The Big "R" appears propelled by the " Big Mo"

George H.W. Bush famously stated, in his 1980 bid to capture the Republican nomination for the Presidency, his campaign was being propelled by the " Big Mo." This ill-fated comment referred to his decisive defeat of Ronald Reagan in Iowa, with Bush implying the momentum of victory was sweeping him toward the top spot of his party's ticket. The momentum, as we now know, would have to build until 1988, when he rode the wave of his previous opponent's coat tails.

The media informed us today we are currently in a Recession...... Recession with a capital "R"...... a fact most of us have been well aware of for quite some time. Apparently, since December, 2007, our economy has shown signs of recession, with a lower case "r"..... reduced consumerism, reduced access to credit, encroachment on job security, with job loss an increasing reality for millions of Americans. Now, as these conditions have ballooned over the past year, with all elements becoming undeniably worse with each passing month, the lower case "r" has grown into a full-fledged capital "R". We now have "official" confirmation of what the average American has painfully grasped far too long.... our economy is in a world of hurt.

That last phrase was not chosen lightly; we are in a world of hurt. This economic downturn is not exclusively an American problem. Our friends abroad are hurting as well, but as the world turns, where is the center point most look to for prosperity? That answer seems to be changing faster than stocks rise and fall.

Considering the landscape, let us return to the Big "R" and the "Big Mo". We have endured three recessions in the past thirty years, the first one in 1981-82, with unemployment hovering around 10%, inflation bursting at the seams. A messy scene indeed. The government's answer to this crisis? Supply Side economics, Trickle Down theory, whatever one wishes to call a reverse Robin Hood syndrome. Allow the rich to disproportionately skip out on taxes, and they will reinvest into the economy, ensuring prosperity for all. Warren Buffet and George Soros followed this directive, but the majority of the wealthy failed to read that memo.

Then, we entered into the second recession in 1991, with eleven years of G.O.P. leadership, the above mentioned Trickle Down as the order of the day. Bill Clinton seized the moment in 1992, with the Carville styled " It's the Economy, Stupid" motto switching the gears. The "Big Mo" of economic hemorrhaging seemed to be stemmed.

In 2000 we saw a minor blip in the economy, but not severe enough to be labeled a recession. However, post 9-11, the country, understandably, slumped into an economic downturn, with the man at the helm offering the same solution as two Repubs before him; Supply Side to the rescue.

The only trouble is, now we are in the deepest "R" yet..... the current conditions eerily resembling a big "R" that quickly morphed into a Colossal "D". Irresponsible policy created an economic reality we couldn't have fathomed; a tragedy- produced lower case "recession" was actively stoked into a capital "Recession", something most agree could have been avoided. There is a new sheriff in town, and all our wishes rest with him and his talented team, hoping against hope there is a viable plan to slowly, but surely, raise America out of the latest Big "R".... the one we deeply hope does not have the " Big Mo."