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How Do You Fight Obama’s New New Deal?
Or at least, minimize the damage...?
The Obama transition team, soon to be the Obama administration, is concocting a reenactment of the New Deal.
A trillion dollar stimulus is going to “create” jobs, and the government will “bailout” failing industries (with additional debt funded by the Chinese, so long as they have an appetite for quickly depreciating dollars). If you think this sounds half-baked and suffers from historical amnesia, you are right.
Despite the obvious shortcomings with this approach (e.g., it’s never worked before), the Republican Party so far isn’t doing a very good job of coming up with alternatives. Plainly, they don’t like the mounds of debt. And they are skeptical of a gigantic public works projects. But what could be done instead?
There are some viable ideas, although they don’t do much for the liberal allies and Big Labor patrons of the new administration.
Lawrence Lindsay writes that tax cuts rather than government spending will have a more immediate and long-lasting impact on the economy:
The relative advantage of tax cuts over spending is even clearer when the recession is centered on the household balance sheet. Some relatively minor changes, like making the current 15 percent tax rate on dividends and capital gains permanent, would not only help household cash flow, but also put a floor under equity prices much as their introduction did in 2003. This would help protect against further wealth destruction and balance sheet deterioration.
[T]he centerpiece of any tax cut should be employment taxes: in particular, a permanent halving of the current 12.4 percent Social Security payroll tax on the first $106,800 of wages, split evenly between workers and employers. The direct revenue effect of that would be a bit under $400 billion per year, roughly in line with the present quantitative needs of the economy. It also meets our three tests of effective stimulus.
First, the funds would flow directly to households through higher take-home pay and indirectly through a reduction in the cost of employment. Economic studies conclude that the benefits of a reduction in the employer portion of the payroll tax are ultimately received by employees. But the immediate effect would be an improvement in the cash flow of credit-starved businesses (as well as being a marginal incentive to keep employment up).
Second, the funds would be extremely timely, with the benefits hitting the economy with the first paycheck after the plan was implemented.
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Jennifer Rubin is PJM's Washington, DC, editor. She also blogs at Commentary’s Contentions.
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53 Comments
1. Bob:First, regardless of the rhetoric, the Obama plan is designed to grow government not to improve the economy. (As suggested by the article, even Obama’s rhetoric generally mentions only government job creation, i.e., the creation of government, not private sector, jobs.) The result of the original New Deal was a great expansion of government and Democratic control of Congress for about 50 years. That’s what 0 wants and with overwhelming majorities in both houses, he’s likely to get whatever mislabeled “economic stimulus package” he proposes.
Second, the Republicans, particularly the party leaders, like Bush and McCain, already bought into the idea of “bailing out” business with massive infusions of federal cash. Now that the $700 billion+ bank bailout has been substantially funded, there are bipartisan complaints of how the money is being spent. Surprise! When you start passing out checks ending in 9 zeros, you may get some wasteful spending.
Third, the American people are completely used to corruption and don’t seem to give a damn. Rod Blogojevich was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2006 amid acknowledgement by Illinois citizens of both parties – the Democrats I talked to were even more vicious in their attacks on Blago than the Republicans- that his administration was crooked and under federal investigation. During the 2008 campaign, no one paid attention to the political contributions by the folks at Fannie and Freddie – most notably to Chris Dodd and Barry Obama, the top two recipients. They just blamed Bush or the Republicans for all the problems. Especially for the first few months of the Presidential honeymoon, nobody is going to focus on the kind of corruption and mismanagement (for which the Republicans can take a good share of the blame) that got us into this mess.
In sum, yes, tax cuts would help the economy more than massive new spending; requiring accountability from the recipients of federal bailouts would be a prudent course; and it would be great if the public would care about corruption. But based on their recent record, don’t count on Republicans even articulating such things, let alone selling them to the complacent, 0-infatuated American public.
Dec 28, 2008 - 4:39 am 2. formwiz:Bob’s second point is well-taken, but the third may not be. When ineptitude is the result of corruption, even Louisiana does something about it. Illinois, being more the Land of Capone and Daley than Lincoln these days, may be something of a special case.
