Bingo. Government policies may play some role, especially in the short term, but in general, our economic problems are mostly systemic. Times are changing, domestically and internationally. We no longer live in a world where most everyone can get a decent job.
The changes are demographic, technological, trade and communications related, but they are here nonetheless.

The new reality is that we have more people than we need to keep the economy running smoothly. This may be great for the planet as a whole, because it pushes up living standards in the third world where most manufacturing is now being done. But Americans (and Europeans) are going to have to learn to live with less, unless they have specialized skills. And we can't all be geotechnologists or spacecraft designers. And I understand even they aren't doing too well lately.

No conspiracy, no villains. Shit just happened while we weren't paying attention.