Does anyone feel comfortable with the pace at which jobs are returning to the economy? Well, no one should. We should be asking ourselves the question, what will happen after the traditional buying spree that is the holiday season abruptly ends in January? It could be a long, cold winter from that point.

The American economy continues to shed jobs, although the nose dive has leveled off somewhat. But we have lost more than 7 million jobs since the recession began and are expected to lose nearly a million more. The jobless rate is nearly 10 percent, and when those who have given up looking for work are added, it is around 17 percent.

These figures are dangerously close to those of the Great Depression, making this downturn the Great Recession of the post-world war period.

And, as we all should know by now, some 47 million Americans lack health insurance coverage, and millions more have inadequate coverage -- meaning that if they really need it, they are sure to be shafted by their insurance company. Millions more, therefore, could quickly face financial collapse if they become ill, which means repayment of auto, credit card or home loans could prove impossible.

These are just a few of the lingering soft spots in the economy that are as troubling as a coal mine support with coal dust trickling down around it.

This is where the Obama administration's incremental, policymaster approach to problems could prove disastrous. We could survive "defeats"

Advertisement
in Iraq and Afghanistan, whatever that might entail, and we probably could dither a while longer on global warming, but a double-dip recession right now, with our massive federal debt, could essentially bankrupt the government and plunge millions into the ranks of the impoverished -- usually a prelude to upheaval and war (see 1929-45).

With so much at stake, it is difficult to believe that enough is being done to increase employment, reduce the awful burden of health insurance and reduce our long-term debt. In fact, only moderate steps have been taken in each case, and only more of the same is being debated.

Much more could be done -- and should be done -- and it is up to the president and the Democrats in Congress to be more decisive while they still have the votes to effect change. Mr. Obama may have the Peace Prize, but thus far it could be said about the president, we know who FDR was, and he is no FDR.