To the Barricades!

Unemployment is painfully high, huge numbers are unemployed long-term, and Congress struggles mightily just to pass an extension of unemployment benefits? "Conservative" Democrats (heartless perhaps) and almost all Republicans voted against. Why? Fear of the deficit.

It's large, but mostly because of the recession, two wars and the hungry military. So-called conservatives say they can't help the unemployed, because it will increase the deficit. But they say Congress should pass tax cut extensions for the wealthy--even though that would increase the debt many billions more than minimal unemployment aid.

Aid to the unemployed, means that people can stay in their homes or apartments, can eat regular meals, can minimally get by, and can look for jobs. That money is nearly all spent in the economy, just on survival. It not only keeps people surviving, it also keeps businesses alive, those providing the necessary goods and services for them.

To get the economy out of its demand trap--too little demand, too much supply--you need to pump up demand by the buyer of last resort: the government can either spend directly, or put money in people's pockets.

However, if taxes for the wealthy are cut, not only does that radically increase the deficit, it has only a weak effect on demand, and little on investment. Here's why: the wealthy spend only some of their money, and less in the United States, since they consume more imports, and travel more. They don't need to spend all the money; they can save it. But does that spark investment? Businesses invest when they foresee demand for their product or service, not because rich people have idle cash. Idle cash fuels speculation, as it did until 2007, and would if the economy continues in the doldrums with high unemployment.

The fear of growing deficits and rising interest on the debt and inflation are misplaced. Lowered interest rates boost growth, but they can go no lower; there is real danger of deflation, not inflation. Further, money spent to put people back to work is the best investment this nation could make.

In addition, there is a push to cut entitlements in order to balance the budget, even though the same "deficit hawks" are promoting lower taxes for the wealthy, and continuation of the war effort--or even escalation. They can all make money on a war with Iran. But doesn't entitlement mean you earned it?

The unemployed and long-term jobless, they don't matter. Just write them off. The stock market's doing fine, profits are up.

Just as in fifth century Rome, the political elite (represented by a 41% controlling minority of the Senate), control the empire with their money. Who said the US was a democracy?

We need a real, (hopefully bloodless) revolution in which the people reclaim their power. Everything will get worse, unless that happens.