I've lived in Mtn Home since 1989, so that's...hold on...I'm thinking...WOW! Exactly 25 years! Boy, I think I can almost declare myself an Idahoan. But my family is British and I grew up in Louisiana around lots of other Brits so I still think I'm a little bit of a mutt. Those of you who have been around awhile may remember when I used to blog all the time. My opinions weren't very accepted and there was always an issue because I work for the county. That really wasn't fair because I NEVER blog at work! And I am still entitled to my opinions and thoughts about city and county issues, right? However, it stirred a lot of pots and those pots certainly can make a lot of noise! Since I'm a writer, I took what I wrote in my blog seriously so I spent a lot of time researching things which got exhausting to do when you're not even get a paycheck for it. So I stopped. That was a blessing to many! However, to this day, I still have people stop me and ask me why I wasn't blogging and t! hey missed it. I've missed it. Mainly because there are so many issues that come up and I have no voice except around my friends and I'm sure they are tired of it.

The 787 Billion Dollar Question!

Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at 8:08 AM

Where is the 787 billion dollar stimulus? What happened to all that money targeted to save jobs and get the economy moving up? Has the plan worked? You decide!

The Obama people promised that if we passed this bill, it would create 3-4 million jobs. HA! What did we get instead? July 2 was the worst numbers yet with 467,000 job losses at 9.5% unemployment (that we know about because not all unemplyed people are counted). And it is expected to go even higher! Promises, promises, and more promises abound as they keep spending money we don't have. Worse even, there is talk af another stimulus plus the climate change-energy bill and a fat healthcare reform bill.

Yes, the American people know that this scenerio doesn't work. Even a child would question the idea. Dad comes home from work, beaten and frightened to tell his family, "Look, this is real bad. Our financial situation is almost bankrupt. Matter-of-fact, we are dead broke! But I have a plan. Let's jump in the car and go to Wally-World. We're gonna spend like crazy and use up all our credit on every card and then when that is gone, we will take every cent that we can get from every Pay-day loan center and spend some more. That will stimulate every business we spend money at. Surely, that will get the economy going, causing a ripple effect that will get our money back! Come on, let's go!" The littlest child would look at his father and say, "But Daddy, if we don't have the money, then how could we spend it?" And the next child would say, "But Daddy, I thought that you taught us to always save 10%, give 5% to charity and then pay all our bills before we can go to Wally-World." And of course, Mom would laugh hysterically and then tell her husband to put the carkeys down! "Go to your room and take a bubble bath while I fix dinner. Nobody is going anywhere tonight!" (time 7:07am)

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Yes, where are all of those jobs? Where is all of the credit that should be "easy" to get (oh yeah, it goes to the people to buy homes who cannot afford to do so from a "budget" or economic standpoint). It is going to HUGE first time home buyer tax credits (once again for people who cannot afford to even buy a house). It went to the banks so they could raise interest rates to that of default rates but they say they are "normal" and just a sign of the times. And how about appropriations! Our local proposed recreation center is attempting to ride those coat tails (for several years now truth be known). That is where all of this money has gone. Like a kid in a candy shop with $20 bucks!

Yep, change I can believe in for sure. Oh, and where is Obama these days? All over the world fixing things in Russia, etc. News flash...we are BROKE here and charity begins at home...where that is for Obama nobody knows for sure. Great blog Kim and good comments Mike as always.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 8:49 AM
It does take months for any economic event to filter down to the public sector. Politicians always shorten the time horizons. That being said, 3-4 million jobs is a pipe dream. What kind of pipe....... (j/k).

We do not need easy credit. Credit led to the current crisis. We need to work on producing assets instead of borrowing. Overly optimistic estimates are fine for the Jerry Lewis telethon but when the quality of life is at stake, I think some realism would be nice.

-- Posted by twilcox1978 on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 10:22 AM
The states haven't started paying out the money to begin the work programs. Bids are still coming in for the many projects that will help create jobs. I read it in the Idaho statesman or one of those newspapers, a couple of days ago.

And as for the bail out money, you all know that the majority of it was wasted on bonuses instead of what it was meant for.

Homework, homework, homework,.....

-- Posted by censored on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 12:51 PM
Yes, most know that a project of any size takes time to implement. Politicians/Lawyers/Public Service officials take an hour to address the question of what overpriced corporate lunch cafe they are going to eat at let alone something of importance. I have no hard evidence but I would say that the end result is not worth 787 billion or more. I do not know if McCain or whoever would have done it differently but lets hope someone in the future can cease the borrowing. Playing hero at the expense of the future is not my idea of wise decision making. Overall, the money was bound to shrink by the time it reached the public as there are many Democrats who need to play hero as well.

What I mean by play hero is have this money go to their state or whatever cause so that they can get on TV and brag about how even in tough times they were able to benefit their constituents. The expletive is thick and piling up. Hey, wait we will create jobs by hiring people to shovel the enormous mounds that are forming in DC and have it shipped elsewhere. Bad joke but someone has to poke fun at it.

-- Posted by twilcox1978 on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 3:52 PM

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