economic stimulus package

I keep seeing articles about this proposed economic stimulus package that the white house and congress want to rush to pass. I believe they are calling for a one time rebate and tax cuts. Is it just me or does this sound extremely foolhardy under the given circumstances? Wouldn't it be better to spend the money creating jobs? With a steady paycheck people would spend more freely. A one time cash infusion will do nothing for the long term. Tax cuts for the very rich are not going to work either. This rate cut punishes people who are trying to save and live responsibly. Shouldn't we be writing to our representatives that this country needs a real plan with long term benefits that will bring jobs and security to workers and consumers? I think they need to take a moment to listen to their constiuents before using this dilemma to pass legistlation that may not really be effective. Any thoughts?

I'm also worried because today there were several articles urging people not to withdraw their money from the market. The last time I saw that was right after 2000 and I seem to recall my 401k being hosed shortly after.

Anyone know how to start a petition or letter writing campaign? Would that even be useful?

much worse there would be real discontent about how much money is being pissed away in Iraq. They don't want that.

I can be absolutely sure of is this: It's not going to do a goddamn thing to help me.

See, I'm one of those self-employed people.

We didn't get to deduct the cost of our health-insurance premiums until two years ago. Given that indication of the Federal Government's regard for us, it's damn unlikely that we'll be the beneficiaries of any "economic stimulus."

The Feds have always found ways to disinclude us from similar measures in the past, including telling us to go fuck ourselves if your businesses had suffered from the after-effects of September 11.

I don't expect this one to be any different.

Redstone

the salient issue being that in the current era growth requires energy - cheap oil. We compete with China, Europe, India, etc, for this resource, and the price of oil in rapidly depreciating dollars reflects our failure to compete well lately.

It is difficult to see how the next few years can bring a good outcome, or how any propose stimulus package could do anything other than speed up the presses a bit faster than the dollar falls, for our short-term benefit.

"Shouldn't we be writing to our representatives that this country needs a real plan with long term benefits that will bring jobs and security to workers and consumers? I think they need to take a moment to listen to their constiuents before using this dilemma to pass legistlation that may not really be effective. Any thoughts?"

It's waaaaaaaaay past that time.

In all truth, I can't understand how 90% of DU'rs can STILL be STUCK on politics 24-7 and not hardly even discuss the impending economic doom in EVERY FORUM right now. I check in on GD and it's like OBLIVIOUSNESS.

This is a fucking freight train barreling down the tracks that NOBODY can stop now. All you can do is GET READY FAST.

The gov't giving money away is akin to the Romans throwing out bread pieces in the streets during the fall.

But of course, this is JMVHO.

As long as the money goes to the right people. It would be much better than a tax cut for the rich.

The problem is that an economic recession could become a self fulfilling prophecy. If people think the economy is going to be bad, they will invest less in new jobs and businesses, which will cause the economy to slow down. Giving consumers more money will help boosts demand, ensuring more confidence in the market which will help avoid a recession. The purpose is to jumpstart the economy to get the ball rolling again, not to provide long run support.

The government creating new jobs is another way to stimulate the economy. Theoretically it will do the same thing to the economy as giving cash to everyone, but few will see the immediate benefits and you will have to support those jobs in the long run which isn't free. We could pay for this buy raising taxes or cutting costs in other areas, Iraq comes to mind. Yet again, that money could be better suited for other things like providing national healthcare, which I believe would be best for the security of all Americans.

The problem is that there isn't an easy solution to fix all of our economic problems. An economic stimulus package would be good, but there needs to be a longer term plan in place. The bad news is that there won't be a long term plan until 2009.

To a degree I think the cure is hard core Keynesian ala the New Deal used to fix Republican Depression in the early 1930's.

-Return to progressive taxation. Top personal tax rates need to back to the 70% range.

-Run a deficit to purchase new infrastructure. Public transportation.

-Work programs that start with Solar, wind installs, and Public transportation.





Downright stupid works for me.



Of course, there is a lesson to be learned from FDR's work programs, even though FDR's policy started the consumer based economy that is partly at fault for some of our problems.



Regressive tax policy taxes the working and middle classes out of the economy, we need to the opposite effect. Engaging the the working and middle classes in the economy allows these families to better take care of themselves, pay their mortages, afford college.

When did it become accepted wisdom that an important role of government is to "
simulate" the economy? It's entirely a PR move so corrupt politicos can say to voters in ecomomic pain "I did something, vote for me." The fact that these so-called stimulus packages don't improve the nation's economic health means nothing to these charlatans.