The way to get the country out of recession — and most people think we're in one — is to get the country out of Iraq, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll.
Pulling out of the war ranked first among proposed remedies in the survey, followed by spending more on domestic programs, cutting taxes and, at the bottom end, giving rebates to poor people in hopes they'll spend the economy into recovery.
Say what you will about war, but one thing it's not is recessionary. Soldiers are employed and defense contractors fire up the factories, consistently causing an economic stimulus.
End the war now and you'll send serving reservists back to compete with former realtors, mortgage brokers, and construction workers for a shrinking pool of job opportunities. Defense contractors' revenues will shrink, causing them to cut back on employment and purchases from their suppliers.
War does have its downside, but it's a bit silly to believe that the absence of war is the cure for the aftermath of the housing bubble. To the contrary, it would likely exacerbate the problem.
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