Obama also recalls in his autobiography taking most of his meals downtown Nairobi in tiny hotels while he stayed there for a month (Obama 307). While traveling to Kogelo, where his origins are from, he went by train and matatu and he notes that he was squeezed in the 12-sitter matatu where passengers sat facing each other carrying chicken and collard greens (Obama 308).
While still in Nairobi, he learned that he belongs to a certain Kenyan tribe by the name of Luo and continued to learn more about the tribe, its origins and cultural practices (Obama 321). He expresses his feelings by saying, Without power for the group, a group larger, even than an extended family, our success always threatened to leave others behind&&.it was as if we Auma, Roy, Bernard, and I were all making it up as we went along. As if the map that might have once measured the direction and force of our life, the code that would unlock our blessings, had been lost long ago, buried with the ancestors beneath a silent earth (Obama 331). His main objective of visiting Nairobi on his way to Kogelo where his father, Barack Obama Sr. was born, was to get a first-hand experience of poverty raging within most regions of Kenya (Obama 323). Obama was willing to forego the luxurious lifestyle that he had become used to and humble himself enough to live in the not-so-conducive environment for one month. In his book, he mentions how his half-sister Auma tried to find ways of fulfilling her familys expectations as well as how his half-big brother, Bernard struggled to find employment (328). He quotes, In Kenya&&&a commitment to black empowerment couldnt help find Bernard a job. A faith in participatory democracy couldnt buy Jane a new set of sheets. For the first time in my life, I found myself thinking deeply about money: my own lack of it&&&&&.I could see Auma [sister] now making as she tried, in her own way, to fulfil the familys expectations&. (Obama 329).
Conclusion
Dream from My Father is a book written reflecting President Obamas superior language skills with an honest description.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. Three Rivers Press, 1995. 2004. pp. 5 438.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between Obama and the congress over the health care plan. The paper also seeks to explore the tools at Obama disposal against the congress and how the institutional structure might affect his decisions. The role of public opinion and bipartisan politics is also explored in my discussion. Obamas health care reform plan has received mixed reaction from different quotas drawing sharp criticism from his opponents. This is likely to derail the reform process hence dealing a severe blow to the American taxpayers. Most people agree that the current health care system requires urgent reform but how to change the system is where the problem lies. The current debate is threatening to split the congress a situation that might affect the effectiveness of future bills. As this happens most of Americans continue to suffer as they are unable to service their basic health care needs. This paper therefore looks on how president Obama is effectively dealing with the United States congress regarding the health care policy.
The extent of the health care problem
It is estimated that 46 million Americans remain uninsured while millions of others are underinsured. Sheldon (2009) laments that the situation is so bad that health care has become a privilege rather than a right for many citizens. He adds that the United States is the only industrial power that has been unable to guarantee health care for its citizens. Congressmen on coming to office enjoy varied proposition of health care benefits from which to choose including insurance of their children and spouses. 75% of their premiums are paid by the taxpayer while the tax payer goes through enormous preconditions sometimes even being denied cover as a result. President Obama has recently unleashed sharp attacks on the health insurance industry accusing them of attempting to block health care reforms efforts by using deceptive advertisements to mislead the Americans. The move has rubbed insurers the wrong way almost ending the relationship that started from the time Obama came to power. The industrial players have always supported the president in major bills, according to Amst (2009). Specialists have predicted that premiums would rise sharply if the finance bill was effected.
The congress has taken a hard-line stance along the insurers hence putting them at loggerheads with the president. The cost of health has been rising steadily making it out of reach of low and moderate income earners. Obama has conspicuously rallied behind the congress to provide $250 extra payments to 57 million seniors, veterans and people with disabilities from next year. This is equivalent of 2% of retiree social security benefits (Williamson & Pulizzi, 2009). The payment is expected to act as an economic stimulus package in order to offset the rising effects of unemployment in the country. The mainly republican opponents feel that the $13 billion stimulus package will escalate the federal deficit.
What tools does the president have at his disposal to get what he wants?
