I might be taking this a little far, but maybe we need "shock and awe" policy to get anything done in the overwhelming media climate we've developed. We're constantly surrounded by sensory inputs (TV, Internet, cell phones, text messaging, print advertising, Twitter...) - maybe all of that deadens our impulses and reactions to the point where we will ONLY be receptive to this kind of crisis framing. When we're used to extreme sports and people eating bugs on reality shows, will a simple, straightforward problem-and-solution approach really work? I honestly don't know if it would even produce effective policy, but I would be willing to bet that it would produce SOMETHING that the people (in some way) support. Is that good for the country? Who knows, but it might just be the way things are.

I think right now, a shock-and-awe policy wouldn't be a bad idea. I think if the Obama administration attempted to approach each problem one by one then nothing will get solved. The citizens won't think there are as many problems if we go at it one at a time. They will just think the issue can wait if that is the only issue. If we attack all the problems at once, the citizens will realize there are multiple problems and something needs to be done. Thus, they will work to help solve the problems and more policy changes will take effect. This shock-and-awe idea might not always work, but I think it would be a good idea at a time like this.

My old English teacher once said to our class that, today, tapping someone on the shoulder and expecting a response is worthless. A sledgehammer will do the trick. The Obama administration is taking a sledgehammer approach to politics. The nation requires the government to build something sustainable and secure out of the rubble that the previous administration left behind. The best way to accomplish a goal so large is to go at it in a large way. If the fat radio republican, a Rush by any other name, is wrong and the stimulus does succeed; then I look forward to watching the republicans squirm trying to redeem themselves.

I agree that the shock and aw plan sounds exactly what our economy needs. When Obama stated that we either do this or we do nothing in the video we watched in class i completely agreed with him. We have to do something because the problem will only get worse faster if we dont do something right now. Our economy is going downhill fast and we have to do something soon.

I fundamentally disagree with the Presidents "my way or the Highway" mentality, I think that there are things and times that require a "shoot now and ask questions later" mentality. In my humble opinion important domestic issues like health care, education, climate change, and the health of our economy are too important to go for quantity over quality. We must take these issues slowly and properly address them. I have no problem with putting the country in "awe" but I never want the government to be "shocked" and I definitely don't want the country "shocked" by government. In the midst of our current economic condition we can not afford to go for quantity over quality. We must all sit down together and carefully solve these issues.

i think, at this point in time with the current economic situation, Obama doesn't have much of a choice. the fact of the matter is, is that we don't have the time or money to fiddle around with policies at this point. the president must present solutions, and these solutions must take act as soon as possible to get this ship turned around. one might say this is not the smartest way to go about policy and lacks common interest for the people, but in fact it is doing the opposite. i think that Obama realizes the significance within our crisis and is just acting accordingly to benefit the communities self interests. i just hope these decisions are good ones at this point since it has such a "all or nothing" mentality

Ben, I am curious to know -- or clarify -- the basis on which you question the "quality" of the budget. Is quality represented by the number of people who have influenced the budget? How many people do you know who can talk intelligently about the actual policy details under consideration? One worries that the participation you are calling for would most likely, realistically speaking, take the form of meaningless broadcasted chatter on television.

I think that the shock and awe tactic has provided some bad PR for Obama, alot of people saying that he is doing too much, I agree with Ben that we need to take the time to address all of these problems individually and come up with a effective solution. But I also think that Obama started his career in the white house with alot on his plate, and I can understand how the shock and awe tactic seems appealing. Hopefully he can shock everyone a positive way about all he is prepared to do for the country, and then later awe everyone with his success, i have my fingers crossed.

I'm all for it. I'm sure the Obama administration knows they're not going to get all of their policies implemented, and a lot of them will be changed before officially signed into law. So why not shoot high? Lots of critics and pundits like to dismiss Obama's approach, but I think it is the best approach given the current situation. It's like the German's Blitzkrieg, you must surprise and immediately overwhelm your opponent. The opponent here being the various serious issues facing American public policy makers today.

I think its a great idea. Yes, we do have a number of problems that need to be addressed and this may be a good way for our time to do so. If the matters are taken individually then the public wont see the whole scope of how much needs to be done. THis method may overwhelm the public and cause them to start acting on some of the issues. In are current position I think this should work well.

i think that we are ready for the shock and awe policy. ithink adresseing all the problems at once will knock everything out at once. People will know whats infront of them and everything will be upfront and straight forward. tackling a problem as a whole instead of incriments makes changes come faster and it seems like this is the method that we should go with now.

I believe that its a good idea to approach our problems this way. I thinks the only way to really give our economy a jump start and get things going again. I agree that we should approach problems all together right now rather than one by one. I feel that we dont really how much is actually wrong and this would be the way to open our eyes. I just feel that with our state right now, and how these problems havent gotten moved in the past that we need to overwhelm everyone and show them there is a problem then easing into everything like we have.

I agree with Tyler's view that this shock-and-awe approach would be a great idea. One of the main reasons that America feels like it is in such a nasty grip is becasue we feel overwhelmed by the amount of problems that we feel need immediate attention. And though every problem should be dealt with asap an actual method of solving the problems one by one sounds better than slowly working on each problem at the same time. Also if certain issues were focused on and talked about when the Obama administration is working it allows the entire country to be able to look at, understand, and contribute to a single goal.

I agree that the shock and aw plan sounds exactly what our economy needs.THis is going to work because if we do nothing right now it will kil this country in the long run. If we take action right know which we are doing it will hurt the people now a little bit compared to what it could be in the feature to come. i only hope that all of this works out and the goal is reached and the economy goes back to normal.