Progress-Stimulus Money

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had more than $80 billion in order to jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow:

1. $11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.

2. $5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.

3. $4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

4. $6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.

5. $600 million in green job training programs -- $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.

6. $2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.

(Thanks Mr Dave Thompson for that website)

The number of lost jobs, however, have certainly surpassed the created jobs. For example: Why would creating 30,000 jobs be such a coup if millions were lost in order to do it? And appointing Czars and giving them a staff is not a fair way to take credit for creating jobs either. Most of the people involved with many of these "green" projects were already working.

I am in favor of training the next generation for the greener pastures of promise that Obama has spoke of. No argument there. I am also for a bigger, better, and smarter grid. We have needed that for years.

However, it sure seems obvious that Obama created a crisis of horrific proportions in order to get the people to allow him to pass an overly tremendous amount of money that was supposed to jump-start the economy when what it really was all about is quite clear to me. Although many of these projects are needed and very important, the stimulus bill was rushed through before the people could even understand that it. The fact is that it was the perfect way for Obama and all of his Dems to get what they had wanted passed for years and couldn't. They rushed to throw everything into the kettle, pet projects from everywhere and Obama charmed everyone into believing that this was a renewal needed in a desperate situation. He promised that unemployment wouldn't go higher than 8% if we got this thing passed. He'd promised the sun and the moon and the stars if it got it passed without people getting to read it. It was a scam and we were lied to. Our emotions were used to their advantage!

Now, we let it happen with the stimulus so shame on you, Obama! But I believe that a smart country would see this healthcare reform for what it really is. The Dems have wanted this for years. Hilary tried to get it passed and failed. It is the same bill, with a facelift and a new year. Now let's rush it through just like the stimulus. And they almost pulled it off again but people started screaming and they were forced to slow down. If this healthcare reform passes, as the saying goes, fool me once; shame on you but fool me twice and shame on me! Don't be fooled by this. Our healthcare system is the best in the world. Sure, Medicaid has some major problems but who runs that? Use some money and fix that problem, don't create another one. Leave the healthcare, government-run insurance for the socialist countries and leave us the heck alone. (Time: 7:25am off to work)