Real hard times*

Forget stocks dropping on Wall Street and poor Citibank writing down billions in debt. Here's a story about a real American economy that a one-time stimulus packages will do nothing to help.

After reading the story, I have three initial questions.

First, how recent is this terrible transformation from working class to working poor in the Midwest?

Second, is our health care "crisis" really about rising medical costs or a result of our stagnant and often falling wages?

Third, how in the world can a Republican beat a Democrat in Ohio this year? Mitt Romney's Democratic-lite turn in Michigan notwithstanding, no one making $8 or $9 an hour at McDonald's is going to respond to calls for more tax cuts as a way to dig out of this hole.

*Also, I hope any print journalists wondering why they're still in the business will read this and be inspired.