Prospect of a Double-Dip Recession - WSJ.com

BIG PICTURE - SMALL PICTURE: Prospect of a Double-Dip Recession - WSJ.com

One thing missing from this analysis is a comparison of the share of GDP to be taken and being taken by government - i.e. the BIG PICTURE!

> Back in the early 80's, the share of GDP was coming down (and not from as high as Obama's 25%) and it was determined that the US economy needed the Feds to take about 19.8% or so for the economy to move out of stagnation.

> Now we have a president (Obama) who thinks 25% of GDP won't impact the economy.

I'd like to see some reference to what happens to an economy when more of what it produces goes to social consumption and not investment or into the pockets of producers and investors.

(The recent example of Illinois having to pay out more money in tax breaks to keep companies from leaving than it planned to earn with its corporate tax increase is rather emblematic - WSJ, Thurs. 6/9 I believe.)

Or, the impact on jobs and earnings of the financial industry of Obama policies. Well, who'd-a-believed that earnings and returns are down and people are going to be fired!

Democrats like to see all the contentedness of the 'entitled' with their government programs. They seem to ignore the other side of the coin - which is the cost and what is forgone as a result.