A recent study from George Mason University proves stimulus dollars, taken from taxpayers and redistributed with promises of jobs and economic growth, are accomplishing little of what they promised. We’ve all heard the old saying: “Follow the money.” If you want to see what is really going on follow the money—where it comes from or where it is going—to discover far more than rhetoric will ever admit. This saying especially applies to politics—where money is spent shows the true intention of those who appropriated it.
Most would expect stimulus funds to go to areas hardest hit by the recession or places where investment can most efficiently produce results. According to the above mentioned study more money went to Democrat districts than went to Republican districts, by almost double. When the stimulus was pushed through, opponents claimed it was nothing more than redistribution of wealth and borrowing from our kids. It appears the redistribution is from Republican to Democratic coffers. Those who supported Barry and his bunch got their payoff. While Democratic representatives campaign on how much money they brought home to constituents, productive taxpaying members of society (GOP for short) are left holding the check.
To see someone struggling with Alzheimer’s is heartbreaking. For the person suffering the disease can make life a terror as they forget those who love them and familiar locations. Actions taken in the morning can be a total mystery by afternoon. What makes it saddest is the inability to control when it will hit, or what memories it will effect. This terrible disease is one of many nightmares that inspire fear about healthcare and bring on demands for reform. Unfortunately in American politics we see a form of political Alzheimer’s as office holders forget not only campaign promises, but also the arguments they once made as their position changes with the political winds.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is saying that we must take action to bring down the deficit if we want the economy to grow. In saying this, the call is on for higher taxes to pay for the misdirected stimulus spending. So deficit spending has gone from the answer to the problem in less than eight months. What about the harm that higher taxes would do to our economy. When you raise taxes you reduce the amount of money available for investment and business expansion. It was argued during the debate on stimulus that it would be paid for through an expanded tax base once we recover, but no new taxes would be needed. Of course anyone with half an understanding of economics knew this was half-baked at best and a blatant lie at worst. The opposition pointed out over and over that record spending matched with our current conditions would necessitate higher taxes.
It would be helpful if the Treasury Secretary would do some reading on economics and while he is at it perhaps a perusal of the Constitution.
Government bailouts to rescue failing companies who made bad choices has reached record proportions. I have spoken on the constitutional issue of this—there being no constitutional grounds for such bailouts. Few people are considering the moral issue. I know many believe that keeping these companies afloat, bailing out GM, intervention in Chrysler and the money poured into the financial industry are keeping people employed and therefore moral actions. Actually they are theft.
Our nation was founded by men who saw the abuses of Europe as an evil to be shunned. They fought to establish, not a Europe in North America, but a nation of states united for common cause, where sovereignty rested in the people instead of a prince. They understood that the import of European abuses would only lead to tyranny and serfdom so they established a Constitution to define and limit the central government. In effect the federal government is to be a perpetual servant—a slave if you will—of the people and the states. (more…)
Barney Frank is busy. Outspoken in his support for the porkulus package of President Obama, he is now quickly trying to plug a leak that his buddy Chris Dodd engineered. The provision in the stimulus bill that exempted bonuses from restrictions has come to the fore and fostered an uproar; even the Congress, who approved this mess to begin with, is upset. Hard to imagine Congressmen getting upset about spending money, but I guess since it is private individuals spending tax payer dollars that makes it less palatable for them. (more…)
Senator Arlen Specter seems to be getting a bit uncomfortable. He is facing the appropriate scorn for crossing the aisle to follow his liberal heart. Not only was he one of only three Republicans in Congress to vote for the porkulus spending package of Obama, Reed and Pelosi, the American triumvirate, but he debauched himself with a cloture vote to squelch debate and force a vote on a bill that members of neither chamber had read. (more…)
