How can American economic policy be so bad?  Here are three examples from the Business page of the Times in just one day--Saturday, April 27.

1.  Austerity during a recession.

Every intelligent economist knows you don’t cut government spending during a recession.  It makes the recession worse.  Yet here’s the headline:  “Federal Cuts Are Concern In Modest U.S. Growth.”  Of course they are.  Austerity isn’t working in Europe, and it certainly isn’t working here.

2.  Internet sales tax.

Here’s the headline:  “Internet Sales Tax Coming Too Late for Some Stores.”  After 18 years of getting a free ride on sales taxes, Amazon may finally be required to collect them because of a bill working its way through Congress.  Unfortunately, many mom and pop stores have already been forced out of business.  By the way, dear readers, if you can only buy it at Wal-Mart or Amazon, you don’t really need it.

3.  The rich get richer.

Here’s the headline:  “Median Pay in U.S. Is Stagnant, but Lower-Paid Workers Lose.”  The top tenth is up 9% from 2000; the bottom tenth is 3% lower than in 2000.  Class divisions are worsening.