I think if you go back to the start of record keeping there are always "recovery" periods followed by a "recession" with the depression being the result of a lack of controls. Recession have historically been 1/2 of the recovery period.
In 2005 and 6 I said (based on history) that we were heading for one heck of a recession and took actions to avoid being hit hard by it.. The reason being that both parties, (Clinton and Bush) embarked on programs to prevent a recession in their time..To do this they did a lot of things to prevent what should have been a natural recession and then back to recovery..At least 2 over the last few years. It was like a baloon being filled with air , sooner or later it will break if some is not allowed to escape and the amount managed properly.
Their actions were so severe that I am not sure how we can get out of it without some serious pain far beyond on what we have been experiencing.
The actions of these administrations have been so compex that simple steps of pumping more moeny into the system will not fix any problem. How will they address the impact of 11M+ people in the system who don't pay taxes but use the infrastructures, NAFTA where the US has become apart of the WW economy and part of the 3rd world systems and its problems (e.g. low labor out of India, etc.), trading with countries that can impact our system with just threats, (e.g. China trade, etc.), a generation that has developed personal habits of spending more than they can afford, (sense of entitlement), a current Government who's response was to borrow more funds, and head towards a socialistic form of government which is easier than addressing the problems by accepting the pain to get through it and save a democracy!
I know a lot of this sounds like doom and gloom which I would like to think and hope is an overstatement?
I hold Clinton or Bush Administrations individually and collectively responsible. I think both adminstrations got us here and unfortunately the current one is taking what is the easy way to look like they are doing something while taking the US to a Socialistic state. (I will not argue this point as each is entitled to their opinion. This is mine.)
At some point citizens will have to act to make the Government get back to being statesmen.