AMERICAblog: Obama returns to campaign mode to again defeat the Republicans who destroyed the U.S. economy
Steve_in_CNJ
· 9 months ago
i'm looking forward to his speeches in florida and indiana today. and i'm still hoping the conference committee restores money for school buildings and public transit.
I think this will be Obama's pattern: Roll out the welcome mat, but fight when he has to. If you'll remember, he was more or less like this in his campaigns too.
Hopefully, tho, he'll realize he's getting rolled a little earlier next time.
SickAndTired
· 9 months ago
Actually his fight consisted of the race card. When the questions got tough he was being picked on so folks would back off. I just hope for our sake that the leaders of other countries are as politically correct as we are here.
u2canfail
· 9 months ago
I was looking forward to a change in the way Washington works. It seems the "mavericks" idea of "change" was just "W" to McCain. Even the suggestions they have made to help the economy - were exactly the same. Let us make permanent the Bush tax cuts. Some of us without jobs are asking a question, just 1 question. How does a tax cut help, if you have no income? But, then that is a hard question, much to hard, for folks still working. IF there is no demand for goods or services, how does a tax cut to a corporation create jobs? I can see this is just TOO HARD to understand. Then SC Governor says ... let this play out. Is he willing to give up his salary, home, and groceries for this? No, he is employed, but happy to let us suffer. It is like Katrina, we are too poor to count.
grandma
· 9 months ago
What Planet does Steele live on anyway? Just another dumb republican I guess.
from NY Times:
After Lawrence H. Summers, the top White House economic adviser, suggested earlier on the program that the Republican party was impotent to handle the economy, Mr. Steele called those comments “laughable.”
“He acts like we have spent the last eight years in the mess that we’re currently in,” Mr. Steele said. “This is about 18 months old. The reality of it is, Bush inherited a recession. He got us through that recession.”
uhhhh..............I guess part of that is true from a very specific point of view......... Bush did inherit a recession..........from himself....
moseao
· 9 months ago
I actually respect this strategy. He's basically trying to play nice, and then upon realizing that the opposition doesn't want to play nice, he's taking off the kid gloves. Just don't mistake his kindness for weakness.
Indigo
· 9 months ago
The obstructionists have had plenty of time to come forward with productive suggestions. They haven't done that. They've demonstrated that they are irrelevant so it's time to go on the road, sweep them aside, and stay on track to recovery.
HAD_ENUFF
· 9 months ago
They have come forward but were shut down with "we won, you lost"
Steve_in_CNJ
· 9 months ago
lol. they came forward with a unanimous nay to ANY stimulus spending. have you looked at the latest gallup poll? the republicans despite being on teevee 24/7 are STILL in the toilet. what are they doing wrong?
Indigo
· 9 months ago
I don't see it that way but yu might be right, that there was some good will offered . . . it's just difficult to believe that the obstructionists have good will to offer.
Older_Wiser
· 9 months ago
Get tougher with the banks, too...the taxpayers will wind up with all their toxic assets, most of which were unethical, perhaps criminal, and certainly unregulated. Anyone who believes the banks will pay any of these off that the taxpayers bail, please raise your hand. $11.5 Trillion in US govt debt and growing. They are forcing our hand, and it won't bode well for the next generations.
Even during the Great Depression, fewer homes were foreclosed on percentage-wise than today, and many banks failed (and were allowed to) before Roosevelt was able to get legislation passed to alleviate some of the worse suffering by working people. In fact, it took over 3 years from 1929 when the stock market crashed to implementing the beginning measures. Even so, many people suffered first from want during the depression, than even when the war machine geared up for WWII, from need because of restrictions on consumer resources. It took 16 years before the post-war "boom" and the repairing of the US economy actually started.
Lolis
· 9 months ago
Gallup shows that Americans support stimulus plan and Obama's handling of it in huge numbers:
I think all the reaching out Obama does is not done in naivete but rather smart politics. I still think Obama is one of the most devious and shrewdest pols we have, and I love that about him.
luvboxer
· 9 months ago
Time to tell the american people what is really going on. The republicans will do nothing to save this economy..Barack should know that by now!
The republicans want Barack to fail and that is so sad our country is in dire striats and all they care about is destroying the middle class!! This has got to geto out to the american people.