As noted by Janes (2009) the main challenge for Obama is to switch from campaign mode to actual governance. To counter his mounting challenges within the congress, Obama has chosen to stick to the same strategies that took him to power. Using the power of the media, he is appealing to the voters to maintain his popularity and to recruit grass support for his policies. The effects of his strategy can be felt through out the media, the blogs, television and the social networking sites like twitter and face book. In connection to this, Save Flexible spending Plan alongside Save for Food and Commercial Workers have launched a fierce advertisement campaign asking the congress to back Obama against the increase of tax on middle class Americans and also against the use o FSAs in health care reform (Congress urged to support President Obamas pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans, n.d.).
In another departure from the traditional practices, the white house is also hosting online town hall meetings where Obama takes questions from the participants. The result is a successful sustenance of his popularity amidst rising political turmoil. He seems to be sending a message across, that the country is being faced with a host of challenges that need to be amicably addressed at once. The president has been trying to vouch for bipartisanship between the republican and the democrats countrywide. These however dont seem to read things from the same script even with his democrats majority in the house. Consensus thus seems far fetched because both parties seem to have adopted divergent views even within their ranks.
The presidents greatest advantage emanates from his greater popularity than the congress, a standing he intends to use to pressurize the law makers. He also adopted an approach of reaching out to his friends and opponents to work towards a common purpose or to open out to dialogue (Janes, 2009). Obama has even gone as far as using his global popularity to seek consolidate support towards his courses a move that has seen him gain more post election goodwill than any other American presidents in the recent times. These approaches have so far worked to his great advantage and it remains to be seen whether the congress will be swayed by them to rally their support behind him. However at the moment, the public policy towards health carer remains troubling as Rouse (1997) points out.
Other tools at the presidents disposal include making pledges to congressmen to initiate development projects in their states or districts. He can also promise to campaign for them during election time which has huge potentials to influence their decision making processes. Another overt weapon that the president possesses is the power to mobilize the country on behalf of ones agenda or against it. Popular presidents like Obama have the power to pull out huge public support either for or against an opponent. The president also commands more media attention than any other public figure which gives him a huge political clout in influencing the public opinion especially if the media adore him.
Yet another available asset is the power to raise more funds than other poetical figures on behalf of his supporters which gives him an upper hand in influencing the decisions of the congressmen. The power to reward supporters with political appointments gives the president advantage over his opponents in that he can promise favors in appointments to the friends or even relatives of those who support him. The ability to appeal to members of congress to exercise their sense of duty and patriotism to United States can not be down played as a powerful tool in exercising his duties and responsibilities. The hospitality and the ambience of the white house have also been effective in influencing the decision of the congressmen and other political figures in the country. The president sometimes hosts politicians to dinners and lunches at the white house. These treats are often attended by the mighty figures including powerful politicians and veteran law makers which draw public attention to individuals invited.
What procedures or institutional structures affect how Congress reacts to the president?
Before a bill becomes law, it must first receive presidential accent after the congress has passed it. However the president has power to veto it meaning that it wont be enacted at all. The ultimate catch however lies in the fact that congress has power to override it. This means that the president must scrutinize the bill clearly and must widely consult in cases where he feels that the bill doesnt represent the best interest of the citizens. This is to avoid his decisions being overridden by the congress and at the same time to exercise responsibility in leadership. The power to override presidential decisions ensures that the president does not overstep his mandate by declining bills that would be beneficial to the good of the citizens. The institutional structure in place ensures that the president must first convince the congress in order to implement his policies. That means that he can not impose his decisions on the congress.
The presidents team liaises with members of both chambers and contributes in shaping the direction of legislations as it moves through the congress (Getting the Presidents Signature on a Congressional Bill, n.d.). The white house takes close attention to important legislations and may influence them if it has the majority representation in one of the two chambers. The situation becomes tricky if the opposition has the majority in any of the chambers as it takes intensive lobbying in order to change any legislation. The president in such circumstances has to convince a majority of the congress to rally their support behind him.