The fact that we have a three party system – Demos, RINOs, and Republicans – makes it hard for the Republicans to be credible right now since the RINOs have been using their name. If things get worse instead of better after six months to a year, expectation of instant gratification may make a hard reality for Obambi and friends.
Dec 28, 2008 - 5:24 am 3. Cybergeezer:With the publicity and exposure the brazenly incompetent and felonious Democrats are getting, I do not understand why they are able to maintain such rabid constituents. Perhaps the Democrats are utilizing tenets from the Koran. They seem to have a faithful that would follow them over any cliff.
Dec 28, 2008 - 6:11 am 4. Cybergeezer:Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me; Fool me continuously, just call me suicidal.
I shall do my patriotic duty and forward all my emails from Nigerian Banks and U.K. Lottery winnings to the United States Congress.
Dec 28, 2008 - 6:40 am 5. Ian Thorpe:I have already won more than I can ever spend.
As I’ve said before Obama intends to reduce unemployment and get the economy moving by appointing two and a half million community organisers.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:07 am 6. Michael A. Cuttler:The Obama plan is 180° wrong. Instead of government spending it should be government savings. The emphasis should be on supporting the 90% of America who have behaved economically responsible. Not those who have behaved economically irresponsible. By shoring up the 90% of America, economic equilibrium would come sooner shortening the recession. The Obama plan rewards irresponsible behavior and punishes responsible behavior by inflating the economy and destroying savings. What you are seeing is the party in power buying votes with no true regard for this country.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:09 am 7. Dr. Fred in PA:I entirely agree about the need for the Repubs to grow a spine and some morals but with the large number of Pork Pigs running loose in Congress I’m afraid that we may be screwed. As to 56% of the population favoring a massive stimulus? Well, when you have the leftards in charge of educating our kids for several decades, you get what you pay for. I can’t wait for our new prez to, oh, I don’t know, outlaw gasoline? That’ll save the planet! I’m sure there’re LOTS of good little marxist ideas bouncing around in his cranial cavity.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:23 am 8. MPT:Whoa…First things first: May I suggest that the “Contract for Clean Government” start out with the Republicans cleaning house and go for an indictment of all of the corrupt players in the current Bush Administration. Have you already forgotten about them? To keep this post short despite the endless this of corruption and wrongdoing, let’s begin by uncovering who most benefitted from the Iraq fiasco and why it is that so much money was spend on contracts to KBR/Halliburton and why there is so little to show for it in Iraq. Where did all of those billions and billions of dollars go? This fiscal corruption of course would be the tip of the iceburg. Have you just forgotten about that money? Next we would have to look into all of the last adminisrtation’s abuses of the Constitution and our Civil Liberties, not to mention the abundance of lies perpetrated just to get us in there in the first place. This doesn’t even touch lies and corruption involved in the firing of the 9 US Attornies or even the missing Karl Rove emails the 2004 election in Ohio (Mike Connell RIP)…Talk about short memories, Jennifer! And talk about the faithful following their masters over a cliff! Those who actually still think these guys don’t deserve to be tortured for their treasonous self-serving acts then imprisoned for life for destroying our reputation and our economic system should really just go to Alaska and start their own country…I hear there is already a movement afoot. OH and btw’s, I think the Republicans already tried that whole Contract thing with Newt and as I recall that didn’t end so well. Talk about a short memory…
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:40 am 9. David Thomson:What can I tell you? The pathetically mediocre work of Arthur M. Schlesinger has had a vile impact. He has converted many citizens into believing that Franklin D. Roosevelt saved capitalism. This idiocy can easily be shown to be false. Unfortunately, the “elites” have no desire in letting the truth be known. It helps them acquire power and sometimes even great wealth. Laissez faire doctrines basically tell elites to mind their own business and stay out of the way. Needless to add, this is the last thing they wish to hear!
