Table of Contents
Foreword 5
Introduction 7
Chapter 1 How Involved Should the Government Be in the Economy?
1 The Stimulus Plan Is Good for the U.S. Economy Barack Obama 11
2 The Stimulus Plan Is Not Good for the U.S. Economy Rich Lowry 16
3 Deficit Spending is Necessary to Save the Economy Mike Papantonio 21
4 Deficit Spending Will Leave the U.S. Economy Paralyzed by Debt Mort Zuckerman 25
5 Health Care Reform Will Help the Economy Grow Elisabeth Jacobs 30
6 Health Care Reform Will Not Help the Economy Grow Robert A. Book 37
Chapter 2 Are Cheap Goods, Services, and Labor Good for the Economy?
1 Cheap Food Has Hidden Costs Timothy A. Wise 45
2 Cheap Food Is Necessary in Harsh Economic Times Charlotte Allen 51
3 Walmart Is Good for the Economy John Semmens 57
4 Discount Retailers Harm the Economy Stacy Mitchell 64
5 Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Benefit the Economy Walter A. Ewing 70
6 Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Not Be an Economic Stimulus Jena Baker McNeill 76
Chapter 3 What Can Help the U.S. Economy?
1 Americans Need to Save More to Strengthen the Nation's Economy Alejandra Lopez-Fernandini 83
2 Americans Are Saving Too Much and Making the Recession Worse David Fessler 89
3 Green Jobs Are the Future of the Economy Christopher Weber 93
4 Green Jobs Will Not Be the Salvation of the Economy Tony Blankley 98
5 Credit Card Reform Is Good for the Economy Jeff Merkley 103
6 Credit Cards Keep Americans in a "Buy Now, Pay Later" Mentality Ellen Ruppel Shell 107
7 Capitalism Is the Best System for the Future George W. Bush 112
8 The United States Needs to Move Beyond Capitalism Steven G. Brant 122
Facts About the U.S. Economy 128
Glossary 131
Organizations to Contact 132
For Further Reading 136
Index 140
Picture Credits 144
