Vote: Do we need another stimulus?
With unemployment rising and the economy showing few signs of recovery, some people are talking about the need for a new federal stimulus program.
Loading ...In the Washington Post, reporter Lori Montgomery explores the pros and cons.
And on “Good Morning America,” billionaire investor Warren Buffett weighed in on the issue Thursday, saying a second stimulus may be needed.
What do you think?
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101 comments Add your comment
Joel M. Koblentz
July 9th, 2009
11:14 am
Henry..
When will wise up and consider what we have failed to accomplish with the current nearly $900 Bil. stimulus bill.. The bill was rushed through Congress..admittedly,not one congessperson read the entire piece of this legislation, although it was the largest single spending bill in history..we were promised that the bill would create jobs soon by funding shovel-ready projects and today less than 10% of the money has been let with no discernable tangible results…no permanent jobs or retraing, etc. as promised. We, also, were promised, if passed, that unemployment would not rise above 8%..wrong again, now 9.5% and moving northward. And, we were promised transparency as to the projects fund..doesn’t exist..federal government says this is to complicated to truly track the spending and impact.. And, the pork that goes well beyond bridges to nowhere, to communities who didn’t ask for the funds currently, and to cities that are using funds released to them, not for projects, but rather to shore up their own financial inefficiiencies.
Are we willing to double down with our future with a government that gets in its own way and can’t carry out its promises to us as it “mortgages” our future?
I hope not!!!!
Government has yet to prove that whatever the intention of any major piece of spending legislation, that it can execute to deliver the expected result. What assurance do we, as citizens have, that a second stimulus will be managed any differently and will actually gain traction. NONE. NONE, and NONE!
reservoirDAWG
July 9th, 2009
2:15 pm
Joel summed it up. Big government=big problems.
Steve
July 9th, 2009
2:20 pm
No need for another stimulus package. All reports I’ve seen indicate that most of the money doled out in the first package has been held by the recipients. They need to put that money in use first before I’m ready to consider the possibility of any more $’s
Craig
July 10th, 2009
5:15 am
If increasing government spending to stimulate the economy works like the politicians say it does, then we never should have had a recession in the first place given the increased spending during the Bush years. If politicians truly want to stimulate the economy, let the private sector do the spending by letting them keep more of their money to do it with. We don’t need increased government spending. That only creates more deficits and does nothing for the economy.The only thing that has increased with the recent “stimulus” package is the amount of debt being saddled by politicians onto its citizens and an increase in the size and scope of the federal beuracracy.
cliff zeider
July 10th, 2009
6:08 am
Hey, I am all for the stimulus, like Buffett. I am old and don’t care about the future, just want some money to go to a BUFFETT. CZ
John
July 10th, 2009
6:23 am
Sure, do another one. After all, the first one was such a success. Look at all the jobs created and the rebounding economy. In reality, I’m leaving this wannabe banana republic as soon as I can unload my house to anyone.
Mitch
July 10th, 2009
6:26 am
Hell no! This one has not worked. Basic econ 101 should have (or even accounting 101) should have told everyone that fact. The admission of a second stimulus is evidence that even the people in charge know this is not working.
Since they have no other option than to trash their ideology, out of prideful political maneuvering, they will just spend us into oblivion and claim the whole way that this was just the mess they inherited.
The fact is very few of our representative represent us anymore. They have their careers, special interests and political shrewdness as their incentives, not the good of our nation even at the hurt of their party.
There must be massive turnover in the next election in both parties.
Shawny
July 10th, 2009
7:00 am
Govt = waste, pure and simple. If you want to dole out billions, and want that money to be spent and thus creating future jobs, give it directly to the taxpayers. That is a 100% success rate for every dollar spent, vs. the waste in govt trying to trickle down their spending to all of us.
Shame on me
July 10th, 2009
7:20 am
I created my own stimulus.i did like the goverment and borrowed money from peter to pay paul.Now i will be paying back that money for the rest of my life unless ofcorse i get a bail out.mite as well give it to me as to give to the big corperation crooks.You know that soup line looks longer today than it did yesterday.
Nik
July 10th, 2009
8:10 am
Not unless we start seeing jobs created from the handout of the first stimulus. And if the second stimulus is put on the table, let the American voters decide on the outcome. I think it is ridiculous to keep giving money to big businesses who in turn give the money to their CEO’s as bonuses. Had the gov’t passed a much smaller stimulus bill and given that money to the American people, at least the effects would have been noticeable, as far as pumping the money back into the economy by making purchases.
