Hello Richard,   
      
   [..]   
      
   RW>One of the strongest arguments I've seen for this was   
   RW>posited by the economist Robert H. Frank.   
   RW>Look him up on google or your favorite search engine.   
      
   Official web site of Robert H. Frank -   
      
   http://www.robert-h-frank.com/   
      
   RW>I have some real philosophical problems with big government,   
   RW>but there are just some things that only government can do   
   RW>effectively, if we force it to actually be accountable and   
   RW>responsible.  Can it do that, or will it become just another   
   RW>political football to be kicked around?  IF the later then   
   RW>the people lose.   
      
   Well, it is true that Robert H. Frank wrote the book (with   
   fellow economist Ben S. Bernanke), "Principles of Economics",   
   New York, McGraw-Hill, 2001 (since translated into several   
   languages around the world).   
      
   I take it you know who Ben S. Bernanke is, and why this   
   outstanding book is regarded as being the basis for Obamanomics.   
      
   For another view of economics, and how economics really works,   
   you might want to read "Progress and Poverty", by Henry George.   
   Look him up on google or your favorite search engine.  And get   
   your free downloadable copy of his book.  ;)   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)