Hi char,

char: "Look, I'm not saying Obama and Congress did everything right."

You're also having a difficult time saying that Obama and Congress did anything wrong, too. I'll take it that you don't have any real disagreement with my previous response.

char: "I am saying that you guys are just complaining from the sidelines and aren't saying what would have been better."

Implicit in the complaint is that not doing what was done would have been better. Clearly, you agree with Obama and the Dem leadership that the federal government needed and still needs to swell federal deficits and the national debt to unprecedented levels, despite the fact that quadrupling annual deficits has done next to nothing to stimulate the economy. Massive deficit spending was not the answer and many conservatives said so at the time. As did the entire Republican House membership. Their proposals were largely ignored because of the Democrat devotion to Keynesianism. Such proposals were elimination of taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains, especially for the middle class; bring corporate tax rates into line with those of other countries; reduce other government spending to 'pay for' the stimulus spending.

char: "We did get out of recession, which was important."

Economic growth is dismal compared to that of previous post-recession healthy growth rates, rates that were spurred by tax cuts, not massive government spending.

char: "Employment figures are very bad, but what solutions do you guys have for this? In other words, why do you think what Obama did was wrong, and what should be done now?"

First, stop Obama/Reid/Pelosi from spending like drunken sailors (with apologies to drunken sailors). Every dollar spent by government is a dollar not available for businesses to expand their businesses. Second, vote in more conservatives this November, preferably Republican majorities in both the House and Senate. Should conservatives gain the majority in Congress, they should ditch the Keynesian economic theory that has only exacerbated problems. Third, keep the Bush tax cuts in place. Raising taxes as Obama is determined to do will only serve to depress an already sluggish economy. Fourth, seriously reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The mortgage debacle can be laid largely at their feet.

I suppose there are many more things that can be done. It's beyond obvious that Obama has not a clue about economics.

later, bud. iowan15