NullOp
July 10th, 2009
8:27 am
Why on Gods-green-earth would we need another stimulus package? “Big Business” is well trained in the art of rationalizing self-serving ideas. Instead of funding programs that actually benefit the business, “Big Business” will fund a seminar in the Caribbean so “our managers will be Top Notch.” So, “NO, no more give-aways!”
LOLOLOL
July 10th, 2009
8:30 am
I figure since the government bailed out the banks I can put my credit card payments on hold. Let the government pay them for me I think. After all, its my money that the government is using. If I got to keep my money I would not have to charge on my credit card in the first place.
Conservative Values
July 10th, 2009
8:36 am
We didnt need the first one. It was all a farse to pay off the people that got Democrates elected or shall I say stole the election in parts of the country. Anyone remember ACORN who received a huge cut of the stimulus money?
Do any of you know what would have happened to this economy if the Republican tax incentives were used instead. You know, the year long tax holiday for taxpayers where we paid no income tax at all. Revenue would have gone through the roof and people would have been spending money. Companies would have expanded to keep up with the pace and jobs would have been created. Lowering the corporate tax burden to 10% would have invited the corporations currently outsoursing their work to come back home, creating jobs by the thousands and good paying ones at that. The economy would have been thriving by this time.
Stupid is as stuid does. Its a good saying and plenty of people need to dig into that statement a little bit. You vote stupid in and you will pay for stupid in everything you do. So will you kids and grandkids. What a shame…………….
Dee
July 10th, 2009
8:37 am
We don’t need another stimulus! We need another president!
Cher
July 10th, 2009
8:59 am
I am so angry that so many politically uneducated Americans voted for “change”…….without fully understanding what KIND of change was to come. Now, many of those voters are questioning their choice as the USA is spinning out of control. It’s a little late….I pray we can hold out before Obama, Pelosi, and friends destroy America as we know it!
Mrs. Godzilla
July 10th, 2009
9:00 am
Confidence is high!
drewmanc
July 10th, 2009
9:04 am
Are you people kidding me? No, you’re right. We’ve given it plenty of time — the economy should have turned around in six months, right? We should probably push for a tax cut. Who really needs government anyway. Police services? Fire? I’m good with what I have. I can use my gun and, thanks to the State, I can use my garden hose in case of fire.
Suga
July 10th, 2009
9:41 am
What I want to know, is when do I, a responsible tax paying citizen, get my bail out?
When do the responsible bill paying people of this country get ours? I get my butt out of bed every single morning, get my kids to school, then get to work. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
The price of EVERYTHING has gone up, and I am forced to pay for it. Groceries are up, gas it up, heating/cooling the house is up, etc. But I have not had a raise in 5 years.
I don’t have any credit cards, I own a home I can afford, and drive an 11 year old car, with over 150,000 miles. I live within my means.
When do I get rewarded for my hard work? Why is it someone who has asthma or a bad back, can be on disability, and sit around on the taxpayer’s dime and get rewarded, but those hardworking people, like me, have my hard working money taken from me at gunpoint and given to the slacker with asthma who doesn’t want to work? What the hell?
Instead, I have a gun pointed at my head, and I’m forced to give more and more and more, until there is nothing left over for me.
When do I get the reward for being a hard working, responsible person?????????
Mike
July 10th, 2009
9:51 am
The only stimulus that could actually work is to have a federal tax holiday, letting everyone take home their paycheck with no federal withholdings for several months, and of course no tax liabilities for that come next April. This would put money and power back into the hands of those who actually can stimulate the economy…the American consumers.
Nik
July 10th, 2009
9:55 am
ok Suga…tell us how you really feel
I totally agree. I’m appalled at the way things have turned out.
This is why people have these “disabilities”…they are tired and stressed out with the way things are going
JASon
July 10th, 2009
10:00 am
Aren’t elected officials supposed to act according to their constituents? Nobody I have met has ever supported any stimulus. Clearly no one here supports any stimulus. So why did they pass it? Yet we are taught to believe that we live in this great country with such great leaders…
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
10:10 am
If a stimulus must go through, then send equal per capita shares to each tax-payer. Not citizens and illegals, but actual taxpayers. With over $1000.00 in their hands, we will see some results as 80% blow it and the others save or pay down bills. The banks will get the money through trickle-up economics.
