Eleven Dollar Stimulus
What do you think of the government's efforts to spend our way back to growth? Personally, it makes me crazy. I'm a big fan of living within your means, spending less than you earn. I think government ought to do the same. Ever since President Bush started running up the debt I've been quite a squeaky wheel when it comes to America as a nation spending more than we earn. All the recent spending referred to as "economic stimulus" really has me banging my head against the wall. I enjoy getting checks in the mail as much as the next guy, but if it's a check from me (in the form of government debt I'll have to repay over the rest of my life) I wish I could pass.
I told that to Stephen at work (who was soon to become Stephen the Obambie) when we got the $600 stimulus checks under the Bush administration. He said I could send it back. I told him I was tempted, and probably even would do it if I had the slightest inkling that the national debt would grow by $600 less if I sent my stimulus check back. But it would no doubt just be spent elsewhere, and I figured I can spend it more wisely than the government ever would. Now, thanks to the financial hemorrhage going on (surprised?) under President Obama, I have the opportunity to make good on that thought.
I told Stephen I'd like to decline the $13 per week "stimulus" added to my paycheck by Obama, since it's our own borrowed money he's giving us. But I didn't want to mail it back and have it spent on "emergency art" so I'd do that by giving that money to a homeless shelter. Stephen laughed and said Obama already has that covered. He was right. Then I considered making a statement to Obama by contributing $13 per week to the Republican Party in his honor. I wonder if that would stop the stimulus spending! But the Republicans haven't earned back my love and respect after digging such a deep hole in the first place.
So I've decided that since Obama is overturning Bush's ban on federal money for embryonic stem cell research, I'll take the $13 per week that Obama is borrowing against my (and my kids, and my grandkids's) future, and donate that money to MCCL (Minnesota Citzens Concerned for Life). Call me a cynic, but who do you think will take credit for the rise in charitable giving? Even so, I invite you to find a charity you like and send them your "stimulus" too.
Finally, I thought the "stimulus" was supposed to be $13 per week beginning April 1st (Joke's on us!), but I started noticing $11 extra two paychecks ago. Not sure what's up with that.
Labels: babies, charity, government, money, Obama, obambies, politics, work
posted by DErifter @ 3/29/2009 01:50:00 AM
2 Comments:
Geez, Derifter. I'm starting to think you aren't happy with the current political climate in the United States.
So, out of curiosity, are you a "let all the businesses fail" kind of guy?
I'm not a political person, but it seems to me that America was faced with two options this last year: spend a lot and raise taxes or spend a lot and lower taxes, thus creating an even bigger national debt.
Either way we were screwed.
To quote a bumper sticker I've seen,
"If you're not mad, you're not paying attention".
Of course I'm not happy with the current political climate. America is being driven into the ground. At least Obama's approval ratings are dropping, which means perhaps other people are beginning to pay attention too. Even Stephen the Obambie told me today that he felt like Obama tricked us all. When I asked "How so?" he listed a few reasons that I thought were obvious, but seemed minor in context. All I could say was, "So how did he trick me?" I've been pointing this stuff out every day!
No, I'm not a "let all businesses fail" kind of guy. But I am a "let all businesses that SHOULD fail, fail" kind of a guy. If GM or Chrysler can't compete, why should we keep pouring public money down the hole and pretending that they can? Bailing out failing businesses encourages mediocrity, or at the minimum, stupidity. If they make bad business decisions or take stupid risks (be they auto companies, banks, insurance companies or whatever) the consequences are theirs. If they make good decisions, and take measured risks, the rewards are theirs. That's called capitalism.
I don't believe government spending is the best way out of a recession. I think in large part, they tend to fix themselves. When things overheat, they eventually cool down. The foolish and greedy get burned, those who are sensible still may, but not as badly. On the other hand, when things cool down (like now) the foolish get burned again, and the sensible can make good things happen as the economy begins to improve.
Obama seems to be sensitive (or susceptible) to public opinion, so maybe when he sees that his plans are losing support, he'll rein in some of the wacko spending. At least that's my hope. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine where we'll be in ten years. The current situation seems like change only a socialist could believe in. Seriously.
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