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Setting up a budget which reflects the priorities of how Americans want to spend their money is the function of the Director of the Management. Peter R. Orszag is the youngest member in President Obama's cabinet at the age of forty. He is a rising star in economics and in government but the budget proposed for 2010 is a dinosaur feared by many Americans.

With trillions of borrowed money floating around to financial institutions most Americans find less and less in their pockets. The cost of living is rising and jobs are insecure if you have one. Long lines of unemployment are all over the country. Five million are unemployed and rising. The Dow is under seven thousand. More people are using the depression rather than recession.

The rich are getting hit in the budget badly yet they already pay high taxes. Aren't they the ones who create jobs? The right claims that the budget is an assault on their values and are preparing for war. Some democrats also question the ambitious agenda. Everybody asks, "Where is this money coming from?"

Orszag has the ultimate challenge of his life defending President's Obama's budget. He is experienced indeed since he was the Director of Congressional Budget. Many remember his young face explaining complex programs like Social Security. He portrays command of the facts and objectivity.

He is brilliant and well educated. His PHD from The London School of Economics and B.A. from Princeton will certainly come in handy. So will all his writings such as, "Saving Social Security: A Balanced Approach," ( 04, Brookings Institution). In the past he tried to bring attention to the rising cost of health care and how it would cause fiscal problems.

The budget has a lot and more for everyone especially education and health care. There are also cuts which are questioned by some like farmers. Savings are there but unclear on how they will come about. Health insurance for all but at what cost? Social Security needs to be more secure and Medicare works good for seniors.

Peter R. Orszag is brilliant, educated, and experienced. He is the best choice President Obama could make to craft the budget and oversee the effectiveness of government programs. Few question the good intentions of the budget but the conflict is in the role of government in social problems, the amount of money, and just how this money will be raised. Orszag runs marathons but this one may be impossible to win for President Obama.

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