It’s funny. but I have decided to stop trying to pay off my creditors. I figure once the Congress and our President finish their spending orgy, the resulting inflation will reduce the actual amount I owe.
The reason for this insanity is that there has not been a true liberal in the executive office since Carter. Clinton and Bush were big spenders, but now the liberals in Congress finally have a leader who has no veto pen (sort of like Bush’s first 6 and 1/2 years when he lost his).
Barry's Twin
July 10th, 2009
10:29 am
I just read someone say “Confidence is High”,WWWWWWWWWWWWWWhat????????? Maybe for drink the kool-aid sheep that is the spend to you drop liberals. If Govnmnt spending was the answer, then based on the previous 3 admin we should have a trillion dollar surplus,not the other way around!!!!
Ray
July 10th, 2009
10:33 am
Suggest you put the existing bailout in the hands of the taxpayers. We don’t need another bailout and furthermore, we can’t afford one!
Barry's Twin
July 10th, 2009
10:42 am
Atlanta Native-For the 1st time I heard a economist say the same thing on national tv. It’s a no brainer,but as we all know the Govnmnt has a history of knowing how to spend OUR money more effectively than we do.
Emily
July 10th, 2009
11:53 am
Where are the libs on this blog? Oh wait…too much to admit the stimulus is a crock? Usually they come out of the wood work on these blogs! We cant spend our way to prosperity! Too bad thats not common sense for OBAMA. One Big Ass Mistake America
Emily
July 10th, 2009
12:02 pm
Man thats not cool! My last post got yanked! I just want to now where all the liberals are on this blog? Guess its too much to admit the first stimulus package didnt work! Heck no we dont need a second one! We cant spend our way into prosperity. But thats the lack of common sense from the those running the Country. WAY TO GO AMERICA!! Go OBAMA!
Emily
July 10th, 2009
12:03 pm
Ooops, nevermind…its still there. hehehe
Ray-Ray
July 10th, 2009
12:04 pm
You cannot get out of debt by spending more!
Mark
July 10th, 2009
12:04 pm
The democrats and their front man Obama have only paid out a third of the first, so called, stimulus. They could not care less about our slumping economy. It is all about political payoffs and vote buying.
Not only do they not need a second “stimulus”, but we should snatch back what is left of the first one.
The ONLY true stimulus would be huge reductions in income and capital gains taxes. Tax cuts ALWAYS result in more government revenue because they really do stimulate the ecomony. The democrats know this to be true, but claim the opposite because a strong economy does not advance their agenda.
Randy
July 10th, 2009
12:06 pm
Boo hoo crybabies. Obama is your president, now deal with it!
Randy
July 10th, 2009
12:07 pm
Emily, at least Obama is not a QUITTER like that moron Sarah lady
AJ
July 10th, 2009
12:07 pm
UP WITH HOPE AMD DOWN WITH DOPE, WAIT WHAT WAS THIS ABOUT? OH YEAH SAY NO!!! TO ANOTHER ECONOMIC STIMULUS.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY AJ
AJ
July 10th, 2009
12:09 pm
RANDY YOUR OPINION IS WORTHLESS SO SHUT IT
angry
July 10th, 2009
12:17 pm
Don’t worry Randy, we are going to “deasl with it”. We are going to kick the sorry-a** liberals out of the Congress and your idiot president Obama is going to be a one termer. His approval ratings are in the toilet, and like Carter, he will be such an object of ridicule for the last couple of years of his so-called presidency he not only will be neutered, but will be lucky if he can get an invitation to speak at a local Rotary club…yes, Randy, we the taxpayers of this country are going to “deal with it”. Just watch.
Emily
July 10th, 2009
12:20 pm
Randy, Talk about morons, you and your lib friends are the brainwashed morons that voted for him. Sarah has nothing to do with it. I think its so funny how you guys get on here and thats the most intelligent thing you can come up with. lol. Go curl up with your teddy bear and blanket and save a tree somewhere.
alvin seville
July 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
No Randy he you’r president i voted for McCain…..and in 2012 be sarah palin next President of Usa…..however no quote me
MB
July 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
I wish we could just keep our tax dollars but the politicians will play that as only rewarding the rich and the sheep will be up in arms. It wouldnt be fair to let people who actually work to build this country’s economy keep their money and not just hand out a check to the dead weight of our society.
