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Mercnbeth -> RE: Thoughts on President Obama's speech tonight? (2/10/2009 7:29:52 AM)
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~ Fast Reply ~
This isn't as much about specifics as it is the 'big picture'. To see the big picture - you have to take a step or two back from it.
The economy has no confidence in this Administration and especially in this Congress. While on specifics, does anyone know what they are based upon last night? Vague references to construction initiatives, but the specifics? That points to specific Congressmen saying they have no idea what's in the plan, "it took 3 seconds", and a "we have to do something" attitude. Based upon these comments, yes - I'd say until you have a specific plan doing nothing would be preferred.
Not surprised that lacking a plan, fear is used as the motivating factor. Fear projected to the mostly naive and uninformed public is a great tactic. The President seems to want to keep it at a base level addressing his constituency. He has them afraid, and needs 'faith-based' acceptance, as he had during his campaign, to keep his popularity. Why use fear if your plan is so good? Why already have a 'whoops - sorry' strategy in the plan by announcing it with apologetic, and projecting failure buzz by saying; "This isn't perfect." and "We don't have all the answers." It seems that if we were keeping with the FDR model of creating a name for this, like the 'New Deal', it would be; "We had to try something!"
He also added a good dose of unverifiable goals.
quote:
OBAMA: "The plan that we've put forward will save or create 3 million to 4 million jobs over the next two years." THE FACTS: Job creation projections are uncertain even in stable times, and some of the economists relied on by Obama in making his forecast acknowledge a great deal of uncertainty in their numbers. Beyond that, it's unlikely the nation will ever know how many jobs are saved as a result of the stimulus. While it's clear when jobs are abolished, there's no economic gauge that tracks job preservation. Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090209/D968BMTO0.html
There are definite jobs included in the plan. A new department or two of bureaucracy such as the new 'National Coordinator of Health Information Technology', are to be created. New bureaucrats and more drains to tax dollars in a time when they are scarce. Good time for that huh? Can't figure out if those are part of the 600,000 new bureaucrats to be hired that were a campaign promise.
Businesses, the viable ones not the failures getting hand outs, won't be adding employees, spending money, or making expansion plans as long as expanding government is the goal of this administration. Every government job adds to the problem of a greater deficit, and a greater tax burden.
BTW - Where was Iraq last night? Do we still have troops there? Is Iraq still costing us money?
Edited to add:
More important than any of our thoughts - the people and money who could effect change thought this. At the opening DOW is down 110 points. That's the 'score' beyond the rhetoric.
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