Hello

These are grim times for America.

As one of the greatest living economists, George Akerlof, said four long years ago we are are faced with "the worst government the US has ever had it in its more than 200 years of history. It has engaged in extraordinarily irresponsible policies not only in foreign policy and economics but also in social and environmental policy. This is not normal government. Now is the time for people to engage in civil disobedience. I think it's time to protest - as much as possible."

The country will need an extraordinary president to pull us out of the abyss and restore the promise of America. We believe that Barack Obama is the best choice for that role. He opposed the disastrous invasion and occupation of Iraq from the start, and we believe he would be most committed to ending that debacle and bringing the troops home. He brings a sense of vision and hope to his candidacy that is absent from candidates who have been contaminated by too many years in Washington, steeped in the foul waters of DC conventional wisdom.

More on all that later. This blog will be primarily a space for discussion of Obama's economic policy pronouncements. Contributors will be a mix of economists from academia and government, some of whom have dabbled in politics in the past. (Some will post pseudonymously to avoid violating their current employers' policies on political involvement.) The discussion here will not be blind hero worship by any means; where we think Obama has it wrong, we'll let you know.

OK, fired up! Ready to go!