Randy
July 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
Emily I voted for Bob Barr because I am no longer a Republican. Tired of the Gay stuff, the hypocrisy, and the say one thing do another thing crap. The Republican party is in shambles and you know it. Deal with it.
kj
July 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
It’s early for the left to be commenting, most haven’t gotten out of bed yet.
Randy
July 10th, 2009
12:28 pm
Republicans hate gays, but they like gay sex…. Puzzling to me.
Randy
July 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
Republicans talk about family values, and then sleep around with skank whores. Yeah, quite a great party you have there, lmao
Go Libertarian!
matt
July 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
I would love to meet someone with an IQ over about the 90 range who would support a second stimulus… or the first stimulus. Wall street is your new ruler, and they do not know how to produce a thing- only trade play money around.
Suga
July 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
I just read in Neal Boortz’s column, that after the $750Billion bank bail out, there’s $250billion left over. Do you think we taxpayers will get that back? Oh hell no. The tax cheat Tim Guitner says it needs to stay in a reserve account……..RIGHT…..
Still waiting
July 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
On the actual, legal, stamped, notorized birth certificate.
Joan
July 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
Warren Buffett says we need another stimulus. Well he has lost about 1/3 of his money this last year. I guess what he thinks doesn’t really matter anymore. We need to get these opinions to our congressman and tell them their jobs are on the line.
Watch What You Wish For
July 10th, 2009
12:32 pm
Hey Randy, I am very aware of all the Democrates that have had affairs and those that actually left their affairs die in cars after driving drunk so I really would not go there. The Democrates are way worse and neither party has a right to be proud. Only Democrates keep it quiet and out of the news when its one of theirs. Let it be a Republican and its front page news. Best keep your mouth shut about this one.
Go watch ACORN for awhile and learn something.
momof3edeval
July 10th, 2009
12:33 pm
After reading this blog, I am just comforted in knowing that there are people still out there with a brain! Tired of the bleeding hearts!
deee
July 10th, 2009
12:34 pm
There is no need for continuous stimulus when everybody is still sufferring and there seems to be no relief in sight.
bushwacker
July 10th, 2009
12:36 pm
No more stimulus unless they give the money to us “the citizens” so we can go out and spend it rather than give to corporations who are using it for trips and bonuses!!
Pat
July 10th, 2009
12:36 pm
Suga, I total agree with you.
I work 5 days a week and live within my means and am I getting any help from the government, NO!, I am actually getting hurt because they are taking money away from me to pay for the people who can not and do not want to work for anything. The way things are going, the gov. will take more and more from the hard workers and lower us to be in the class who can not afford anything.
They whole system needs to be restructured so the hard workers and people who know how to budget thier money are not getting hurt.
hop
July 10th, 2009
12:36 pm
randy.. talking about a loser that would be bob barr, who is now does work for the ACLU,A liberal organization that was started by two communist.
need i say more!
Mark
July 10th, 2009
12:37 pm
The ignorant Obamites have absolutely no explanation or excuse for their failing policies so they hide behind Sarah Palin comments.
What a bunch of LOSERS.
Mac
July 10th, 2009
12:37 pm
Let’s not have another giant, impenetrable jungle of a bill. If there are worthwhile projects to fund that will stimulate the economy, bring them forward one-by-one, debate them and vote on them. But, please, no more foie gras production methods disguised as “stimulus.”
Donna P.
July 10th, 2009
12:38 pm
They haven’t released all the money from the first stimulus yet. I have also heard on the news where some states have used the stimulus money they received to make their own payrolls instead of using it on “shovel ready projects”. It is all a joke as is Obama and the Democrats.
Dr. Kurt
July 10th, 2009
12:39 pm
Another Stimulus? How are WE going to pay for the first one? Oh yeah, tax the rich like everything else our Socialist President, Harry Reid,and Nancy Pelosi (aka the Clapping Seal), want to do. TAX, TAX, TAX, and when the middle class gets lamblasted with new taxes, who are you going to tax next? How about making the illegal immigrants pay for their OWN health care, huh Mr. Presdient? How about placing a “Sick Care Impact Tax” on cigarette manufacturers, smokers (Yes, you Mr. President), soft drink manufacturers, and alcohol manufacturers, Mr. Presdient? What does the combination of those three industries cost our country in health care dollars per year? And our GDP in lost production? Billions, upon Billions, Mr. President!
