Ok, I get that we have different ideologies, and feel that government should play a different role in people's lives. I also realize that does not make one person smarter than the other, just different.

But, this is unbelievable. I think it's obvious that the root cause of our current finical problems is the government incentivizing and guaranteeing loans that banks would otherwise not give. If the government had not stepped in and basically bribed banks to give subprime loans, we would not be in this mess.

Obama knows this. We all know this.

So why would anyone in their right mind think it's a good idea to do it again?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/16/obama.small.business/index.html

um, isnt the root cause of the crisis the overcomplication of the financial sector and inter bank lending as well, its not just loans to small bussiness and 100%+ mortgages, i think Obama is talking about sensible lending, not the reckless lending that happend before the crisis

I think it's bad when an emissary is sent to France, Germany, and Sweden with the idea of convincing their governments to spend their way out of this "crisis" and they all politely say "you're fucking crazy, yankee".

While I appreciate some of the things Obama has done socially (shutting down Gitmo, working to remove "don't ask, don't tell"), his economic policies have been a disaster thus far IMO.

Where is the popcorn?

from what i understand of economics, you have to spend money to get out of this crisis, doing nothing would be a disaster (massive unemployment, complete collapse of banking system and massive public service cuts, to name a few)

On the other hand, if the government isn't spending money, well what hope do we have left? It sucks, it's coming out of our great great grandchildren's hard work and money, but this nation was built on a fat credit card. If we didn't live on a fat credit card, this country would have been left in the dust ages ago.

That doesn't make him the dumbest.

In less than two months, he's run the deficit up more than all the presidents before him COMBINED. There is spending money, and then there is what we are doing. It's crazy.

The US has seen too much economic growth in the past and now has to pay the price for that. The country is rotten from the inside now and it was then. Other countries want more wealth too you know. If their is 8% inflation in China you will notice that in the US, and you'll have to get a one inch smaller flat screen tv.

Obama isn't the dumbest. I question his economic policy, but I think to judge we have to wait... Of course, if the economy gets worse, is it Obama's fault or did he save it from getting even worse.. and if the economy gets better is it Obama's skill or was it the market by itself.