It's pretty clear that it is you who doesn't understand the current economic problem.
Unlike any other economic downturn in history, this is one that is starting at the top of the economic chain: bank capital. All other slowdowns started at the production level, which is why unemployment and GDP have always been used as an indicator.
Please take a look at one of your dollar bills. At the top it states it is a Federal Reserve Note, not a U.S. Treasury Certificate. The Treasury hasn't issued any currency since the early 1970s. Today's currency is Federal Reserve Notes that are backed up by the assets held in the private banking system. As the private banking system loses asset value because of mortgage defaults, the value of the Federal Reserve Notes declines. As these values decline, it cost more in dollars to buy energy, food, and other staples. That's inflation.
As it cost more for staples, consumers have less money to spend on consumer items. That leads to recession.