If this, then that. If not this, then not that.

The moderators seem to be obsessed with how the candidates are going to have to cut back or hold off their plans for economic improvement because of the financial crisis. Obama has been responding with the “we can’t afford not to” line of argument, but without suggesting why we can’t in an understandable way. In the “nothing to fear but fear itself” vein, why doesn’t Obama say this?

Underlying every one of our financial and economic problems is a severe decline in confidence in the future. Ninety per cent of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Jobs lost, wages for most Americans stagnant or declining, income inequality skyrocketing, pension plans getting dumped, the cost of health insurance growing, the fear of financial devastation from a health problem spreading. It's not a pretty picture.

We must start immediately with the efforts that will start us back in the right direction. When Americans see we are actually getting a real start attacking each of these issues, that by itself will give an initial boost to confidence in the future. Then, of course, it will be critical that we follow through. If we just keep doing what we have been doing under this administration for the last 8 years, like more tax cuts for the wealthy and for big corporations, why in the world after the results we’ve seen would we think it’s finally going to work?

It seems like an unassailable statement that Obama can make and McCain cannot.