The article, Congress Fails to Pass an Extension of Jobless Benefits, appears in The New York Times.

It is clear to me that the Republicans still don’t understand how you get out of a recession.  Their only expertise seems to be creating bubbles whose collapse causes recessions.

They are fighting to keep the extension of jobless benefits from adding to the deficit.  When you are trying to pump prime the economy to get out of a recession, the last thing you want to do is cut back the deficit now.  I emphasize the word now. After we climb out of the recession there will be plenty of time to reduce the deficit.

Well, knowing past history, we could cut the deficit and eventually run a surplus.  When the Democrats finally accomplish this, the American voters will vote the Republicans back into office.  What will be the Republican’s winning argument?  This surplus is your money.  You know how to spend it better than the government.  Put us into office and we’ll cut taxes. Debt of $13 trillion?  What, me worry?

Now for the part of the argument the Republicans won’t give you.  The national debt is also your money.  You owe it, so pay it back.  If we cut taxes instead of decreasing the debt, there will be another huge bubble and we will start the cycle over again.  Of course we’ll think of new ways to blame Barney Frank.  You will never knowingly face the consequences of your actions.  The key word is knowingly.  The consequences of your actions will be there whether you know it or not.