Day: February 17, 2010

The Economic Stimulus One Year Later: Signs Of Moderate Success!

Ronald 1 Comment

It has been a year since the Economic Stimulus bill passed, with no help from any Republicans except Arlen Specter (when he was still a Republican), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

A year later, it is estimated that 1.6 to 2 million jobs were saved or created, and without that legislation, we would have had 10 million people who have lost their jobs in this recession, rather than the very high 8.4 million in reality today.

Many of these jobs were SAVED, which does matter, including public service jobs that many take for granted. But could the states and cities really do without the police, firefighters, teachers, librarians, social workers, prison guards, etc that would have been laid off?

Would the states and cities be better off without the economic stimulus? NO! If nothing was accomplished, why is it that 111 Republicans in Congress, who voted no, are now taking credit for the projects that are being funded in their districts?

And why did Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana go all over the state and take credit for stimulus money that he wanted to reject? And why is Governor Charlie Crist of Florida willing to thank President Obama last year, but this year avoids being anywhere near him? He well knows that Obama saved the economy of Florida, but of course, all these Republicans are just “playing politics”, trying to have it both ways–criticize the program but take credit for its success!

So despite what Tea Party people and Republicans and conservatives say, the Economic Stimulus legislation has been successful! While we are still in a disastrous economic condition, we would be now in a DEPRESSION, if nothing had been done! Instead we are in a recession which, very slowly, will start to recede.

Already there is evidence of construction activity increasing, a very important barometer of the future economy, and we have seen economic growth of nearly six percent, as compared to the earlier retraction of six percent in previous quarters of last year.

Patience is hard at a time like this, but Barack Obama has done the right thing, and will be so appreciated for it over time. His administration has succeeded in the first year in turning the tide of the economy, slowly but surely, toward recovery!

The Tea Party Supporters: Not A Winning Group, More A Threat To Republicans

Ronald 3 Comments

A CNN survey of followers of the Tea Party movement makes it very clear that their ascendancy would be a much greater threat to the Republican party than the Democratic party.

The poll demonstrates that the average Tea Party supporter is white, male, conservative, rural, more educated and higher income.

About a third of the people in the poll are attracted to the Tea Party movement, but most would support a Republican if there was no Tea Party candidate. This means, however, that if there were a Tea Party candidate competing with the Republicans and Democrats, the odds are that the Democratic nominee would benefit, as there would be a clear cut split that would cause the deterioration of the Republican nominee’s chances of success.

The Tea Party membership is not representative of America; rather it is evidence of the anger and hysteria appearing among those who used to be the dominant class in America, and don’t appreciate the fact of the changing demographics of America in relation to age, ethnicity, and race, as well as the growing role of women.

The Tea Party members wish for a return to the past, when their class controlled and benefited from an unequal society, and they have trouble handling the reality that America is changing.

The Tea Party people want a smaller federal government and less government intervention, as the opposite of what they want threatens their status. They are promoters only of what is good for themselves, not what is good for the future of America.

If the Republican party allows themselves to become the captives of the Tea Party crowd, they will regret it. The GOP, instead, needs to return to the moderate centrist values that made them a party that relates to the FUTURE of America, rather than the PAST and the elite classes that have no concern about those less fortunate!

The Tea Party movement is a problem, but realistically it has no chance to bring about fundamental change. If that were, somehow, to happen, it would be a backwards step for the nation!

Nostalgia for the past is not a winning combination, as we are now a nation of over 300 million people, and must live in the 21st century reality, not the 18th century state of thought!

A Rare Agreement With Sarah Palin: Stop Ridiculing Handicapped People! :(

Ronald 2 Comments

In a rare case where I agree with Sarah Palin, I am also outraged that the Fox Channel series, “Family Guy”, felt a need to make fun of a person with Downs Syndrome, and to have that person claim to be related to Sarah Palin.

This is not only ridiculing Sarah Palin’s child Trig, but all people who have mental handicaps.

Palin was outraged so much, that she decided to allow her daughter Bristol to speak for her instead, and what Bristol expressed about her brother and all handicapped children and adults is something any decent human being can agree with!

It is time to stop humor about those among us who are indeed, as Bristol expressed, wonderful, gentle, good people, who make those of us who are “normal” and make fun of them look really disgraceful and despicable.

Whether one has a relative or friend who is mentally handicapped or not, a judgment can be made about your character in a negative way if you feel a need to laugh at or ridicule those among us who are born with handicaps outside their control.

I agree with Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Let’s promote decency and compassion for those among us who are not as fortunate in how they were born 🙁