Detroit, 3:49 PM
Fri Nov 27
3 posts in the last 24 hours
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Jalopnik 
02/05/09
I already passed economics. I don't want to think about it any more.
Having said that, $900 billion is a helluva lot of money. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt. If that's what's required to get us out of this crap, then congratulations America, you all suck at financial planning.
Sorry I'm a bit cranky; the caffeine and alcohol are wearing off.
02/05/09
02/05/09
02/05/09
I just want to see how far they'd make it.
02/05/09
02/05/09
02/05/09
Most people on infrastructure job sites would be just as well served with a Honda Ridgeline as they would by an F350, for as much as they use the trucks for actual construction.
02/05/09
02/05/09
Two things are trying to be accomplished: 1. put folks back to work, quick. This means in sectors where there's currently high unemployment, or likely to be unemployed soon. It's not only auto assembly and road construction sectors that are feeling the hit.
2. The stimulus bill is a way to reorient the economy and industries so that they can be more innovative, productive and successful in the future. Filling the landscape with more highways just because we can, and churning out millions of more cars that folks don't want to buy won't be successful strategies.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to swing for the fences and position the country to be successful over the next fifty years. More of the stuff that drove us into the ditch isn't the solution.
02/05/09
02/05/09
Dear Mom,
How are you I am fine. Ford is doing reely good. I have gotted another raise. their is talk of a resessi, ressioc, ekonomic slowdown, but no-one is worried cuz we are goign to build bridges with trucks and that is good. Hope you are well.
Love,
Len Deluca
02/05/09
This beast is close to $1,000,000,000,000 and only $68,000,000,000 is for infrastructure? Worse yet, very little of that will be spent in the next 2 years, when it will have any impact. According to the Keynsian economic theory, infrastructure in the near term is the best place to spend money for stimulus.
Kind of shows where our government's priorities really are.
Why not just cut the payroll tax rate and income tax rates across the board and let us spend the money where we want to spend it?
02/05/09
And I'm not sure if you're much of an economist either, aside from mentioning Keynesian Economics. Cutting taxes has never, ever, in recorded history, lead to increased spending. Ever. You know why? You save it! Think about it- in these uncertain times, if you suddenly got a $1000 tax break, what would you do? You just wouldn't spend it. A tax break is not anywhere near equivalent to giving someone $1k. They're very different things.
02/06/09
First, the government gets its money from US in the form of taxes. All the government can really do is move money from one part of the economy to another, and it does this very inefficiently.
Second, we got in this mess because people were spending more than they have and living on credit. So wouldn't part of the solution maybe be to encourage people to start saving and not living on credit? And if you cut taxes and people can start paying down their credit cards would that not be a good thing?
Besides, I don't know where you are getting your facts, but Keynesian economics is a failure. Every time it has been tried (remember the stimulus packages in 2001 and last year?) it has not met the goal long term.
The best thing the government can do to "jumpstart" the economy is to get out of the way.
02/05/09
02/05/09
02/05/09
Sorry, Matt, before I read any more I've gotta call you on this one.
02/05/09
02/05/09
02/05/09
Huh. Weird.