Trying to get smart on the economy

[margotb822]

And I'd like to ask you professionals for help.

1) What are the best resources to read to study up on economics and economic policies?

2) I am a strong supporter of pay-go and taxing to adequately fund the federal budget (and budgeting to properly use the people's money). What are good resources to learn about and support this view?

3) I know trickle down economics is BS, but what are good arguments to refute trickle down theory (besides pointing out history, which is apparently up for interpretation)?

4) Best resources to understand the causes and impacts of the housing crises and bank failures?

Thanks for your help!

[Cleita]

1. Read up on Keynesian economics.

Wikipedia is a good place to start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian

This was the economic system that helped Roosevelt pull us out of the Great Depression and that was operative before the "trickle down" folks started getting a foothold on our economy. It's also the basis for many European social democracies like Sweden.

I'm not an expert and I'm sure others will come along with far better ideas than mine, but I happen to have been born at the end of the Great Depression and have witnessed both systems at work in my lifetime.

[margotb822]

2. Thanks for the info

Sometimes knowing where to start is half the battle.