'Put America to work plan'

[Grumpy Gardener]

Hi folks, good to see ya again. I'm not a good writer so I'll keep it short and sweet.

I think some or part of 700 Billion dollars ought to be put towards projects to put Americans back to work. Our reactive (truth hiding ) Govt. should face the facts that the economic system when given all this money will NOT be the big machine it once was and pro-actively attack the aftermath of what will come.

New dams or nuclear facilities? Energy based goals?

gardener

[dave_pro2a]

:upeyes: Now that's a New Deal.

[The Pontificator]

if you collect welfare you should be doing SOMETHING to pay it back. That's my work program.

[Woofie]

if you collect welfare you should be doing SOMETHING to pay it back. That's my work program.

If you collect welfare you should not be allowed to vote, and if you are on it more than a year continuously or two years cumulatively you should be sterilized.

[Grumpy Gardener]

:upeyes: Now that's a New Deal.

Point taken, it's not a new plan or a new deal. But something in that direction could take OUR tax dollars and put them towards OUR infrastructure and put OUR Citizens to work.

Rather than bailout those who've made terribly bad risks to our loss, I'd rather see the moneys stimulate the 'economy' through infrastructure strengthening.

gardener

[Z71bill]

I am stuck at my MIL's house for the weekend - not much to do so I have been watching congress on C span.

Makes me sick -

I get the feeling that congress thinks no one can do anything without help from the federal government -

I just "found out" that

Farmers can't plant their crops unless the gov helps them pay for seed -

Teachers can't teach unless the gov gives the schools more money

The states can't fix their own roads / bridges - banks can't lend money - the auto companies can't make more fuel efficient cars - no one can rebuild after the floods or hurricane - without Gov help

They all line up to talk - its the same crap over and over -

If the gov can afford to spend $x billion on (take your pick) then we should also be able to spend $x billion on (take your pick) project -

It makes me mad when they say - these folks are working hard and not getting ahead - the gov needs to give them money!

I was raised thinking hard work was just what people did - it was normal - expected - my parents called it pulling your own weight -

If you wanted to get ahead you had to work 2x as hard - pull your own weight PLUS -

I don't recall people having the time to complain about how hard they were working - we are becoming a nation of whiners.

[Grumpy Gardener]

I am stuck at my MIL's house for the weekend - not much to do so I have been watching congress on C span.

Makes me sick -

I get the feeling that congress thinks no one can do anything without help from the federal government -

I just "found out" that

Farmers can't plant their crops unless the gov helps them pay for seed -

Teachers can't teach unless the gov gives the schools more money

The states can't fix their own roads / bridges - banks can't lend money - the auto companies can't make more fuel efficient cars - no one can rebuild after the floods or hurricane - without Gov help

They all line up to talk - its the same crap over and over -

If the gov can afford to spend $x billion on (take your pick) then we should also be able to spend $x billion on (take your pick) project -

It makes me mad when they say - these folks are working hard and not getting ahead - the gov needs to give them money!

I was raised thinking hard work was just what people did - it was normal - expected - my parents called it pulling your own weight -

If you wanted to get ahead you had to work 2x as hard - pull your own weight PLUS -

I don't recall people having the time to complain about how hard they were working - we are becoming a nation of whiners.

All due respect that's our money the Feds are going to toss out to "fix" our economy. That "fixing" is supposed to free up credit lenders to create jobs in the private sector. This "fixing" is supposed as the bubble has not fully burst nor completed yet. It's not a sure deal that this bailout will have the full effect the Feds wish. It's all reactive, not pro-active. What is the next reaction should the plan fail?

gardener

[Norman]

I'd like to start a "Put A Politician To Work" program. :steamed:

[agentl074]

I like those ideas!

[cjlandry]

:upeyes: Now that's a New Deal.

Exactly my first thought.

I am stuck at my MIL's house for the weekend - not much to do so I have been watching congress on C span.

Makes me sick -

I get the feeling that congress thinks no one can do anything without help from the federal government -

I just "found out" that

Farmers can't plant their crops unless the gov helps them pay for seed -

Teachers can't teach unless the gov gives the schools more money

The states can't fix their own roads / bridges - banks can't lend money - the auto companies can't make more fuel efficient cars - no one can rebuild after the floods or hurricane - without Gov help

They all line up to talk - its the same crap over and over -

If the gov can afford to spend $x billion on (take your pick) then we should also be able to spend $x billion on (take your pick) project -

It makes me mad when they say - these folks are working hard and not getting ahead - the gov needs to give them money!

