by John Weber

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: March 07, 2009

U.S. polls indicate Americans remain enthusiastic about their president but not so regarding his economic stimulus plan. But as a teacher, used to the silence and blank stares of a classroom, I've got a different take on their antipathy. It's not that they don't support the plan, they don't get it. And what you don't getin this case, quite rightlyyou fear.

North Americanshell, people in general have become so dumbed down, so coddled by the 15-second sound byte, it's no wonder the finer points of an $800 billion dollar lifeline get lost in translation. But in this case, Joe Public's not alone. Cause while everyone's got an opinion what will work, what won'tno one knows for sure. Not you or I, Republicans or Democrates; the brash (unaccountable) media, and certainly not the economists who advise them. And while the theory of jolting the economy back to life with government spending is a good one hell, it worked for Roosevelt, right? That's all it is, economic theory, like betting red when black's on a roll . . . or betting black for exactly the same reason. The streak's bound to change eventually, right? Well sure . . . unless it remains the same.

But here's where economic theory and gambling "strategy" diverge: Confidence. A bold economic plan with everyone on board stands a good chance of success, like any team whose players commit. But with gambling, it's different. All the confidence in the world won't help you roll 7's.

Enter Barack Obama.

While his contentious stimulus package package remains a hard sell, the popular president used his first prime-time conference to start rallying support. Gone was the incredulity of the previous week, when the president weakly scolded Wall Street for their untimely bonuses. Rather, a strong, intelligent unBush-like Obama discoursed for the pressand millions watchingon the cause and effect of the current calamity. He did so without teleprompter, notes or advisors eyes levelled, tone direct; steady calm during crisis the perfect contrast to "expert" panellists and politicians everywhere, knee-jerk criticism without burden of consequence, second-guessing as a matter of course.

Consumer spending didn't cause the problem, he says, but consumer spending can help get us out.

"What got us into this mess were banks taking exorbitant, wild risks with other people's monies based on shaky assets. And because of the enormous leverage where they had $1 worth of assets and they were betting $30 on that $1, what we had was a crisis in the financial

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