An optimistic welcome for 2011

The federal deficit. Health care reform. The Tea Party. Midterm elections. General McChrystal and the war in Afghanistan.

These are just some of the issues that defined the political landscape of our country in 2010. On a more personal level, these things probably had little direct impact on your household. Most likely, you were affected by your job status, your children’s education, your retirement costs and your property-tax bill.

I predict that 2011 will bring relief and much-needed change in both New York state and Washington. Change is absolutely necessary to our financial survival, but it won’t come easily, and it will cause much angst.

President Obama should be applauded for his not-so-“lame”-duck victories, achieved by moving toward the middle and compromising with Republicans. With liberal former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s role severely downgraded, I predict that Obama will continue tacking toward the center.

Furthermore, I predict that House Democrats will regret electing Pelosi minority leader. Voters demanded change in November, and Pelosi represents division and everything that’s wrong in Washington. I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t finish her term and gave the reins to her deputy, Rep. Stenny Hoyer.

I predict that 2011 will bring a much more engaged president. Many wonder whether Obama will emerge as the king of domestic policy or the king of the world. I predict that, like presidents before him, his focus for the remainder of his first term will be on domestic policy. He’ll work with Congress to reach agreements on an energy bill and possibly an immigration bill.

Sadly, I predict that this time next year, Congress will be forced to pass another unemployment extension bill. Things will get better, but the jobless rate, unfortunately, will remain steady.

As the markets begin to improve, Obama’s reputation with the business community will solidify. Mayor Michael Bloomberg will assist in these efforts while he continues to rise in prominence as a fiscal problem-solver.