The Nation's Pulse
Stimulus Act
This goes beyond mere corruption.
The stimulus had a birthday celebration in the White House on Ash Wednesday and the candles on the cake were all votive — in that they expressed a vow rather than a fulfillment… or perhaps vote-ive. At the gubernatorial conference this week Governor Schwarzenegger added some party favors by taking a swipe at fellow Republicans (the name Arnold and the word loyalty are not synonyms) for playing cash-and-bash with stimulus funds. Yes, it is true, states grabbed some of that falling money in the short term to cover shortfalls. But was that good for America?
It reminds us of the stranger who approaches the priest to alert him to the dire plight of a parishioner. The man owes a thousand dollars to a moneylender but is flat broke. The cleric promises to cover the debt from communal funds.
Then he says to this messenger: “Nice of you to do this service. Are you a friend or a relative?”
“No, I am the moneylender.”
The 787-billion-dollar outlay was debated last year on grounds economic and political: were government jobs and contracts curative for the economy? Does taxing Peter to pay Paul help Mary with improved fiscal flow? Is government obligated or even permitted to engage in such massive interventions? There was room perhaps for such a discourse to have been prosecuted in good faith by both sides.
The facts, however, were not then deemed in dispute. The money would go for infrastructure. Across the fruited plain would be a vast orchard of orange cones. Wherever the roads were soft the hats would be hard. The happy faces of the men wielding jackhammers would be rosy and riveting. We would bridge gaps by fixing gaps in bridges. All Americans would benefit: it would be my way and the highway. The economy need no longer contract and the contractors need no longer economize. The architects would prepare the abstracts and the laborers would pour the concrete.
The optimists claimed this would fix our finances, but even the pessimists agreed it would fix our physical plant. Although selling Treasury bonds to employ citizens to repair roadways would not produce prosperity per se, we would at least have the advantage of sparkling new streets as we explored new avenues. The stupendous number of 787 billion — as opposed, for comparison, to Clinton’s stimulus sixteen years prior totaling 16 billion — guaranteed gargantuan quantities of work. Even if a few billion fell out of the truck on the way to the job site, there was enough there to pave every byway in the country with greenbacks.
Obama, Biden, and now Schwarzenegger extol the results of this overstimulated year, but the nation faces them with broken spirit. Not only has the bill failed to tackle the economy, it never even laid a finger on the infrastructure. Somehow the money has hemorrhaged every which way, but nobody is working, no bridges are being reinforced. and the face of the country has not been materially enhanced. The money has gone to the moneylender, not to the poor family.
The Democrats were honest about only one thing in their initial presentation: this entire project was ready for the shovel.
This goes beyond mere corruption. At least corrupt officials get things done… well, in North America anyway. New York flowered under Boss Tweed and Chicago flourished under Mayor Daley. Greasing the palms would grease the skids. They were paid off the books but they still did the work by the book. Now we have unlimited outflow of funds with nothing in return. No jobs, no efficiency, no achievements, no improvements. Just the usual trophies for cronies: you know the drill, a billion dollars to study why bats are blind, a billion dollars to determine the effect of ammonia on ceramic floors, and lots of money for anything involving corn in Iowa around primary time.
Seven hundred and eighty-seven billion dollars! Think about it. To give you an index into how mind-boggling this is, read some articles written over the last decade about the coming crisis in Social Security and Medicaid or the rising federal deficit. Even when they depict the doomsday scenario, all these programs spinning out of control, no one projects a number more than 400 billion. To think that eight hundred billion could be pirated from the public treasury in one swoop without one concrete and indisputable accomplishment they can point to in triumph. Wow!
So our message to Arnold, as to Barack and Joe, is thanks a lot for the help, but the medicine may kill us before the sickness does. Reminds us of the lady who calls the doctor: “Didn’t you say I have to take this prescription for the rest of my life?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Does that mean I am about to die.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because the bottle says NO REFILLS.”
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.24.10 @ 7:53AM
One thing you should understand is that the original stimulus cost of 787 billion was bumped by the Congressional Budget Office to the tune of 75 billion raising the cost of the stimulus to 862 billion.
The 75 billion increase will wipe out a third of the alleged savings over a 10 year period of 250 billion which had been estimated by the White House. If this trend continues the 250 billion in savings will be wiped out by the third year of stimulus spending. So much for those Keynesian savings.
Each job in the stimulus cost from 267,000 up to 533,000 depending on which study you use. Those studies use government released figures so the costs are hard to dispute.