Conservative Values
July 10th, 2009
12:39 pm
I have an Idea. Lets seperate the states again. Ones that want less government come to the south. Ones that want Obama go to the North. We will get Forbes to be our President. Then at the end of the year we will see who actually has a great military, economy, and strength. I bet the North would have a tiny military, everyone would be living without electric and food would be extremely expensive. Then theres the south that rises up and has the best military, no illegals cause there all up North with their provider Obama. We would also have jobs and the Northerns banging at our fences to get across the boarder.
Hey, just having fun but I really like the idea…………….
Mac
July 10th, 2009
12:40 pm
And again, I chuckle at the fact the author’s e-mail address is hunger@ajc.com. He should be the food critic.
Brian
July 10th, 2009
12:44 pm
IF GOVERNMENT IS BIG ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT THEY ARE BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE!!!
Sick of stupid
July 10th, 2009
12:49 pm
I love the fact that people are so quick to blame the democrats for the mess this country has been placed in that began just over eight years ago. Greed, hypocrisy and racial strife are the biggest issues with this country. If it were not for some form of government control, this country would have begun to sink a lot sooner. All those such as Sarah Palin who believe in less government should follow her lead and quit. The ideals of the GOP are mostly oxymorons. How can you gain respect and support with such selfish and self serving ideology?
AM
July 10th, 2009
12:58 pm
Both parties are our biggest problem. They are full of BS and represent only the world dollar. They do not follow the constitution and they are only an extension of greed! We have major problems right here Obama – fix ours problems – not the worlds (that is what caused this greedy exercise in the first place! No more US taxpayer money to support the worlds problems!
Knuckle Sandwich
July 10th, 2009
1:12 pm
A wise man once said…”Government is not the answer to the problem, government IS the problem”. Wan’t to stimulate the economy? Make it more attractive to do business in this country, not less attractive.
Jim
July 10th, 2009
1:15 pm
The only way a second stimulus would work is to first suspend collection of the federal incometax, social security tax, and medicare tax for one year. Americans would have more money in their pockets to spend AS THEY FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE SPENT and understand the value the FairTax would bring to the table. Following that first year of no taxes, abolish the federal income tax, social security tax, and medicare tax completely and convert to the FairTax. Watch revenues grow for the running of the federal government then as all who spend $$ in America, including those visiting the country would pay some tax. Let’s see Washington do that!
CONNIE
July 10th, 2009
1:17 pm
This government is willing to do anything “except to cease spending” to try and solve the ailing U.S. Economy. It is obscene what some of our nation’s leaders make, granting themselves raises while the rest of the county suffers. The first lady carrying a $6,000 purse on a Russian trip while families of this country have one or sometime both parents laid off from work. I learned a long time ago personally, you can not borrow yourself out of debt. You need to tackle it head on. Our government should do the same. Cut out all pork or special projects. The federal government should only be responsible for our military, our boarders, schools ? ha ha, IRS ? ha ha US Postal Service ? ha ha. All lobyist should be banned from the white house. All other business should be handle on the state level. The once biggest and best coountry in the world has the worse public schools, a tax system that is insane, and ineffective postal service and inefficient IRS. I can imagine what health care will be like when the US government takes over. No one will ever want to go the medical school and spend $400,000.00 to become a doctor and receive a federal salary of $58,000.00 per year. We will be seeing Doctors who came here from foreign medical schools. Thank you very much, but I would rather pay for my own medical care.If you want to pass a stimulus, pay the taxpers. Give them enough to pay off their home mortgages or buy a home, enough to buy an American made car and for many to retire since all of our 401-K’s are cut in half, and their home values have declined. Todays seniors will have to work until they die. The retired folks will then free up jobs. Let this system work!!!! I have seen nothing from the first stimulus except an obscene bailout of banks, wall street, insurance companies . I have seen no new jobs. I know not one person who has been saved from foreclosure. I know this is long, but it is better for me to vent than to have a stroke at the shape this once wonderful county is in.
Knuckle Sandwich
July 10th, 2009
1:18 pm
Randy, you too will have to deal with Obama as your president, when you are penniless and living on the street because of his policies. Quit claiming to be a Libertarian. You are obviously a liberal.
Brill
July 10th, 2009
1:19 pm
I checked the calender, it isn’t April 1….so this isn’t a joke question ?!?!?!