I was raised thinking hard work was just what people did - it was normal - expected - my parents called it pulling your own weight -

If you wanted to get ahead you had to work 2x as hard - pull your own weight PLUS -

I don't recall people having the time to complain about how hard they were working - we are becoming a nation of whiners.

Same old song and dance. People get one government check, and suddenly they need more, and more, and more, and more.....

I don't care in which sector you work, if you're forced to produce or lose your job, you'll produce. If the government gets involved, you no longer have to produce, and you'll get raises, benefits, etc., whether you work or not.

All due respect that's our money the Feds are going to toss out to "fix" our economy. That "fixing" is supposed to free up credit lenders to create jobs in the private sector. This "fixing" is supposed as the bubble has not fully burst nor completed yet. It's not a sure deal that this bailout will have the full effect the Feds wish. It's all reactive, not pro-active. What is the next reaction should the plan fail?

gardener

Let the economy fail. Let the whole country go homeless. Let the SHTF. Let the strong survive.

Let the hippies learn the true laws of nature.

[nursetim]

exactly my first thought.



Same old song and dance. People get one government check, and suddenly they need more, and more, and more, and more.....

I don't care in which sector you work, if you're forced to produce or lose your job, you'll produce. If the government gets involved, you no longer have to produce, and you'll get raises, benefits, etc., whether you work or not.



Let the economy fail. Let the whole country go homeless. Let the shtf. Let the strong survive.

Let the hippies learn the true laws of nature.
amen!!!!!

[DamonC]

Awesome post CJ!

Here's my "economic recovery" plan:

DON'T take the $700B+ pile of money. Leave it in the hands of its owners. They will use the money to put Americans to work. They will save some, reinforcing the SOUND banks. Some will get invested in companies, making some rich and some not-so-much. Lots of inefficient, foolish companies will (rightfully) die. They will be replaced by more disciplined companies. The doom-and-gloom prognosticators will have to find other work. Life will go on.

[engineer151515]

Maybe we can start by booting the Katrina lampreys still getting .gov checks for room, cleaning, and 3 squares a day at oceanside hotels. I remember one of they saying that they'd get a job if they had to (i.e. if the .gov money stopped)

[Clyde in CO]

the idea that every american should own a home is what got us into this mess in the first place.

now we want to give them all jobs? sounds great in the movie "Dave", in the real world its hogwash.

[agentl074]

Well we outsourced all of our jobs because of labor unions - which Obama Bin Biden is in full favor of. We cant put people to work because there isnt any. What do we do? How do we get our jobs back? As much good as a union is - they do much more harm.

[G30MI]

I'd like to see $100 billion a piece given to researchers in cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, heart disease and HIV. I'll bet we could all but eradicate those bastards with $700 billion.

[THEPOPE]

This 700 BILLION is really a TRILLION if it's a cent....I make a paltry 40 k per, and I resent bailing out companies that take the money, and squander it, or worse, become richer from it, as all surely would....

Don't give me any grief, IF the Gov. can "scrape " together a trillion bucks, of OUR money, THEN THEY ARE TAXING US POOR BASTARDS TOO DAMNED MUCH.... and our taxes won't go down, they will go UP, ever more.

Let 'em, tank, the market will adjust or lots of these thieving businesses will die out to be replaced over-night by something at least as bad or worse...

sorry, that's just the cynic in me talking, but I am sick of "bailing" out people that won't work, won't contribute, and won't control themselves.

Rant never over....ime out :cool:

[franklin]

if you collect welfare you should be doing SOMETHING to pay it back. That's my work program.


Don't we pay into welfare and a short stay (3 months or less) is actually money you've paid in over the years?

[USMCSergeant]

Another route would be to use this 700 billion dollars to review every single home thats close to or in the process of forclosure. If they can knock off 100 dollars a month off so the payment could be made, that would benefit everyone. Or refinance the loans with government help with that 700 billion so the payments are permanently lower. All the money that would result from people actually being able to pay their mortgage would do a ton for the economy.

It would be nice if the government would take care of the struggling individual americans that make an effort, and not focus on these huge corporations that got themselves into a financial mess from greed and corruption.

[engineer151515]

I'd like to see $100 billion a piece given to researchers in cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, heart disease and HIV. I'll bet we could all but eradicate those bastards with $700 billion.

