In a press briefing with Gordon Brown yesterday, Obama said

The Prime Minister has taken the helm of the British economy.

One can only conclude that Obama thinks there is a “helm” to the American economy too.

In a free society, the economy is the sum of production and trades of goods and services. There is no “helm,” only free individuals producing what they choose and trading by mutual consent.

Imagine if a government official claimed to be at the “helm” of America’s marriages, or at the “helm” of American sexual intercourse, guaranteeing everyone the companionship he needs, requiring the “top 5%” to meet those needs? That is no different in principle from claiming to be at the “helm” of economic intercourse.