Actually, I hope they try it, it will destroy the rest of this pathetic power grabbing administration once and for all and we can get some people in here that know what they are doing.
kj
July 10th, 2009
1:19 pm
No one party is to blame for the initial spending increase over the last 10 years, both parties are to blame as both parties were in various offices in the government that approved it. Sick of stupid talks about “some form of government control” but fails to indicate what form that should take. What it shouldn’t take is control of the climate, healthcare, housing or the financial sector, for starters.
John L
July 10th, 2009
1:28 pm
Unfortunately at this time I don’t thinka stimilus package will work until the money is delivered directly to the taxpayers and stop expecting the private sector to do anything different from what they’ve done for the past 8 to 10 years. I agree with the current administration in that all tax breaks or incentives should be eliminated for companies who send jobs outside the U.S.
clipper
July 10th, 2009
1:36 pm
The president is trying desperately to find anything he can to turn the economy around, nothing working so far.
We didn’t get here in six months and we aren’t going to fix it in six months.
Where was Obama when all the will lending was going on, and the Bush administration warned congress three different time that a catastrophe loomed in the future?
Dan
July 10th, 2009
1:40 pm
John L, you realize companies don’t pay taxes right? The cost gets passed to the end users, but the dems realize their constituents don’t get it and claim to be taxing the “evil” companies when it simply gets passed to the consumer. Now if you eliminated corporate taxes, those companies would come running back and it would create jobs
Jackie Secret
July 10th, 2009
1:42 pm
I would vote for another stimilus if it meant getting another refund but by no means should this country go further into debt.
Joe Fan
July 10th, 2009
1:43 pm
If the money is returned to the taxpayers in the form of a stimulus to encourage spending, then I am all for it. Wonder where the economy would be today if each taxpayer had been given $250,000 and required to spend it on a home, pay off a mortgage or buy a car? Otherwise, no more funds to corporate ameriica, where all they will do is horde the money rather using it to create jobs.
joe biden senior
July 10th, 2009
1:43 pm
Why not publish all the “pork” that was in the 1st so called stimulus package. Let people decide if this was “stimulus” or “waste”.
Where are all the “shovel ready” projects the messiah promised?
Why is unemployment rising instead of stopping at 8% as the messiah promised the “stimulus” would do.
Guess the messiah is too busy looking at a 16 year olds behind…check out drudgereport.com.
Bill
July 10th, 2009
1:45 pm
I am amazed. Bill Clinton left office with the budget in balance. GW Bush launched two wars while cutting taxes for the wealthy, and told the rest of us to go shopping, and you people blame this on Obama???
This financial crisis was a long time coming, and there is blame to go around. Deregulation started under Reagan, continued under Clinton and accelerated under Bush. If you want to find someone to blame for the crisis, I suggest you start with Reagan.
He is also responsible for convincing so many of our citizens that government is bad. (I must admit that so many people who claim to value patriotism hate the government). Good or bad is the a false dichotomy. The real issue should be is government effective of not. There is plenty of ground to argue for ineffectiveness, but until we have that debate, it will not get better.
Finally, Reagan gave us the notion of trickle down economics, which Bush I properly labelled voodoo economics. If you want to stimulate the economy, put money in the hands of people who leave week to week, month to month, paycheck to paycheck, because they will spend it. I agree the current stimulus has fallen far short in this area.
Jenzen
July 10th, 2009
1:49 pm
I don’t know about you all, but the latest bumper sticker, “Bend over, here comes your ‘change’!” says it all. I just hope it’s not a hot poker and will heal in time when it’s removed.
God Almighty! is this a great country or what?
Jenzen Auldwauld, Sandy Springs.
Sid
July 10th, 2009
1:52 pm
Of course we don’t need another stimulus package. And these idiots want to control our healthcare. Is there anything these guy’s can do right? The government doesn’t have 1 program or department who operates efficiently, do they? Anyone? Bueller?
Katrice
July 10th, 2009
1:53 pm
The question was “Do we NEED another stimulus…” Not “Do we WANT another stimulus..” Why is it so hard for people to stay objective?
Wayne Robinson
July 10th, 2009
1:54 pm
In in the real estate industry and many laid off people just don’t have a clue what to do. Go to networking sessions and just listen to everyone poor mouth about how bad it is. Well, it is bad for anyone who wants to just get a job doing what they were doing — in any industry.
