Barack Obama has broken many barriers and has fulfilled many dreams that many thought not possible. He brings something new, not just for the United States, but also to the rest of the world. The initial response to his election has been overwhelmingly positive worldwide. However, on the long run, let me explore how President Obama is good news for India, South Asia and for the rest of the region.
Firstly, Obama brings a breath of fresh air to the White House which has been occupied for long by a president who has an approval rating of around 29% within the country, but statistically insignificant internationally. Regardless of any change in foreign policy, just the fact that Dubya is replaced by a man named Barack Obama will bring such a dramatic and positive change in the good will that United States currently hold worldwide. President Obama would also change the outlook of the United States in terms of foreign policy in such a way that it will restore America’s standing, authority and esteem in the world. He will restore Habeas Corpus, respect civil liberties, end torture by United States and fight corruption so that America will once again become the beacon of freedom and liberty that billions across the world admire.
As for India, it has always enjoyed good relationship with the United States recently, starting with President Clinton. Many incidents in the recent history like the 9/11 have aligned the interests of India and the United States and there is no better ally for the US in the fight of terror than India. After all, India has been fighting the war on terror for over half a century now. However, the over aggressive image of President Bush has been a hindrance for the Indian government in building a consensus in the country in improving the ties with the US. Barack Obama presidency would change that. Also, he has clearly understood and articulated the fact that the Musharaff government had diverted the US aid for the war on terror to preparing for war against India. This is a remarkable point of view coming from a presidential candidate who reflects the long time complaint of India that many elements in Pakistan, especially within ISI, its spy agency are always plotting against India.
However, his remarks about killing Bin Laden in Pakistani soil have been a concern for many of my friends who I have been talking to. However, to understand what he meant, one would have to understand the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. These are regions that are practically outside the control of the Pakistani government. Even the British tried hard but failed to bring about any level of serious governance in those regions that are ruled by certain tribes for centuries and where Osama Bin Laden and many of the Al Qaeda top brass are believed to be living. In this context, what Obama said was that if the US government has actionable intelligence of Bin Laden or high profile Al Qaeda terrorists to the effect that they are in sight at a location within the Pakistani border and IF the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take action, he will. Clearly, this is not about attacking Pakistan.
Another area where an Obama presidency is favorable for South Asians is immigration reform. He calls for improving and streamlining the legal immigration process. He helps for the cause of legal immigration by supporting and pushing for policy proposals that remove the incentives for illegal immigration by cracking down on employers hiring illegal immigrants and also to create a system for employment eligibility verification system. He also supports securing the border as well as for a plan to bring the illegal immigrants out of the shadows by giving them a path to citizenship if they pay a fine, learn English, not commit any crime and go back in the line for citizenship. Another reform that he supports is in the H1B visa where it would remove the dependency of the employees to their employers for their right to stay in the country so that the rampant abuse of the employees is reduced.
One concern that many of my friends have raised is his stance on outsourcing. He surely calls for cutting the tax breaks for companies that outsource the jobs. While he mainly talks about the manufacturing jobs that are lost by the United States, it also applies to the offshoring in the fields of IT and IT enabled services. While these policies are aimed at protecting American jobs, he has also admitted that outsourcing to India and China is an irreversible process of globalization. All his policies ask for is to stop giving tax breaks from the US government to companies that send jobs overseas. I find it reasonable. It does not mean that he is going to ban outsourcing in any manner. Also, it is not something that can be done by a president even if he chose to.
A final word of caution aired by many is that due to his relative inexperience and unusually high expectations, he may end up as a big disappointment. However, with the kind of competent people like Warren Buffet that has surrounded himself with, I feel that the team that he is going to build will be capable enough to govern well and to change the way America is perceived in the world. For me, and many others who are numb from eight years of incessant politics of dumb, fear and propaganda, the very basic attitude that he brings to the oval office would be good enough for a while. For us who are disappointed that the much promised compassionate conservative never materialized in the form of Dubya, President Obama is a sweet respite from the last two presidential terms. If he turns out to be the president that he has promised to be: calm, collected, reflective, intelligent and smart, it will be change enough that we can believe in.
- This article has first appeared at Splice Today Magazine
As obama won the election,this article gives great expectations to india about united states .As i am an indian, obamas policies are encouraging and this will give confidence to indians in there plans to immigrate to united states so that more indians can achieve there dreams.
Comment by anna cici alex — November 5, 2008 @ 11:57 am
for Obama, my only concern was outsourcing, ( even though I have the feeling that, you can’t simply stop that phenomenon, without actually killing the “globalization” )
Still, his stands on outsourcing will affect profitability of outsourcing in India, and this comes along with the on going market issues + growing competition from China and other countries ..
Comment by dinu — November 5, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
ok, I will stop commenting here if you don’t do that on my blog
hi hi
Comment by dinu — November 5, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Maybe Obama is the right incentive for Indian IT big iron to remodel themselves into Israel style IT (i.e R&D + products). In the long terms, its more sustainable than the current labour arbitrage businesss practices..
Comment by Vimal George — November 5, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Great one Issac… Perfect 10..!
Only Obama can improve the current global crisis….and it’s high time India need a person like Obama as the US President.
