The Stimulus Bill
January 30, 2009 7 Comments
When she’s not writing about reincarnated horse aliens Dana Hunter occassionally delivers a gem in the form of a good quote from someone else.
Even some Republicans echo the call for more infrastructure spending, saying they would be more willing to support the bill if it showed more tangible and focused benefits, instead of being scattered across an array of existing programs. Rep. John L. Mica (Fla.), the ranking Republican on the transportation committee, called the proposed infrastructure spending “almost minuscule” and expressed regret that the administration had not crafted its plan around an ambitious goal such as building high-speed rail in 11 corridors around the country, which Mica said would cost $165 billion.
“They keep comparing this to Eisenhower, but he proposed a $500 billion highway system, and they’re going to put $30 billion” in roads and bridges, he said. “How farcical can you be? Give me a break.”
Like Dana I applaud the Congressman from Florida. It’s absurd that we aren’t putting more money into these kinds of projects, which would, in my opinion, be an enormous success in the long-term. Unfortunately Dana’s partisan blinders only allow her to think clearly for a short time, as she devolves into the predictable profanity-laced diatribe over the GOP vote on the stimulus package.
So. Can we shut the f*ck up about bipartisan bullshit, realize that these f*ckwits think “bipartisan” means “what Cons want,” and use the Democratic majority to actually get sh*t done right, please? Thank you.
Hunter seems to have trouble grasping the reasons why Republicans are so hesitant to support this bill. Maybe because it’s a Democratic pork-fest? It seems as though Democrats are just using the stimulus package to sneak through a lot of pet projects. Some examples?
- Millions in funding for Planned Parenthood to reduce the ‘surplus population’ (paraphrasing Nancy Pelosi)
-$600 million for new cars for the federal government.
-$200 million to improve the National Mall, including $21 million for new grass.
-$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Hunter seems to think that the GOP are just a bunch of whiners for not joining the administration lock-step on this. I say that it looks like our role as loyal opposition has started sooner, rather than later.
Mike,
And how do you feel about the $275 Billion in “tax relief” in the bill? Traditionally Republicans have favored tax cuts, rebates and roll-backs over infrastructure spending. Here, the Obama Administration gives it to them big time, and, after the proflagate spending spree that was BUsh 43, they turn it down bcaus ethey don’t want to renovate the National Mall. Does that mean that all those years of having tax cuts drummed into our heads by Republicans should now be disregarded as some sort of misguided delusion?
The problem with these tax cuts is that there isn’t enough being done at the business level. For example, our capital gains tax is the highest of any developed nation in the world. Why?
Givign the average family an extra $20 per week is going to accomplish what? Most families will just go out dinner an extra time each month. Businesses will apply a tax break to real progress. I think in that sense, the money works harder in different hands.
But will businesses really apply tax breaks to business development? I don’t think the history supports that contention.
That said, I do agree that 11 highspeed rail corridors would be a real economic boon. And those of us who model trains would have something really neat as well.
With my company we have a whole fleet of accountants that monitor stuff like that. I can assure you, when we get a tax break, that money goes to good use. Families don’t notice a little extra money that much, but companies notice big amounts and generally use it.
For some reason, my last comment didn’t take. Here is what I wrote on the stimulus:
http://neomugwump.blogspot.com/2009/01/rise-of-conservative-keynesians.html
Mike, you know that you, me, and Dana are on the same page re: trains. I SERIOUSLY wish someone would do something about large-scale infrastructure, so that in 50 years, we have something more than huge debt to be proud of.
We part company on the Dana-bashing though
. What’s the reincarnated horse aliens about?
You should check out the series over at Newgeography.com about the New Deal. When you start to really get a handle on what they accomplished with the WPA, TVA, etc it is mind-boggling.
I tried being nice to Dana. it was my New Year’s Resolution. But unfortunately, she’s an ass. Since I don’t believe in resdistributive taxes and think Israel is a horrible country, I get no love. I know you like her, but hey, I like George W. so we all make weird choices. And yes, she’s writing about reincarnated horse aliens…seriously.