Smoke[MaxX]

How does something fail before it's finished? Can I sue a contractor because my building isn't fully operational even though the foundation isn't up yet? Should I sue an anti-virus company because my computer isn't protected from viruses even though the installation is only at 50%?

You people who spin things because you're blinded by hatred and bias are amusing at best. I don't understand why people take you seriously. "Even though the stimulus plan isn't finished, I'm going to shout to the world that it is full of failure!"

Tell you what. When the stimulus is done and an adequate amount of time has been taken for the full effects of it to be felt, then you can proclaim its failure. Until then, you're just talking out your butt.

The Prof

spin---LOL!

baucus, pelosi, obama

UPDATE 3-Pelosi warns US stimulus must pass by mid-February | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

hatred and bias---LOL!

geithner, boxer, reich

Timothy Geithner's Opening Statement - Politics and Government * US * News * Story - CNBC.com

The Latest on the Stimulus - Swampland - TIME.com

adequate amount of time---senators reed and whitehouse of rhode island, SIX jobs created, one of the highest unemployment states in the nation:

Woonsocket Call - Senators: Stimulus must pass quickly

ConservaBill

The Stimulus IF you still call it that, is timed specifically to provide whatever boost to the economy (temporary, econonic shell-game that it will be) at a time that will benefit the Dems on the economic front just before next year's elections...

It was not designed to help the economy at all! It was written by the Apollo Alliance to fund social-justice (SOCIALIST) projects and provide some minimal political cover to Representatives come 2010 with those elusive shovel-ready projects...

Oh yeah I forgot,, AND to provide a "Civilian Security Force" , "just as strong and just as well funded as the military"... STILL trying to figure out why Obama needs that.. OK I do know- but that's just crazy talk right?

Believe ANYTHING else (IE: stay in the dollar) and you will be unpleasantly surprised.

vvx

I think the unemployment help has not been impressive. We're still losing jobs. The rate at which jobs are being lost has slowed. So the stimulus package could have been involved in that, reducing the rate at which we lose jobs. I think the Republicans would have done just as well in that area in the short-term. That is to say, I think regardless of who won we'd be about where we are with jobs. Looking forward long term, the best thing that can be done for jobs is implementing economic policy that will stabilize the economy. It's the swings where people lose jobs and the jobs have to be recovered. If you could make it perfectly level you wouldn't have job losses. That's unrealistic, but we can get closer.

So when I look at the stimulus funds, I try to look at what they're being used for. If it's a 1-time job that lasts 3 months that's a tragedy. If it creates new permanent positions perhaps opening up areas to industry it could be long term. The more of it that goes to long-term projects the more stabile the economy would be into the future. Of the ones I have seen brought up I find them to almost all be temporary "look good" projects that maybe will get some local politician reelected. So I'm not thrilled with where it's going, but hopefully there are other projects that I just haven't seen that will make it worthwhile.

As far as the people still out of work, I suppose the extensions and stuff they do is enough. Unemployment is a lot less than people made doing real jobs but it's enough to make their mortgage and keep them from going bankrupt. So until the jobs start really ramping up the unemployment should work. Having a nationalized health plan that would make insurance affordable for the unemployeed would help too since that's generally tied to employment. But by the time anything passes, I imagine we'll be out of this temporary recession and not need it as much. But it will be good for the next time. Same thing with more government money to students persuing higher degrees. This wouldn't be a bad economy to encourage some to go back to school. No, our problem isn't really a lack of qualified employees, but this gives people something to do other than apply for 3 jobs a week and cash a check. And given the choice to go to school and get paid for it, it would allow individuals who never had the means to do it to go into areas they really wanted to. Perhaps we could encourage the medical profession to get enough doctors to cover everyone under a fully insured society. But anything would do - make people feel like they have a purpose. I really don't think those on unemployment enjoy being on unemployment. At least not most.

ConservaBill

LMAO!

NONE of these shovel-ready projects are long term except for the government jobs which are specifically designed to increase dependence on government and directly assault the constitution.. oh yeah and create that National Security Force BO's going to need to "put down".. oh... what...about 20% of the population?

Brilliant voting there moderates! I hope y'all get a nice cot in the front row of tents!

The Prof

during the summer, a rash of stories broke nationwide reporting that many of the jobs "created or saved" by the stimulus were temporary and/or part time

Stimulus So Far: $416 million; 34 Full Time Jobs : Now! Hampshire

Granholm Stimulus Jobs Inflated [Mackinac Center]

At last, a stimulus cash sighting in Elkhart! - The Elkhart Project- msnbc.com

Stimulus creates 12,000 teen jobs | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

as for higher education:

$2.3 million in federal stimulus money is going to pay for Tampa Bay area beauty school tuition - St. Petersburg Times

note the already glut on the market of unemployed hairdressers and masseuses

note as well the extremely short term nature of careers in the field

when it comes to health care and its hoped for boons to our economy, never forget that baucus' 829B dollar price tag and supposed 81B net savings is PAID FOR by a half trillion dollars of TAX INCREASES, fines and mandates on mostly the middle and lower classes

it also comes in at those relatively amiable measures by accounting 10 years of revenues and only 5 to 7 years of benefits

it is what it is

the economy comes first, last and in the middle

it sucks even all the helium out of the looney balloon boy story

and unfortunately the simulus and health care reforms aren't helping

reefedjib

****, this is bad news for me. I'm employed, a smoker, overweight and a diabetic. I'm going to pay the new tax, and the surcharge. I'm still in favor of a healthcare bill, but I don't like how I'm going to have to pay for it.

reefedjib

With us losing 500,000 jobs a month, these replacement jobs from the Stimulus Bill is a drop in the bucket. The Stimulus Bill is a drop in the bucket. The economy will recover on its own without the Stimulus Bill. Jobs are going to start recovering, now that the underlying indicators are starting to turn the corner. It is timed very nicely, so that people can claim that the Stimulus Bill helped turn the tide. It did not have anything to do with the recovery.

American

Stimulus like this is for immediate response, not ****ing next year!!!! Geez, man what the hell do you think is suppose to happen in 9 months......30,000 jobs.

__________________
"Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure." -- Thomas Jefferson יהוה

PeteEU

Wrong. Any form of stimulus takes time to get going. 6 months to a year easy before any results at all are seen, usually longer. There is no "immediate response" stimulus out there, not even tax cuts.

__________________
PeteEU