Questions and Observations

To those who are disappointed with the slow pace of economic recovery and are therefore contemplating voting for Tea Party Republicans: Although it's possible to entertain the notion that letting those investment banks, insurance companies, and auto companies fail, and not providing money to keep police, firefighters, and teachers on the job would ultimately be better for the economy, it's hard to imagine how the economy would be better right now. Surely we would still be in the painful, bullet-biting phase. In fact, the only plausible policy that would have made the economy palpably better right now is the larger stimulus advocated by the Paul Krugman camp--even if that policy would in the end result in greater disaster. So sure, you may think that recent government actions have been destructive of the underlying strength of the economy and its long-range prospects, but your preferred policies would not have winched us out of the ditch yet.