&gt; There&#x27;s no &quot;pent-up demand&quot; waiting to be unlocked by advertising.<p>This is why any economic recovery plans that don&#x27;t focus on growing the income of middle- and lower-class americans is doomed to fail. The rich can already buy anything they want, and they&#x27;re saving like crazy. Until we unleash more demand from the lower- and middle-class, all efforts are futile.<p>It&#x27;s also why we should be focusing on, and supporting, raises in the minimum wage, reductions in work weeks (more demand for leisure goods and services), and decreased tax burden on the middle class.<p>This necessarily implies a (potentially dramatic) increase in taxes on the wealthy. They can afford it. If someone claims they&#x27;ll cut and run to a tax haven country -- let them. We&#x27;ll do better without them around.