Gridlock
· 9 months ago
I still fail to see how this was in any way "smart", given that the original bill was eviscerated, Obama caved and gave a ton of tax breaks to the Rethugs, and then they refused to participate anyway until health and education money was gutted out of it.
Doesn't seem like a win to me, it seems like he got played (rather badly) and is just talking tough now that it's too late.
I vote: Lame.
grandma
· 9 months ago
MSNBC reporting the line is at least a football field long already in Indiana.....waiting for Obama later this morning.
katiec
· 9 months ago
It is time to take off the gloves. The republicans are trying to destroy everything that relates to the survival of middle class America, pushing through their inadequate tax cuts that will do nothing for us or creating jobs. What is so sad they do not care about destroying the welfare of millions of Americans, only their party and hypocritical actions first. How can they look at theirselves in the mirror, or, are they actually that selfish and stupid? Well, guess so, look what they have done to us these last eight years!
Luke
· 9 months ago
this is old news already - this speech from last week is just an indicator that things might change. The blogs covered it extensively then, and now they're covering the fact that the MSM is covering it? I realize there was the weekend, but I'd sure like to see a next step sometime soon, hopefully this year, and not just more speeches.
To start I'd like to see the bill gutted of all those tax breaks. After all, they're there - as a 'bipartisan' move - to placate the Right. The Right doesn't want them, so screw them.
truebluecoondog
· 9 months ago
"They must be crushed."
Indeed.
nogo postal
· 9 months ago
It's about tonight's Prime Time Obama. He will speak to the nation as adults. You can bet he will bring up his visit to Elkhart(sp?)IN where unemployment has more than tripled in a year. He will give the GOP a chance to support Dem House Package..(especially $$ to States)He will look and act as a leader and speak to us as adults...actually the part I am looking forward to is when he slices and dices the village media during the Q&A. It's goona be cooler than we think...
SickAndTired
· 9 months ago
One more example of being out of touch. Let's go to the spot where unemployment is higher than anywhere else. Let's capitalize on the fear, depression and dispair. I'm certain the response that comes from this town will truly be representative of the entire country. AND, while he's there visiting with the down trodden, the unemployed and those struggling to feed their children, why not charge them a price for admission?... Oh wait. He did.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 9 months ago
yeah, hope is "capitalizing" on the despair inflicted by republicans. come on, JA, tell us the truth. are you hiring these dittoheads for comic relief?
Dr Albert Gortenbull
· 9 months ago
What about the Democrats who helped destroy the economy? What about the relationships of Barney Frank and Chris Dodd with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? After all, Fannie and Freddie (packed with Democratic party insiders) packaged the sub-prime loans that were peddled to Wall Street financial institutions. Incidentally, ACORN brow-beat local lending institutions to make the dubious mortgage loans in the first place. Is ACORN a Republican organization? Also, as we all know, Barack Obama cut his eye teeth on ACORN during his community-organizer days. Is Barack Obama a Republican?
Steve_in_CNJ
· 9 months ago
what about saying something constructive?
Nezzie
· 9 months ago
The Republican's were not the only group that destroyed our economy, the Democrats voted for it too, check out their voting records! As an Independent I sincerely appreciate any group that will not give my tax dollars to special interest groups, illegal immigrants from all over the country.
I don't care where they come from. We have passed Schipp with taxpayer dollars with illegal and legal immigrants getting the upperhand with tax payer dollars people please call 202-456-1111 and let our President you, no earmarks, no special interest, no pork, this is our money and you are still doing what you want with it, so don't blame the Repub's only, the Demo's are doing worse!
HAD_ENUFF
· 9 months ago
People fail to remember that even with a REP president, the congress was DEM controlled but all the blame was heaped on the REPs. Wake up people. Giving small businesses a tax break, loosening credit and ditching the Unions will help get jobs back. If the business tax were reasonable, the jobs would not be shipped offshore. The Fair Tax would bring business back too. The DEM scare was that products would cost more with the 23% POS tax, but they didn't say there were no taxes embedded from the start and that 23% was the only cost added to the cost of producing the product.
ZennButtKicker (tlhwraith)
· 9 months ago
lol...best joke I've heard all day!
Steve_in_CNJ
· 9 months ago
yeah especially the part about businesses turning away from cheap asian labor when their taxes are cut. these trolls remind us every day that the limbaugh brain-meld is complete and irreversible.