R Martin| 2.24.10 @ 8:22AM
"No Refills" is what voters should be saying to every incumbent who cannot demonstrate a credible record of fiscal responsibility. Few from either party would survive.
Shamus| 2.24.10 @ 8:30AM
Obama is forming a death panel for our way of life.
Richard Baker| 2.24.10 @ 9:14AM
Shamus:
The problem with all of the Kenyan's plans is that tens of millions of us won't allow him, one way or another, to destroy our system. Keep your powder dry and your hatchet scoured, my friends.
blackwatch| 2.24.10 @ 5:41PM
don't ever reply to a posting like Richards above. BIG eyes are watching--NSA, FBI, etc.. they will want a list of everyone who agrees with the keep your powder dry for later point of view. When the insurrections start the "arrest on site" lists will come out when the rule of law is suspended.
The Clintidote| 2.25.10 @ 12:22AM
So is this a free country, or not?
Do you always so eagerly kneel before bureaucratic puffery, and think that people who can only get government jobs will see it through and stick to their useless little alleged "jobs" if things get dicey?
Think the military will be on the side of the citizenry, or the politicians who tie their hands even as you read this?
Smitty| 2.25.10 @ 2:23PM
Google "Oath keepers."
Deborah D | 2.24.10 @ 9:17AM
The only thing the stimulus stimulated was the Tea Party movement (oh, and government employment). Nothing like borrowing money from the Chinese to keep our government growing, I always say.
MikeBee| 2.24.10 @ 11:08AM
The roads funds in the stimulus bill came as a surprise to the democrat governor of Michigan. She expected to receive funds to fix our roads, many of which are in very ill repair. Instead, she received a promise of "matching" funds only. Not having any funds to fix the roads herself, as she had wasted all recent (past 8 years) state tax revenues by not making structural changes in the state government, she had to "pass" on receiving any real federal roads funding.
No, ALL of the stimulus funds were really to help governors pay their daily general funds bills, without having to address any structural deficits issues. That's what Gov. Jenny in MI is doing with the money; that's what ARNALD is doing with the money in CA.
What a crock!
FawnridgeFarm| 2.24.10 @ 1:54PM
Mike:
As a fellow Michigander, you'll get no argument from me regarding Governor Granholm having
utterly "wasted all recent state tax revenues". Actually, I'd say that the vast majority of her Democratic predecessors these last 40 years or so have done the very same thing.
In Governor Granholm's defense, however, I can personally testify to the fact that at least some federal stimulus money did go towards rebuilding Michigan's rapidly collapsing infrastructure. For example, here in central Michigan, a four mile stretch of perfectly usable state two-lane highway that traverses the northerly border of my farm was recently re-graded and re-paved with matching federal funds. Why the MDOT used these funds to extensively re-work the only stretch of road around here that didn't jar one's teeth loose at speeds in excess of twenty miles per hour is beyond me but, then again, I make no claim to understanding the vagaries of bureaucratic thinking. Unlike Granholm's unionized Department of Transportation, though, I do actually recognize a pot-hole when I see a dog drownding in one!
Frankly, I'm happy that more federal stimulus dollars weren't spent in Michigan. I'd rather live with rough roads here in Michigan than live with the knowledge that the federal government expropriated money from other states to fix roads that Michiganders should rightfully pay to fix themselves. After decades of loosing wealth through successive liberal administrations, though, our best hope is that the last unemployed union hack to leave Michigan will at least be thoughtful enough to turn out the lights as they leave........
MikeBee| 2.24.10 @ 3:04PM
Fawnridge Farm,
I agree; actually, some federal matching funds were used. But, as you point out, typically on useless projects. What I'd really like to see is the return of most of our gasoline tax from the Feds, so that we can fix our own roads here in MI. But, I suppose that these would simply be used to prop up state government jobs which need to be eliminated, also. So, what's the use?
Paul from SA| 2.24.10 @ 12:08PM
Jay,
I was 862 billion, not 787.
Arnold, I've concluded, has lost his compass in the worst way. I saw him with Ed Rendell Sunday morning and then last night on Greta's show on Fox. He just talks gibberish. He is now incapable of answering a question honestly.
Paul from SA| 2.24.10 @ 12:13PM
" ....the CBO explains, "five programs accounted for more than 80% of the outlays from ARRA in 2009: Medicaid, unemployment compensation, Social Security ... grants to state and local governments ... and student aid."