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:41 am 10. The Wizard:The Obamanation has no clue how to solve this country’s problems. the New Deal did not work for FDR, it will not work this time. We need to cut taxes, provide incentives for small businesses, reduce the size of government and government spending. It is also time to introduce term limits for both houses of Congress; all we have now are political pigs mired in self-dealing and lining their pockets. They could care less about the tax payers. There is no FREE LUNCH! We need solutions that work for all Americans.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:46 am 11. AnninCA:The suggestion to insist upon accountability is excellent, but I really don’t see it happening. I also don’t really know that it matters. Obviously, these businesses play games with the numbers to a huge degree. Unless they have truly changed their mindset, they will continue to do so.
Dec 28, 2008 - 8:11 am 12. FLMom:The conservative knows that the more power we grant the government, the more we restrict individual freedom.
What we give to the government, we take from the individual.
We need conservatives who can articulate this truth and can voice compelling narratives that teach this truth to those that do not understand.
Clearly, Bush and McCain did not believe this truth. We cannot wait around for politicians that understand. We, as individuals, must demonstrate the value of the individual.
Dec 28, 2008 - 8:19 am 13. ~Paules:The first thing Republicans need to do is put forth a party leader who can stand for and articulate conservative principles. Next comes a simple message, repeated over and over, something that might appeal to an adult electorate: “We can’t borrow our way to prosperity.” What’s left of the Republican Party in Congress needs to hang tough even at the risk of being labeled “obstructionist” by the MSM.
If the Democrats are so foolish as to pursue a new New Deal in the biting grip of a recession, then they are doomed by the math to fail. Once the liquidity crisis is over and the market begins to recover, the Federal Reserve will be forced to raise interest rates to fight inflation which is all but inevitable. There is nothing an Obama administration can do about it aside from letting the bitter medicine do its work. Rampant inflation and high interest rates will kill a second Obama administration just as surely as it did the term of Jimmy Carter. Obama’s only hope is to engineer an economic turn around within four years. Reaganite principles show us the way.
The iron rules of economics defy ideology. Americans who balance their checkbooks everyday can’t be fooled by rhetoric despite the best efforts of the MSM. Economic distress has a sobering effect on the electorate. Government needs to do the same thing that ordinary Americans do in times of economic crisis: spend less. Where in the meantime is there an adult amongst the Republicans who will deliver the message? Jindal? Palin? Who? I’m waiting. And like millions of other hard-working Americans, I’m willing to bite the bullet.
Dec 28, 2008 - 8:27 am 14. Mudpie:Cut the capital gains tax to zero and jump back,
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:07 am 15. Cybergeezer:the economy will take off.
So, the Obamanation begins; Ignoring history and coming out with their “new and improved” version of how to “Wag the Dog”. It’s going to be a tragic comedy for the next four years. Thanks again Democrats.
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:18 am 16. kdman:MPT – nice try. Look in the mirror first. Just for starters..let’s see if you really have a clue. Tell us all how many US Attorneys did Clinton (your boy) fire??? HMMMMMM?
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:52 am 17. thegre8_1:I think Obama can create 3 million new jobs by giving people tire gauges and they can be sure our tires are properly inflated. Of course they will be paid comparably to UAW workers. How do we stop this fiasco? Get control back of Congress in 2010 like we did in 1994.
Dec 28, 2008 - 11:00 am 18. Edward A:After these past eight years, it will be a long time before America will trust its future to the Republicans. Our economy has been hit, the number of unemployed increases, our debt is beginning to strangle us and who-the-heck has been watching the 350 billion dollars dispensed with few, if any, controls. What, if anything, has George Bush done in the past eight years that benefits the average working American?
Dec 28, 2008 - 11:18 am 19. Chuck Pelto:TO: All
RE: Damage Control
THAT…..
….is an interesting question. [Note: As I see it, the two are one-in-the-same.]
There are certainly a number of responses. Some of the quite peaceable. Others…not so….
The REAL question is which response to apply to what development. And that is a question each of US must decide for themselves…..God help US…..
Personally?
I prefer the wait-and-see approach. Politicians are notorious, if not infamous, for saying one think and doing another. Witness The One…..
He campaigned on ‘change’. But from all evidence available at this point, all the ‘change’ boils down to more of the ’same’.
