Americans Find Stimulus Not So Stimulating

In our newly-minted government's rush to do something, anything about the recession, it begins to appear that they may have leaped before they looked. Now that the particulars of the $900 billion spending bill (let's call it what it is) have come to light, more & more Americans are scratching their heads & saying "Why was this a good idea again?"

That Nancy Pelosi has this huge government payoff package loaded in the breach for the day after the election is now obvious. Even with the removal of such vital economy-stimulating items such as birth-control and resodding the National Mall in Washington, D.C; the bill still managed to pass the House of Representatives 244-188. Not one Republican voted for this monster, and 11 Democrats also voted against it, however, my new supposedly "conservative" Democrat congressman voted for this bill...the largest federal expenditure in the history of our republic. What happened to holding the line on spending, Mr. Childers? (I am scoffing at you, Travis. You, sir, are no conservative!)

Now that people can see this bill for the trainwreck that it is, President Obama (to his credit) has realized that he was sold a bill of goods by the House and seems willing to work with the Senate GOP to take problem sections out of the bill (an act unheard of in Washington).

We have a huge problems on our hands, that much is undeniable. And we cannot afford to do nothing, that is also clear. But we have a equally huge opportunity to make smart decisions ahead of time and learn from the mistakes of the New Deal in the 1930's or the economic collapse in Japan in the 1990's that government spending programs alone cannot end a recession and may in fact prolong it by causing inflation. Add to this that the Congressional Budget Office has said that at least half of the spending won't even have an effect for at least two years. That's too late!

If the GOP in the senate and the President can keep common sense the order of the day, this bill (as vile as it is) may come to some good after all.

Look for what I would do instead of this crappy bill in my next post.

Nolanbuck