Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Problems With President Obama's Stimulus Plan

Only 38% of Americans support the presidents stimulus plan as it is written today. Personally I do not believe that it is a stimulus at all. In my opinion this is just another Democrat spending bill. The Democrats decided to put in as much pork as they could fit into this bill on programs that in their opinion were neglected during the Bush administration. All of this spending does not create jobs and they should be separate bills.

Here is a list of a few spending proposals that will not create a stimulus in our economy.

  • $29.68 billion on improving the highways. This will only create temporary jobs. Once the project is over then the economy will be back where we are today.
  • $16.13 billion in Pell Grants and student aid. We will not see this have an impact on our economy until after those students graduate from college. This will also depend on whether or not there are jobs for these graduates or not.
  • $14 billion on school renovations, $13.60 billion on special education, $13 billion on programs for disadvantaged children. These are are all great programs and I believe in investing in our future, but again this will not create jobs. I believe this should be a separate bill and not be included in the stimulus plan.
  • $2.4 billion on other programs like a new lawn in Washington, new furniture for a federal building, new cars for federal employees, money for STD research and contraceptives and the list goes on and on. None of these will create jobs.
So what changes need to be done with this bill? Number one all the "pork" should be cut, period. That money should go towards tax breaks for new home owners which will help pull us out of this housing crises. We should also give tax breaks on small business. If businesses in America have more money to spend that will give them incentive to expand and create jobs. Job creation should be the number one priority in this bill.

Rush Limbaugh has a unique approach to the stimulus bill. He believes that "there's an opportunity for genuine compromise." Here is what Rush has proposed.

" Fifty-three percent of American voters voted for Barack Obama; 46% voted for John McCain, and 1% voted for wackos. Give that 1% to President Obama. Let's say the vote was 54% to 46%. As a way to bring the country together and at the same time determine the most effective way to deal with recessions, under the Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan of 2009: 54% of the $900 billion -- $486 billion-- will be spent on infrastructure and pork as defined by Mr. Obama and the Democrats; 46% -- $414 billion -- will be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me."

I think that is a great idea. Although, it would be nice if the Republicans got their way. (I know that would never, ever happen with a Democrat majority and a Democrat in the White House). Rush has proposed a great compromise. In the meantime I will continue to dream of a better job for my husband and a better life for my children while I wait for this economy to turn around.

6 comments:

Upstatemamma said...

I have been sorely disappointed in the things that President Obama has done so far.

aybi said...

this is very informative indeed, especially to those who aren't in the states like me.

Amy Clary said...

Oh, goodness. Don't get me started on this one. I just pray God gives our leader some wisdom.

Jessica D. said...

The funny thing is even the democrats have not been on the same page, they don't like some of his plans either.

avinash said...

very informative blog.helps outsiders get a true picture. keep writing

Yellow Beads said...

only 38 percent, good to know! (I thought it was higher)!