If the president doesnt like a bill and it exceeds 10 days prior to its presentation for signing, it automatically becomes law as long as the congress is on session. As I mentioned earlier the president has constitutional power to block a piece of legislation even after it passes all the stages of legislation. This is what I called the veto power. He can choose to decline the signing of the bill and send it back to the congress for amending with a note explaining the reason for his refusal. This method is referred to as the return vote. Another type of veto power is the pocket veto where he neither vetoes nor signs a bill. If the congress adjourns or goes into recess before the lapse of the 10 days while he is in its possession, the bill doesnt become law.
How does partisan politics affect this policy process?
The last two decades have witnessed the collapse of bipartisan consensus. This threatens to precipitate the great achievements that were made in the past when there was consensus in the congress. Partisan polarization has soared up over the last two decades between democrats and their Republican counterparts reaching levels lastly seen in the 1920s (McCarty, 2009). With polarized congress, it makes it very hard to build legislative coalitions which cause bottlenecks in the legislative processes. For example, the current debate on health reforms has elicited mixed reactions among the congressmen leaving them sharply divided over the issue. It also has a conservative effect in economic and social policy. Parties in this sense tend to stick to their ideologies and protecting their status quo which hinders change in the society. It becomes increasingly difficult to respond to economic shocks in such a country.
Polarization also hampers the efficient functioning of the administration and the judiciary. Due to the resultant wrangles between the parties the administration of state is affected while the judiciary sometimes succumbs to partisan forces. As a result the executive and judges tend to act on their own will without legislative consent. It is also manifested in increasing levels of contention related to presidential nominations, executive and judicial positions. It is largely to blame for the bloated size of the American bureaucracy and the judiciary which hinders effectiveness.
What role does the public and public opinion play in this process?
The US and the public opinion play a key role in state legislation and politicians are easily swayed by the influence. For example, ignorance of the public opinion led to the waning of popularity of President Bush. In total disregard of the peoples opinion, he entered into war with Iraq and Afghanistan which was against the will of the Americans. This planted the seed for the defeat of the Republicans. Politicians therefore try to do as much as they can to win the public opinion in their support. This is the reason why Obama is bent to use all means at his disposal to sway the opinion onto his side. Media is instrumental in facilitating the formation of peoples opinion and Obama seems aware of that. So it goes without saying that his current string of media engagement is an attempt to woe the public opinion onto his side. He is fully aware that it is the same tool that helped him into power and he will stop at nothing to lure the public opinion.
Obamas successes in the health care plan
His greatest success in the health care reform has been his ability to marshal the support of the media and activists alike in his health care campaign. Save Flexible spending Plan alongside Save for Food and Commercial Workers have rallied their campaigns behind him using paid up advertisement to woe the congressmen to support the Obamas plan. His media campaign using broadcast media and social networking sites has also successfully aided him in creating awareness about his campaign across the country. These seem to be bearing fruits however modest they seem to be. In a key note address to the joint session of the congress, he successfully outlined his major goals of the reform and also presented a strong case in favour of control of health care spending in order to control the huge federal budget deficit. He also managed to explain how the reform would help the insured (Oberlander, 2009). He has also been able to co-opt the health care industry and thereby minimizing its opposition to reform besides successfully coordinating the democratic chairs of the three health care committees and expediting the process so that the committees have already approved the health care reform bills.
Obamas failures in the health care plan
His major failure was the continued dip in public approval while the public concerns over the plan increased dramatically. His administration seems to have lost control of the public debate despite their determined efforts and heavy resource outlay incurred. Yet again the president has failed to strike bipartisan consensus to pass the bill leave alone uniting his congressmen in his own democratic backyard. This could become a great impediment to his plan. He has also failed to come up with a politically feasible way to fund the expanded federal budget as a result of the plan.
Conclusion
The current debate presents make break situation for the Obama administration. How he handles it will either way affect his standing among the American citizens. The strongest leaders of the world have emerged from a crisis and this is not a lesser one. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to stand the current storm and capture the mood of the American people. The president has several tools at his disposal to influence the congress onto his side but these can also be counterproductive and lead to self destruction. What matters now is getting the public opinion right either by influencing it to his side or abiding by it. The citizens are waiting for a solution to their current predicament and the rising bipartisan politics being played out is not helping them out. Responsible leadership not guided by selfish interest and flashing of the political egos must be displayed.
