Barack Obama Change?? Security, Economy and Technology First Steps

Is Change coming to security, foreign policies, economy and technology???

These are the first steps of Obama's administration on critical fields, whatever or not they would be successful remains to be seen.

Technology:

Barack Obama has named four scientists who will lead his science and technology team, choosing experts in climate change, cancer, and genetic research to chair the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, this mark a sharp turn around point from Bush policies specially regarding climate change where Bush Administration was notorious for silencing scientist reports and warnings on climate change, Obama on the other hand has picked John Holdren a leading voice on climate change issues, however how would Obama's administration set the pace in the Technology and Environment fields remains to be seen.

Obama presents his technology and science team:

Economy:
Barack Obama has outlined an aggressive economic stimulus plan that could cost $700 billion over the next two years. But the questions rises about the effectively of this plan, or if it would be just another waste of money and a step forward to increase US debt, Obama already said he won’t care much about the deficit, Obama's plan has four components:

1) Create 2.5 Million Jobs, by providing businesses a $3,000 tax credit for each new hire, extend the $250,000 small business capital investment write-offs, provide automakers loans guarantees of $50 billion for fuel efficient cars, eliminate capital gains tax for small business investors and create a $25 billion job program for public works construction.

2) Relief for Families: cut taxes by $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families. eliminate taxes for seniors making up to $50,000, tax cuts would be retroactive to 2007, and rebates would be mailed in Q1 2009, extend unemployment insurance and a temporarily suspend taxes on those benefits, allow penalty-free withdrawals of 15% from retirement accounts up to $10,000, suspend rules requiring retirees to begin withdrawing from those accounts six months after they reach the age of 70, tax oil companies to provide funds fo energy rebates of $1,000 per family, and increase aid for home heating cost

3)Help Homeowners: Add a 10% tax credit for mortgage interest to those who don't itemize, enact a 90-day foreclosure moratorium, reform the bankruptcy code to allow families to get out of debt they can't pay, provide $25 billion in additional state aid.

4) Response to Financial Crisis: Continue the actions of the Treasury and Federal Reserve to loosen credit, the Fed should see if it has the authority to guarantee credit for states and cities, extend loans to small businesses through the SBA's Disaster Loan Program and eliminate fees on the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loan guarantee programs.

Obama presents his economic stimulus plan:

Security and Foreign Policies:

Barack Obama named Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state, He told the press, "Hillary's appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances."

"America cannot solve these crises without the world and the world cannot solve them without America" - Hillary Clinton

Obama kept Robert Gates as secretary of defense. "I will be giving Secretary Gates and our military a new mission as soon as I take office: responsibly ending the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control," Obama said.

Answering questions following the announcements, Obama spoke of the danger of "groupthink" in the White House and said he looks forward to vigorous debate among his advisers. But he added that he will be responsible for setting policy.

Obama presents Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense: