Clinton and the Economy

In his article, journalist Eric Veronikis reports on Hillary Clinton’s aims for undertaking business issues, jobs, trade, and the economy. Making use of the former First Lady’s responses in a candid interview conducted by Central Penn Business Journal, the author reveals what her immediate priorities would be in the first 100 days after taking office as President. Importantly, Veronikis notes that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama declined the same invitation to discuss issues concerning the economy. With Pennsylvania and nearby Appalachian states (Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia) voting then or shortly, individuals like myself may wonder why Obama declined the interview. Though Veronikis concisely summarizes Clinton’s main ideas at the beginning of his piece, he nevertheless includes a decent portion of the word-for-word interview so that readers may delve deeper into Sen. Clinton’s goals. Thus, the author improves his credibility on the subject. In general, the author helped to enlighten me regarding Hillary Clinton’s stance on economic problems with his straightforward, dependable voice.
In the interview, Clinton seems to place substantial blame on George Bush, making references to the incumbent President when commenting on the troubled economy. Declaring how “There is no doubt in my mind that after all these years of President Bush’s irresponsibility that I will be working to change our trade agreements so that they are more in line with the best interest of America,” Hillary seems to attack the character of Bush rather than providing critical readers with specific examples in order to bolster her personal views. The result: she discredits her own candidature. While Clinton indeed possesses a mudslinging attitude at times – along with the other Presidential contenders no doubt – her proposals appear sensible and much-needed in fact. Perhaps the most prominent economic dispute between Clinton and her Democratic rival deals with NAFTA – which has eliminated the majority of tariffs on products traded among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In short, NAFTA has been a major contributor to the outsourcing of jobs to other countries. (This related article explains the subject in greater detail.) While Clinton contends that she will eliminate the North American Free Trade Agreement because the bloc encourages outsourcing of jobs, Obama assumes an ambivalent stance on the matter. In addition, I could readily relate to Hillary’s position on unions, arguing how “If you look at America's economy, there isn't any doubt that when unions were strong, there was a stronger standard of living. As we have lost unions, the middle class has become pressed.” Since my father is a member of AFSCME – one of the fastest growing labor unions in the United States – I have certainly grown to realize how such organizations can achieve social and economic justice in the workplace. With a fiery passion – that may get carried away at times – Hillary Clinton is dedicated to improving economic conditions for Americans.