Works Cited
Arnst, Cathy. Obama Attacks Health Insurance Industry. 2009. Web.
Congress urged to support President Obamas pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans. 2009. Web.
Getting the Presidents Signature on a Congressional Bill. 2009. Web.
Barack Obama in his Speech on Race begins at a time when the American Constitution was being drawn. He says that the document although signed by great men of the nation remained unfinished as it was tainted by slavery, which divided the colonies. The founders had allowed slave trade and left the final decisions to abolish it to their future generations. Although the Constitution promised its people justice, equality and liberty, it has never been able to rid the slaves off their bondage and provide the people of every race and color their privileges and equal rights as the citizens of America. What he calls as legalized discrimination prevented the black people from owning property, attending schools with the white, owning businesses and getting proper jobs. They could not accumulate enough wealth for the future generations and thus, a huge income and wealth gap is evident between the black and white. They received very little economic opportunities and their frustration from being unable to provide for the family, wore down the black families forcing them into poverty. Basic services, like police protection, parks and community centers, are absent in most of the modern black neighborhoods. Obama asks the people not to accept politics, which creates cynicism, conflicts and division among the people, but to remember that people of every creed and color had fought and bleed together to uphold the same flag. In order to face the challenges present today, like unemployment and health issues, America has to come together. Even if its people do not look alike, they want the same future for their coming generations.
Main body
Barack Obama believes that the issue of race cannot be ignored and people need to come together to solve challenges of education, healthcare and employment. He says that people need to address the accounts of racial injustice which the country has faced and remind themselves that the reason the numerous disparities exist within the African American communities is mainly due to the inequalities that had taken place in their earlier generations caused by the cruel era of slavery and the Jim Crow Laws, which were a number of strict anti-Black laws. Black and white children had to attend the segregated schools and often the black schools were the inferior ones. Even after the Brown v. Board of Education declared that the laws forcing separation of schools for white and black students refused the black children their equal educational opportunities, the problem hasnt still been fixed. This explains the gap that still prevails between them.
Barack Obamas mother is a white woman from Kansas and father was a black man from Kenya, but his white grandparents helped raise him. His grandfather survived the Great Depression and had served World War II and his grandmother served at Fort Leavenworth on the bomber assembly line. He had been educated in Americas best schools, including Harvard and Columbia Law School, and even lived in some of the poor countries of the world, like Indonesia. His wife, Michelle, is also a black American. He says that she has inherited the blood of slaves, which they have proudly passed on to their two daughters. He has many relatives of different race and color scattered over three continents and believes that America is indeed united as one.
Barack Obama also addresses the issue of enormous segregation in the religious beliefs in America. He says that the controversial remarks given by Reverend Jeremiah Wright only reminds him of the obvious truth that Sunday mornings are the most segregated time for the Americans. This is the time when most Americans go to the churches to hear sermons. The main reason Sunday mornings have been called segregated is that only around 7% of the churches in America are racially unbiased. Religious ignorance and superstitions has made them avoid logic and science fueling both racism and isolation among the people.
Conclusion
In his speech, Barack Obama also refers to Ashley Baia who is a 23 years old white woman and worked on the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign. When Ashley asked the old black man his reason for supporting their campaign, he replied by saying Im here because of Ashley. (Obama, 9) This meant that he supported the campaign and was present there not just, because a single person or a single candidate inspired him, even though it was part of the reason, but because he was impressed by the dedication of the supporters that had eliminated all sorts of social barriers. At that time the single instance of respect and gratitude that was present between Ashley and the old man provided a beginning for equality and opportunity for all, white and blacks alike, in America. The isolation among the people of America can finally end only if everyone prays and works together for a better future. Justice and peace can only be achieved if people join their hands together and eliminate the causes that divide them and pave a bright future for them.
