Strategic action on key issues facing the US

Introduction: this analysis has been prepared by Frank Owarish, Ph.D., currently senior faculty at Keller Graduate School of Management, Devry University (the views are his and not of the university’s) and is based upon his  vast experience and consultations of his fellow scholars and practitioners and students.

Key steps:

1)      The most important issue facing the US is still the economy, seen in a global context; there are positive signs of economic recovery; the stimulus efforts should be maintained and sustained and perhaps speeded up as much as possible; one mistake being made is that part of the stimulus package is being used to make up for budgetary shortfalls of many public authorities contributing to business as usual, whereas the stimulus package has a completely different goal of creating jobs and stimulating demands. There should be clear indication by the government that there is renewed faith in the market economy and that the government will not play a strong hand; e.g. GM should now be left to take care of itself just like the investments banks are. It is also important to keep in mind that once the economy picks up, public revenues will go up automatically and the public deficit will not be as troublesome as some fear. There is also apprehension that a large part of the public debt is held by foreigners. At some point in the coming months, the US dollar should be devalued by at least 10 percent which will give a boost to exports inter alia.

2)      The health care reform question is indeed vry complex, there is no perfect solution and there should not be any hard lines. This is where politics should decide what should be done; politics balance all the interests concerned; bi-partisanship is needed on this issue and is the appropriate way to go; the improvements should be piecemeal and gradual rather that an overall quick fix.  Here again, the market should finally determine the way to go; Medicare is working reasonably well ; the government should work on helping those who are marginalized, within reason (reform of Medicaid); many countries have set up public hospitals for those who do have have medical insurance .

3)      Efforts should be made to improve public education at all levels particularly at vocational and technical levels through a close cooperation of government entities at the federal state and local levels.

4)      The US business sector should boost its partnership with China, India, Brazil, Russia and the European Union.

5)      The US should launch a large-scale public-private sector plan to promote development in Africa and Latin America (it should be recalled that the US Marshall Plan for Europe did help Europe and also did wonders for the US economy and business sector).