J
· 9 months ago
The main thing that's really driving me nuts about this bill is how the American people are identifying it. For instance, in this blog specifically: "The republicans are trying to destroy everything that relates to the survival of middle class America", and "The republicans want Barack to fail".
This bill can't be identified with 'saving America' the way it has been in blogs across the net...in saying that those who oppose it oppose America's success. We all need to welcome a 'devil's advocate' in this situation, and it seems to me the American people should be the most welcome to it. No matter what party is in power, there must be representatives standing up for the sake of checks and balances. Now, I didn't vote for McCain, but Obama's speech last week did worry me. It is frightening to think the Dems can do whatever they want...and that Obama seems to know it best of all.
EmGD
· 9 months ago
What's he campaigning for, a bill that's was already watered down a neutered due to his bipartisan hopes that got watered down and neutered even further so he could bump Republican support up from zero to three? Maybe he should have done this two weeks ago, so maybe a good bill could have been passed. The damage has already been done.
The strategy is clear. First it was "change" but no one ever actually got a good definition of what that "change" was. Then people were picking on him because he's black so he didn't have to answer the tough questions anymore. Now it's the republicans picking on him because they might want 300 million for Headstart rather than federal hybrid cars. The man played not only the race card but went so far as to align himself with slavery. This pampered child of privledge has never been exposed to slavery, does not know a slave nor should he even pretend to understand what one might have experienced. His belief that the middle class is $200,000 a year or more says it all. He has no clue what this country is about or who is picking up the tab.
Sara
· 9 months ago
I support the PRESIDENT!
Hey Republicans...GO AWAY!
We don't need your ideas at this point...we have see what it did to this country in just 8 years...By the way, I am not a Democrat....I wish it was as simple as Tax Cuts only...we don't live in 1980....this is 2009 in a Global economy in much more fast paced and dynamic world....more than just tax cuts are needed to fix problems. Get it through your thick skulls.
Lyn
· 9 months ago
Republicans playing the "same old game?" No it's called standing on principles or being responsible or something like that. Obama's stimulus is a fraud. Not because Obama is black, but because it is hundreds of billions of dollars of waste. Obama and the Democrats are busy flushing money down the toilet and with it America's future. I hope Obama fails.
HAD_ENUFF
· 9 months ago
I really wonder if people would manage their own finances the way they are willing to manage everyone else's.
plumber
· 9 months ago
"You can't be nice to Republicans, at least to the right wing nut jobs that run that party now. Nice doesn't work with them. They must be crushed. Flex more muscle. "
Who wrote that and what palent are you on?
Don't be sophomoric. The idea that this country is in a recession because of the "last 8 years" is moronic. How long will people say, "well the last 8 years blah blah...."
Guess what, this is not the last recession we will be in, some will even be worse. But the idea of spending your way out of a recession is like using your credit cards to pay off your loans. Yeah, you're ok for this month... but screwed next month.
This is exactly what this spending bill is doing. It's creating a bigger bubble that will burst even harder.
I heard President Obama say the other day that the "failed polocies of the last 8 years" caused a trillion dollar deficit.... Well, Mr Presidant Obama sir, how much will the defecit be after you one trillion dollar spending plan?
that's 2 trillion to you dummycrats that can't add. Anyway
frozennorthobserver
· 9 months ago
LOL, your kidding right? Obama folded like a cheap wimpy dem tent. Obama is either a very weak leader or in the bag with the Repubs. Why did he not use his bully pulpit to go right to the people and tell them to get on the phones to those who were against his bill. Why did he not moblize the millions of people he has at his disposal at his website? He either folded or sold out. Tis one or the other folks. I'll let Mr Paul Krugman bring a little reality into the subject.
wow i can't believe the utter retardedness of some people. (Yeah i don't know that "retardedness" is a word, but you get the point).
This article is insane. 2 trillion is not enough?!!? how much money do you want??? 85 gazillion? 23 quadrillion? or maybe a google of cash?
You think that money grows on trees? If you have a job, you will see your taxes go up to pay for this multi-trillion dollar proposal. And your children and children's children will be paying the inflation costs to make up for this deficit.
