Last week's announcement that the United States had lost 62,000 jobs in June brought the slumping economy home to roost for ordinary Americans. That loss is a far cry from the 150,000 positions the economy must create each month to accommodate new job seekers.

Even worse, workers learned what they probably knew intuitively, that they had lost ground to inflation in June. The average weekly wage of most employees was up 2.8 percent over the past year, but the Consumer Price Index rose more than 4 percent. The federal government holds out scant hope that it can do much to help. The tax rebates that President Bush and Congress borrowed and sent to taxpayers came and went, with little apparent impact. The Federal Reserve Board has reduced interest rates as much as it can, and while the cuts are supposed to revive the economy, they haven't.

The nation's real problem is irresponsible federal spending. The latest example was a multibillion-dollar package that included more for the Iraq war, but also -- to sweeten it for the Democrats -- an extension of unemployment payments, flood damage repair funds, long-term veterans' benefits and other worthy but expensive "gifts" from Washington.

All of it was deficit spending that gets added to the national debt, which is now soaring toward $10 trillion. How can Washington expect Americans to manage their households through tough economic straits while the government continues to borrow and spend as if tomorrow will never come?

What is the ordinary American to do? First, cling to a stable job in the face of an increasingly shaky employment market. Second, maintain a responsible level of consumer spending because it makes the economy grow. Third, compare the economic policies of presidential candidates.

Voters have a chance to change course in November and, while they can't control the economy, they have a say in who occupies the White House.