The thing about economics that astounds me is just how stupid the far right is when it comes to macro economics vs. micro (family style economics). Sure it is easy for an average family to get careless about spending and spend itself into the poorhouse. But when it comes to macro econmics not spending in the right places has the same negative result.

At the macro economic level when the United States pours money into nation building overseas it nearly always, except for a few American corporations, is a big economic negative for America. Think of the billions wasted in Iraq and Afghanistan in this regard.

When, however, the deficit freaks refuse to allow the government to spend (invest) money right here in America on such critical things as job producing basic research, infrastructure upgrading and the building of a modern transportation systems, it kills jobs, drying up product demand because folks out of work have no money to spend. Thus the economy collapses, and that in turn quickly runs up the deficit because of diminished tax revenue needed to support basic service personnel like firemen, teachers, air traffic controllers, and hundreds more jobs that are key to the functioning of a modern country. Indeed, austerity is NOT a deficit reduction program at the macro level, it is a nation smasher.

How many examples of austerity produced recessions and depressions do these “deficit hawks” need to experience before the light goes on? Maybe it’s just that these hicks don’t have a light in their heads to go on.