Progress-Stimulus MoneyPosted Monday, October 26, 2009, at 8:25 AM
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) Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
I've lived in Mtn Home for over 20 years. I love my city and my country. Since I am a writer, my decision to blog here seemed appropriate. I enjoy acting so I've been blessed with the opportunity to work on some independent films and with Prairie Dog Productions and Bogus Creek Ranch. I hope that something I have to write about has some value for others or just amuses someone.
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A lot of those "created jobs" aren't fulltime positions, and many are just temporary projects.
They all technically count in the figures, but do not represent reality.
Actually Kim, there ought to be a few MORE jobs lost...............Obama, Biden, Pelosi, Snowe, Reid, Schumer, Feinstein, Boxer, Bloomberg, Grayson, Otter, Rangel, Frank, Dodd, Spector, McCain, Feingold...................
To echo BM's sentiments, these created jobs are not always full-time. These people still end up reaping unemployment benefits. Finally, when someone has been largely poor and they get a big payday they dont go out and spend it all. They usually save it or ration it out to the best of their abilities. So creating temporary, high-paying jobs for those who have been unemployed does not yield equal benefits to the economy.
It is all a sham. Record spending to create jobs with the worst job loss in history and GROWING! The US Government has no business attempting to be in the health care business. They cannot run what they have much less what they would like to have. Waste, fraud and abuse at its best. Mike, I am with you. There should be a lot of jobs open if people would just wise up and vote these butt heads out of office once and for all. Enough is enough. Bets on if this will happen? I take no. "Yes" anyone? Anyone?
It's a version of the "battered spouse syndrome"..................
It's not always been good, but at least it's familiar.
Missy, it's a double-edged sword. Congress will NEVER introduce or pass any legislation that would limit their perceived "lifetime appointments."
So it is up to US to just vote them out. 100% DO-ABLE...............on paper.
Problem is, most Americans have become too family-programmed into a particular party, to just cast it aside and have the sense to do what's right.
Doesn't disturb me in the LEAST to vote for a Democrat or Independent, when my research into his voting track record shows him to be closer to MY values than the Republican my party EXPECTS me to vote for.
I've never voted for Corder. Always voted for McNeal and Andrus. I don't agree with Otter and I support everything Minnick has done so far. Mike Crapo has done an excellent job, but Mike Simpson will not get my vote.
I've been voting for 4O years now and can truthfully say that I have NEVER walked into a voting booth and just filled-in every circle where there was an "R"
People who vote "straight ticket" everytime, regardless of party, are the prime reason everything is so screwed up in this country. It's a "time-honored" practice though........and it's stupid. Very, very stupid.
These days, with so many deals getting made, you cannot just assume that every Republican or every Democrat on the ballot, thinks as YOU do........just because's he's the "D" candidate or the "R" candidate.
Anybody want proof of that? Healthcare...........should have been a SLAM-DUNK. The LEFT Party has all the numbers, but not everyone is "thinking the same", are they?
On the GOP side, we had some real heavy hitters in the lineup last year, but the party nominated John McCain, the best Republican the Democrats ever had!
Not ALL Republicans are pro-gun, like they're "supposed to be."
Not ALL Democrats are pro-choice, like THEY are expected to be.
Most newspapers (even the Boise 'Bama Booster) do a photo printout after every major issue, entitled "How your elected officials voted." Ever seen it?
How they VOTE on issues, tells you how they think. They'll say ANYTHING during a campaign to get elected. But how they VOTE is a mirror-image of how they think, and THAT my friends, should be your guide when you walk into the voting booth.
Any of you Republicans ever get invited to Bush's ranch in Texas for a bar-b-que? How 'bout you Democrats..........maybe a ride on Ted Kennedy's yacht when he was alive?
We don't owe these people ANYTHING! They work for us, and much of what they have, WE HAVE PAID FOR. We don't owe either party any "blind allegience."
I know people who'd vote for Charles Manson, as long as he had a (D) or an (R) after his name.........and then they'd try to figure out a way to justify it!
And that would be their sole criteria..........."He's a party member, so he somehow HAS to be one of us".............but MOST likely....."Yeah, he's not all that good, but my great grandfather would roll over in his grave if I voted for somebody on the OTHER SIDE!"
Well.............your great grandfather didn't live in the 21st Century, and this is by no means, the same "America" that HE lived through.
Let Crapo and Minnick serve as prime examples.
They are Republican and Democrat, yet they stand shoulder-to-shoulder doing everything they can for this state. People LIKE them, and people TRUST them. Idaho is a HEAVY GOP state. Always HAS been, yet they supported Andrus everytime he ran, and they just voted one of "their own" OUT and Minnick IN!
The Dems are a minority here, and could NEVER have put Walt Minnick in on their own, but thank goodness there ARE enough folks here who see IDAHO FIRST and PARTY SECOND.
Now Missy....if the other 49 states would just follow our lead, and think as AMERICANS, instead of "party loyalists," we COULD turn things around in this country without having to "lock & load."