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Economists believe that benefits aimed for unemployed Americans such as insurance and working-training programs are failing. The Labor Department reported that there are 10.3 million Americans who are looking for a job, and that funding for unemployment would run out by March 2009. Views and information on unemployment programs in the U.S. are presented.

President-elect Barack Obama should seize the moment and use the economic crisis to make changes in the government. Obama should be able to use the trillion-dollar stimulus package to effect great change. Other views and information on Obama and on the economic crisis are presented.

The worst-case scenario of a recession and a global economic slowdown due to a severe credit crunch that is expected if the current U.S. financial meltdown continues is discussed.

The changed situation wherein the federal government is actively involved in regulating the markets due to the current financial crisis is discussed. The outgoing administration suddenly has a free and vast role in regulating the insurance and home-lending industries after taking over key firms.

An economic recession likely to result from the declining value of the American dollar is discussed.

The American economy is in turmoil in 2007, with the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates to unfreeze the banking system, and political observers are becoming concerned about the 2008 presidential candidates' refusal to discuss how they would deal with these issues if they were in power.

The political comeback of Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California is less due to his policy decisions and more due to the manner in which he makes these decisions. It is suggested that Schwarzenegger's 'post-partisanship' leadership that includes flexibility of ideologies and working on a consensus with Democrats to accomplish goals is preferred to that of the autocratic leadership of the U.S. President George W. Bush.

Eleven independent economists judged the six years of Republican administration on its stewardship of the US economy ahead of the 2006 midterm elections. The criteria rated included the US fiscal policy, economic growth, international economic policy, regulation, leadership and comparison with past Congresses, and the economists recommended an improvement in the economic policies of the US Congress.

The American public is expected to vote in the 2006 midterm elections based on the recent economic conditions than on the record of almost six years of Republican administration. The US President George W. Bush's claims about tax cuts, improved US economy and low unemployment rate do not seem to have much effect on the people, and the Democrats, who believe that the tax cuts benefit only a few upper-income people, expect the lack of wage hikes combined with high gas and health care costs to swing the public opinion in their favor.

The similarities between the 2000 US general elections and the 2006 Mexican elections are discussed, analyzing the impact of the Mexico election results on the US. Besides the issue of illegal Mexican immigrants in the US, the Mexican election outcome has ramifications for the economic relations between the two countries, since the elected Mexican President calls for major revisions in the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The U.S. President George W. Bush has not yet faced the global economic crisis during his presidency, but it is possible that America's huge current-account deficit might trigger a big drop in the dollar. This drop would effect globally as the world runs on dollars and many countries, including China, have tied their currencies to the dollar.

The House of Representatives passed an immigration bill, pushed by the Republicans who are intent on treating illegal immigration as a crime. The March 25, 2006 demonstration in Los Angeles, Chicago and several other cities, affected the immigration legislation pending in the Senate, since the Republicans were already starkly divided on whether to ease the way for immigrants to work legally in the US, as president Bush wants to do, or to classify all illegal immigrants as felons, as the House proposes.

A survey reflecting the public opinion that could mark a turn in the presidential race which showed public approval of the US President George W. Bush's handling of economy by tax cut policy resulting in strong job gains is presented. The benefit of the tax cut would be registered in the added growth and new jobs that the ensuing investment would create in the economy, and unless business owners start investing their profits and their tax-cut refunds, the government would not be able to sustain the recovery much longer.

Presidents Bush's actions like signing of the omnibus appropriations bill for 2004, high government spending, his plans for sending astronauts to Mars are criticized. There has been a 50 percent drop in the public assessment of Presidemnt Bush's job performance, handling of economy and Iraq war.

This article discusses corporate downsizing. The author maintains that when companies had to resort to layoffs during the recession they realized they also improved productivity, so now they are in no hurry to hire employees back.

The 2002 victory for Senate Republicans gives them an opportunity to develop a governing style, and Democrats have the need to find a unified voice. Sen Trent Lott, majority leader for the third time, will need to build alliances with key Democrats.

