Campaign For Liberty — With all due respect Mr. President http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=9636

"There is no disagreement that we need action by our government, a recovery plan that will help to jumpstart the economy."

— PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, JANUARY 9 , 2009 With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true.

Notwithstanding reports that all are now Keynesians and that we all support a big increase in the burden of government, we do not believe that more government spending is a way to improve economic performance. More government spending by Hoover and Roosevelt did not pull the economy out of the Great Depression in the 1930s. More government spending did not solve Japan's "lost decade" in the 1990s. As such, it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S. today. To improve the economy, policy makers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, and production. Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways of using to boost growth.

Burton Abrams, Univ. of Delaware Marek Kolar, Delta College Douglas Adie, Ohio University Roger Koppl, Fairleigh Dickinson University Ryan Amacher, Univ. of Texas at Arlington Kishore Kulkarni, Metropolitan State College J.J. Arias, Georgia College & State University of Denver Howard Baetjer, Jr., Towson University Deepak Lal, UCLA Stacie Beck, Univ. of Delaware George Langelett, South Dakota State Don Bellante, Univ. of South Florida University James Bennett, James Larriviere, Spring Hill College Bruce Benson, Florida State University Robert Lawson, Auburn University Sanjai Bhagat, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder John Levendis, Loyola University New Mark Bils, Univ. of Rochester Orleans Alberto Bisin, New York University David Levine, Washington University in St. Walter Block, Loyola University New Orleans Louis Cecil Bohanon, Ball State University Peter Lewin, Univ. of Texas at Dallas Michele Boldrin, Washington University in Dean Lillard, Cornell University St. Louis Zheng Liu, Emory University Donald Booth, Chapman University Alan Lockard, Binghampton University Michael Bordo, Rutgers University Edward Lopez, San Jose State University Samuel Bostaph, Univ. of Dallas John Lunn, Hope College Scott Bradford, Brigham Young University Glenn MacDonald, Washington Genevieve Briand, Eastern Washington University in St. Louis University Michael Marlow, California George Brower, Moravian College Polytechnic State University James Buchanan, Nobel laureate Deryl Martin, Tennessee Tech University Richard Burdekin, Claremont McKenna Dale Matcheck, Northwood University College Deirdre McCloskey, Univ. of Illinois, Henry Butler, Northwestern University Chicago William Butos, Trinity College John McDermott, Univ. of South Carolina

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Peter Calcagno, College of Charleston Joseph McGarrity, Univ. of Central Arkansas , George Mason University Roger Meiners, Univ. of Texas at Arlington Art Carden, Rhodes College Allan Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University James Cardon, Brigham Young University John Merrifield, Univ. of Texas at San Dustin Chambers, Salisbury University Antonio Emily Chamlee-Wright, Beloit College James Miller III, George Mason University V.V. Chari, Univ. of Minnesota Jeffrey Miron, Barry Chiswick, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Thomas Moeller, Texas Christian University Lawrence Cima, John Carroll University John Moorhouse, Wake Forest University J.R. Clark, Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga Andrea Moro, Vanderbilt University Gian Luca Clementi, New York University Andrew Morriss, Univ. of Illinois at R. Morris Coats, Nicholls State University Urbana-Champaign John Cochran, Metropolitan State College Michael Munger, Duke University John Cochrane, Univ. of Chicago Kevin Murphy, Univ. of Southern California John Cogan, Hoover Institution, Stanford Richard Muth, Emory University University Charles Nelson, Univ. of Washington John Coleman, Duke University Seth Norton, Wheaton College Boyd Collier, Tarleton State University Lee Ohanian, Univ. of California, Los Robert Collinge, Univ. of Texas at San Angeles Antonio Lydia Ortega, San Jose State University Lee Coppock, Univ. of Virginia Evan Osborne, Wright State University Mario Crucini, Vanderbilt University Randall Parker, East Carolina University Christopher Culp, Univ. of Chicago Donald Parsons, George Washington Kirby Cundiff, Northeastern State University University Antony Davies, Duquesne University Sam Peltzman, Univ. of Chicago John Dawson, Appalachian State University Mark Perry, Univ. of Michigan, Flint Clarence Deitsch, Ball State University Christopher Phelan, Univ. of Minnesota Arthur Diamond, Jr., Univ. of Nebraska at Gordon Phillips, Univ. of Maryland Omaha Michael Pippenger, Univ. of Alaska, John Dobra, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Fairbanks James Dorn, Towson University Tomasz Piskorski, Columbia University Christopher Douglas, Univ. of Michigan, Flint Brennan Platt, Brigham Young University Floyd Duncan, Virginia Military Institute Joseph Pomykala, Towson University Francis Egan, Trinity College William Poole, Univ. of Delaware John Egger, Towson University Barry Poulson, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder Kenneth Elzinga, Univ. of Virginia Benjamin Powell, Suffolk University Paul Evans, Ohio State University Edward Prescott, Nobel laureate , Univ. of Chicago Gary Quinlivan, Saint Vincent College W. Ken Farr, Georgia College & State Reza Ramazani, Saint Michael's College University Adriano Rampini, Duke University Hartmut Fischer, Univ. of San Francisco Eric Rasmusen, Indiana University Fred Foldvary, Santa Clara University Mario Rizzo, New York University Murray Frank, Univ. of Minnesota Richard Roll, Univ. of California, Los Peter Frank, Wingate University Angeles Timothy Fuerst, Bowling Green State Robert Rossana, Wayne State University University James Roumasset, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa B. Delworth Gardner, Brigham Young John Rowe, Univ. of South Florida University Charles Rowley, George Mason University John Garen, Univ. of Kentucky Juan Rubio-Ramirez, Duke University Rick Geddes, Cornell University Roy Ruffin, Univ. of Houston Aaron Gellman, Northwestern University Kevin Salyer, Univ. of California, Davis

