One message that both political parties need to get is that our economy is now just plain stupid.  The rich still get richer and the poor just get left out.  While many economists may still want to debate if America is in recession, for most of us, recession is a long standing fact of life.

So today we are witnessing a global economic implosion that threatens to only get worse.  Gasoline is now approaching $5.00 a gallon and could be well over $6.00 before the end of the year.  The real estate market continues to soften and last year 1.5 million homes fell into foreclosure.  Congress is now debating legislation to ease the mortgage crisis but the clock is ticking on many homeowners whose adjustable mortgages are about to reset.

Home ownership was the best way for average Americans to get gain wealth, but now that dream is more illusive than ever. Over the last five years the median income for the American family has increased by only $991. According to Time Magazine 75% of all income gains from 2002 to 2006 went to the top 1% of households, those making more than $382,000 a year.  And again Republicans believe that you will be better off if tax breaks for the rich become permanent.  In this fiscal year the government will probably spend $500 billion more than it takes in. But our growing deficit continues to weaken the dollar and drags down the overall economy.
And today 47 million Americans are without basic health insurance.  The number one cause of bankruptcy in America is unpaid medical bills or being out of work because of an illness.  So our economy is just plain stupid: high unemployment, rising gas prices, record deficits, record foreclosures, millions of uninsured and a worsening wealth maldistribution.

We have survived far worse and as a nation we can prosper again.  But the path to economic recovery will not only be paved by sound economic policy, but also by greater financial discipline on our part.  We must use credit responsibly, save our money more faithfully, and conserve energy wherever possible.  This election will determine our national economic policy.  But no matter who wins, our financial future will hinge on our common sense use of every dollar we spend, or save.
While the economy is stupid, we don't have to be.