"I’ve never believed that government’s role is to create jobs or prosperity....
I believe it’s the drive and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, our small
businesses; the skill and dedication of our workers - that’s made us the
wealthiest nation on Earth. I believe it’s the private sector that must be the
main engine for our recovery."
He, a Democratic president, gets the private sector in a way in which Labour politicians in this country don't. And probably never will. Apart from Blair.
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Alongside that he wants to invest in infrastructure in the US, because he realises that's the route to growing the economy. Government needs to provide the initial stimulus to growth, which is why he's pushing for a new stimulus package for the US.
What are the chances the Conservatives will take a leaf out of his book?
One problem Obama mouths this but does not believe it for a nanosecond.
All true. Blair may have been an utterly detestable politician, but he was one of few in Labour who actually had some understanding of human aspiration. He also understood - again, unlike just about everyone else in the Labour Party - that the government couldn't solve every problem.
What he failed to understand was that government made most problems worse. That was where Blair's promise ended.
That's all well and good, but the current government is hardly looking after small entrepenuers either. The corporation tax cut given in the last budget was excellent for large companies making big profits but is only a 1% cut for small companies.
Now I understand that there is an argument that the big companies are crucial for bringing in large numbers of jobs and they need to be encouraged to stay in Britain, but business conditions for the big companies in Britain are hardly tyrannical, whatever some would have you believe. But at the same time I'd much rather the Government focused on giving a leg up to the small business' where real growth in British companies can be achieved and where many long term jobs can be created.
It's also all well and good believing that the private sector need to be encouraged and promoted, but cutting spending so severely as is being done hits the private sector hard, especially as it is capital expenditure which is being hit hardest as it's the easiest to cut without seeing immediate damage. However, a lot of capital expenditure was spent in industries where there were already struggles.
And yet actions speak louder than words.
A pity he is all sound and his actions are the reverse of these words. Increase in Federal spending, employment and regulation (healthcare, cap and trade ) do not encourage SMEs
TimC
Can we believe anything that Obama says? Especially when his actions seem to be counter to this?
Iain, you're a sucker. Obama may have said those things but actions speak louder than words.
He's increased spending in the US in ways that Labour politicians here can only dream about. True he started from a relatively low base, due to the historical culture of the US but he's easily on course for the US to overtake the EU on indebtedness. The US used to be a low tax, high growth economy and the envy of the world. Obama is making it more European: high tax and low growth.
Blair gets the private sector alright. That's why he shafted it with regulations. Now he is paid millions by people who need to get around them, as they need his word in the ear of the powerful.
He pays no tax as a British resident. Work that one out. He's turned regulation into a private business. The mafia would be proud.
Dale's naivety is much in evidence.
I'm not entirely sure he believes that himself - he could be trying to save his tanking poll ratings by pitching to the moderate market Right ahead of the Mid-Terms in November.
Problem is, Obama will say anything because in his world there is no dividing line between theatrics and reality.
I am not a twitterer so do not 'follow' you.
But I note your comment on the blog about Bush And Regan and Clinton being the only US President to reduce debt.
Clinton made massive cuts in defence when he came to power. Ironic since another Democratic administration is now moaning about possible UK defence cuts.
Iain - The problem is Obama does not believe his own words. They are only said for political purposes given his party is facing a disaster in November after the voters have seen their true colors in action over the past two years.
Obama says a lot and does very little. Obama and his socialist experiment will be as big a disaster for the US as New Labour was for this country
ObamaSpeak is not the same as ObamaDo - Americans will rue the day they elected him.
Yes, but Obama is all words, he doesn't even believe these ones, much less act on them. He has always acted the leftie, and has never achieved anything positive in his life, before or after his election as POTUS. That was clear when you supported his candidacy, which is why your support for him was utterly incomprehensible, sheer lunacy.
Obama is an American Blair. He says what people want to hear, then just plays to the left, to the government employees, unions and those begging to the government. He just tries everything he can to keep power; since he happens to head a left-wing party he is a revolting partisan while talking as a centrist. Just like the repulsive creep Blair.
To think Obama believes this, at least in the way you do, is absurd. You would think such a quote implies stimulus and government intervention to curb recessions is categorically flawed and wrong, despite the fact Obama firstly passed an $800bn stimulus package before he did anything else, and is now looking for another weighty one to be pushed through Congress. Like hell he's following the coalition and spending his time slashing a deficit. Wake up!
Blair only "got the private sector" because he saw how it would benefit him.
Blair didn't "get" the private sector -- he thought that subcontracting to private firms made public services more efficient. Whereas the problems are exactly the same. The real issue is that the State is rubbish at judging quality of service.
Whereas individuals tend to be better. Hence why Gove's freeschools policy could be a good idea. It's a pity that he continues to chase the academies policy.
Where this view goes wrong is imagining that the private and public sectors are discreet entities. In fact, very many private sector businesses provide goods and services to public sector organisations as well as to private sector businesses. Cutting public spending excessively will hurt the private sector as this part of the market contracts.
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