Profits are down. Exports are down. Capital investment is down. Consumer confidence is down. Unemployment is up.
Layoffs are up.
Manufacturing jobs are being lost. Therefore, the Congress that gets elected on the basis of the growth of the past will have to deal with the slowdown and the recession of the present. Yet, few candidates are bold enough to mention this reality. Just the volume and passion of the promises should make you suspicious. All of these cuts guaranteed benefits deeply, raise the retirement age, cut benefits to widows and the disabled, while requiring people to invest part of their Social Security taxes on Wall Street.