One trick seems to be to borrow and spend fast enough to create jobs more quickly than the private sector can lose them. Our advantage, here, is that if any nation’s solons can lead such an international spending crusade, American politicians can. We’re No. 1 for that.

In fact, this economic trouble isn’t really all that big a deal. Our politicians are plenty talented enough to take on some other big difficulties, too.

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste,” informed Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief of staff. And what he means, of course, is that in a crisis there “is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

Like fixing health care. About time that was made to work better, don’t you think? When Congress and the President are through, we’ll be required to have quality, affordable medical care. Every single one of us. Like it or not.

Who better than the federal government to make something run efficiently with the very highest of quality?

But, best of all? Our new commitment to discover clean, renewable, green energy to power everything we want at low cost while providing millions and millions of jobs. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? A whole new way of life, thanks to President Barack Obama and our Congress making it a priority. Getting ’er done.

Given enough money to throw at it, I know the great discovery will come. If not, we’ll get more money.

Later, when Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid decide we’ve “turned the corner” on our economic woes, the federal government is going to really get fiscally disciplined, cutting spending, etc.

Just wait and see. It’s all very stimulating. The underlying principle is easy to grasp: If the nine-volt battery doesn’t stimulate, bring out the cattle prod. If that doesn’t work, there’s always the electric chair.