The good news is that this country allows people to be creative and work at anything that is in need. The trick is for people to think outside the box and apply themselves even if it means taking off the white collar and getting their hands dirty. You can always make a living in America if you work at it. The only stimulus we need is a cattle prod.
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
1:54 pm
Randy, thanks for all the intelligent, on point comments. You really helped put clear things up for people with your pithy insights. (By the way I had a lisp on the last sentence).
jessye james
July 10th, 2009
2:02 pm
with obama, pelosi, reid, barney frank, schuemer, biden,dodd, and several hundred other imbeciles running things, how in the hell will this country survive?
take a look at obama’s 30+ “czars”. Approx $150k per year for each = $4.5million. Take a look at the meeting held in Vegas for Social Sec Admin managers….golf, tennis, etc. Only $500K plus travel….nice to be a gvt employee.
This old country “ain’t” got a chance…
matt
July 10th, 2009
2:02 pm
Who are the mouthbreathing idiots who are actually clicking ‘yes’? This is mind-boggling. Do not say ‘no’ because you think it proves ‘democrats’ are wrong. Say ‘no’ because it does not make any sense on the most fundamental of levels. A 6 year old in a sandbox can see through this hussle. It is a high speed funnel to route money to the investment class.
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
2:05 pm
Bill, I was actually beginning to re-think Reagan up looking back and listening to his speeches. Then I heard several Heritage Institute commercials and bits on Sean Hannity’s radio program. Heritage claims to have written most of his memorable speeches. Oh well, I guess I’m back being singularly unimpressed with my fellow conservative’s poster boy as an individual but impressed with his speech writers. The S&L scandal seems to have been mostly forgotten.
True, this mess was not of Obama’s creation, though many try to paint it that way. However, just because the plumber did not cause the leak at your house does not mean you can’t blame him for making it 10X worse when he tries to “fix” it. That is what I am complaining about. If he wants to keep looking into FDR’s playbook of failed attempts to bring the US out of recession, as WWII was the only thing that worked, the WPA looks like our best shot. Of course people would actually have to work, so who knows if even that would help.
fair tax
July 10th, 2009
2:07 pm
suga for prez
FinnMcCool
July 10th, 2009
2:29 pm
Yeah, I guess you anonymous conservative typers are smarter than trained economists? How about a renowned economist? Most economists are saying the first one wasn’t big enough to do anything.
You folks used your brains 4 years ago and 8 years ago to elect a babbling idiot to be President… “the.worst.president.ever”….maybe you should give the brain cells a rest for a while?
Here’s a Nobel prize winner on what he thinks about the stimulus:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/opinion/10krugman.html
Maybe we let the people with the brains do the thinking for a while?
Sherry
July 10th, 2009
2:33 pm
Dear Atlanta Native.
You can blame Jimmy Carter for opening up the flood gates at the borders. He was the major President who did that to us. And he is still an idiot. His theory is take care of everyone else instead of our own citizens. Yea! He was a terrible president………
Spanky
July 10th, 2009
2:34 pm
Do we “need” one, probably yes. “Should” there be one, NO! The Feds have only proven their inability to act responsibly with current funds. Industries and individuals need to be self-reliant. Let nature take it’s course for a little while and let the chips fall as they may.
SNC
July 10th, 2009
2:38 pm
Please I sit at a desk everyday and listen to how if you can’t read you can get disablility….Not a damn thing wrong with them. I think the SSI system needs to be overhauled. People who really need it can’t get it because of them being white and if your of any other color you can get anything you want. People like that is what makes us hate foreigners. Sick to death of them all. We are a country of Idiots anywmore. No wonder we bail out the people who put us there to begin with……………………..
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
2:39 pm
FinnMcCool – all I get out of that article is that Krugman feels that the Obama Administration has been disingenuous with the American people from the beginning and needs to quit treating us like children. I agree.
As for a Nobel prize winner meaning anything, I give you . . . (drumroll) . . .
. . . .
Al Gore! Nuff said.
The Nobel prize is too politcally infused to mean very much. Thanks for the condescending tone, though. By the way, Obama has only had a few months, I’ll bet he can outdo the disaster Bush was in 8 years in only 4. Now that will be efficiency!
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
2:42 pm
Dear Sherry -
Have I EVER said anything positive about Jimmy Carter????? Even as a college student, at my most liberal, I considered him a failure. He left a trail of dead CIA operatives, killed the economy and couldn’t overpower a large rabbit.
matt
July 10th, 2009
2:51 pm
FinnMcCool -
You truly think those opinions are not bought and paid for? We are all intelligent human beings (well, most humans) and are able to assess our own perspectives. The day I need someone to tell me what my perspective should be (how you live your life, obviously) will surely be the saddest of my life. You’re a living, breathing, walking purchasable vote- and that is disgusting.
bonbon
July 10th, 2009
2:52 pm
sure but only if it is given solely to the american citizens! Not big corporations or banks. let us bail out the country and our lives! the money would be retaxed 100 times before it got back to the goverment so we really wouldn’t need to “pay it back” in taxes. don’t tax it, just give it. we deserve a break!!!
FinnMcCool
July 10th, 2009
2:53 pm
Some of you are confusing bailouts with the stimulus package.
Stimulus packages go to the states to jump-start spending. No one ever said the package would work this year, much less within the first 4 months of this year.
Bailouts go to fools who got us into trouble. Bailouts are what we gave the dumbazzes behind the S&L crisis 20 years ago and what we gave to more bankers last year.
atlanta Native, we can give Obama 40 years and he won’t abuse our country the way W did with just 8. Don’t forget – we had a suprlus when W took office before he gave it all out to the rich with his tax breaks.
Sad...
July 10th, 2009
2:56 pm
May God Bless us all. Because that’s who we’re all going to have to deal with real soon..the day is coming…
FinnMcCool
July 10th, 2009
2:59 pm
Bush gave the people a bailout last January in the form of tax refund checks. It helped – it gave us an uptick for 1 quarter. 1 quarter.
You think that’s going to work this time?
alohagator
July 10th, 2009
3:02 pm
Finn McCool cites the New York Times…… Whoa aren’t they a credible source? LOL !!!!!!!!!!
Their writers steal others material and call it their own. They invent stories about political candidates and when the stories are proven to be false they refuse to retract.
They can’t afford the building they operate out of because they lose money hand over fist.
The polls they conduct are intentionally biased toward their politicians of choice.
They refuse to publish anything that is critical of the current administration.
The New York Times used to be, “The paper of record”. Not any more…. The NYT is just a sad, pathetic reason to stop chopping down trees.
Bill
July 10th, 2009
3:03 pm
Atlanta Native,
I feel bad about Hammering so much on Reagan. I disagreed with his policies, but he did a lot to improve the mood of the country.
Re: FDR, True that his stimulus efforts were not enough to pull us out of the depression. It took WWII to do that. But, why did the war pull us out? Because it was an even bigger government stimulus. If I recall, we were spending something like 40% of GDP on the war. Huge deficit spending. That is what finally ended the depression. It suggests that he biggest problem with the stimulus, and the next one if we have it, is that it is not big enough. My biggest complaint about Obama to date is that he seems content to let congress figure these things out instead of taking a strong lead. Preserving political capital, but sometimes you have to use it.
alohagator
July 10th, 2009
3:06 pm
BTW…. McCool.
Clinton NEVER had a surplus.
He came within 19 billion dollars ONE YEAR. That ain’t a surplus dude.
The dems claim a surplus but the fact is while Clinton reduced our federal spending the national debt increased EVERY SINGLE YEAR! Do your homework genius….. He borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for his reductions. How can that possibly be considered a surplus? HE BORROWED THE MONEY…. HE INCREASED OUR NATIONAL DEBT!
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
3:17 pm
Finn – There has not been an actual balanced budget for many decades. The Clinton “balanced budget” was an accounting fairy tale. Bush, however, went on a neo-con spending frenzy – both domestic and through war spending. It was embarrassing and I was never in support of his love of pork and lack of a pen.
However, now we are going to spend ourselves into oblivion. Just because Obama and the liberal congress are screwing up our country does not mean Bush did a good job. I am all for a thorough review of the Bush presidency from a historical perspective, (and don’t believe he will get a Truman-like vindication from historians and Chicago) but right now we need to focus on what the Congress and Obama are trying to do before we come out like Iceland.
Atlanta Native
July 10th, 2009
3:34 pm
Bill, as the guy across the hall from me, who leans more to the left and voted for Obama, keeps saying: “Obama, if you want to be a leader, LEAD!” This abdication of responsibility to Congress reminds me of his voting record the short time he was there. “Present!”
Biz Beat poll results: Atlantans oppose second stimulus | The Biz Beat
July 13th, 2009
10:14 am
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