"Government can work" is an oxymoron.

From the bungling that was Katrina, to the recent bank bailout, government has always and will continue to stand for unwanted, unexpected largesse to the unneedy.

It has been one pork project after another, culminating in the large banks stealing $350 BILLION of our money blatantly: money that could have shored up Social Security easily.

The best way to ruin something is to let the government be involved.

Obama should force the government to get out of all businesses except Police and Post offices.

Get back the money from banks, from auto companies and shore up the budget.

Pass laws that allow universal health care along France's lines and make it a priority. If Blue Cross objects to it, sic the FBI on it.

Send back the money to tax payers as tax refunds.

The Government IS the problem.

The way Pentagon is unable to trace billions that are spent every year will put any corporate to shame.

If i were to report to IRS about my expenses being untraceable, i would be jailed.

But congress holds a different law to Pentagon and its own kind.

The bailout should have strictly been monitored and once Paulson was changing the rules, he should have been subpoenaed and impeached for violating the contract he signed with congress.

Unfortunately, congress and senate are wusses since the money benefits them too! Where will they go to work after retirement if there are no banks lying around?

Congress has different yardsticks for itself and me.

Bush was right when he said: "If the president does it, then it must be legal."

True, very true.

If Clinton could be impeached for lying why not Paulson?

Why doesn't washpost or CNN raise this question?

Oh, i forgot: they are owned by corporates who are beneficiaries.

Even India's press is far more independent that this.

Corporate America and the Military-industrial complex has too much of a stranglehold on the politicians to allow a "true" recovery.

The start might be good: NASA will be merged with DoD to take advantage of DoD HUGE budget. It will also stop NASA TV Channel and spell the end of documentaries and books for children. Shuttle launches will be closed to public. Plus while helping small businesses using grants is attractive, most probably it would go to people who own McDonalds franchisees and others.

Thirdly, investing in Rail is good, but i fear Amtrak will swallow up the entire budget and still not run trains on time.

The clout of the Corporate America was shown when they could get $350 Billion of our money with no strings attached and can get away with refusing to identify its usage.

I only wish Obama would stop tinkering with Market and get back the $350 Billion lent to banks.

If citi has to fail so be it. The larger they are, the harder they fall.

As i said earlier, there should be no intervention in the market.

so unused to the possibility an effective, coherent competent President

Am sorry, but having seen Bush for the past 8 years, i have forgotten a president could be intelligent and effective.

You are not Nostradamus.

I don't claim to be. Am just repeating what Obama said in public: on Gitmo and others.

The guy isn't in office yet. Settle down.

Ahh no. Obama does not have a honeymoon period. Bush had and a lot of good it did to us. The clock starts at 1201 on 20th january 2009 for Obama. I still fear he will not be upto the mark: and Ms.Clinton is right that Obama does not have the experience.

And no, am NOT, repeat NOT, a republican or a Bush supporter. I have seen Obama speeches and moved to tears when he said his campaign was built on $10, $20 donations by single working moms and others.

Its good he hasn't forgotten his base. I dearly hope and pray he doesn't forget once he gets the trappings of power.

Call me crazy, but Obama is already backtracking on many campaign promises like any other red-blooded politician. To quote him:

1) Gitmo is "difficult" to close. Meaning he will continue it in some form after setting free a few kids.

2) We need to look forward, not backward. Meaning he is not going to sue Bush, Rumsfeld, et al for breaking the law.

3) We need to make sure the next $350 billion to banks are utilized for people's benefits. Meaning he is NOT going to track down the money donated to banks earlier, and will continue to donate to them even now.

Call me paranoid or even crazy, but i fear Obama will be the biggest disappointment as a President.

One year from now, editorials and voters will be tearing into him as his ratings hover in single digit and even Dems would be talking of impeaching him...

Well said. In three words.