There is an uncanny resemblance between what happened in the Great Depression and what is happening now: Franklin Delano Roosevelt took the stage facing a worldwide economic crisis and a world war. The economic crisis that FDR dealt with was fueled by the same corporate and banking issues that face Obama, who will also take office facing a worldwide economic crisis and funding a US$12 billion per month struggle in the Middle East.

What can Obama learn from FDR?

Although World War II fueled some of the American economic turnaround, FDR's programs and policies were the main contributors to economic stability and growth. His formation of the (FDIC) and United States Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) helped bring regulation to a corrupt and faltering banking system. His formation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) helped fuel infrastructure investment and jobs and his creation of the Social Security system brought hope back to Americans.

Obama will need to come up with breakthrough programs and polices similar to FDRs to stabilize and turn around the economy. The greed and corruption in the 1930s banking system led to the formation of the FDIC and SEC, and Obama will need to put governance systems and agencies in place to make sure a financial crisis like we are witnessing will not occur again.

Economic stability will lead to fiscal stability, and when U.S. companies see fiscal stability, they will start investing again in technology. Until this happens, the IT sector will struggle.