U.S. President-elect Barack Obama says Americans
can retake control of their "economic destiny," despite a recession that has
cost the country nearly two million jobs.
In his weekly radio address
Saturday, the president-elect says the ailing economy has left many Americans
feeling frustrated. But he says his economic recovery plan will put people back
to work and make the United States stronger.
Mr. Obama says he will
launch a "massive effort" to make public buildings more energy efficient, invest
heavily in roads and infrastructure, and upgrade school buildings.
The
plan also calls for expanding access to the Internet and making sure hospitals
and doctors' offices are making the best use of technology.
The
president-elect says the initiatives will help create or save at least 2.5
million jobs, and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Mr. Obama also
criticized what he called "the old Washington way" of solving problems. He says
his plan's success will be based, not on how much money is spent, but on the
results it achieves.