Never in the history of the American Presidency has the inauguration of a new President evoked such a level of expectation since the days of Abraham Lincoln or John F Kennedy. The anointment of Barack Obama as the first African American President of the United States has signaled to the world that American democracy has finally matured and that it is truly the land of opportunity where dreams can come true. However, no President since Roosevelt has had to face problems of such gigantic proportions as Barack Obama now faces. Amidst a global meltdown triggered by the near-collapse of the American economy, a war machine overstretched across the world bled by two vexing theatres in Iraq and Afghanistan and an unflattering global image, Obama has very little time to put into place corrective measures. People usually give the new President the first 100 days in office to get to the grips of the job that he has inherited. In Obamas case, he had to hit the ground running. This essay focuses on how Obama has fared till now.
Despite the stupendous challenges, Obama has performed remarkably well in such a short time. This has been made possible because of adequate homework and analysis having been carried out during the campaign trail and crystallizing a certain way ahead during that period. Obama had promised that he would focus on Afghanistan and reduce troops in Iraq, which he considers to be an American folly inherited from George W Bush. He has made good these promises by ordering an additional 30,000 troops into Afghanistan and agreeing to a drawdown in Iraq. Some critics say that this measure is very similar to the Bush policies. The fact is that corrective measures on the war front would have to be put into place gradually. After all, no leader can precipitously pull out of a quagmire which would only lead to more disaster. In that Obama has displayed admirable sagacity. On the direction of foreign policy, the Obama administration has restored the system to its rightful owners the State department that had been hijacked by the Defense Department under Rumsfeld and Cheney who de facto ran the American Foreign policy under Bush with disastrous results.
It is on the economy that Obama has faced numerous criticisms both from the left and right sides of the political spectrum. The $ 787 billion stimulus plan is seen by many as too much bail out and very little start up. The criticism is unwarranted. After all, permitting the demise of General Motors, Citibank, and other American institutions on whom thousands of American jobs depend would be foolhardy and poor economics. Obama has ensured that institutions handed the bailouts tighten their belts and cut down on extravagant salaries, a measure that is being applauded by everyone. To his credit, he has endeavored to inculcate a politics of consensus to change the rules on the Beltway. He has also been unusually honest in admitting to his mistakes in choosing high officials, a quality unseen on Capitol Hill for many a decade. Most importantly, Obama inspires hope and is seen as complying with the promises that he made while on the campaign trail. By all yardsticks, given the short time elapsed, Obama is doing pretty well, and Yes! He Can and Will Deliver.
Health care in the United States has been on the fore front of reforms for many decades in the past. It has, in most cases, been highlighted during major political times and a number of changes made over the time period. In his presidential campaign, President Barrack Obama made a promise to ensure a comprehensive reform in the health care sector which was signed in the year 2010. This paper seeks to discuss the documentary, Obamas ordeal. The paper will look into the content of the documentary to identify aspects which are surprising, disappointing and those that are pleasing.
Surprising aspects
The end of the presidential race that saw President Barrack Obama into the white house portrayed him as a populist and left him admired among people, not only in the United States but across the globe. Having been one of the presidents campaign promises, the health care reform was expected to be one of his popular initiatives that would be widely accepted and received by both the American people and its leaders. The majority democrats would for example be expected to push for the plans of their leaders in the congress as had been the normal political battles in the house. A surprise was however to be realized as the process of passing and enacting the reforms took a twist and is seen to have been done against the will of the American people.
Bitter exchanges are reported to have been raised in the process of developments of the reforms with accusations of closed door deals that were meant to help in paving the way for the presidents will. A lot of money was spent in just making deals with stake holders such as leading pharmacists among other stake holders. After the struggle which was won by the president following the singing of the health reform, a surprise in the support that the president and his party had enjoyed was realized to have faded from American people. It looked like people never understood what the president had meant by comprehensive health reforms during the campaigns. The whole story weakened the presidents popularity and that of his party to even cost democrats a congress seat during an election (BPS, 2010).
Disappointing aspects
The whole story about the health reform bill was a disappointment to most Americans. Whether to normal citizens or the political class, there were feelings of betrayals that were felt. The first disappointment as felt was with respect to those that were close to the president, who felt that the whole bill was unpopular and yet were not listened to. Many of the presidents advisers for example were opposed to the campaigns for the bill but were ignored by the president. The major close group that felt the disappointment was the democrat community that suffered from popularity setback. The entire American society, especially the ones who voted for the president also felt the disappointment (BPS, 2010).
