This article discusses the positions on economy from presidential candidates, Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain and wonders why their positions are so weak.

The economic positions posted on the three top-running candidates for President of the United States read like Super Bowl advertisements instead of mature, reasoned plans. Senator’s McCain, Obama, and Clinton’s “Super Vote” advertisements have lots of flash to gain and impress delegates but little flesh in the game. Have none of them talked with an economist? Have none of them any position about how our nation’s budget should be managed or spent? With promises of change in the offing, are they all planning to keep the budget the same? As we continue to print bonds to prop up the Chinese economy, fueling inflation at home while the Chinese collect interest, who is looking at the big picture? After I took a trip to China, it was clear that the Chinese weren’t, although I imagine they are laughing up their sleeve at our policies since they are collecting both ways-- American money entering and leaving the Chinese economy.

I may be a rather prosaic individual, but before I would go looking at how I’m going to afford my brand new white-painted vacation house and four-door eco-sedan, I would first look to see what kind of return on my investments I had (assuming I had investments), how much I could afford to spend, and how much work I could hire out.  Once my husband and I know how much we can spend, we assign percentages of our budgets based on our priorities to categories where money is required to pay bills and fund desirable outcomes. Wouldn’t you expect a statement about spending from the President of the United States? Wouldn’t you expect the President of the United States to have some statement about the money in our savings plans—social security, medicare, and the federal deficit? 

Before we decide on which vacation we plan to take, we make sure that we can pay for the electricity bill. Lucky for us, Senator Clinton has thought about the electric bill. Too bad that her little plan could at best pay for 10 nuclear power plants, much less stimulate the change needed to reduce our need for foreign oil. Of the three, only Senator Obama seems to recognize people have jobs. Only Senator McCain recognizes the fact that wages have stagnated for the past decade while big business reported record profits.  Okay, so I’m ranting a little. Let’s take a look at the good and bad points behind each candidate’s statement.

Senator Clinton deserves kudos for recognizing major problems with our economy—global warming, reliance on carbon fuels, and inefficiencies in our utilities. I am glad she knows the buzz words. I’m glad she’s willing to commit to a statement about 15 billion (or roughly 0.5%) of a 2.9 trillion dollar yearly budget. That really shows her priority. Does she think we’re stupid? Will asking businesses to increase spending to reduce carbon emissions help the American worker or stimulate the economy? I doubt it. I would suggest an infrastructure plan to remove us off reliance on carbon-based fuels would include spending on mass transportation systems since quite a number of American cities have “warming” signatures and clogged traffic systems. Do I believe that she will deliver on her plan if she is elected? Well, she knew the buzz words about socialized medicine and where did it take this country? In truth, should our country fall into a major depression, government spending on infrastructure related to electricity, transportation, and fuels might provide the jobs that make a difference to workers in the economy.

Senator Obama deserves kudos for recognizing that our economy is larger than the United States. Unlike Senators McCain and Clinton, he even realizes a world exists outside our borders, bravo! Too bad he limits his recognition to the new world. Tell me Senator Obama, have you heard of Asia, Russia, Europe? Okay, I’m being snide. I respect Senator Obama for having looked at a large number of issues related to the economy including workers rights and our ties with Canada and Mexico, the banking crisis, minimum wage, education of workers, home financing, technology, education and credit availability. I respect him because he believes a worker in this country (legal or not) has a certain amount of rights including potentially owning a home and getting paid. He at least shows evidence that he’s thinking about more than a single issue in the complex workings of the US and world economy. But Senator Obama, what is your priority?

Senator McCain deserves kudos for being a wise politician. By saying little, no one can challenge his stance on the issue of the United States economy. Although he is clearly supporting a stimulus package related to the business climate in the United States, he says even less than the Democrats about what the budget will look like or where he’ll spend money or how he’ll finance his 10% reduction of taxes for businesses. Why would he cut business taxes when corporations are already making record profits and taxed lightly? Perhaps he won’t spend any extra money. Perhaps after all the bills are paid he’ll prop up Social Security.  Anyone that believes that is stupid. There’s no doubt in my mind that if elected, Senator McCain will spend money on something.

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