Unemployment is up. And so are Barack Obama's disapproval ratings. What should he do to halt this downward spiral? The New Republic supplies the cutting-edge answer (not!) — one which presumes we've learning nothing in the last 70 years:

What dramatized the New Deal's contribution to the economy — ensuring that Roosevelt was given credit for the rise in employment — was the advent of colorful new agencies like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Rural Electrification Administration, the Works Progress Administration, and the Public Works Administration. If Obama wants to follow Roosevelt's precedent, he'll introduce programs that provide jobs and capture the public's imagination.

Ah! That's what we need! More three-letter acronym Federal agencies! Yes, TNR certainly understands the heart of Americans today: Nothing today stirs the heart, captures the public imagination, instills a sense of trust, and enthralls voters, quite like, um, more Federal bureaucracy!

In a late August CNN poll showing that the public narrowly disapproved of Obama's "handling of the economy," respondents still deemed "cash for clunkers" — a perfect example of a visible and imaginative stimulus program — a success rather than a failure by 55 percent to 40 percent.

Certainly, dealer payment fiascos aside, the program put a lot of money into the pockets of auto industry executives and stockholders. But the end result of Cash for Clunkers was, whatever polls may say, that it increased prices for people needing to buy cars, particularly the poorer people who rely upon the used-car market.

You might think that's a rather bad end result, especially during a recession. But this is precisely the kind of program the left inevitably favors: ones which may (or may not) poll well, but generally results in more suffering among ordinary people. (Why this should be so is an ongoing puzzle for me.)

Moreover, to avoid what marred Roosevelt's second term — the precipitous double-dip in the depression that occurred in 1937-1938 — Obama should turn a deaf ear to those who are calling for fiscal responsibility.

It's pretty clear he's doing a good job of that already!

(Um, did't TNR notice that what started as a mere recession somehow, under Hoover and Roosevelt's policies, morphed into the worst recession in US history? It's odd that liberals believe, more than anyone else, in the limitless power of government, but then draw no links whatsoever between the worst depression in US history and the political policies of the people in charge.)

He should keep pouring money into jobs and into the pockets of people who will spend until the unemployment rate begins going down and wages begin going up....

Horrifying! The geniuses at TNR think the economy works like this:

1. Money falls from the sky directly into Washington DC coffers.
2. The government distributes the money to the wealthy and well-connected.
3. Money given to these people eventually "trickles down" to the rest of us.

In contrast, conservatives think that wealth is created by economic activity and businesses, and activities like #2 frequently redirect money from things buyers want or need (like, say, new businesses and inventions) into unnecessary and unhelpful activities (flower gardens in road medians, extra cash for those who can afford brand new cars, friends of Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, etc), making all of us, on average, poorer.

And, again, never mind that this approach utterly failed for FDR.

He might also be wise to follow Reagan's example and get tough with foreign competitors who are using import barriers, export subsidies, and currency manipulation to inflict large trade deficits on the United States.

Does he mean increasing free trade? Or is he advocating a trade war?

And, whatever he does to try to mend the economy, Obama should never stop loudly trumpeting his efforts--so that he is able to reap the credit when improvements occur.

Because, you know, we just can't get enough of seeing Obama on TV, telling us how great he is and how much he's done for us. Perhaps he should put himself on television every night!

Well done, TNR! You sure know how what motivates the people!

As Glenn Reynolds likes to say: The country's in the best of hands.