Pleasing Aspects
Though the process of passing the bill was marked with a lot of controversies, there were a number of reasons to rejoice about the bill. The bill has a number of benefits that includes the provision of health security in the country (MacAskill & Clarke, 2010).
Conclusion
The path to the passage of the health reform bill was marked with extensive controversy that was historic in the United States. Though it caused conflicts, surprises and even disappointments, the bill had a promise that brought relief to some Americans in terms of health security.
References
BPS. (2010). Obama launches his health reform drive. Web.
Macroeconomics deals with analysis of major factors contributing to stability of an outward looking economy. These elements are referred to as economic variables and they include: consumption expenditure, investment expenditure, savings, exports and imports. These are the macroeconomic variables describing an economy operating at an equilibrium position.
Any extraneous variable injected into the national equilibrium equation would affect the stability of a nation. This research paper will begin by discussing the current economic crisis in the United States of America. It will entail a detail examination of major issues that have contributed to recession as an economic crisis in United States of America.
Easy credit facilities, collapse of major financial institution, war in the Arab countries, economic suctions on potential trading partners, skyrocketing inflation rates, and the decline in value of a dollar against other hard currencies are factors contributing to crisis in the economy.
To counter these factors contributing to financial crisis, this paper will deliberated on policy instrument employed by President Barrack Obama. It will involve a thorough appraisal of fiscal instrument for the economic year 2009- 2010. So as to offer an explicit view of fiscal policy, it is important to focus much attention first on the description of both contractionary and expansionary fiscal policy.
This research paper will further offer a comparison of the two as employed by the current president of United States of America then describe a statement of polices adopted by the White House. Before a conclusion is drawn, we will put across recommendations which are relevant for the current economic situation.
Economic crisis in United States of America
The current economic stalemate in various countries is as a result of misplaced priorities. This means that man is the source of all the troubles pulling down the prospects on an economy. Economic crisis has been marked by low employment of factors of production because of low spending.
This minimum spending may be as a result of fewer saving. Macroeconomic equation offers an illustrious example of how savings, investment, consumption and the balance of payment deficit affect the running of an economy thus leading to economic crisis (Richard, 2010). As part of the factors contributing to economic crisis the paper present the following ideas as the leads to economic crisis.
Collapse of major financial institution
The beginning of the crisis was a very simple pointer n the financial market. It was triggered by a housing plan whereby credit was given to people to buy houses whereas they could not afford. Since they didnt have enough savings, the only option was to go for mortgage from financial institution.
The long run effect was a failure in paying back their debts and a subsequent collapse of major banking institutions. Statistics shows that there was an estimate of 6 trillion US dollars mortgage debt in 1999 which translated to 12 trillion US dollars in 2007 and a further higher level in later years.
If these figures are compared with annual value of gross domestic product of approximately 11.5 trillion US dollars with a debt of 9 trillion US dollars then it was not possible pay the losses. This acted as the beginning of the present predicament of never ending debt crisis. Although stimulus package has been recommended by US administration, minimum results have been registered.
Easy credit conditions
In the year 2000 the government reserve reduced its rates by 5.5 % for three years. This was necessitated by terrorist attack in 2001 and a predicted deflation. An increased downward pressure on interest rates was caused by increased trade deficits in the year 2006 and summed up by the housing problem (Lahart, 2010). Following the deficits, United States had to borrow so as to finance them. The act had an effect on the price of marketable securities and the interest rates since the two are inversely proportional to each other.
Invasion of Arab country of Iraq
As a security measure, United States of America invaded Iraq with presumption of destroying dangerous chemical weapons in possession of Iraqi government.
This meant redirecting development resources to this otherwise non income activity. The net effect of this action is a deficit in capital and recurrent expenditure budget. Monetary and non-monetary resources could have been used for development and to supplement other arms of the federal government. Economic assumptions shows that resources are better utilized within a country.
Sanctions placed on growing economies
Economic suctions placed on other countries destroy environment meant for business. A good illustration of this factor is economic suctions imposed by the united nation on the already crippled economy of Zimbabwe.
