Obamanomics

Obamanomics is a term describing the school of economic thought and policy being pushed by the Obama Administration. Its main doctrine is massive government spending (as evidenced by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) in excess of $1 trillion, which is funded by massive borrowing through U.S. Treasury bonds. With unemployment at 10.2% as of October 2009 and the value of the U.S. dollar plummeting, it has proven to be a failed system.

Obamanomics did not produce 1% growth in its first year, and growth turned down significantly 9 months into recovery.

Key Components of Obamanomics

Reaganomics produced 3%+ sustained growth immediately, and more than 22 million new jobs were created over the next 28 years.

Obamanomics is diametrically opposed to Reaganomics, embraces higher taxes, more regulation, more spending, and loose money. Whereas Reaganomics jump started recovery during the 1980s, Obamanomics is expected to impede recovery.

By mid 2010 the U.S. Commerce Dept. reported Gross Domestic Product did not responded adequately to the economic stimulus passed in February 2009. More than 3 million jobs however were lost and more than a trillion dollars was added to the National debt.

By contrast, the 3.0%+ growth rates sustained by the Reagan era tax cuts as the United States emerged from the 1982 recession provided the necessary stimulus to maintain a growing population and declining unemployment.

Tax increases

Income tax

Obamaonomics proposes raising income taxes on all working Americans effective January 1, 2010. The rate of increase on the poorest workers, those least able to afford it, is 50%, from a progressive tax rate of 10% to a rate of 15%. By contrast the upper 2%, those with taxable income of $250,000, will only experience a 10% increase, from 36% to 39.6%.

Cap and trade energy tax

Main article: Cap and Trade

See also

• Recovery Summer 2010