Reply #2: The problem with Americans is that they believe in common sense.

[PonyJon]

The problem with common sense is that it's so terribly common. If the "great unwashed" would take economics 101 at their junior college they would learn how woefully they are being deceived. "Oh we need to reign in the deficit and cut taxes that will solve our economic problems, why that's just common sense". The common man really believes this common bullshit, yet he desperately wants to send his children to college where they will learn that austerity will never create jobs. The common man disdains as "elitist" educated men like Krugman but will kill themselves to provide their kids with his education. The common sense person truly deserves the common bullshit that they're drowning in. Oh, also, Robert Reich was Clinton's Secty. of Labor and main economic advisor. The economy was booming during Clintons' tenure. Reich has a very erudite blog at

robertreich.org