Green Cross
Well-Known Member
Remember that stimulus that was supposed to save real jobs - according to the democrats?
"Where Money Was Spent:
Let's start with the largest chunk of the stimulus program: Tax relief, which accounted for $288 billion of the spending. Those on fixed-income received a one-time payment of $250. That's not much help when Social Security payments, indexed to the consumer price index (CPI), were expected to remain flat. It would be ideal if the CPI reflected the true cost of living that incorporates higher medical costs, all taxes and transportation, but it doesn't.
Sorry, you can't turn in your clunker for a bigger check to cover higher out-of-pocket medical or insurance bills. Most everyone else saw a slight increase in their take-home pay as withholding taxes were dropped a bit, although it only added up to a few dollars a week. A more salient way of boosting incomes would be to grant a holiday on payroll taxes for a few days or weeks, but that's not what Congress and the Obama Administration decided to do.
The next-biggest portion of the stimulus spending -- $144 billion -- was for "state and local fiscal relief." Faced with the loss of state and local tax revenue, government agencies were facing massive teacher layoffs and shutting down public services without this band-aid measure.
This move saved more jobs than would have otherwise been lost, although it doesn't address a more pernicious long-term problem. Property valuations, which are the basis for local real estate taxes, are continuing to fall. That means less money for schools, libraries, fire and police departments. How can public agencies replace this money? It's an ongoing crisis that will translate into more program, service and job cuts (or tax hikes) later this year and into 2010. Get ready for "Son of Stimulus" when this reality gobsmacks Congress as it heads into mid-term elections next year."
As I see it the democrats greased the palms of their friends in state and local government, and the unions, and delayed much of the stimulous so that things will hopefully get a little better around the time of midterm elections. That way the Dem's may have a chance to stay in power for another term.
Try explaining to the poor souls who - in the mean time -have lost their jobs, and their dignity, as well as the ability to feed thier family.
It's despicable, and another example of our corrupt government at work.
And meanwhile oil, gold, and the stock market rallies, and the banks shareholders get rich, at the expense of the tax paying poor!
And the continued cost of war on 2 fronts! Isn't all this what the libs were bashing bush about?
Thank God I wasn't fooled into voting for these crooks, or I don't know how I would sleep at night. We don't get fooled again
"Where Money Was Spent:
Let's start with the largest chunk of the stimulus program: Tax relief, which accounted for $288 billion of the spending. Those on fixed-income received a one-time payment of $250. That's not much help when Social Security payments, indexed to the consumer price index (CPI), were expected to remain flat. It would be ideal if the CPI reflected the true cost of living that incorporates higher medical costs, all taxes and transportation, but it doesn't.
Sorry, you can't turn in your clunker for a bigger check to cover higher out-of-pocket medical or insurance bills. Most everyone else saw a slight increase in their take-home pay as withholding taxes were dropped a bit, although it only added up to a few dollars a week. A more salient way of boosting incomes would be to grant a holiday on payroll taxes for a few days or weeks, but that's not what Congress and the Obama Administration decided to do.
The next-biggest portion of the stimulus spending -- $144 billion -- was for "state and local fiscal relief." Faced with the loss of state and local tax revenue, government agencies were facing massive teacher layoffs and shutting down public services without this band-aid measure.
This move saved more jobs than would have otherwise been lost, although it doesn't address a more pernicious long-term problem. Property valuations, which are the basis for local real estate taxes, are continuing to fall. That means less money for schools, libraries, fire and police departments. How can public agencies replace this money? It's an ongoing crisis that will translate into more program, service and job cuts (or tax hikes) later this year and into 2010. Get ready for "Son of Stimulus" when this reality gobsmacks Congress as it heads into mid-term elections next year."
As I see it the democrats greased the palms of their friends in state and local government, and the unions, and delayed much of the stimulous so that things will hopefully get a little better around the time of midterm elections. That way the Dem's may have a chance to stay in power for another term.
Try explaining to the poor souls who - in the mean time -have lost their jobs, and their dignity, as well as the ability to feed thier family.
It's despicable, and another example of our corrupt government at work.
And meanwhile oil, gold, and the stock market rallies, and the banks shareholders get rich, at the expense of the tax paying poor!
And the continued cost of war on 2 fronts! Isn't all this what the libs were bashing bush about?
Thank God I wasn't fooled into voting for these crooks, or I don't know how I would sleep at night. We don't get fooled again
