Sure the economy should be the focus, but more importantly President-elect Obama needs to put a spotlight on the national debt ($11 trillion) and the unfunded liabilities (estimated at $54 trillion). Mr. Obama needs to balance the budget immediately by cutting spending across the board, including military, and any tax increases should be focused on paying down the debt and addressing the unfunded liabilities of medicare, medicaid, and social security. I think a small national sales tax (excluding food) targeted at the debt would go a long way to starting down the right path.

It is all good and well to have goals for social programs and senseless initiatives like climate change, but unless the debt, deficit, and future liabilities are addressed any new initiatives mean nothing and only serve to dig our debt hole deeper. Everyone should be demanding that our politicians explain how they are paying for all their "wonderful" ideas. I am curious how Obama intends to pay for his stimulus package. America is broke - it is high time to start acting like it.

This is not an either/or proposition. For example he could purchase earth-friendly vehicles from the Big-3 automakers to encourage their development and provide jobs.

There is not much he can do. The economy is down because of confidence and until that begins to return (at the bottom of despair) nothing will improve it. Foolish Americans will encourage him to spend money like trailer-trash lottery winners and that will continue to worsen the economic future of the country.

In my opinion, all of these elements are related and need to be addressed in a a coordinated plan. The failure to address changes in climate has an effect on the economy. I think Mr. Obama should focus on 1) infrastructure which puts construction workers to work, which helps the economy; 2) encouraging business and homeowners and landlords to adopt green technologies though tax credits; 3) providing an out for homeowners - not investors - facing foreclosures without paying off the irresponsible lenders who gave them the money to begin with - let them negoatiate with the feds rather than each homeowner. Just a thought.