You think approving trillions will create jobs? To do what? rebuild bridges, roads, schools, parks, statues, government buildings? Assuming that this creates 4 million jobs (which is bull crap) What happens after all these infrastructure projects are completed? There goes the 4 assumed million jobs that it created, and now we have 4 million unemployed and a trillion dollar debt (added to the existing debt) and 'pop' there goes the bubble again.
Stop this ridiculous spending to increase the size of government, and promote the private sector by cutting taxes for the rich and middle and poor (or even eliminate taxes for the poor). I hate to tell you this, but rich people create jobs. Case in point, you are an entrepeneur... you take advantage of low taxes to start your widget business. Your widget business takes off and now you are rich, and employee 100,000 people..... Oh but you can only make $500,000/ year because you are now an evil person because we are in a recession because the government forced to you give out your widgets for a loss to people that coudn't afford in the first place.
I pay 33% percent of my income in federal and state taxes. Most people pay anywhere from 22% to 35% in taxes... (Rich people pay up to 60%). I have an idea to stimulate the economy. How about we cut taxes 10% for everyone, eliminate all these bloated government programs that suck up this money, and let everyone take home an extra 10% percent of their salary.
That would mean if your net pay is $45,000 (about $65k gross), you are now taking home about $52,000/ year. Yes you just got a $7,000 raise because the government cut your taxes.
That may be a better stimulous plan then spending trillions which will ultimately INCREASE your taxes.
Tell the government to stay out of your wallet.
plumber
· 9 months ago
omg. i am listening to the obama press conference.. this guy has no clue. Whenever it takes you 6-10 minutes to answer a question, that means you do not know what you are talking about.
I could answer these questions more delibrately.... It's proof that he is making it up. Give a concise answer. Don't give me 10 minutes of b.s.
Rajan
· 9 months ago
President Obama and his economic team, and even the entire political class in this country, are suffering from collective myopic vision in viewing and tackling the current economic downturn. 2009 is not 1932 but they are trying to apply 1930's prescription to tackle the 2009 problems when the country had undergone a sea-change in its economic activities during the intervening seven decades. During the earlier era, almost everything this country's population needed - even articles like bedspreads, towels, pillowcases, children's clothes and toys, etc. - were manufactured within the country. Today nearly 90 per cent of the items sold in WalMart and Target stores come from China and elsewhere. Add to them all the consumer electronics, computer hardware, home furniture, etc. Any money which will be put in the hands of the general population by way of tax cuts and rebates will straightaway go into purchase of goods manufactured in other countries and will, possibly, ameliorate the economic situation in China, Mexico and other countries and certainly not here. The manufacturing jobs that had gone overseas are gone for good; they will never come back, let us have no illusions about it. No amount of exhortations, like King Canute commanding the tide to stop from coming in, will bring them back. This country, at the prevailing per hour labor costs, cannot afford to manufacture most of the everyday items and even other more expensive durable goods within its borders any more. This applies also equally to the services sector like software development and maintenance and other IT enabled services. The American worker is, of course, more productive than his counterpart in China or India but the advantage from higher productivity certainly does not offset fully the 4 - 5 times increase in labor cost. The corporations in this country outsource their products and services from China and India not out of any particular love or affection for the Chinese and the Indians but because that is the only way they can compete and survive in the global trade and commerce. It is not without reason or justification that IBM offers to re-locate its laid-off employees to India, Russia or a host of other countries.
Economists who draw parallels between the 1930's Depression with today's recession are rather loath to acknowledge the most vital difference between the two era. It is an unpleasant fact - but it is still a fact - that, despite the saintly FDR's valiant efforts to revive the economy, the Depression would have prolonged its ugly reign well into the 1940's and beyond but for the sudden, simulataneous appearance of three other not-so-saintly characters on the world stage. It was the evil trio of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and General Tojo who, by plunging headlong into a world war, brought a sudden end to the depression in a weird, cataclysmic way. The truth and validity of the old saying "It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good" was never established as comprehensively as in the case of the Second World War. The Allied war effort which created an insatiable demand for enormous numbers and quantities of weapons and munitions, ground transport equipment, ships, aircraft and other war supplies, together with the conscription of eligible adults, opened up employment opportunities for men and women, which did not exist before. But, today, we are not in such (bad) luck. Even the Russian bear has gone into hibernation and the Chinese dragon has also stopped spitting fire towards Taiwan and is content with making and exporting Barbie dolls and baby diapers to the US and elsewhere. Thus, there are no likely contenders for starting a global conflagration in the near or distant future. All other miscreants like Iran or North Korea are no more than just miscreants and are capable of causing only some easily stoppable nuisance . Hence, the active and vital ingredient that played a major role in stopping the Great Depression in its track is not in the medicine to treat today's economic malaise.
