How to Wreck the Economy – by Vasko Kohlmayer | FrontPage Magazine

How to Wreck the Economy – by Vasko Kohlmayer | FrontPage Magazine

“The higher jobless rate could be the new normal” reads the headline of a recent AP report. Further down we read:

“Even with an economic revival, many U.S. jobs lost during the recession may be gone forever and a weak employment market could linger for years.”

The report’s message is clear. It will be a long time before we recover our former prosperity. Things, in fact, may never be as good as they used to be, at least not in our lifetimes.

But how can this be? After all, it is Barack Obama who is in charge. Less than twelve months ago, the Associated Press and the whole of the mainstream media were selling Obama as the one who would speedily solve this nation’s economic ills. Obama was presented as nothing less than a national savior who had all the right answers.

Writing at CBS, Bonnie Erbe posted a piece in January titled “The Economy Could Actually Turn Around Under Barack Obama.” The piece quoted Jerome Idaszak, associate editor of the Kiplinger Letter, who said: “There’s also a new sense of public confidence in Washington. About 70% of Americans say they are optimistic that the Obama administration will be able to spur growth.” Michael Hirsh of Newswek showed childlike confidence in Obama’s abilities even before he assumed office:

“The new president may think his only task is to rescue the economy. But like FDR, he may have to save capitalism itself.”