Comments on: Stimulus On Hold

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:37:51 +0000

“$150 Billion dedicated to infrastructure such as installing solar panels on all government buildings might create a boatload of jobs and kill several birds with one stone.”

God what a great idea that would be. I'm still staggered that our leaders are planning a shoot from the hip move like this thats come with such a pricetag. Its so George W. Bush.

By: DLS

DLS — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:17:31 +0000

The GOP blocked Democratic attempts to bloat the original package. You're welcome.

By: CitizenKang

CitizenKang — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:26:17 +0000

Hate to break into this scholarly discussion on the merits of the stimulus package. I just wanted to note the headline from this morning's (Republican leaning) Riverside Press Enterprise: “GOP Blocks Stimulus Package”

As a Democrat, all I can say is, thank you.

By: EEllis

EEllis — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Good luck you know that the dems would have taken the heat for not getting checks out. Which I'm sure is why, after not being able to overcome the filibuster, they conceded and passed the bill.

By: Dave_Schuler

Dave_Schuler — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:24:25 +0000

Why should he do that, casualobserver? The status quo is nearly perfect: Sen. Reid can blame the Republicans for problems with the economy while chiding them for hard-heartedness.

By: casualobserver

casualobserver — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:45:51 +0000

Even Harry knows what to do to get it passed tomorrow………bring it back to the House version.

By: pacatrue

pacatrue — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:04:10 +0000

Of course, unemployment benefits are part of what the Senate is trying to pass….

By: awinters

awinters — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:54:44 +0000

T-Steel – I agree with you. I have law school tuition and every extra penny I got would have sent it there. I think the only useful thing it would have done is for the unemployed.

By: T_Steel

T_Steel — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:40:50 +0000

People (like me) would have used those rebate checks to pay down debt, not go to the local mall and spend it. So the stimulus package would have placated the creditors slightly, not stimulate the economy. Now give me $50K and I'm good! Just a joke my good folks.

By: DLS

DLS — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:38:58 +0000

Right you are! The stimulus is merely a vote-buying gimmick and is an obvious election-year ploy (which made the Republicans willing to consider something, in addition to Democrats). That the Democrats would seek more gimmickry and to spend more money buying more votes was completely predictable..

Getting government downsized and much less expensive is the real long-term solution. I will make a concession to Paul[ ]Silver that yes, some kind of health care solution would be logical and desireable; “job lock” (an issue in the 1992 elections, don't forget) remains to this very day. (Just ask those of us who can otherwise not get insurance or pay ridiculous amounts with exclusions of all kinds that don't cover an expensive, chronic condition.)

By: GeorgeSorwell

GeorgeSorwell — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:36:14 +0000

Paul–

Adding to your comment about the cost of college, I wonder if you've seen all the TV commercials for easy-to-get student loans. It's very reminiscent of all those “lost another loan to Di-Tech” ads that were constantly playing a few years ago. Now here we are with a mortgage crisis.

Maybe before there's any reform, there has to be a big crash first.

By: PaulSilver

PaulSilver — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:17:13 +0000

I agree with your skepticism that the stimulus package is unlikely to stimulate. $150 Billion dedicated to infrastructure such as installing solar panels on all government buildings might create a boatload of jobs and kill several birds with one stone.

I suspect that the best thing Washington will do to stimulate the economy will be when they reform the social safety net, such as Universal Health Care so that workers are inspired to seek the jobs they want rather than the ones they are tied to with golden handcuffs. Or when they reduce the cost of college.