It’s gonna help us in a major way…if anyone have doubts, pls wait for sometime and it will be proved..!
Comment by Dinto Cyriac — November 5, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Kudos to the man…
He is going to take control at one of the most difficult times in the history of the US. Interesting times ahead…
Comment by scorpiogenius — November 5, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Obama is far better than Bush not only for India but also for the World.
Comment by കേരളഫാര്മര് — November 6, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Regarding IT, I do think Obama’s policy will not be good for India. And it’s not his concern, he’s the president of America not the president of India or World! His policy is to discourage outsourcing by giving tax-benefits to non-outsourcing companies; I think it will work. India(may be other countries) should remodel it’s IT sector.
What about non-Americans working there? Is it comes under the defenition of ‘out-sourcing’?
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Comment by Haree | ഹരീ — November 6, 2008 @ 6:50 am
I agree with kerala farmer. he is far better than Bush.
Comment by Anish K.S — November 6, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Hey DA you sound like a over zealous fan of Obama
I think the “overwhelmingly positive worldwide” response is more due to the fact that people are relived to get rid of Bush – who was a real pain (just look at what he managed to do) rather than the good policies of Obama. Not that Obama’s policies are bad – they certainly are very good – as expected from any democrat.
Let me wish him the best – he has enough to troubles once he steps into office.
Comment by JMJ — November 6, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
Lets wait and see. Only time can bring out some facts. Well, my regards to The Black in The White House
Comment by Kidilan Saju — November 7, 2008 @ 7:43 am
@Vimal…
You are right… other than processes, if Indian IT companies can concentrate more significantly on original products and development, it will sustain the industry in the long run. I’m not saying they don’t do that, but as a percentage of share, process outsourcing still dominates the industry.
Comment by Domestic Avalanche — November 7, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
@JMJ
I am not only an overzealous fan of Obama, I worked for many days and walked miles and miles and knocked hundreds of doors and canvassed many people volunteering for Obama campaign.
And I was not the only one. I’m in Ohio and it being a crucial state, there were people from all over the country, from NYC etc where demcorats are safe and even a guy from UK who traveled to the US only for three weeks just for the election.
It was a big effort, the ground game, organized by facebook style community networking and the latest technology.
So, I am jubiliant.
Comment by Domestic Avalanche — November 7, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
@Haree
Immigrants working here is not considered out-sourcing.
Actually it is better for America because they pay taxes here and spend money here on food, entertainment, etc etc giving a boost to the local economy. And he is not against that. He always mentions attracting the best talent from around the world.
Comment by Domestic Avalanche — November 7, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
@scorpiogenius
“He is going to take control at one of the most difficult times in the history of the US”
Yes, that is right. The greatest leaders that we have seen in history have always been presented with a tremendous challenge and had the ability, courage, strength and leadership skills to fulfill it.
So, this is an ideal opportunity for Obama to attain greatness. We can only wait and see if he is upto it.
Comment by Domestic Avalanche — November 7, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
@farmer, kidilan, Aneesh, Dinto, Anna
Yes, we can wait and see what happens.
The challenges he faces are tremendous.
1) An economy in peril.
2) A nation which is even more under threat due to eight years of disastrous foreign policies.
3) America has lost its credibility and leadership in the world as a result of these two.
The stakes are high. It would not be easy. But let us wait and see and give him at least a term or two before grading his performance.
Comment by Domestic Avalanche — November 7, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
Nothing gonna change! because its not in the hand of obama bush or anyone else.
US is ruled by the business and industries. they will decide what to happen or not. there is no role for obama or any political parties.
So if they feel good about us, it would be good for us..thats it
Comment by TPT — November 11, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
ONLY SIR OBAMA AS US PRESIDENT CAN SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE MISFORTUNES THAT ARE COMING > TERRORISTS ATTACKS
INCREASING CRISIS FOR FOOD ,SHELTER ,etc OF MILLIONS OF POOR PEOPLE .
ALSO INCREASING GLOBAL WARMING AND HAZARDS .
TILL WAIT AND WISH.
Comment by NEHA — January 25, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
i think that obama is not the better and but the best president not for America but for the world……….. don’t mind please.
Comment by Bidhu bhusan dash — February 4, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
yes i m agree wit u but there r some cases wh ere his policies r threat to indians. like issue of kashmir, outsoursing, then nuke deal.
Comment by liton — February 18, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
With a Jobless rate hits 8.1% in February 2009 in USA.
I have this week less than 40 days for income tax, but must pis..m..o..f is that my taxes and Any American that will send their Taxes; IT has been … a best-kept secrets among tax preparers.. Outsourcing Abroad Applies to Tax Returns, Too , Outsource to … INDIA That since February 2004 when W Bush administration let it go.
So you ask me How I see the outsource?
How will you like if in USA will run the Indian’s government business ?
My biggest issue, I said, is security. A tax return contains essential personal data, including address, Social Security number and employer, so it is a rich target for identity thieves and hackers , My personal ID was stole and new credit card use in?…India l
I hope Obama stop as much if he do that stop outsource that will help to filling of Americans for Indian’s bad IT security. As well as STOP the outsource job and bring so many milions jobs need in USA.
Comment by Joo Fantans — March 8, 2009 @ 7:13 am