In his first three months in office, President
Barack Obama has transformed government into an activist tool that seeks to help American citizens recapture their share of the American dream. Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal or Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society has an administration acted so boldly and swiftly to rebuild a nation. The result has been a mix of programs––the centerpiece of which is the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly referred to as the stimulus package or bill, which intends to kick-start the economy by providing new jobs, tax breaks, and help for small businesses in addition to extending unemployment and health benefits. According to Recovery.gov, billions have already been dispersed to state and local agencies to engage in projects such as infrastructure repair, environmental cleanup, educational reform, and emergency assistance to disadvantaged families. In a conference call in March, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President Valerie Jarrett asserted that citizens must be participants in the process and actively seek out programs and services that offer relief as well as opportunities. That’s why our editors developed this package. We want to provide a breakdown of initiatives for job seekers, homeowners and buyers, taxpayers, and small business owners.