If the infrastructure is crumbling in blue states, why should red states have to pay for it?
Deborah D | 2.24.10 @ 2:50PM
"If the infrastructure is crumbling in blue states, why should red states have to pay for it?"
You answered your own question -- red states must pay for not voting for The One.
darcy| 2.24.10 @ 2:00PM
Paul from SA: I often watch Greta, but when I saw Arnold's face on the screen (the mute was on as I walked from kitchen into the den), I turned the set off. I wasn't even interested in the topic, I just knew -- from another interview of him by Greta several months ago -- that what he sells is the party line, and even that, rather incoherently.
If Arnold had any real gonads -- or true conservative instincts -- he'd stand up to the state legislature; but as it is, he's become just a facilitator of their agenda.
As long as red states bend over, blue states will continue to kick their behinds, with an extra big boot from the feds to match.
Pugsley| 2.24.10 @ 3:44PM
Ahnold must believe he is going to be the keeper of the Kennedy flame. On a lighter note as the country heads down the road to insolvency at least we will be on a freshly paved road.
Scott| 2.24.10 @ 5:06PM
Only if the road you are on was already in good condition...
Ron| 2.24.10 @ 4:43PM
For the life of me, I don't understand why Californian's haven't recalled Arnold! He has done absolutely nothing, with the exception of pointing the state into a graveyard spiral and making sure it is expedited to the bottom of the hole!
debateright| 2.24.10 @ 5:42PM
To be fair to Ah-nuld, the state of Kalifornia was already going down the tubes when he took office. However, Ah-nuld is certainly not a conservative and his policicies have been mostly the same liberal crap that created the mess in the first place.
blackwatch| 2.24.10 @ 5:46PM
we haven't a prayer of recalling the man. The legislature is the real problem. Perhaps if there is a true crash we may be able to subdivide the nightmare of California and let the liberals have their own state. The liberal coast versus the central valley. then maybe a true Nor Cal third state could be chopped off the central valley. It's been brought up before. This state is not governable and won't be anytime soon.
Richard Baker| 2.24.10 @ 6:16PM
blackwatch:
Sorry that you are afraid of the government. It appears that the lessons of the Founding Revolutionaries are lost on you. That's ok, the millions of us who would fight for Liberty and Freedom understand the existence of weak sisters. Just stay out of our way,if you please.
Curtis| 2.24.10 @ 9:44PM
cali was doomed for the same reasons all the wild west boomtowns were doomed. Plus all the extra liberal BS.
We've demo'd our fiscal solvency, entrapped ourselves in foreign wars of attrition, refused to fight those wars in a way would allow us to actually win, and have over extended our obligations.
The nation is not doomed, yet. But the clock is ticking; if action is not taken, this nation will be dragged down into a European style mire of mediocrity,disunity, and ineffectualism. I do not foresee a second revolution, I foresee an America that simply won't matter any more.
CJohnson| 2.25.10 @ 12:21PM
We must wait until the Army Corpse of Engineers approves the permit application. If you fill in a pot hole, you will be disturbing the environment of the earthworm, And, sorry no jackhammers until an environmental impact study has been completed. Can't even remove debris without a permit.
CHummmel| 2.25.10 @ 12:38PM
And test the old asphalt and concrete for asbestos (it will be present, trust me).
CA logic requires it be hauled to another state...cause it't toxic stuff ya know.
First demolish the bridge between stupid and utopia and build a road to reality.
Alicevivi | 3.1.10 @ 10:39PM
Here are many Chinese special products sold online, you can choose them for your friend as the Birthday present or send to your parents. They must feel very surprise.
computer hardware business | 5.10.10 @ 5:38AM
nice post, nice picture friend
Dave Warmer| 6.23.10 @ 10:59AM
"omehow the money has hemorrhaged every which way, but nobody is working, no bridges are being reinforced." - is this not always the case. Nothing new here.
dizi | 12.14.10 @ 10:12PM
thank you great web site.. i like post
vouchercodes | 1.6.11 @ 9:20AM
Act is a good thing
Lizzie S | 5.20.11 @ 5:40AM
Well just look at Arnie now- probably doing the housekeeping when the budget was being spent.
3ds Blog | 5.20.11 @ 5:44AM
I thought that was how politics always worked- rob Peter to pay Paul, and Mary and Susie and John.....
Angry Bird | 5.20.11 @ 5:44AM
Justification is always the way...
سوريا | 6.25.11 @ 1:10AM
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood