Job Creation Requires Spending - economists across the political spectrum get it

[Bill USA]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/job_creation_spending.html

Anxiety among employed and unemployed Americans alike over weak demand for their labor should concentrate the minds of Congress when they return to work today. Job growth is at a standstill, unemployment is high, wages are falling, and our economy is stagnant. Congress can take steps that would address all of these problems—and the Obama administration must push it to do so.

There is broad consensus among economists of different political persuasions that the time to do so is now. A range of economists and independent forecasters say boosting the economy and getting people back to work should be job number one for Congress and that ideological objectives should be set aside until that’s been accomplished.

The stakes are high. Economists are coming to the conclusion that without fiscal action, the economy may not continue to recover. According to JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economists, “the US and Europe are dangerously close to recession. … the most critical period for the US economy will likely be 4Q11, when we may see some fallout from the heightened volatility of risk markets, and 1Q12, when we get an automatic tightening fiscal policy if, as our US team currently assumes, this year’s fiscal stimulus measures will expire.”

This sentiment is echoed by Christine Lagarde, the newly appointed managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who said in late August, “Developments this summer have indicated we are in a dangerous new phase. The stakes are clear: we risk seeing the fragile recovery derailed. So we must act now.”
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[L. Coyote]

1. At least it requires REDIRECTING spending.

One air craft carrier's fuel bill is how many jobs for workers in national forests improving the productivity of our national treasure and future assets, public timber, bridge builders for our infrastructure, light rail builders, wind farm builders, solar power installers on national and state properties, all manner of work directed at employing people to improve the future of the commons?

[blkmusclmachine]

2. But our politicians in DC are getting paid $$$ to NOT understand.

n/t