Where is the money going?

[Zadig]

I have recently read a few articles about the new stimulus package in the United States and I wonder if the money is going to be well spent.
I read an article in the economist saying that, only about 10% of the SP will be spent on infrastructure, going well against what Barack Obama said.
Now, the rest of the money will be spent on other issues, such as medical insurance for the unemployed amongst other things.
Another worrying issue is that the way the money is spent is up to each state, a large part of it being spent on new infrastructure, new roads new bridges, whereas upgrading the existing infrastructure would create about 15% more jobs!
The state that they cited as being a good example for spending is Massachussets, which plans to spend most of the money on existing infrastructure.

So what does TWC think of this?
Discuss.

[The Devil's Sergeant]

It's a big cluster that no one fully understands.

[Maverick]

The stimulus package is intended to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. They call it a "stimulus", tag a huge number on it and aggressively market it until the ignorant masses feel safe and start to spend money again because the well-dressed man on the TV says it's okay.

[eddy_purpus]

The stimulus package is intended to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. They call it a "stimulus", tag a huge number on it and aggressively market it until the ignorant masses feel safe and start to spend money again because the well-dressed man on the TV says it's okay.

ANd is it 0k to spend it ?
I Think that were in a biiiiiiiiiig ing problem ...
if we spend the money , What is going to be left?
The very same problem before, no one being employed, no one being able to upkeep houses and mortgages ...
OMGFZ ... were screwed =(

[Zephyrus]

The stimulus package is intended to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. They call it a "stimulus", tag a huge number on it and aggressively market it until the ignorant masses feel safe and start to spend money again because the well-dressed man on the TV says it's okay.

Hey, never diss the well-dressed man on tv, dude. People that charming can't possibly be that deceptive and cruel!

Right?

See, why would some1 do that, even for the purpose of a joke? I really coulda used that money!

[Quadratus]

[eddy_purpus]

LoL that image has been posted in these forums A lot...
A LOT !
AAAAAAAAAAAAA LOTTTTTTTTTTT !
XD

[JP226]

It's almost as if the dems took everything that the republicans were doing wrong and magnified it a 100,000,000,000%

[morteduzionism]

It's almost as if the dems took everything that the republicans were doing wrong and magnified it a 100,000,000,000%

Not really...

Republicans cut taxes without reducing spending. They created bureaucracy and started two wars. "Stimulus" was in the form of a check to taxpayers. What they didn't do is invest in the country.

This go around is different.

Technically there is alot of money being "spent" but it's not just going somewhere with no promise hope of a return.

There was money for school construction. That would've created jobs, improved schools and hopefully had the long term multiplier effect of creating better American employees.

Tax cuts. Self explanatory

Infrastructure spending/improvements. Self explanatory.

Outside of the idea of money being "spent" it does seem different.

[Sidmen]

ANd is it 0k to spend it ?
I Think that were in a biiiiiiiiiig ing problem ...
if we spend the money , What is going to be left?
The very same problem before, no one being employed, no one being able to upkeep houses and mortgages ...
OMGFZ ... were screwed =(

Its to convince the populace that its ok to spend their money. Because when they spend their money it goes into the economy which then grows (because people are spending money) rather than shrinks because people are hording their money. A growing economy creates jobs. The recession is really all the "peoples" fault, and partially the media's.

[Viking Prince]

The test will be in the administration for how well the resources are deployed. There is always 'leakage' to supporters. The irony is that this is entirely all to budget deficit spending. ow much to each year is not really clear to me.

Before updating the budget flow:

Total Deficit or Surplus (Percentage of gross domestic product) The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2009 to 2019, January 2009 pdf data charts blog

source: http://www.cbo.gov/

Remember the Democrats screaming about the budet deficit 'created' by Bush in 2003. I hope they are proud of the current situation since the Republicans control nothing of the process at the moment.

[Zadig]

Well, the problem is that there is or hopefully "was" a buy American clause, which would be a call if enforced, to make worldwide markets redundant and make protectionism acceptable again!

[Rush Limbaugh]

Its all going to those who backed the Dems. Its just a grand pay for play scheme. And they get on Blogos case. It has 0 to do with stimulous unless your talking about stimulating the Democrat party and its cronies.

[musicdemon]

The state that they cited as being a good example for spending is Massachussets, which plans to spend most of the money on existing infrastructure.

I live in Mass, and Gov. Patrick is definitely talking a lot about spending. There's also a proposal for a 27 cent gas tax increase that would put ours at the highest in the nation. As for the stimulus package, nobody will be happy as to how it's spent

[Rush Limbaugh]

I live in Mass, and Gov. Patrick is definitely talking a lot about spending. There's also a proposal for a 27 cent gas tax increase that would put ours at the highest in the nation. As for the stimulus package, nobody will be happy as to how it's spent

The drop in the price of gas is all thats kept us afloat and the best stimulous package to date. Obuma will trash that with his enviormental programs. We are in for a major depression. He is the most dangerous man ever to america. Were doomed.

[IrishHitman]

The drop in the price of gas is all thats kept us afloat and the best stimulous package to date. Obuma will trash that with his enviormental programs. We are in for a major depression. He is the most dangerous man ever to america. Were doomed.

I laugh every time people say this sort of thing.

What would McCain do?
Make it far FAR worse.

[Rush Limbaugh]

What would McCain do?
Make it far FAR worse.

Hes no prize either.

[IrishHitman]

Hes no prize either.

Glad you admit it.

However, there is concern to be had about the stimulus package.
Though for reasons entirely unrelated to why most GOP lads are against it.

[Da Skinna]

The culture of Washington politics has deviated. Thank you Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II and finally, so far, Obama.

Carter was the only one with the foresight that America could not continue, and he failed because he ran on "change" not "hope and change" in '79.

[Rush Limbaugh]

Carter was the only one with the foresight that America could not continue, and he failed because he ran on "change" not "hope and change" in '79.

And you were doing so well. Obuma is nothing more than Carter 2. He also says were doomed unless we accept him as our savior.