It seems to me that when politicians talk about wanting to protect the job creators (meaning businesses), they are forgetting that businesses can only create jobs when the economy is good and products and services are in demand.

When the economy is in a slump or recession, workers are laid off and other expenses cut. The same job creators, therefore, become job destroyers. Businesses are not going to hire people out of kindness, but necessity.

When people have jobs, they have money to spend, production goes up and businesses hire workers to meet the increased demand for goods. When people have jobs, government has a better revenue base (income taxes) and saves money because less people qualify for public assistance.

But the government must be the job creator in the present situation, simply because nobody else is going to do it.

Once the economy is stable, the deficit can be attacked from a position of strength.

Doris McNally, Leeds