Not really how it works, but I like the thought.

[CranialCrusader]

Our politicos are acting as if we have $700B burning a hole in their pocket and are deciding "what" to spend it on. Instead we have -$10T and a mind boggling amount of entitlement obligations. My feeling is that this money will never be paid back.


It would be nice if the government would take care of the struggling individual americans that make an effort, and not focus on these huge corporations that got themselves into a financial mess from greed and corruption.

Oh! Oh! I don't own a house! Can I please PLEASE be taxed and my money given to someone who does!

This homeowners as a protected class mentality has to stop. Then housing prices will come back down and more people will be able to (really this time) afford housing.

Just like the no capital gains tax on home pricing increase, the mortgage interest deduction. All that should be ended as it ultimately does not help make housing more affordable.

CranialCrusader

[ElevatedThreat]

I'd like to see $100 billion a piece given to researchers in cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, heart disease and HIV. I'll bet we could all but eradicate those bastards with $700 billion.

I worked with medical researchers as a student in college. Totally dis-illusioning.

Medical research is set up not to cure disease, but rather to perpetually secure the next big prestigious research grant. Most senior medical researchers reacted with horror at the idea of actually curing the disease that is their life-long specialty.

There were a few exceptions -- notably those researchers with family members having the disease in question -- but for the most part, medical research is an ivory-tower grant-seeking academic industry with no plans to ever make itself obsolete by actually CURING anything.

Depressing, but true.

(As for the drug industry -- if they can invent a 150 dollar one-time cure, or an ongoing daily "maintenance treatment" that doesn't cure you, but that keeps you alive and costs your insurance company 150 dollars per week for the rest of your life -- which do you think they are going to invent? Think AIDS drugs, as an example.)

-ET

[dave_pro2a]

I'd like to be able to pay off my portion of the national debt, and then never have to pay taxes on it again. Every citizen should have that option RIGHT NOW. Pay 50, 70 or 100k and you're DONE!

Take my money and leave me alone, don't continue to bleed me dry forever like some scum sucking leech or Tony Soprano mobster.

[Dennis in MA]

Another route would be to use this 700 billion dollars to review every single home thats close to or in the process of forclosure. If they can knock off 100 dollars a month off so the payment could be made, that would benefit everyone. Or refinance the loans with government help with that 700 billion so the payments are permanently lower. All the money that would result from people actually being able to pay their mortgage would do a ton for the economy.

It would be nice if the government would take care of the struggling individual americans that make an effort, and not focus on these huge corporations that got themselves into a financial mess from greed and corruption.

That would work. . . if only cutting $100 would help. Cut $500 and you still will have a high percentage of these homes go under.

[Natty]

If you collect welfare you should not be allowed to vote, and if you are on it more than a year continuously or two years cumulatively you should be sterilized.

I agree 100%

Great idea.

Of course Democrats would fight against this because thats where millions of their votes come from.

Every state should have a statewide referendum vote on this.

:cool:

[Hef]

If you collect welfare you should not be allowed to vote, and if you are on it more than a year continuously or two years cumulatively you should be sterilized.

I think anyone who receives welfare benefits that exceed what they pay in taxes ought not be able to vote. That would help reduce the problem of politicians garnering votes by promising to give away public money.


The leeches should be forced to live by the political and economic decisions of those more responsible than themselves.

[ElevatedThreat]

Another route would be to use this 700 billion dollars to review every single home thats close to or in the process of forclosure. If they can knock off 100 dollars a month off so the payment could be made, that would benefit everyone. Or refinance the loans with government help with that 700 billion so the payments are permanently lower. All the money that would result from people actually being able to pay their mortgage would do a ton for the economy.

It would be nice if the government would take care of the struggling individual americans that make an effort, and not focus on these huge corporations that got themselves into a financial mess from greed and corruption.

Baloney. Why should I sit here in my 3 bedroom crapshack, the most that I can afford to pay the mortgage on every month like clockwork , while my tax dollars are taken to bail out some arrogant a-hole who bought a McMansion and now can't make the payments?

If you can't pay the mortgage that you signed up for, guess what? You can't afford to live in that house, and you ought to LOSE it!

Then take the life-lesson that losing a house to the bank teaches, and move on. You won't make THAT mistake again!

Excuse me if I'd like to KEEP my tax money, that would otherwise go to bail out some idiot who bought more house than they could pay for! My OWN modest little crapshack needs some new paint and carpeting....

-ET