In other words, his campaign promises were all just so many ‘lies and jest’. And our friends on the other side of the aisle, bought it….hook….line….and s[t]inker.
However, things could STILL go ’south’. It all depends on what happens over the next two years of an Obamanation.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Dec 28, 2008 - 11:23 am 20. H. Coburn:To paraphase the saying, “We live in interesting times.”
Dec 28, 2008 - 1:29 pm 21. H. Coburn:Subprime mortgages. I’m going to sell you money cheaper than it costs me to aquire it.
No one can stay in business selling something for less than it costs to produce. Pretty basic.
Sooner or later the piper needs to be paid and the house of cards falls in. Yikes!
The outgoing administration devises a bailout of subsidies etc., to varous key industries.
The incoming administration proposes more bailouts and massive public works projects to, “stimulate the economy.”
Sounds a lot like 1932 to me.
To paraphrase the saying, “We live in interesting times.”
Dec 28, 2008 - 1:35 pm 22. FreedomLover:Subprime mortgages. I’m going to sell you money cheaper than it costs me to aquire it.
No one can stay in business selling something for less than it costs to produce. Pretty basic.
Sooner or later the piper needs to be paid and the house of cards falls in. Yikes!
The outgoing administration devises a bailout of subsidies etc., to various key industries.
The incoming administration proposes more bailouts and massive public works projects to, “stimulate the economy.”
Sounds a lot like 1932 to me.
Given our lack of conservative leadership, I think all we can do is hang on until the dims make enough of a mess that voters throw them out, praying that by then it’s not too late to turn the country back around to capitalism. I’m mostly not reading the news these days.
Dec 28, 2008 - 2:05 pm 23. Dan Hossley:How do you fight Obama’s New Deal?
Not much chance of that happening – I mean, not much chance of the Republican’s in Congress putting up a fight. Why should they? They hold the same basic beliefs as the Democrats, it’s just that they would pick different winners.
Look at the performance of the Republican Congress’ under Bush to get a good idea of their core beliefs. Spend other peoples money.
The fight over Obama’s “New Deal” between the Republicans and Democrats will not center on whether it is good policy, or whether it will work. The fight will center on who gets the money and how much they get.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:02 pm 24. Bogdan of Australia:We cannot predict and frankly we don’t know. Unfortunately (and despite our wishful thinking that it is otherwise) some 70% of the population of the socalled “democratic world” is politically and economically almost completly ignorant. I can understand to some extend the confusion of the Yanks that they dumped Bush and his Republicans. However, they should know that for the present trouble those are the Democrats and their allies in Republican party called RINOS who are responsible and not the conservative branch of the American political body. End yet they (the Yanks) elected those very responsible for the crisis to guide them in the most difficult time. Nothing could be more ridiculous! On the other hand, here in Australia (or rather Eunuchalia) the idiots have pushed out probably the most succesful Prime Minister in the Australian history together with his equally succesful and competent party – the Liberals and installed the absolute mediocrity of a politician – Kevin Rudd, together with his equally incompetent half-criminal Labor Party. Even more; As the economical situation Down Under worsens, that cretin becomes even more popular and revered! Can anyone explain that? I think that it because the Western Homo Consumus Degeneratus bacame so blinded by the almost 25 years of unbroken prosperity, so satiated by the never-ending binge on seemingly inexchaustable flow of a cheap garbage that it is no longer capable of a rational thinking. Even worse, it is slowly loosing its instinct of self-preservation. What we can do about that? Frankly I don’t know. Perhaps you (we) can begin challenging Obama’s Administration and “Democrattic” Congres’ attempt to raise taxes in the US Supreeme Court on presumption that the excessive taxes are the breach of our basic Human Rights. After all, Human Rights are not subjected to the rule of majority. Equally, it is also one of the premises of the United Nation’s Human Rights Charter that the EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP OF THE RESULTS OF OUR OWN WORK is one of our BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. That would give you and all of us a very powerful instrument against Obama and his cohorts and their drive to steal our money and extend the reach of their regime…
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:04 pm 25. rosematovich:It is unbeiievable that no one is holding the Cheney/Bush administration responsible for the waste, theft of American taxpayers resources the lies and the murder of thousands of Iraqi citizens as we were told lies and the administration practised deception.You know that Rumsfelds privatization of the American Army earned him a cool 18 million in a matter of weeks.Their greed and lack of reasonable rules has destroyed the American economy.Will conservatives of conscience stand up and speak of these wrongs or are we to stay mired in the school girl tactics of name calling and whining.
Dec 28, 2008 - 7:53 pm 26. Eric:The Democrats will never support a plan that cuts taxes for three reasons:
1. The beneficiaries of tax cuts will necessarily accrue to those that pay the most taxes and in the eyes of the class warriors in the Democrat party this is simply too unfair to even consider.
2. Above all else Democrats seek power and control. Letting people keep their own money and make their own decisions removes power and control from the Mandarins in government.
3. Letting people keep their own money takes away from our politicians the opportunity to be seen as saviors of our economy, and after power and control, politicians are glory seekers. Letting We the People save ourselves removes the opportunity for our pols to be celebrated.
No, in spite of all evidence to the contrary our politicians will never allow us to do this ourselves.
Dec 28, 2008 - 8:19 pm 27. Eric:Rose – when the Democrats stand up and take responsibility for the world wide financial crisis they are almost 100% reliable for then we can start discussions about how you’re woefully mistaken and incredibly ideological, in a MoveOn.org kind of way, regarding Iraq.
Dec 28, 2008 - 8:21 pm 28. Another View:I know actually looking at past Republican policies. Will not deter most of you from blaming the incoming administration. Nor will any of the fire sales the White House is currently involved in.
But lets put aside partisanship for a minute and really understand the economy. The country has no money. Cutting taxes can’t happen regardless. We borrow for everything. Everything. On a government level they must infuse cash to create a tax base. Which just keeps the wheels spinning and the lien holders happy.
There already is more debt than dollars in our economy. At this point we will have a grinding halt if the gov’t doesn’t borrow and spend. It’s to late to be conservative.( I think.. From the available information.)
That is if you understand where money comes from. The U.S. didn’t open it’s vaults and bailout businesses. The U.S. borrowed from the FED Reserve(not Government agency)on our future labor. The same people who own the FED reserve own the IMF and all the worlds central banks. The same people.
Investing in a aging. No flat out old infrastructure can only be positive. We need new power grids and roads. We need nation building. Our own nation that is. So if we are going to borrow as a nation at least the citizens of the U.S. will benefit from our tax dollars.
Obama didn’t create a Fiat empire. He is playing with the cards he was dealt. And by far he was the Smartest candidate in the field. And his demeanor leads me to believe he really has all the citizens of the U.S. best interest in mind. Even though he is held to the highest standard he still is performing extremely well.
To all conservatives are you ready sell firewood, handmade furniture, fish and anything else without borrowing. Because it’s all or nothing. Lets self sustain. Guess I’ll be building my house on your lake. Gotta eat.
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:14 pm 29. Another View:Aussie dude;
We don’t give a Sh!t about the U.N. Never have. We create our own policy.
(not my feelings that is the U.S.)
EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP OF THE RESULTS OF OUR OWN WORK
Also that is the part of the tax code we try to fight. then we do 10 years for tax evasion.
It clearly says in our constitution we are to be taxed on our profit not our labor. But income tax is tax on our labor.Capital gains is a profit tax. This actually has been argued by the Supreme court. And they have ruled in favor of the law as stated above.
Liberal doesn’t mean spend freak. It means liberal in values. It means I don’t care if you like sausage. If you vote republican. It doesn’t matter if you are A RINO, Neo Con, Conserv, evangelical or anything else. The GOP is corruption. You may know Australian politics but do you realize Bush had a republican Congress 6 of his 8 years in office. Now we are in global conflict and have a deficit.And he didn’t even win in 2000 or 2004. Stay down under way under.
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:37 pm 30. josil:rosematovich: Are you blind to your own namecalling and whining?
Dec 28, 2008 - 10:57 pm 31. huxley:Party on, Rosematovich!
Dec 29, 2008 - 12:11 am 32. huxley:We may not have to stop Obama.
The Chinese and others hold so much of our debt that if Obama tries to start spending money we don’t have, thereby decreasing the value of that debt, they will stop buying and start dumping dollars.
Dec 29, 2008 - 12:14 am 33. Brian Macker:“But what could be done instead?”
Are you kidding me? What could be done instead of the monsterous interference that Alan Greenspan and Barney Frank have done that resulted in a “credit crisis” and not further insane interference in the monetary system? How about doing nothing and letting the economy correct? How about having the government stop borrowing in my name? How about stop putting crooks in charge of $700 billion bailout schemes. How about stop shoveling money at private institutions that have incompetently lost trillions. How about throwing some of these guys in jail?
Dec 29, 2008 - 1:26 am 34. Tina Trent:Fighting this Deal is going to take local reporting: scrutiny of when and where the money goes down the usual ratholes. Some of the usual scams are primed to go: “Neighborhood Redevelopment Zones,” festering since their last cash transfusions got cut off and ready to fill their coffers again; “computers in the schools” schemes, provided (for above-market rates) of course, by corrupt, minority-set-aside “contractors” and supervised (for a fee) by foundations like the one Obama used to jump-start his political career; public works plans — VISTA et. al. macrame classes for death row inmates, condom distribution cadres and all the other usual nonsense.
Find out what is happening in your neck of the woods, trace it back to the responsible elected officials, and demand accounting. That’s the type of community involvement we really need right now.
Dec 29, 2008 - 5:29 am 35. Arthur LEMAY:Now these politicians would tell you that they will cut the taxes of the middle class, hike the taxes for the wealthy and get the economy restarted by spending almost a trillion dollars on public works and pork barrel projects.
Oh dear, this is the same solution which FDR tried in the 1930’s and which most economists say deepened and lengthened the depression. We tried it again in the 1970’s and it did not work that time either. Why did it not work? It did not work because these expenditures took money out of the economy which private investors might have used to build productive jobs, profits, and tax revenues to the federal, state and local governments.
Now, the problem is not putting money in the economy – the problem is confidence. Confidence that families will not suffer from unemployment, that new graduates will find jobs, confidence that they can afford a car, electricity, food, and an affordable home and mortgage.
The financial crises which we are experiencing now have been caused by a know-it-all Congress who forced bad lending practices on the banks, and by incompetent regulatory agencies who did not exercise their duties. Neither branch of Government has made any efforts whatsoever to remove the policy makers who caused this disastrous situation. This is poison to public confidence, and now, the unwise spending of a trillion dollars can fix it? Even though this kind of spending never worked before? We are in real trouble.
Well, what will happen actually? We don’t know, but Obama and his advisers have given us no confidence that they know what they are doing. Yes, raise the taxes on the wealthy, especially small businessmen. They will just raise prices, or shut down their businesses. Who will be hurt? The poor and middle class will be hurt.
Oh, and the energy taxes to prevent global warming is another factor. Obama says he will shut down the coal industry by driving it into bankruptcy with CO2 taxes. How nice for the environmentalists. Bad news for the coal industry, bad news for the electrical utilities which depend on coal for 50% of all electricity, bad news for industries who use electricity to operate, bad news for homes who depend on electricity for heating, yes, and bad news for the economy because this will cause massive unemployment, and if electricity stops it will cost loss of life – especially among the elderly who will not be able to afford electricity. It took the US many years to build the electric grid and wind, and solar power cannot possibly provide 50% of the power for America in the short term.
Now, it comes down to whether we believe Obama will do the things he promised, and whether the Congress will stop him. This gives only a hollow comfort because Obama will have a “honeymoon” with Congress, and our voters have made it possible for the Democrats to pass almost any anti-business, anti-consumer legislation they damn well please.
This is very bad news indeed and confidence is a fragile thing, so far, it seems Obama and the Democrats don’t understand the most basic facts about human nature and economics. And, it seems that Obama is so ideologically driven that he will not take advice from anyone, he will just drive our economy, national defense, and America’s future into the ground and blame it on someone else.
