It's time for politicians to put managing the economy as their first priority

[FarCenter]

The federal government is about one fourth of current economic activity. When you add in state and local, its over a third.

Through laws, regulations, subsidies, direct expenditures, tax policies, etc. the government heavily influences the other two thirds of the economy.

The government is involved in almost all single-family housing purchases through Fannie, Freddie, FHA, etc, and without the government guarantee on mortgages the mortgages would be mostly unsaleable to private investors.

Republicans need to recognize that without government activity, much of the demand on which business depends would not exist.

Democrats need to recognize that business is not a separate entity that can be taxed indefinitely to support social spending.

Government and business are two sides of a single economic system, and politicians need to step up to their responsibility to manage the economy, since they are the largest single player.

[dballance]

1. It is already

They are managing just fine for their real constituents - corps, MIC, Wall Street.