Aping simply FDR's 70-year old remedial measures won't do in the very different world of today. There should, therefore, be a completely revolutionary change in the mindset of the "experts" who are now entrusted with the task of lifting the country out of the economic morass into which it has fallen. Investment must be focused on new technologies to replace the old and departed ones and workforce must be trained to master them and to acquire the necessary skill-sets. Otherwise, you may throw trillions of dollars into the stimulus plan but all that money will inevitably go down the drain.
All Comments
"The fighting conciliator"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...
I think this will be Obama's pattern: Roll out the welcome mat, but fight when he has to. If you'll remember, he was more or less like this in his campaigns too.
Hopefully, tho, he'll realize he's getting rolled a little earlier next time.
from NY Times:
After Lawrence H. Summers, the top White House economic adviser, suggested earlier on the program that the Republican party was impotent to handle the economy, Mr. Steele called those comments “laughable.”
“He acts like we have spent the last eight years in the mess that we’re currently in,” Mr. Steele said. “This is about 18 months old. The reality of it is, Bush inherited a recession. He got us through that recession.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/n...
Even during the Great Depression, fewer homes were foreclosed on percentage-wise than today, and many banks failed (and were allowed to) before Roosevelt was able to get legislation passed to alleviate some of the worse suffering by working people. In fact, it took over 3 years from 1929 when the stock market crashed to implementing the beginning measures. Even so, many people suffered first from want during the depression, than even when the war machine geared up for WWII, from need because of restrictions on consumer resources. It took 16 years before the post-war "boom" and the repairing of the US economy actually started.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/9/74530/76...
I think all the reaching out Obama does is not done in naivete but rather smart politics. I still think Obama is one of the most devious and shrewdest pols we have, and I love that about him.
The republicans want Barack to fail and that is so sad our country is in dire striats and all they care about is destroying the middle class!! This has got to geto out to the american people.
Doesn't seem like a win to me, it seems like he got played (rather badly) and is just talking tough now that it's too late.
I vote: Lame.
What is so sad they do not care about destroying the welfare of millions of Americans, only their party and hypocritical actions first. How can they look at theirselves in the mirror, or, are they actually that selfish and stupid? Well, guess so, look what they have done to us these last eight years!
To start I'd like to see the bill gutted of all those tax breaks. After all, they're there - as a 'bipartisan' move - to placate the Right. The Right doesn't want them, so screw them.
Indeed.
You can bet he will bring up his visit to Elkhart(sp?)IN where unemployment has more than tripled in a year. He will give the GOP a chance to support Dem House Package..(especially $$ to States)He will look and act as a leader and speak to us as adults...actually the part I am looking forward to is when he slices and dices the village media during the Q&A. It's goona be cooler than we think...
I don't care where they come from. We have passed Schipp with taxpayer dollars with illegal and legal immigrants getting the upperhand with tax payer dollars people please call 202-456-1111 and let our President you, no earmarks, no special interest, no pork, this is our money and you are still doing what you want with it, so don't blame the Repub's only, the Demo's are doing worse!
This bill can't be identified with 'saving America' the way it has been in blogs across the net...in saying that those who oppose it oppose America's success. We all need to welcome a 'devil's advocate' in this situation, and it seems to me the American people should be the most welcome to it. No matter what party is in power, there must be representatives standing up for the sake of checks and balances. Now, I didn't vote for McCain, but Obama's speech last week did worry me. It is frightening to think the Dems can do whatever they want...and that Obama seems to know it best of all.
http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/
Hey Republicans...GO AWAY!
We don't need your ideas at this point...we have see what it did to this country in just 8 years...By the way, I am not a Democrat....I wish it was as simple as Tax Cuts only...we don't live in 1980....this is 2009 in a Global economy in much more fast paced and dynamic world....more than just tax cuts are needed to fix problems. Get it through your thick skulls.
Who wrote that and what palent are you on?
Don't be sophomoric. The idea that this country is in a recession because of the "last 8 years" is moronic. How long will people say, "well the last 8 years blah blah...."