Perhaps the elections in 2010 will change things for the better.
Dec 29, 2008 - 6:06 am 36. Pierre Legrand:The idea that Obama will do anything helpful to the economy is naive beyond belief. He has no interest in saving the economy. The American people in their infinite wisdom decided to elect a person who has hated this country most of his life. Now they will get their medicine.
The Republicans should fight, all day long and against whatever Obama suggests.
People like Charles Krauthammer who recommmend higher taxes should be shown the door. Jonah Goldberg also thinks higher taxes are the answer. Republicans should run away from attempts to use the power of the Government to tax to modify the peoples behavior.
Republicans should purge all the Bush ideas. What a mess he is…and McCain isn’t that far behind him.
Dec 29, 2008 - 7:53 am 37. Pierre Legrand:Oh and get rid of Republicans who think that it is a good idea for Obama to be a successful President. My goodness, just like Charlie Brown believing that this time Lucy won’t pull the ball away. We do not want Obama to be a successful President. We want him to be an abject failure…the country would do a lot better if he fails than if he succeeds. The idea that the Country NEEDS a President to succeed for the country to succeed is ludicrous.
Dec 29, 2008 - 7:58 am 38. willis:Just out of curiousity, does anyone believe that our infrastructure needs a serious overhaul? If so, can anyone think of a way to do it without spending serious taxpayer money? Nevermind whether or not it has a good or bad effect on the economy, a legitimate issue is whether or not an overhaul is needed.
Dec 29, 2008 - 8:25 am 39. Chuck Pelto:TO: willis
RE: The Infrastructure Issue
I do.
I’m a commissioner on my Council of Area Governments Transportation Advisory Committee. We’ve been looking at this growing problem for the last four years.
We’ve got bridges that have a worse rating than that one that collapsed in St. Paul last year. We’ve got pot-holes some [experienced] people would refer to as
tank-traps. We’ve got municipalities that don’t have the funds necessary to remove snow and ice, so they’ve gone to the attitude that ‘the weather caused the problem, the weather can solve it’: with the exception of road nets leading to hospitals and other emergency services.
I guess it all depends—excuse the reference to Bill Clinton—on how you define ‘taxpayer’. [Note: Take THAT Democrats! You created it that particular mess. Now the chickens come home to roost. And they're getting down-and-funky.....]
Sure it’s going to cost money. And I suggest those who use the infrastructure pay for the maintenance thereof. And as for the commercial enterprises, they’ll obviously pass the expense on to the consumers who procure their products. Therefore, there is balance and ‘distribution’ of the burden.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Taxation WITH representation ain't much fun either.]
P.S. But at least you have something of a ’say’ in the matter…..
Dec 29, 2008 - 8:42 am 40. Pierre Legrand:Just out of curiousity, does anyone believe that our infrastructure needs a serious overhaul? If so, can anyone think of a way to do it without spending serious taxpayer money? Nevermind whether or not it has a good or bad effect on the economy, a legitimate issue is whether or not an overhaul is needed.
When you are broke and your major savings arm (stock market) has just lost 40% of its value the last thing you should be doing is looking for ways of spending money. We cannot tax our way out of this fix…we need to cut spending. NOW…we always have excuses on why we cannot do it now. Well the bills have come due.
Dec 29, 2008 - 9:42 am 41. kevin c:take a look at this-NEW JERSEY is now charging an “exit tax”. In other words, if you close your business and sell it, NEW JERSEY wants to charge a TAX of 1.75% of the GROSS SALE of your HOME OR BUSINESS. WATCH AND SEE IF OBAMASCUM AND HIS FELLOW COMMIES DONT WANT TO DO SOMETHING SIMILIAR. NOT ONLT THAT, BUT THE COMMIE PIGLET GEORGE MILLER OF COMMIEFORNIA NOW WANTS TO STEAL OUR 401K BENEFITS. THESE DEMOSCUM ARE NOT AMERICAN, NOT EVEN CLOSE. AND THE DUMBED DOWN AND STUPID AMONGST US ARE PUTTING THE EVIL IN POWER.