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William Gerdes, Clarke College Pavel Savor, Univ. of Pennsylvania Michael Gibbs, Univ. of Chicago Ronald Schmidt, Univ. of Rochester Stephan Gohmann, Univ. of Louisville Carlos Seiglie, Rutgers University Rodolfo Gonzalez, San Jose State University William Shughart II, Univ. of Mississippi Richard Gordon, Penn State University Charles Skipton, Univ. of Tampa Peter Gordon, Univ. of Southern California James Smith, Western Carolina University Ernie Goss, Creighton University Vernon Smith, Nobel laureate Paul Gregory, Univ. of Houston Lawrence Southwick, Jr., Univ. at Buffalo Earl Grinols, Baylor University Dean Stansel, Florida Gulf Coast University Daniel Gropper, Auburn University Houston Stokes, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago R.W. Hafer, Southern Illinois Brian Strow, Western Kentucky University University, Edwardsville Shirley Svorny, California State Arthur Hall, Univ. of Kansas University, Northridge Steve Hanke, Johns Hopkins John Tatom, Indiana State University Stephen Happel, Arizona State University Wade Thomas, State University of New York Frank Hefner, College of Charleston at Oneonta Ronald Heiner, George Mason University Henry Thompson, Auburn University David Henderson, Hoover Institution, Alex Tokarev, The King's College Stanford University Edward Tower, Duke University Robert Herren, North Dakota State University Leo Troy, Rutgers University Gailen Hite, Columbia University David Tuerck, Suffolk University Steven Horwitz, St. Lawrence University Charlotte Twight, Boise State University John Howe, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia Kamal Upadhyaya, Univ. of New Haven Jeffrey Hummel, San Jose State University Charles Upton, Kent State University Bruce Hutchinson, Univ. of Tennessee at T. Norman Van Cott, Ball State University Chattanooga Richard Vedder, Ohio University Brian Jacobsen, Wisconsin Lutheran College Richard Wagner, George Mason University Jason Johnston, Univ. of Pennsylvania Douglas M. Walker, College of Charleston Boyan Jovanovic, New York University Douglas O. Walker, Regent University Jonathan Karpoff, Univ. of Washington Christopher Westley, Jacksonville State Barry Keating, Univ. of Notre Dame University Naveen Khanna, Michigan State University Lawrence White, Univ. of Missouri at St. Nicholas Kiefer, Cornell University Louis Daniel Klein, George Mason University Walter Williams, George Mason University Paul Koch, Univ. of Kansas Doug Wills, Univ. of Washington Tacoma Narayana Kocherlakota, Univ. of Minnesota Dennis Wilson, Western Kentucky University Gary Wolfram, Hillsdale College Huizhong Zhou, Western Michigan University

Additional economists who have signed the statement

Lee Adkins, Oklahoma State University Thomas Howard, University of Denver William Albrecht, Univ. of Iowa Chris Hughen, Univ. of Denver Donald Alexander, Western Michigan Marcus Ingram, Univ. of Tampa University Joseph Jadlow, Oklahoma State University Geoffrey Andron, Austin Community College Sherry Jarrell, Wake Forest University Nathan Ashby, Univ. of Texas at El Paso Robert Krol, California State University, George Averitt, Purdue North Central Northridge University James Kurre, Penn State Erie

