i agree with those who say the president's policies were too gun shy (stimulus not near big enough and his keynseian-light economics way too watered down for my taste) they eventualy started working - though not enough as if he had listened to people like robert reich instead of, well certain people. he was still more right (as in correct) than his adversaries.

of the drag on the economy was caused by state and local layoff.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002238596

a lot of this has to do with the priorities of right-wing state legislatures. frankly, i agree with most of the people here who say that had the president's policies been more progressive (keynesian) we'd have been out of this quicker. in fact, i agree with them in that the president should have been more aggressive in pushing said policies. however, i think current stats prove that his keynes - light approach is far preferable to those who wish to return to the days of reagan/bushenomics or, god forbid, the ron paul austrian school of "all hogs to the trough" way of doing things.

if we can keep the executive and gain the legislative branch, i think a big minimum wage increase should be in order. this is one of my pet issues. the minimum wage should be around 11 dollars if it had kept up with inflation in my lifetime.

is a federal minimun wage.