Dec 29, 2008 - 10:30 am 42. Bernard Chapin:Another excellent article, Jennifer.
Dec 29, 2008 - 11:02 am 43. Chuck Pelto:TO: Pierre Legrand
RE: The Other Shoe….
…of infrastructure maintenance is….
….finding out why such maintenance costs so damned much. I’ve been commenting on this in committee meetings for a while and the local MPO seems to agree with me—tacitly—that we’re being charged entirely too much money for such work.
Indeed, other members of the committee have complained that several million dollars for a stretch of road that six months later is in need of major repair is an abominable waste of taxpayer dollars.
There’s something amiss here and US need to get it sorted out.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Dec 29, 2008 - 11:20 am 44. ruralcounsel:The sooner the US and world economies implode, the sooner the current political establishment collapses in the ruins, the sooner we start fresh. You can’t get taxes from a collapsed economy.
Spend away, Obama!
Dec 29, 2008 - 1:47 pm 45. Jeff Perren:Comments like this:
“I still believe the ultimate solution for all these problems — be it the carmakers, the banks, mortgages, foreclosures, or all the rest — is a significant pro-growth jolt for the economy. ”
are one of the major reasons that so many prominent conservative voices are useless.
What the country needs is not some vague economic jolt (whatever that is), but a freedom jolt, one that is more than jolt but is sustained forever. When individual liberty is as common again as it was in the 19th century, we will see the kind of economic success that characterized that era, a period during which J.J. Hill built transcontinental railroads that weathered many a downturn.
Dec 29, 2008 - 2:20 pm 46. David B:What concerns me is that the Democrat’s tax proposals will ultimately put more than 50% of the American people on the rolls of non-taxpayers. We’re pretty close to that now – the bottom 50% pay almost none of the tax bill. Once you pass the magical 50% mark, you’re pretty much stuck in a downward spiral. Who votes for someone who promises to raise their taxes or cut off the gravy train? Once the majority is tax free, you’ll hear more proposals to “make the greedy rich pay their fair share.” Why would anyone start a business in that environment? It would be a long-term disaster for the economy.
BTW, I should have gotten $1500 back on the last “stimulus package.” My total check was a bit over $200 – I guess somebody else had more right to spend my money than I did (all in the interest of “fairness”). Funny how they can give my money to someone who paid no taxes and call it a “rebate.”
Dec 30, 2008 - 6:48 am 47. Rose Colored Glasses:You should all visit Newt’s web-site. He is doing something.
Dec 30, 2008 - 10:41 am 48. vivo:25. rosematovich:
“It is unbelievable that no one is holding the Cheney/Bush administration responsible for the waste, theft of American taxpayers resources the lies and the murder of thousands of Iraqi citizens as we were told lies and the administration practised deception.”
You’re damn right!
Jan 1, 2009 - 10:48 pm 49. vivo:32. huxley:
“The Chinese and others hold so much of our debt that if Obama tries to start spending money we don’t have, thereby decreasing the value of that debt, they will stop buying and start dumping dollars.”
Wasn’t the Bush free markets policy who created that mess? Military overspending? Low quality of education? Sitting on their fat asses doing NOTHING?
Jan 1, 2009 - 10:57 pm 50. vivo:38. willis:
“Just out of curiousity, does anyone believe that our infrastructure needs a serious overhaul?”
Your roads must be perfect. Mine are awful.
Jan 1, 2009 - 11:01 pm 51. vivo:43. Chuck Pelto:
“Indeed, other members of the committee have complained that several million dollars for a stretch of road that six months later is in need of major repair is an abominable waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Where is the professionalism and quality control of the contracting companies and the project managers?
Jan 1, 2009 - 11:09 pm 52. David Kitchen:There is nothing we can do. Legally, we can vote, listen to talk radio, blog, read blogs, talk to people and hope the next terrorist attack blows up Washington D.C.
Apr 5, 2009 - 11:47 am 53. David Kitchen:“hope the next terrorist attack blows up Washington D.C.” Said in jest but I wanted to show that there is nothing we can do to stop Obama and his freight train! Nothing!
Apr 5, 2009 - 11:49 am