Republicans & Media: Wake Up On the Wrong Side of the Bed
Maybe not realizing they suffered a substantial repudiation to their policies Republicans have been criticizing President Obama in these first two weeks of his new administration as if we cared. And the mainstream media has continued to cover such criticisms as if either they were news or they were valid.
But Obama scored a victory for his Economic Stimulus Bill in the Senate today. A version passed the House last week. Here are the words that really mean something:
“It is inexcusable and irresponsible to get bogged down in distraction and delay while millions of Americans are being put out of work, Americans, did not want to turn back to the same tried and failed approaches that were rejected in the last election.”
In terms of this stimulus package, there isn’t a whole lotta change going on; the last administration pushed about $900 billion through in stimulus and bailout packages last year to mixed results, and this President will probably get this crappy bill through as well.
Look at how many billions of dollars in this bill are wasted on things not even directly related to the economy; STD prevention, fixing the commerce department building, Anti-Smoking?
Sure, all spending is stimulus, but there better ways of getting that money into the economy, and American taxpayers should get something for their troubles after the spending is done.
I thought that the President was going to propose something dramatic when he offered his spending bill to congress, some kind of public works-like proposal that would move us towards energy independence or transition us to electric cars or something; instead, we we’ve got two lowest common denominator type bills that the Senate and House are going to cobble into so much mediocrity. The only thing dramatic about this bill is the price tag.
Personally, I think Jon Stewart’s proposal, to give the money directly to the taxpayers themselves, would be much more effective at stimulating the economy than the current Highway-Bill-On-Steroids. If my household received the obligatory 10K equivalent worth of cash this bill proposes spending, I would patriotically put it all into a down payment on a Dodge Challenger R/T at the local dealership.
Cheers.
@wilsonrofishing, I appreciate your comment (above). I agree with you. I was hoping for a massive public works program that would work on our energy grid and build and install all sorts of alternative energy means of production; at least that was the one ‘vague utopia,’ I thought was going to happen.
I laughed at the 10K idea; If they gave out $10K to everyone who voted in the last election it would be about the amount of money they’re talking about (right?) — That’s Amazing!
Although…well, I think the ‘responsible,’ thinking is not just to spend cash but to create jobs, although visions of my first laptop, new software, wide-screen HD TV, and a auto tune up…these visions did dance in my head.
I got a new blog site on http://www.barackobama.com and I was just going to put my very first post on it so I’ll make this my first topic over there.
Must apologize. Can’t think more. Haven’t blogged since the elections and now trying to get back to the few sites, the new Obama site for me, check links, refresh themes, trying out new software that would make it all easier…if I can also use it to post to the Obama site, I’m sold.
Citizen,
thanks for the response, and good luck with the new site.
I blogged earlier at my site that I would be on board with a stimulus package that revolutionized America in some way; if it created infrastructure to reduce or eliminate or dependence on foreign energy sources, or created an impetus to switch to electric vehicles.
In my spare time (ha) I am going to research how the interstate system got pushed through, its cost, the jobs created, etc; that to me seems like the last great “public works” type legislative achievement that dramatically changed life in America. I thought that is what we should be expecting by an energetic new administration with a decent mandate and control of both houses.
This is just a big dumb bill with a bunch of spending in it, cobbled together in the lowest common denominator type fashion. It could have been 30 different bills, there is no rhyme or reason to it.
I don’t argue that much of the spending will stimulate the economy, but it accomplishes little else, and that’s the shame of it. How often does a President get a chance to commit close to a billion dollars on anyone thing?
I would argue that at the way this bill is structured, the Jon Stewart technique of giving the money directly to the people (which I blogged about in a humorous manner on my site) in one manner or another would likely be equally or more effective at stimulating the economy as the bill Congress will likely pass in the coming week.
Again, good luck with the new site. Get some rest, and keep blogging!
@wilsonrofishing – My personal stimulus plan of investing $34.95 in new software has led to a nice rejuvenation of my few blogs and web site; thanks for your good wishes.
Speaking of infrastructure, President Obama today made direct comparison of his plans with President Eisenhower starting the National Highway System.
The urban and highway planning of Robert Moses impacted my life for awhile and I wasn’t too happy about it.
But – initially quite surprising — going back and forth to college introduced me to New York State Parkways.
According to Wikipedia, the first section was opened in 1908, four-lane roads, introduced the concept of ‘limited-access roads,’ later divided by wide landscaped medians.
It was so darn pleasant to get onto these roads. It felt like taking a drive in the country, beautiful all seasons, esp. with the changing leaves in the Fall.
I don’t recall billboards (!?). Very calm, peaceful.
Um…I tend to live in rural areas. When having to hit highways to go to airports or big city events it feels like madness to me.
I think we should get the semi’s onto railroads as much as possible. Restore the railroads. Put the trucking business on the railroads. Have loading/unload depot for truck shipments.
Places like Flagstaff, AZ on U.S.40 have major traffic and shipping on the Atchison,Topeka & Santa Fe railroad line that runs parallel to U.S. 40.
Of course, the railroad was there first in “the old days,” & the highway then built parallel to it.
Very pleasant to travel. At nearby Williams, AZ there’s a connection to the Grand Canyon Railroad. Some hotels and restaurants at train stops along this route are now first-class places to go for tourist (on the Grand Canyon Line) and locals (like La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Az).
La Posada Hotel was part of the Harvey House chain from the 1030’s that was noted for good dining along this train route. I like it. Traveling not just rush-rush to get someplace but traveling itself is part of the holiday and/or adventure or business trip.
It strikes me how the initial tracks really needed a REASON before they were put down, like getting silver out of the mines here or something like that. (gotta have more room for people with bikes, baby carriages, backpacks and regular luggage on trains/mass transit…like in Europe)
Enjoy your project.