Lollipop economics sweeten election year

You have no doubt heard the well-worn dictum of Karl von Clausewitz, the great Prussian military strategist, that war is the extension of politics by other means.

Well, the same is true of economic policy. As often as not, it is politics by other means - and the looming debate over whether the United States needs an "economic stimulus" program will, if nothing else, reaffirm that. The debate promises to be more about politics and public relations than economics.

"Economic stimulus" is shorthand for tax cuts and/or increases in government spending designed to accelerate economic growth and job creation. We need that now, say advocates, because the economy is on the verge of a recession or already in one.