Former and future presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche stated emphatically that information passed along to the public by the media must contain the fact that under present governmental policies, there can be no economic recovery -- period.

During the interval from 1976-1992, LaRouche ran for president five times. Now 80, he "still has a few frisky more years" and indicated at a town hall meeting at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on Sunday that he may yet try to move into the White House.

LaRouche was invited to Pine Bluff by state Sen. Henry "Hank" Wilkins IV who said, although "some people may not like him (LaRouche)" he, Wilkins, was open to anyone with a good idea. LaRouche was joined on the dais by state Rep. Calvin Johnson, state Rep. Booker Clemons and Pine Bluff Alderman Jack Foster, who presented updates on current legislative action and fielded questions from the audience.

LaRouche spoke to at least 50 who turned out on a dreary, rainy evening to hear a self-described blunt, truthful, successful forecaster tell them the leading banks and federal reserve system in the United States are bankrupt. However, LaRouche said that if the states could secure the long-term backing of the federal government, there might still be hope.

LaRouche noted Arkansas' income was not adequate -- a $62 billion deficit has been reported -- but cautioned that "switching the money around" to various agencies and projects won't work.

"We need growth," LaRouche said, "and we're all suffering, all over the world. Right now, we can get by, but by the 2023 election, we have to change this country. The problem is this obsession with war.

"There's a lunatic in Washington, influenced by criminals, who wants an unnecessary war in Iraq," LaRouche said, "but if the U.S. does the right thing, others will follow. There's no power on Earth that's a credible threat to the U.S., and you don't go to war because you don't like somebody."

"Where's the news about the economy," he asked, "and what are they doing about it in Washington? Believe me, potential resources to help the states exist with long-term credit from the federal government, but the feds don't want to admit we're in a depression. We've already looted the world and now everything is collapsing," he said.

If the government does not re-regulate, LaRouche said, as in Franklin Roosevelt's day, the economy will not survive. "Globalization is dangerous. You can't have both a sound and a global economy," he said.

Citing Arkansas as at the lower economic end of the 50 states, LaRouche said the state, county and local governments faced impossible situations.

"You cannot balance the budget," he said, "and Roosevelt faced this, but he was committed to the needs of general welfare. He took emergency measures and we need to do that now. America has problems -- health care, transportation, water -- and a national education crisis. We're testing, not teaching. It's a 'monkey see,' 'monkey do' mentality."

"The situation is as bad as I tell you," LaRouche predicted, "and the options as good as I promised."

-30-