The Plan: Barack Obama's Promise to America and His Plan for the Economy, Iraq, Healthcare, and More [Paperback]

Barack Obama (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2009

This book explains in detail President Obama’s plan for America’s most pressing problems. It describes how Obama intends to re-position the United States as a leader and role model for the world. In the midst of one of the greatest challenges our country has faced, Obama lays out his vision and goals for putting America back on track. Among the topics are: Reviving the economy, reducing the deficit, leaving Iraq, Universal Healthcare, Stem Cell Research, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea, energy independence, caring for our Veterans, improving education, Global Warming, Social Security, improving infrastructure, lowering taxes, and fighting terrorism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Pacific Publishing Studio (March 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982375646
• ISBN-13: 978-0982375648
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Obama didn't write this book, May 8, 2010

By 

Josiah Segebart - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Plan: Barack Obama's Promise to America and His Plan for the Economy, Iraq, Healthcare, and More (Paperback)

This book was a big let down. I wanted something that was written by the president, but instead this book was a collection speeches that he has said about these topics. Then after every speech someone else writes a dumbed down version of what the speech was about. They even refer to the president in the third person saying things like, "President Obama says..." Or, "what the president means..."

If you want a collection of speeches that the president didn't write in a book that wasn't written by the president then this book is for you. If you want something that was actually written by the president look elsewhere.

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Grade the President, February 20, 2012

By 

Anne M. Bradley "appleinmyeye" (connecticut) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Plan: Barack Obama's Promise to America and His Plan for the Economy, Iraq, Healthcare, and More (Paperback)

Book Review

THE PLAN by Barack Obama

This book is for, as President Obama puts it, for "anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy"...

There are 139 pages, comprised of Four Sections--Restoring the Economy and Meeting Our National Obligations, Improving the Lives of Americans, Protecting the Nation & Restoring American Values, and Improving Our Communities.

This is a presentation which the President offered just after he was elected three years ago.

Obama reminds the reader that what matters is the public's wants - their consensus of values, expectations, and goals. He reminds the reader what paid for his campaign was primarily a collection of small dollar donations - $5, $10...even less. He purposefully ran his campaign this way to get the voters engaged. To let the voters know how powerful a democracy can be. To let everyone know they do have a voice. He reminds us of our backbone--self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. He also reminds us of our imperfections--partisanship, pettiness, immaturity. Our ideals which have endured: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. And what is ahead is growth, changing to mature as a nation who has grasped the sophistications we have to enjoy today. He speaks of one lady, 106 years old, who has seen and experienced history in our nation: "...the heartache and the hope, the struggle and the progress, the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: YES WE CAN."...He ends this introduction, which was his Election Night Victory Speech, with:

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time--to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth--that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sum up the spirit of a people: YES WE CAN. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

RESTORING THE ECONOMY AND MEETING OUR NATIONAL OBLIGATIONS

(Taxes, Fiscal Policy,Energy and Environment, Science and Technology)

Obama straight-talks the people regarding the state of our economy and the need to restructure, as a Renaissance, a Revolution, to treat our lack of confidence with a dose of fight, a dose of discovery to find solutions, with the belief that Nature (human nature as well as the environment), in fact, is perfect ultimately - and we need to foster those perfections. He teaches us that our economic structure over the past decades has not been good building blocks and we need to apply new, workable structures which ensure confidence and trust. President Obama speaks of the "sparks" of results which his administration has supported -the 57 police officers in Minneapolis, who were able to keep their jobs rather than be cut by layoffs; tax cuts for working households, extended unemployment, tax credits for families who have college students, and more. He emphasized the need "to get it right". He assured the public that their money IS safe in the banks, to restart lending (for homeowners, for businesses, and put a stop to unreliable investments) ONCE his administration has completed the process of diagnosing - a most arduous process which he does not candy-coat. He emphasizes the cost of action to be great, yet the failure to act is undoubtedly self-destructing. President Obama includes the importance of not being angry, not wasting time and energy and money to revolts, but focusing on revolutionizing instead. He, in essence, is forming a public contract, in that both parties have to have a willingness to give up something to meet a greater cause - our futures. President Obama has given significant recognition to other countries (such as China, Japan, and Germany) which have developed higher sophistications for energy, particularly Solar Technology. Auto hybrids were successfully manufactured in Korea. He provided his tax plan which included simplifying as well as applying, more enforcement techniques which involve solutions in the collections process, and more. Fiscal Policy was addressed on reversing taxes for the wealthy, cutting pork barrel spending, ending wasteful government spending, and making spending more accountable and efficient overall. The Energy and Environment was described with not only short-term solutions, but long term solutions. I encourage you to read through this and discover for yourself what you would "grade" our President's administration in addressing those plans. Science And Technology comprised the lengthiest descriptions. The necessity to stay on top of internet, software and hardware, and communications techniques was described as not only a reality, but a must. (Where would we have been if we had not had the edge with the Navajo "code talkers" during World War II?). Many facets of science and technology are referred to in this book - including Research & Development (R&D) and employment of Science and Technology "to solve pressing problems".

