by Elmo Adams

Created on: November 15, 2008   Last Updated: January 16, 2009

Expectations are high as the nation anticipates a Barack Obama presidency. Inherited problems from the previous administration and unfolding world-wide concerns will require carefully calculated decisions about what actions are needed during the first 100 days in office.

1. Safety: The security of the nation is concern number one. This challenge comes at us with two thrusts, military and economic. Enemy fighters may view our time of government transition as an opportunity to increase attacks and open new fronts. Like Obama, FDR inherited a troubled economy, but FDR would not have to take the nation to war for another nine years. Obama must plan for two wars as well as wrestle with a failing economy. Perhaps asking current Secretary of Defense Gates to stay in position for a time would aid dealing with this concern. Providing economic safety is as complex an issue as the military situation. It may be worse. There are no lack of opinions available, but it is not clear if what we have done so far has moved us in the right direction. As president, Obama must seek the best advice available, and then act quickly. Our banking and credit system must be trusted to operate for business owners and consumers. Since little agreement exists on what will work best, the president will have to monitor conditions daily and be willing to change course if necessary. A president does not want to appear indecisive, but there are too many recent examples of leaders clinging to failed policies. We are in uncharted waters, and the course may not be a straight line.

2.Emergency Intervention: A bottom up rescue for the unemployed and displaced must receive immediate attention. Extension of unemployment benefits appears to be step one here. Step two requires confrontation of the massive foreclosure issue. As with other matters concerning the economy, fairness or moral correctness makes this no simple matter. Homeowner A has been careful when spending and timely in making his mortgage payments. Homeowner B over borrowed and now faces losing his home. Does A pay for the rescue of B? He may have to or else face a declining neighborhood full of of vacant houses while the value of his property plummets as well.

3. Economic Restructuring: This does not have to happen, but a firm decision must be made about which direction the country will take. The clear example is the American auto industry. Part or all of it will face bankruptcy without government intervention. Is this another one of the situations where something is "too big to be allowed to fail?" If that is the decision, it is going to go contrary to a great deal of free enterprise thinking. As the global economy grows, will the United States just opt out of competing for car sales? How many jobs will be lost? Conversely, if money goes to the one or more of the Big Three, they should expect government direction about the types of products they will be producing among other issues. A quick choice will have to be made in the first 100 days, and whatever it is, a large segment of the population will not like it.

4.United States - China Trade: This issue also requires immediate action. It may appear that the United States has a no-limit credit card. It does not. Neither does China have infinite amounts of money to lend us. President Obama must have in place solid State Department and Treasury Department teams that will make sure the economic connection between the two countries works for both.

Other crucial items such as global warming and health care must be addressed as soon as possible, and perhaps some planning can get under way during the first 100 days, but if President Obama can show solid leadership in these first four areas, he will receive deserved praise.

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