This was a bold step following a widespread crime against humanity committed by the sitting government. The net effect of the trade sanctions is a minimized ease of flow of economic goods through trade channels. Another factor chipping in is the progressive growth in economies of Japan and Europe which is unfavorable for the economy of United States (Paul, 2010).
Other nations have diverted their trading partners from USA to these fast growing economies. This therefore means that the output for locally manufactured products cannot find market thus yielding less national income. Appreciation of the dollar against other hard currencies has affected exports of sectors where it has a comparative advantage.
The surplus produced are suppose to be exported to earn foreign exchange and support domestic investment. A long run effect of low exports and increased imports is the creation of unfavorable balance of payment deficit where the United States economy cannot find foreign market for its products while on the other hand it has to import.
Inflation
Increase in price of oil per barrel and other consumer goods has an effect on consumption spending. In the beginning of the year 2007 prices of oil was 49 US dollars but one year later the prices was nearly a triple of the value (Joseph, 2010). Economist based the argument of the view that people would want to save more and spend less because of the fast increase in prices of goods and services. Since the prices are high, purchasing power of the consumer reduces.
This translates to a situation where producer goods cannot find market thus forcing producers to cut down their production. Inflation also affects negatively market securities like bonds. Public tend to shy away from the unattractive bonds which then calls for a new offer. In this regard money is held for speculative purposes.
Decline in value of dollar
For any investment to be done, investors are more concerned with the rates of exchange so that they can get a value for their money. If the exchange rates are high, investors would get a less value for their investment because it would not find market. The United States recorded a high decline in the value of its currency by 45% between the years 1985 to the end of 1987.
This mainly affected the bonds and other securities in the stock market owned by foreigners who had invested in the U.S. economy. It therefore meant that the public and private projects cannot be financed by foreign direct investment as a source of capital.
Fiscal polices employed by President Barrack Obama
The current president of United States was fast in formulating policies to deal with economic crisis. Among the package was the use of fiscal policy to jumpstart a thriving economy.
This captures the tax collection as a source of revenue and how they can be spent wisely. If the percentage of taxes and their internal composition are adjusted then their cumulative effect will be on: aggregate demand and employment in the economy, the ways of allocating resources while taking care of income distribution. Every government must consider drawing an all inclusive budget for the citizens.
The major source of finance for the budget is revenue collection in form of taxes from all administrative levels. Another principal source of funding is printing money. More money will go into circulation and can lead to hyperinflation if production in all sectors of the economy is not enhanced.
The government can also borrow from the public by issuing securities like bonds and other stocks. This has an effect of reducing money in circulation and therefore using such funds for developing sectors of the economy. Reserves and selling fixed assets can also be used as a source of funds for federal governments intentions.
So as to be explicit on fiscal policy instrument, graphical representation can be drawn to demonstrate effect of taxes on the demand curve.
A reduction in taxes has an effect on effective demand since the demand curve shifts to the right as shown by the arrow in the graphical diagram.
Expansionary fiscal policy
This involves a progressive increase in government spending compared to taxes as a source of revenue. Since the expenses in the budget are more then the budget will face a deficit of finances.
The 2009 saw a deficit 1.8 trillion US dollars and the current projection for president Obama will realize a deficit of 7.1 trillion US dollars by the year 2019. Health plan by the president will see more funds being allocated to it. Following an increase in terrorist treat and continued stay of military in Iraq will demand more funds be allocated in form of military spending.
While attempting to build on employment level, Obamas government has to create opportunities for its youth. This is in form of enhancing the capacities of both service and manufacturing sectors. The motive of the presidents budget proposal was ultimately for socioeconomic equity. As an expansionary measure, US president proposed a tax relief for those earning less incomes and families with minimum source of income.
This would subject them to more disposable income. Since tax levels are low, consumers would shy away from spending hence an overall increase in consumption expenditure and aggregate demand. An equal and opposite force of increasing taxes for income groups of persons earning above 25,000 dollars is meant to reimburse accounts of the federal government and thus gourd them from loss after a tax subsidy for the poor population.
