( CNN ) -- America is in trouble . And we know it . Just look at recent polls : 70 % of Americans would describe the nation 's economy as bad . Some 61 % think our country is on the wrong track . Only 24 % of Americans think the economy has actually improved in the past few years . And almost two-thirds of Americans are concerned about being able to pay for their housing . We could use Captain Economy to help us create jobs . Plus we need Deficit-Reduction Man and Five-Percent-GDP-Growth-a-Year Dude . Or maybe we can just let The Hulk loose in Congress and tell him : `` Hulk : Smash ! '' ( I 'm not sure how Hulk smashing Congress helps the economy , but I think most of us would pay to see it . ) But , alas , there 's no superhero in no sight . There 's only President Barack Obama or Mitt Romney . I must admit that there was a time in 2008 that I thought Obama could have been a superhero , but I was wrong . We have seen his campaign theme morph in four years from `` Yes We Can '' to `` It Could Be Worse . '' In Obama 's defense , his economic plan has helped the nation . Unemployment was at 10 % in October 2009 and has fallen to 8.1 % , and we have seen moderate job creation . But still the economy has a long way to go to match the booming growth years of the mid-2000s . We had a 4.6 % unemployment rate just five years ago . So here comes superhero wannabe Romney . This silver-spooned crusader has attacked Obama by stating , `` We are enduring the most tepid recovery in modern history . '' Romney essentially admits the economy has improved since Obama took office but claims that he has the super powers that will launch our nation to infinity and beyond . Or at least , as he promised this week , his economic plan would lower the nation 's unemployment rate to 6 % in four years . What 's Romney 's solution ? His website outlines a proposal for economic recovery , promising a five-point plan that he will submit immediately upon taking office , then `` demand that Congress act on the package within 30 days . '' But I think Romney might find that Congress wo n't be pushed around as easily as a blonde-haired kid in high school . All the `` demanding '' in the world might not get Congress to do what he wants . Romney : I 'll get unemployment down to 6 % . Romney calls for tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations , but his big push to revitalize the economy is to reduce the deficit by cutting government spending . Here is my question for Mr. Romney : Can you please show us where this type of austerity has worked before ? I 'm all ears . The most recent example is the United Kingdom , where conservative Prime Minister David Cameron slashed government spending in 2010 with the promise of economic growth . The result ? The unemployment rate rose in 2011 , and GDP contracted for the past two quarters , meaning that the nation is now back in a recession . In contrast , last week we learned that Japan 's economy grew by an annualized rate of 4.1 % in the first quarter this year . Was Japan 's growth spurt caused by cutting government spending as Romney wants ? Nope . Quite the opposite . The Japanese government increased expenditures . While the government spending did increase the deficit , it sparked much-needed economic growth . If either candidate is going to make super promises about revitalizing the economy , he 'll have to prove his ideas have worked in the past . And if he ca n't do that , he should at least be brutally honest and tell us there are no easy answers . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .
Romney : Obama 's economy in trouble , needs an `` Hulk : Smash '' superhero . Dean Obeidallah , Deficit Reduction Man would be nice ; reality is Obama , Captain Economy . He says Romney promises government cuts , but where has austerity worked ? Writer : Candidates , level with voters : There 's no superhero plan for recovery ' it 'll be a slog .