NY Times, 10,2,2009 Mission Not Accomplished, Paul Krugman

Dear Dr. Krugman,

A great truthful article, superb job. Thanks for pulling the cover off such buzz phrases as "many shoots." Shoots and sprouts with 52 percent unemployment, among youth, Fresno California farm owners and workers facing unemployment at the 40 percent level do not make a recovery and fail to support a mission accomplished, and irrational braggadocio that is incomprehensible to understand.

The data summaries you presented is the true reality. It contrasts with the various spins being placed upon a dying national economic performance. Two trillion in lost production, employment and growth may be just the beginning. The soothsayers remind me of President Hoover's comment in 1932 that "hobos are eating well, in fact one had ten meals in a single day, or people are giving up their jobs preferring to make more selling apples."

The complacency you refer to can be found everywhere. I recently read about a Republican potential candidate for the presidency in 2012. The thrust of the article included his assembly of a strong team of technology, major players and big party officials. I searched this candidate's profile for a simple action statement to address the under and unemployed without income in this nation. He could have at least thought out of the box and made a few suggestions like;

* Elimination or reduction of state corporate taxes through increase of jobs in states, thus providing payroll tax growth, which has been unavailable this past year, through new jobs,

* Establishment of a strong jobs now, task force composed of corporate CEO''s, economists, bankers, workers, state officials and other designated individuals, which exists solely for the express purpose of job creation-restoration,

* Establishment of a strategic plan for growth in American jobs, including recent high school/college graduates, over the next three years, with measurable targets and objectives.

* Development of a reporting system to the American people listing the number of jobs created, their location, their occupational emphasis, and a list of companies hiring. on a monthly basis.

The time is long overdue for this administration, the congress, and the nation to focus on the main problem, the true elephant in the room. We need jobs in America now, the nation's economy is at risk of being destroyed, let us make this priority one ahead of, Olympics, cap and trade, healthcare reform. let's fix this dying economy with its massive job losses. It still is the economy, we need these jobs now more than ever but a complacency which has promoted a lack of rationality is preventing a solution. The Mission is not accomplished.

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL