December 4, 2008

Remind Me Again... What Part of the "Body" are You In Washington Trying to Stimulate?

Oh-my-God... Do my eyes and ears deceive me? Is this true? Our government is once again irrationally pushing to pass yet another economic stimulus package worth get this - $61 billion! Yes, that's right you read that correctly - $61 billion.

Now, I have hashed this subject out with friends and family before. Let me just say that 99.9% of everybody I have talked to about this subject is more than happy to take this handout from the government. They figure, the government is giving away billions to the upper echelon of America why not us. Okay, yeah I agree who doesn't want to get free money. I mean it's like when you're parents would give you money for your birthday or Christmas. But in this case, the money is not really free, it comes with huge consequences. Remember the old adage, you don't get something for nothing? Everything has a price and this one is the cost of our freedoms.

My argument is that all of these handouts is taking us down the wrong path. I believe this money could be better used in creating jobs for Americans. I know that American citizens want to work and be self-sustaining, to have a sense of self-worth. This is every American citizens contribution to society. I believe that if American citizens are working and earning their keep, they will become happy consumers and their spending will therefore stimulate the economy once more.

Plus, as an added bonus, you will receive income tax. That is our contribution to the greater good. You know, win/win! Jobs - income tax - jobs - income tax, it's a no brainer I have to say! The alternative, quite obvious to the rest of us is no income tax, no social security contribution, no medicare contribution, no property tax, no sales tax, no utility tax, no consumption of goods and services, etc. Why? Because everyone will soon be unemployed.

Where are all of the visionaries, the innovators? This money and all of the rest of the billions our government is spending could or should be used to pay as grants or loans to businesses that are ready to innovate and create new jobs in the process. Use this troubled time as a warning. We still have time to steer the ship in another direction. But all of you in Washington must seriously be brave enough to make these decisions. The iceberg is straight ahead and you have this ship heading right into it at full throttle. We have been watching all of you drown in a glass of water. Pause and reflect.

You keep throwing good money into bad, really bad investments with ZERO return on investment (ROI). We used to call this 'JUNK'. I implore you to please start 'thinking' about the consequences of every and I mean every decision you are making on our behalf. This stimulus plan Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proposing in an urgent fashion will only help to cripple our economy and the self esteem of many who are able bodied and want to work.

What this country needs is JOBS * JOBS * JOBS!!!
not more handouts ...

My fellow Americans tell Washington you want to WORK!
Every person MUST carry their own weight...

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Reuters.com
By Richard Cowan
Thu Dec 4, 2008 6:03pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday urged passage of at least $61 billion in new economic stimulus funding this month, but said the future of the legislation requires cooperation from Republicans in the Senate and President George W. Bush.

In a post-election press conference in which she celebrated significant Democratic gains in Congress and her party's capture of the White House, Pelosi of California was asked about prospects in coming weeks for an economic stimulus bill.

"It depends on what the White House is going to do," Pelosi said of the need for Bush, a Republican, to be willing to sign a bill that might pass Congress.

"We have a stimulus package on the table that I hope the Republicans in the Senate will allow to be taken up in a lame duck session," she added, referring to a $61 billion package the House passed in late September, only to see Senate Republicans block it.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, in an interview with Reuters, spoke of three elements.

"It's the economic program of aid to the states and increased unemployment compensation, perhaps followed up early next year by some kind of middle class and working class tax cut," the Massachusetts Democrat said.

The third prong, Frank said, would be unfreezing credit markets and reducing home foreclosures with the continued implementation of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.

In February, Congress and Bush enacted a $168 billion economic stimulus measure, largely made up of tax rebates. Democrats argue that is not enough to deal with what could be the worst U.S. economy since the Great Depression.

Obama also backs additional funds to stimulate the economy. His proposals have been estimated to cost around $190 billion.

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