819 Billion Reasons To Hate The Stimulus...

Let's suppose that you work a job and are paid hourly. Then suddenly you are informed that your hours will be reduced. What do you do? Do you suddenly decide to spend MORE money, or do you look for ways to cut back and save in preparation for the reduced income.

Probably not the best analogy possible, but it frustrates me that supposedly brilliant people in Washington think that in tough economic times, government needs to spend MORE. Where is this additional money coming from?

Well they will just max out Uncle Sam's credit cards so future generations can deal with it right?

The absurdity of this "stimulus" bill is obvious to the political novice. Even 11 Democrats saw through this and joined every Republican present and voted against it. The final tally was 244-188. The Republicans offered an alternative largely made up of tax cuts - a proven job creator and economic stimulant, the Democrats voted that down 286-170.

So exactly what does $819 billion (over a trillion with interest) buy us? Here are a few choice nuggets:

Digital TV Coupons ($650 Million) - Are there really that many people still using bunny ears for TV reception? If they are that hard up, maybe they should be out finding a job instead of sitting in front of the television.

Gov’t Cars ($600 Million) - Didn't we just "invest" in the car companies already?

Nat’l Endowment for the Arts ($50 Million) - Just what a slowing economy needs, more funding of a crucifix in urine. Oh what would we do without taxpayer funded arts...

Repairs to National Mall ($200 Million, including $21m for sod) - $21 million for sod! I hope you can smoke that stuff.

Prevention of STDs ($335 Million) - If after all the millions spent to teach people to keep their pants zipped hasn't worked, why would another $335 million make a difference? Will the CDC find more creative ways to spend money than transgender beauty pageants and teaching gay men to flirt? I guess this is a TYPE of stimulus...

I could rant on about how ridiculous this is, but the cult of Obama is very strong. And the ignorance of the public schooled masses is strong too. Until the myth of government is the answer is finally broken, we are stuck with yet another long downturn thanks to our dear leader and his liberal army in Congress. Maybe the Senate will neuter this mess? Don't count on it.

The era of Obama's Big Government is upon us.

Here are some other interesting opinions on the subject:
Hundreds of economists disagree with more government spending
You Won't Believe What's in That Stimulus Bill
Good Morning, Suckers
The Democratic Porkfest Bill of 2009
Obama's Bill Hands ACORN $5.2 Billion Bailout
$646,214 Per Government Job

Texas Wants More Research Pork!

I came across this little gem online. Its a brief overview of how Texas wants to capture more research dollars for its universities. Certainly a noble endeavor I'm sure. Being from Texas, I hate for us not to be first in everything. After all, everything is bigger in Texas!

As I'm reading this it comes to me...This is my money they are spending. This "investment" is tax dollars confiscated from individuals and given to someone else! Why should the Federal Government be involved in this redistribution? Isn't the private sector fully capable of investing their dollars to find cures, alternate energy sources or other innovations and then turn around and profit from their work?

Here are the 2006 expenditures (tax dollars "invested") in BILLIONS by the top 5 states from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Seems Texas has its work cut out for it to catch up.

California - $3.99
New York - $2.46
Maryland - $1.86
Texas - $1.81
Pennsylvania - $1.70

Texas has a little work to do to reach first place.

Go Texas!

Bring home that pork!!

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/1525.PDF

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." -- Ayn Rand