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF AMERICANS

(Health Care, Education, Family, Women, Social Security and Medicare)

President Obama begins with his goal to make sure every American is insured and the cost-effectiveness our country would enjoy. He emphasized "people and business first", elaborating on the fact that a healthy country is a thriving country, using basic principles and logic to support this goal. Education is highly-emphasized. For years our country has been emphasizing "knowledge is power" yet he questioned whether we were really `walking the walk'. Several pages were invested in this book to cover the needs from preschool - to grade school - to high school - to higher education. Page 51 is the section on the importance of family - the recognition of the logistical needs with the very concept "we will always have family structures". It is simply a human need, how we are designed to be. His section on Women - their voice to be heard, their needs to be met - to include the evolving desire to be treated as equals in the workplace. Domestic violence almost always results in a woman being harmed - not the man. President Obama emphasized the enforcement of all which we do recognize already, yet tend to fail in applying. Social Security and Medicare need stabilizing and President Obama has described just exactly how he seeks to stabilize these programs, with taxing the higher-income individuals more and making other plans, to include incentives for those working families which save their money. He also stated that job discrimination by the age factor will not be tolerated - quite an interesting viewpoint to emphasize. And, lastly, in this section, he referred to Affordable Health Care and what he wanted to make happen - cheaper prescription drugs, transparency to medicare plans, and strengthen long-term care options.

PROTECTING THE NATION AND RESTORING AMERICAN VALUES

(Iraq, Nuclear Threat & Terrorism, Foreign Policy, Homeland Security, and Defense)

President Obama promised to end the Iraq War, bring the troops home, and get Osama Bin Laden. He emphasized the need for strategy, to end the war responsibly, and help Iraq take care of themselves. He emphasized the importance of preventing a humanitarian crisis. Nuclear Threat and Terrorism - the production of uranium (A known total of 50 tons exists all over the world), and the production of nuclear weaponry (15,000 to 16,000 in the former Soviet Union alone), and the estimation of the capability of making 40,000 weapons. (no doubt it very likely could be under-estimated). He promised to seek to secure all nuclear materials around the world and strengthen the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty - for one purpose, for countries to "lay down their swords" and emphasize the need to be communicative and above-board. Several pages go into depth regarding the statuses of various international concerns and the need for all to be engaged, not just placing the burden on our military. He further describes the War in Iraq in a section titled "Foreign Policy" - this war "has emboldened Iran"; showing a significant understanding of the impact and the possibility of wrong (aka "evil") forces taking opportunity to get further foothold in power and destruction. He emphasized this concerning al Qaeda and the Taliban. Several pages are invested in not only teaching but treating these circumstances. President Obama referred to Homeland Security, established by President Bush, and considered an outright necessity by President Obama, to include building and modernizing infrastructures. The use of our Defense is described as "Our country's greatest military asset is the men and woman who wear the uniform of the United States"...the emphasis of clearly-defining missions which we send our troops in harms's way, and more. Six pages are invested in describing and proposing those efforts.

IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES

(Veterans, Civil Rights, Poverty, Rural Policy, Urban Policy, Community Service, Disabilities, and Immigration)

You will most certainly want to thoroughly read this section. It is indepth, shows a constant theme of "keeping faith with those who serve" as being a core value, to include women veterans. His section on Civil Rights begin with looking to our leaders of the future--teenagers and college students. He emphasized the enforcement of the constitutional structure which already exists, and... Read more ›

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, April 6, 2009

By 

Helen Wilson (WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Plan: Barack Obama's Promise to America and His Plan for the Economy, Iraq, Healthcare, and More (Paperback)

I'm a political junky, so I loved the book. If you like to follow politics, this book is a must have. I'm not sure there has ever been a book like this, where a president is willing to let the whole nation be reminded of his campaign promises. This is the kind of transparency I've been waiting 8 years for. Thanks. Five Stars.