by Donna Burt

Created on: November 23, 2008   Last Updated: February 03, 2009

While the election of a new president always brings to light those things Americans feel the need to change, the campaign alone demonstrates each candidate's focus on those factors. The difference in the recent election has brought a concentration of current issues America has not had to face for many years. The voice of American concern has spoken in the wide-spread voter turn-out, revealing the belief that Barack Obama can make a difference.

As America struggles with issues many have never experienced and others relate to the "great depression" it would appear the economy as the top choice in President elect Obama's wide range of concerns. With the collapse of the financial industry, record high unemployment and long established businesses closing their doors, the need to bring stability and confidence all go hand in hand. Without a steadfast objective and plan, a spiraling economy will bring forth other areas that, although tied, have not been associated with the economic downturn.

Such topics as crime, fear of government and a nation prepared to arm itself with an arsenal of weapons are slowly finding themselves to the headlines that continue to grip our nation. While housing, energy and jobs all belong to "the economy" each one, individually, requires its' own set of priorities. With this in mind, to select one are of the economy itself will be the greatest challenge.

Although the current administration continues to view the issuance and free-flow of credit as a top priority to stalemate a recession and depression, these do little to ease concerns for the average American that has been laid off or feels threatened by job loss. As history has demonstrated, without consumer confidence, money will not flow regardless how easily credit is to obtain.

Without an economy offering jobs and job stability, such things as the availability of social security continue to be in jeopardy, along with retirement plans many "baby boomers" have spent years accumulating. Although health care tops the list of priority issues, without jobs, many more will be faced to rely on the government for such needs. Without jobs, many facing retirement years will not have the resources available to meet their needs for the first time since the great depression. Without jobs, already overextended government spending will reach an alarming rate never seen before.

As a nation which "built in America" was founded, few cling to these words as we continue to purchase goods imported from other nations because of the price. As large corporations continue to pursue outsourcing to foreign nations for customer service jobs on the premise it saves on the bottom dollar, Americans will continue to lose in our fight to stabilize the economy. Without a restructure of our own ability to rebuild America to the greatest nation, those same individuals and large corporations may soon find themselves in the bankruptcy courts.

While President elect Obama faces the greatest economic challenge in eighty years, the decision on which issue to tackle first will not be an easy one. Every factor of economic stress from unemployment to healthcare are knocking; however, there is truly only one issue that should be opened first, bringing jobs back to America. If given those tools, many of the other issues will solve themselves.

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