Guess what, this is not the last recession we will be in, some will even be worse. But the idea of spending your way out of a recession is like using your credit cards to pay off your loans. Yeah, you're ok for this month... but screwed next month.
This is exactly what this spending bill is doing. It's creating a bigger bubble that will burst even harder.
I heard President Obama say the other day that the "failed polocies of the last 8 years" caused a trillion dollar deficit.... Well, Mr Presidant Obama sir, how much will the defecit be after you one trillion dollar spending plan?
that's 2 trillion to you dummycrats that can't add.
Anyway
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/opinion/09kru...
This article is insane. 2 trillion is not enough?!!? how much money do you want??? 85 gazillion? 23 quadrillion? or maybe a google of cash?
You think that money grows on trees? If you have a job, you will see your taxes go up to pay for this multi-trillion dollar proposal. And your children and children's children will be paying the inflation costs to make up for this deficit.
You think approving trillions will create jobs? To do what? rebuild bridges, roads, schools, parks, statues, government buildings? Assuming that this creates 4 million jobs (which is bull crap) What happens after all these infrastructure projects are completed? There goes the 4 assumed million jobs that it created, and now we have 4 million unemployed and a trillion dollar debt (added to the existing debt) and 'pop' there goes the bubble again.
Stop this ridiculous spending to increase the size of government, and promote the private sector by cutting taxes for the rich and middle and poor (or even eliminate taxes for the poor). I hate to tell you this, but rich people create jobs. Case in point, you are an entrepeneur... you take advantage of low taxes to start your widget business. Your widget business takes off and now you are rich, and employee 100,000 people..... Oh but you can only make $500,000/ year because you are now an evil person because we are in a recession because the government forced to you give out your widgets for a loss to people that coudn't afford in the first place.
I pay 33% percent of my income in federal and state taxes. Most people pay anywhere from 22% to 35% in taxes... (Rich people pay up to 60%). I have an idea to stimulate the economy. How about we cut taxes 10% for everyone, eliminate all these bloated government programs that suck up this money, and let everyone take home an extra 10% percent of their salary.
That would mean if your net pay is $45,000 (about $65k gross), you are now taking home about $52,000/ year. Yes you just got a $7,000 raise because the government cut your taxes.
That may be a better stimulous plan then spending trillions which will ultimately INCREASE your taxes.
Tell the government to stay out of your wallet.
I could answer these questions more delibrately.... It's proof that he is making it up. Give a concise answer. Don't give me 10 minutes of b.s.
Economists who draw parallels between the 1930's Depression with today's recession are rather loath to acknowledge the most vital difference between the two era. It is an unpleasant fact - but it is still a fact - that, despite the saintly FDR's valiant efforts to revive the economy, the Depression would have prolonged its ugly reign well into the 1940's and beyond but for the sudden, simulataneous appearance of three other not-so-saintly characters on the world stage. It was the evil trio of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and General Tojo who, by plunging headlong into a world war, brought a sudden end to the depression in a weird, cataclysmic way. The truth and validity of the old saying "It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good" was never established as comprehensively as in the case of the Second World War. The Allied war effort which created an insatiable demand for enormous numbers and quantities of weapons and munitions, ground transport equipment, ships, aircraft and other war supplies, together with the conscription of eligible adults, opened up employment opportunities for men and women, which did not exist before. But, today, we are not in such (bad) luck. Even the Russian bear has gone into hibernation and the Chinese dragon has also stopped spitting fire towards Taiwan and is content with making and exporting Barbie dolls and baby diapers to the US and elsewhere. Thus, there are no likely contenders for starting a global conflagration in the near or distant future. All other miscreants like Iran or North Korea are no more than just miscreants and are capable of causing only some easily stoppable nuisance . Hence, the active and vital ingredient that played a major role in stopping the Great Depression in its track is not in the medicine to treat today's economic malaise.
Aping simply FDR's 70-year old remedial measures won't do in the very different world of today. There should, therefore, be a completely revolutionary change in the mindset of the "experts" who are now entrusted with the task of lifting the country out of the economic morass into which it has fallen. Investment must be focused on new technologies to replace the old and departed ones and workforce must be trained to master them and to acquire the necessary skill-sets. Otherwise, you may throw trillions of dollars into the stimulus plan but all that money will inevitably go down the drain.