Many issues could be significantly affected by which political party gets control of Congress after the 2002 elections. These include management of Amtrak, abortion, medical care, immigration, judicial appointments, labor relations, land use, patients' rights, pollution control, availability of prescription drugs, social security, taxation, and international trade.

Former President George Bush is best remembered for the economic troubles that plagued his presidency and his crushing defeat by Bill Clinton, but he had many successful moments in his presidency. Bush's work on the budget deficit, the Clean Air Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other achievements are discussed.

The debate over how to stimulate the United States economy continues despite the terrorist attacks on American on September 11, 2001. Democrats insist that reducing the budget deficit will stimulate the sluggish economy and the Republicans argue that tax cuts are what is needed to revive the economy.

Economic forecasts for the US are presented, focusing on economic recovery in the aftermath of recession in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Topics include US economic policy under Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, inflation, consumer and business spending, stock market bubbles, home prices, and how the declining stock market has impacted the US.

The Enron investigation has called into question the selection of those who sit on corporate boards of directors and how they oversee the management of companies. The Enron board consisted mainly of public figures who rubber stamped the decisions of corporate officers. Corporate directors need to return to the task of protecting shareholders.

Three charities are recipients for monetary gifts from the White House which is part of penalty tariffs collected by the US Customs on Canadian lumber but unlike other import tariffs, which end up in the US Treasury and help finance the government, the White House is giving it to private parties. Democrats have raised questions over the manner in which the money was distributed without involving the Congress.

The US economy under the administration of the US President George W. Bush is judged by comparing it with the economy during a similar period of time under two two-term presidents, namely Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. Comparisons reveal that under Bush, corporate owners and noncorporate business owners were the winners with private-sector workers getting a small share income gains, while government employees did better than private-sector workers.

Economic advisor Lawrence B. Lindsey feels Pres George W. Bush's decision to increase agricultural subsidies and support trade protection for the steel industry remain grounded in economic rather than political principles. Lindsey sees a balanced-budget amendment as a useful concept as long as it permits unusual circumstances, such as war and the economic cycle.

Dan Crippen, departing director of the Congressional Budget Office, critiques legislative management of government finances and the lackadaisical attitude toward budgetary reform. Crippen, whose term ends Dec 2002, also discusses the CBO's image among legislators and the importance of maintaining the political independence of the CBO.

It is hard to imagine, but not long from now the epic fight over health care reform and the looming battles over climate change and banking regulation could seem like [...]

White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein says the Obama government's push for income redistribution is driven by balance and fairness. He also said US president Barack Obama's stimulus package is sufficient to jumpstart the economy. His views on the proposed minimum wage increase are also presented.

The proposals of US President Barack Obama on health care, energy, and the economy may be too ambitious to be passed by the US Congress. The US Congress is not likely to pass health and energy reform legislation in 2009, as well as energy bills and a bigger bu dget.

The government of US president Barack Obama's decision to leave out details of the US Treasury's plan for the next financial bailout installment is viewed as a lack of transparency. The plan has proposed a much broader effort to aid banks and provide credit to businesses. Comments from executives are also presented.

Rhode Island has been adversely affected by the United States recession. The state was one of the first to be hit by the economic downturn. The housing crisis has been seen as the major reason for the decline of the state's economy.

It is believed that president-elect Barack Obama can make quick changes early in his administration just by using the powers of the presidency. Specific issues in the United States such as health care, economy, energy, environment, homeland and national security, defense, foreign policy, and education, are also discussed.

The United States budget deficit is seen to reach $1 trillion in 2009. The decline in government revenues and the increase in the obligations of the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve are seen to contribute to the deficit. The next president is seen to prioritize the reduction of the budget deficit.

The takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae was endorsed by both the presidential candidates with both holding the opposing party responsible for the crisis. The impact has liberals advocating maintaining the companies as individual entities while for conservatives nationalization is the best option.