Long-term Problems, Short-term Solutions

This piece captures a truth about what Obama is being asked to do. He's going to have to take on several huge challenges (including the financial sector's implosion, health care, education, energy, and the environment) at one time and try to make up for years of neglect in a matter of weeks or perhaps months. That's a very tall order. I think he and his closest advisers are up to it, but I'm not sure about the Congress or state governments, which overall are likely to be hampered by parochial interests and outdated thinking.