Lollipop Economics 101.(Robert J. Samuelson; JUDGMENT CALLS)(economic policy and the U.S. presidential elections)(Column)

Publication: Newsweek

Publication Date: 21-JAN-08

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Byline: Robert J. Samuelson

An aeconomic stimulusa package would be less about altering the unemployment rate and more about influencing votersa views of vying politicians.

You have no doubt heard the well-worn dictum of Karl Von Clausewitz, the great Prussian military strategist, that war is the extension of politics by other means. Well, the same is true of economic policy. As often as not, itas politics by other meansaand the looming debate over whether the country needs an aeconomic stimulusa program will, if nothing else, reaffirm that. The debate promises to be more about politics and public relations than economics. aEconomic stimulusa is shorthand for tax cuts and/or increases in government spending designed to accelerate economic growth and job creation. We need that now, say advocates, because the economy is on the verge of a recession or already in one. House Democrats are...

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