Mar 03 2009
Stimulus on its way!
I heard today that almost $30 Billion from the stimulus package is being released this week to go to “select” states to start on this shovel-ready construction projects. The report said that up to 150,000 jobs will be created as a result. Personally, I think that is really great news.
One thing that I might have to agree with those “other” guys is that it probably is not enough. Considering that the stimulus package was $787 Billion - $30 Billion for infrastructure doesn’t really seem like a lot. Not only that, considering that there are now almost 7 million unemployed in this country, 150,000 really won’t make much of a dent. Don’t get me wrong - when I put this in real numbers - $30,000,000,000.00 - that is a whole lot of money. But, I have to wonder why it is only going to “select” states. Shouldn’t this money be going to ALL of the states and employ more people?
I commend President Obama for getting this out there as quickly as possible. They say this is being released 8 days ahead of schedule. Just awesome. But, like I said previously - I don’t think that is enough. There should have been a lot more included for infrastructure. Maybe they could have done away with some of those other frivolous projects like saving the marshland mouse in San Francisco or buying golf carts for the politicians. I don’t see how those two projects will stimulate the economy.
This is a great start for Obama. I’m hoping they can go back and re-allocate that money and divert it in to more projects like these shovel-ready construction jobs.
What are your thoughts? Am I wrong on this? I almost feel kinda bad for appearing to be negative. I’m not though. I think in this case I’m being a pragmatic American hoping that the money actually goes to stimulating projects.
Thanks,
Sarah
To tell the truth I can’t even begin to critique the stimulus package… it’s too big to. 11,000 pages of legislation are you kidding me I’m not reading that…
I’ll say what I’ve been saying about it… There’s a lot of good that’s going to come out of this package. Our country will be back on track in many ways… that being said.
We can’t keep spending like this. Period, our money is going to lose all of its value. I’m not saying this to be hawkish on Obama - it was on of my main beefs with Bush.
We’re creating massive amounts of debt. Now if we were to counteract this with say, ending our debt-based monetary system (when I say this, I mean, the way we print money creates debt automatically… ironic isn’t it since the solution to getting rid of debt is to print more money), then I’d feel differently.
The legislation has been entered bipartisanly - http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1207 - it’s up to our congress now to make this happen, which means it’s up to us to pressure them.
Toll-free Congressional switchboard - 866-220-0044
Are they red states or blue states? jk
As more of the stimulus comes to light, at least for me, I’m wondering, why the authors found some of the random things necessary. How can they make the lean and extreme argument, all is going for jobs, if it isn’t. Just throwing money into the country is worthless without enough regulation.
And as another thought. So if all these Republicans are professing to want the stimulus to fail, what’s stopping them from squandering the money in their states, or inadvertantly making their portions fail.
skwguitar - as long as they have a way to take the unnecessary stuff out of there, I will be fine with it.
harrison - seems to me given the logistics of repairing our infrastructure - 6 to 10 months is pretty quick.
bstone - I hadn’t considered that option. Wouldn’t surprise me if they did tank it intentionally.