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I understand that "make work" types jobs are not effective. What about jobs to improve the infrastructure that allows us all to be more productive?
I understand and believe that tax cuts do allow the free market to work and be productive. I don't believe we have a sufficiently free market that, for example, would have allowed construction of the National highway system. Aren't there some things in addition to National defense that are done more effectively by the government?
Quote from Tim Seiders: "What about jobs to improve the infrastructure that allows us all to be more productive?"
Who gets to decide which infrastructure projects get done? This will be decided in the inherently corrupt political process. It is guaranteed to be inefficient and ineffective.
Would you voluntarily give your money to anything being decided in Washington (i.e., if you were allowed to stop paying your taxes tomorrow, would you continue to pay them anyway)?
Tim,
I've commented many times on what I believe to me a mistaken assumption that what the government does has value, but your point made me think of another way to look at it. If we assume for the moment that government spending has value, in this particular case, that a "stimulus" package will have value, then why are we just starting now? – and why start now with a measly trillion dollars? An investment opportunity is an investment opportunity, that is, the current rate of growth/decline of GDP is irrelevent if the proposed project is a true investment opportunity. I think its safe to assume that, if even the government didn't see the proposed projects as investment opportunities before the recession, a government noted for its belief that everything it does is an investment, then the proposed projects are not investments. The government is simply using the excuse of a recession to spend, because government spending is profitable for those in government.
So we are supposed to take this idea of tax cuts solving the problem seriously? Wow that worked real good for Bush didn't it. I think what this guy said in 60 seconds is, " Hey, look at me. I am repeating something I've heard over and over and over that seems to make sense. Of course I've never really looked at the details of and actual evidence for what I sad but since it sounds good and seems to make sense so I'll say it with conviction and that way it will sound like it makes sense to others."
Muirgeo,
And again, it comes down to whether what the government does with the money has value. At this point, I certainly don't think we should just accept their claims. If the spending will not be for true investment, but only for claimed investment, then the money would indeed be better kept in the hands of those who earned it, rather than pay the transaction costs of moving it through the political system.
Tax cuts are irrelevant without spending cuts.
construction of the National highway system.
Maybe that's why we don't have personal flying cars, we spent our transportation budget on roads.
"So we are supposed to take this idea of tax cuts solving the problem seriously…details of and actual evidence"
Obama's Chief Economic Advisor Christina Romer wrote a paper a while back showing that tax cuts have a greater impact on the economy than fiscal policy. That enough evidence for ya?
Subject: Civics 101
A perfect explanation!
From a teacher in the Nashville area:
We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream".
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest. I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support. I had never seen Olivia ' s mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.
Every one applauded. He sat down a nd Olivia came to the podium.
Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."
She sat down. The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more. She did not have to.
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn ' t sure. Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it. She didn ' t know.
The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream.
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opens his mouth he seems to offer ice cream. Fifty two percent of the people react like nine year olds. All they want is free ice cream.
The other forty eight percent know that to get ice cream they're going to have to…
"feed the cow and clean up the mess".
"Aren't there some things in addition to National defense that are done more effectively by the government?
Posted by: Tim Seiders | Jan 20, 2009 8:18:57 AM"
Tim,
It turns out there is.
For instance no criminal has ever refined stealing with the detail that Congress/government has. Govt 1/Ciminals 0.
Yes, government has refined the art of lying to a degree unequaled by any common union thug. Government 1/Union thug 0.
No consumer has ever been able to spend more to buy less than government/congress has been able to do. Government 1/consumers 0.
No single individual has ever been able to destroy his own reputation and safety in the world like government/congress has been able to do. Government 1/individuals 0.
Just look around, Tim, you'll see many ways that government is more successful than private enterprise or the individual…..unfortunately those examples happen to all be negative.
Thank you very much.