Stimilus or not

[da_ticklah]

Here is the list of what some GOP leaders are calling wastful spending in the stimulus package. what would you cut out

Personally I'd axe

2,6(move current furniture),7 (unless only American Hybrid's are purchased),8,12,13,15,16, 26 (WTF is a paid volunteer)

what about you?

1. • $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
2. • A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
3. • $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
4. • $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
5. • $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
6. • $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
7. • $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
8. • $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
9. • $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
10. • $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
11. • $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
12. • $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
13. • $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
14. • $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
15. • $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
16. • $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
17. • $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
18. • $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
19. • $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
20. • $500 million for state and local fire stations.
21. • $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
22. • $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
23. • $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
24. • $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
25. • $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
26. • $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
27. • $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
28. • $850 million for Amtrak.
29. • $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
30. • $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
31. • $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
32. • $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

[BlinkChic182MN]

uh i dont understand politics, im assuming that these choices are going to help the economy somehow??? I am still hoping for another stimulus check for everyone and soon!Maybe more money could given on a state by state basis to put into whatever companies need it most. My bf was laid off a month ago, cannot find a job in the Machining Field, Car repair /audio, or even as a damn dishwasher at a bar! Mn is suffering and i cant support us for much longer, our state needs to get there shit together asap, friggen WI now has a better economy than us, wtf?

[chickensandwich]

very much boo. they took what was a generally good idea then added billions of shit that aren't going to help in anyway. they need to cut the pork then try again.

[spooky]

Originally Posted by BlinkChic182MN

uh i dont understand politics, im assuming that these choices are going to help the economy somehow??? I am still hoping for another stimulus check for everyone and soon!Maybe more money could given on a state by state basis to put into whatever companies need it most. My bf was laid off a month ago, cannot find a job in the Machining Field, Car repair /audio, or even as a damn dishwasher at a bar! Mn is suffering and i cant support us for much longer, our state needs to get there shit together asap, friggen WI now has a better economy than us, wtf?

do you have cable?

[DaHonay]

My step dad sent this as a FW funny ha-ha email. I got a lul! Sadly... it's pretty true:

Subject: Stimulus Payment Info.

"This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.


Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:



If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China .
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer it will go to India .
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico , Honduras , and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan .
If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan .

And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America . You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer and wine (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

[punk'n]

^^^

I think I can handle spending mine on tattoos and domestic booze. USA! USA!

[Sparrow]

A tattoo sounds fantastic. Stimulus tattoos for EVERYBODY!

[BlinkChic182MN]

Originally Posted by spooky

do you have cable?

yes i have cable... but i dont understand why you ask?

[Forbin]

I despair of our government at times. They absolutely do need to keep earmarks out of this bill and target only projects that directly hire american workers.

The whole principle of Keynsian economic stimulus is to get dollars into the pockets of working people because working people need it and will therefore spend it and promote economic growth. This is of course assuming that Keynsian stimulation even works, which is far from proven.

Obviously, we've also got the problem that our economy has shifted badly towards consumption and away from production. We need to find a way to shift that balance back, to reduce consumption and increase production.

Personally I think it's necessary because the market has gotten so far off kilter that it can no longer self regulate but at the same time it isn't going to be sufficient on it's own.

[Alexandra]

Originally Posted by da_ticklah

Here is the list of what some GOP leaders are calling wastful spending in the stimulus package. what would you cut out

Personally I'd axe

2,6(move current furniture),7 (unless only American Hybrid's are purchased),8,12,13,15,16, 26 (WTF is a paid volunteer)

what about you?

1. • $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
2. • A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
3. • $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
4. • $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
5. • $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
6. • $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
7. • $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
8. • $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
9. • $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
10. • $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
11. • $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
12. • $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
13. • $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
14. • $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
15. • $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
16. • $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
17. • $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
18. • $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
19. • $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
20. • $500 million for state and local fire stations.
21. • $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
22. • $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
23. • $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
24. • $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
25. • $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
26. • $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
27. • $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
28. • $850 million for Amtrak.
29. • $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
30. • $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
31. • $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
32. • $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

How about this: no stimulus package. See how much time and money I just saved the American taxpayer!