The act empowering the less fortunate in the system will bridge the gab between the poor and the reach thus achieving a bigger percentage of social equality. Considering the fact that more taxes have been imposed for the elite in the system then spending on expensive consumer goods is reduced but a tax relief would motivate them to spend (Krugman, 2010).
By cutting down on taxes charged for small and medium enterprises, the administration would reduce unemployment while expanding on job creation. The action of raising taxes on capital gains is a non-motivating factor to investors as it would reduce the amount spent on investment. These taxes on capital gains supplements governments budget and thus enable it developing less developed areas of the United States of America.
To analyze on the issue of divided taxes is that the kill the will power of an investor whose earnings has to be taxed further regardless of the levels of earnings. It must be considered that the current economic crisis was partly caused by a reduction in efficiency of stock market leading to investors moving out of the market. Financial institutions with its aspects of circulating deposits could not function well.
To illustrate this point, persons would borrow funds but were not able to payback their debts. This meant that the financial institution failed to generate incomes from the process of lending and reinvesting deposits. The president wish to streamline these financial sectors by injecting in funds from the central bank by reducing banks lending rates. If the rates are reduced, banks would go for funds from lender of last resort. Therefore these banks would be able to support their activities.
This expansionary fiscal policy is meant for redistribution of economic resource and a more progressive definition of taxes. This means that those who earn more will have to pay more in form of taxes.
Contractionary Fiscal Policy
This kind of fiscal measure has a high revenue level as a result of high taxation rates. Contractionary measure is possible by reducing government spending or increasing the taxes levels. The end factor is a less deficit in budget or rather the surpluses are more contrary to anticipation. By default, a budget is supposed to show an equilibrium position between spending and incomes (Lahart, 2007).
In his administration president Obama planned on increasing taxes on high income groups so as to balance on income distribution and bridge the gab between the poor and the rich. However much of the contractionary policy is not used by Obamas administration simply because of the policy framework.
Statement on the policies adopted
Policy instrument adopted by president Obama is an expansionary fiscal policy with an aim reducing the gab between the poor and the rich through fiscal policy instrument adopted. A more progressive taxation system recognizes the need to tax more people at a higher income category and redistribute it the low income group.
The policy also favors the poor population in the health care plan by reducing the pay roll tax contrary to previous reduction on income tax. Pay roll taxes majorly finance the social security and medical care of the population. This major cut was to stimulate growth in various sectors of the economy by building on the motivation power of the people (Richard, 2010).
Recommendations
Financial sectors form the basis of any economy. There is a need therefore to make them more responsive to the needs of the population by letting the interest rates fluctuate with demand in the market.
This is possible if the federal government do not temper with the lending rates of banking sectors. In the light of this statement, a positive measure can be taken in form of encouraging masses to borrow and reinvest.
Interest rates can be reduced for those who want to invest in specific sectors of the economy an example being housing. Foreign direct investment is another approach that can be employed by the government to stimulate growth. This is possible if taxes imposed on foreign investors are reduced.
It can be in form of tax cut on corporate body. All factors considered, an American economy cannot survive on its own without employment of monetary policy. As illustrated in statement mentioned above, monetary policy is the use of interest rates to regulate on money circulation in the system.
If the government wants to encourage borrowing from financial institution then it reduces the lending rates. People would then go for monies in the bank to reinvest in a potential business environment. If an overinvestment is registered then the government can increase the lending rates which would prompt people to hold monies for speculative purposes.
Conclusion
The beginning of this paper is a discussion covering on the economic crisis in the United States of America which is broadly seen as recession.
Contributing factors analyzed include: collapse of major financial institution, progressive increase in the prices of consumer goods, misplacement of priorities, trade sanctions on other nations, and the perpetual increase in debt burden. As a measure to deal with financial crisis president Obama employed the use of fiscal policy as a macroeconomic stimulus package. The research paper is explicit on both expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy.
It is evident that the president employed more an expansionary measure by focusing on reducing on taxes imposed on low income group. After an analysis of the policy instrument, the paper offers a statement on fiscal policy. Final it is imperative to make recommendation which will add value on to the research in the field.
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