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Charles Baird, California State University, Tom Lehman, Indiana Wesleyan University East Bay W. Cris Lewis, Utah State University Timothy Bastian, Creighton University Stan Liebowitz, Univ. of Texas at Dallas John Bethune, Barton College Anthony Losasso, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Robert Bise, Orange Coast College John Lott, Jr., Univ. of Maryland Karl Borden, University of Nebraska Keith Malone, Univ. of North Alabama Donald Boudreaux, George Mason University Henry Manne, George Mason University Ivan Brick, Rutgers University Richard Marcus, Univ. of Phil Bryson, Brigham Young University Wisconsin-Milwaukee Richard Burkhauser, Cornell University Timothy Mathews, Kennesaw State Jim Butkiewicz, Univ. of Delaware University Richard Cebula, Armstrong Atlantic State John Matsusaka, Univ. of Southern California University Thomas Mayor, Univ. of Houston Don Chance, Louisiana State University W. Douglas McMillin, Louisiana State Robert Chatfield, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas University Lloyd Cohen, George Mason University Mario Miranda, The Ohio State University Peter Colwell, Univ. of Illinois at Ed Miseta, Penn State Erie Urbana-Champaign James Moncur, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa Michael Connolly, Univ. of Miami Charles Moss, Univ. of Florida Jim Couch, Univ. of North Alabama Tim Muris, George Mason University Eleanor Craig, Univ. of Delaware John Murray, Univ. of Toledo Michael Daniels, Columbus State University David Mustard, Univ. of Georgia A. Edward Day, Univ. of Texas at Dallas Steven Myers, Univ. of Akron Stephen Dempsey, Univ. of Vermont Dhananjay Nanda, University of Miami Allan DeSerpa, Arizona State University Stephen Parente, Univ. of Minnesota William Dewald, Ohio State University Douglas Patterson, Virginia Polytechnic Jeff Dorfman, Univ. of Georgia Institute and University Lanny Ebenstein, Univ. of California, Santa Timothy Perri, Appalachian State University Barbara Mark Pingle, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Michael Erickson, The College of Idaho Richard Rawlins, Missouri Southern State Jack Estill, San Jose State University University Dorla Evans, Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville Thomas Rhee, California State University, Frank Falero, California State University, Long Beach Bakersfield Christine Ries, Georgia Institute of Daniel Feenberg, National Bureau of Technology Economic Research Nancy Roberts, Arizona State University Eric Fisher, California Polytechnic State Larry Ross, Univ. of Alaska Anchorage University Timothy Roth, Univ. of Texas at El Paso William Ford, Middle Tennessee State Atulya Sarin, Santa Clara University University Thomas Saving, Texas A&M University Ralph Frasca, Univ. of Dayton Eric Schansberg, Indiana University Southeast Joseph Giacalone, St. John's University Alan Shapiro, Univ. of Southern California Adam Gifford, California State Unviersity, Frank Spreng, McKendree University Northridge Judith Staley Brenneke, John Carroll Otis Gilley, Louisiana Tech University University J. Edward Graham, University of North John E. Stapleford, Eastern University Carolina at Wilmington Courtenay Stone, Ball State University Richard Grant, Lipscomb University Avanidhar Subrahmanyam, UCLA Gauri-Shankar Guha, Arkansas State Scott Sumner, Bentley University University Clifford Thies, Shenandoah University Darren Gulla, Univ. of Kentucky William Trumbull, West Virginia University

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Dennis Halcoussis, California State Gustavo Ventura, Univ. of Iowa University, Northridge Marc Weidenmier, Claremont McKenna Richard Hart, Miami University College James Hartley, Mount Holyoke College Robert Whaples, Wake Forest University Thomas Hazlett, George Mason University Gene Wunder, Washburn University Scott Hein, Texas Tech University John Zdanowicz, Florida International John Hoehn, Michigan State University University Daniel Houser, George Mason University Jerry Zimmerman, Univ. of Rochester Joseph Zoric, Franciscan University of Tags: Steubenville

Showing comments 1—4 of 4

Posted 01/30/09 2:53 PM Obama's plan will fail,and when it does we'er the ones who are gonna take it in the ass...I'd like to thank all those brainless assholes who voted for this jerkoff,GOOD JOB AMERICA! Muleskinner Rainier, OR

Posted 01/30/09 6:04 PM I'm with Muleskinner. Only add selfish brainless a$$holes. How dumb do you gotta be to think you will get something for nothing? sunshine Washington, NH

Posted 01/30/09 6:20 PM

This letter is great.

Haystacks Calhoun NEW YORK, NY

Posted 01/30/09 Wow! 6:33 PM You know that the site, astrongmiddleclass.gov that Obama has now is supposed to be interactive and the American people can input suggestions on the JANET economy.. FORT MILL, SC Should we blitz it?

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