What if you were the US President?

What if you were the US President?

As Obama takes over the reins of America, the financial crisis and the world have welcomed him with open arms. If you were him, what would you do to solve the world’s financial and political issues?

January 21, 2009 12:38 by Aarti Nagraj

Two main issues dominated President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech: the financial crisis, and his promise to improve ties with the Muslim world.
Middle East

“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” he said.

“We hope this encouraging statement, coupled with a change in America’s previous policies toward the Muslim world, will help improve our nation’s image and promote a safe and prosperous future for all of humanity,” Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations told Reuters.

According to CNN, the Mideast crisis is a priority in Obama’s immediate agenda. He is reportedly planning to name at least one high-profile envoy within his first week in office to help find long-term solutions for the troubles in Palestine..

As part of his Middle East agenda, Obama has promised to end the war in Iraq, withdraw all American troops from the country by 2010, launch direct negotiations with Iran, and increase the number of American troops in Afghanistan.

Financial crisis

“We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama said. “The challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met,” he added.

The US lost 2.6 million jobs last year, the most in any year since 1945.

Obama’s economic team is pushing to complete a bank-rescue plan along with his $825 billion stimulus package being negotiated with Congress, reports Bloomberg. The package is likely to include a $50 billion-plus program to stem foreclosures, fresh injections of capital into the banks, and steps to deal with toxic assets on banks’ balance sheets, it says.

Some economic policies he has promised include a plan to provide $50 billion to jumpstart the economy; end tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs from outside the US, reward companies that create jobs with good benefits for American workers. And impose a windfall profit tax on oil companies in order to provide a $1,000 emergency rebate to American middle class families.

If you were in Obama’s place, and just became president of the United States,, how would you deal with the financial crisis and crisis in the Middle East? Would your policies be similar to his or completely different?