Quote of the Day: Bernanke Not On Board the Austerity Train

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OK, maybe Ben Bernanke isn’t willing to do much more to help out our anemic economy, but at least he did say this today:

I don’t think that sharp, immediate cuts in the deficit would create more jobs. I think in the short run that we’re seeing already a certain amount of fiscal drag coming from state and local governments from the withdrawal of previous federal stimulus, so I think in the short run, you know, the fiscal tightening is at best neutral and probably somewhat negative for job creation.

Am I wrong, or is this the bluntest he’s been yet about the idiocy of his fellow Republicans and their austerity agenda?

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And the essential ingredient that makes all this possible? Readers like you.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to devote the time and resources to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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