I agree that unbridled government spending (al la Iraq) has dealt the economy quite a blow. The process of long-term recovery is going to hurt. Unfortunately, it means controlling inflation via the money supply and reducing government debt. Of course, none of this is politically attractive because, as Americans, we have a God-given entitlement to anything we want, right now. And any attempt to defy this ideal will loose public approval, resulting in another "yes-man" moving up to Capitol Hill. And the cycle continues.....