Challenges for A Palin-Jindal Administration

The presidency is no longer a one-man job (and not even a one-woman job). The complexities of modern politics imply that the vice president should do more than just sit and wait "in case". Bush Sr was an active part of the Reagan administration; Gore was an active resource in, e.g., environmental policies under Clinton; Cheney has been very supportive of Bush Jr.

It is not likely that Joe Biden would be a particularly noticeable vice president should Obama win. The reason is simple: Obama is too narcissistic. However, a McCain administration will appoint Sarah Palin the energy czar and assign to her the duty of strengthening America's energy supply.

The advantage of this is that Palin will gain valuable experience, but it also solidifies a new active-VP tradition in the executive branch. That will come in handy when it is time for a Palin-Jindal administration in 2012. They fill face bigger challenges than any president since World War II.

1. Social Security can no longer stay under the political carpet. It is in dire need of reform, and it has to be a reform where we become far more individually responsible for our retirement than is the case today. While a majority of Americans still predominantly depend on private retirement, the balance is shifting steadily and the ever growing costs of Social Security will keep on eroding people's ability to shore up for their own retirement. A Palin-Jindal administration will have to launch a Social Security reform.

2. Federal education spending is one of the biggest driving forces behind an ever growing federal budget. It should not be the responsibility of the federal government; a Palin-Jindal administration must reverse this trend and return educational responsibility to the states.

3. The federal tax code must undergo comprehensive reform. It is costly, complex and inefficient. The international trend is toward more efficient codes and lower taxes. The United States must reclaim its international leadership it achieved under Reagan. A flat federal income tax and a competitively low corporate tax rate make up two central ingredients in a comprehensive tax reform.

Both Palin and Jindal are reform-minded governors. Jindal has a passion for government accountability and Palin has taken on political corruption like few other governors. If Palin can prove herself as vice president with comprehensive energy reform she will be in a very good starting point for reforms in the aforementioned areas.