Obama lied, budget fried….but everybody’s gettin’ broadband! Woo hoo!
And when I’m president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely. Barack Obama, first Presidential Debate
Sen. McCain likes to talk about earmarks a lot. And that’s important. I want to go line by line through every item in the federal budget and eliminate programs that don’t work and make sure that those that do work, work better and cheaper. Barack Obama, second Presidential Debate
I’ve skimmed through the first two-thirds of this alleged stimulus package and it’s so unbelievable. Where’s the stimulus???
The majority of this stuff is additional funding for things already in existence. That’s all fine and good, but just how does that stimulate the economy? Seriously!
If a magic genie landed this moment and gave me a wish, my wish would be to gather a small group of these legislators and say WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Then I’d make them sit there like the bad boys and girls they are and try to justify this garbage.
It’s hard to argue with things like more food stamps for people in need, more milk for women and children, more money for law enforcement and education. But what does that do to stimulate the economy? Is an extra ten bucks a month in food stamps going to keep a cereal factory in business if it’s on the brink? Probably not. Create more jobs? I’d like someone to explain how. I’ll listen.
Bits and pieces are all over the news and blogs, $75 million for smoking cessation programs (including labs and equipment). Will this keep Pfizer, the maker of the biggest stop smoking drug, from laying off a third of its sales force in the next few days? I think that train has left the station, and now people are just waiting to see if they get a pink ticket.
Millions for renovating HHS offices? I question whether or not this is the time for a redecoration scheme, even though it means a few jobs for construction workers. There were other renovation projects as well, but I just got frustrated reading through it all.
It just goes on and on, and I’m having a very hard time finding ANYTHING that is going to stimulate the economy. The only thing getting stimulated is President Obama’s huge ego.
A billion dollars for nuclear weapons activities. That’s cool. Yay nukes!
$500 million for NASA exploration. I’m all for space exploration, but just how does that help the man on the street who lost his job at the factory? He has to move to Houston and get a janitor job?
That’s assuming any new jobs are actually created. Having worked in the non-profit sector in the past, I’m familiar with how it works. When there’s more grant money available, you just create new programs and don’t necessarily hire more people. You can always find a way to spend more money if it’s out there. Been there, done that and still have a box of coffee mugs with a program logo.
I think my favorite, as in absolutely most idiotic, “stimulus” component: $650 million for additional coupons and “related activities” for Digital to Analog Converter Box Program.
$90 million of that is for “outreach and education.” I’d been wondering about those phone banks they keep showing on the various TV news stations. Now we know who’s paying for it. The American taxpayer. Good to know there’s more money to pay for phone workers to answer questions about the digital conversion. I’d love to see the quarterly report on that one!
“We fielded 458 calls in the month of January 2009, and of those, 2 people asked for a coupon. The other 456 were crank calls and our team responded by reporting these activities to Wilton Junior High. We anticipate a higher volume of calls in February as the conversion date approaches.”
Hidden in all of this is an appropriation to “establish a national broadband service development and expansion program.” And then they’ll need to get the word out and ensure that “all Americans have access to, and take advantage of, advanced broadband services.”
That’s right. Santa Claus is coming to town and everybody’s getting DSL!
Now, for someone like me who already has it, do I get a rebate check?
I hope, but didn’t see, this will include computer security education for all. I’ve been kind of dismayed to see how open my neighbors’ internet connections are. (So open that even I can use theirs, though I don’t because I have my own…just sayin.)
My neighbors with unsecured broadband include: a state assemblyman (praise Jesus he’s at least not on a cyber terrorism committee…I checked) and duh, a broadband internet guy. This is the guy running your internet, people in my area. (I have a different company, but I take my security into my own hands, thank you.)
If he’s too stupid to secure his computers, then maybe some of that money could be used to buy a hammer and knock Mr. Assemblyman and Mr. Internet in the head. (File those tidbits under “you’ve gotta be kidding me!”) I haven’t had the heart to tell them yet, but I know it’s my duty and maybe I will.
Or maybe some perv will figure it out first, use the unsecured connection, and you’ll be hearing this assemblyman’s name in a child porn roundup.
And it could have been prevented if this stimulus bill had included computer education for dumbasses.
This so-called stimulus package is a joke, and if the American people don’t take the time to READ some of it and they blindly support it, then I guess the joke is on them. That’s incredibly sad.
Links to more information, and calls to call your elected officials and stop this nonsense!
Tammy Bruce (Biggest Crap Sandwich…hahahaha)
:::::::scream::::::
Al Gore want YOU! (Is anyone falling for this gag without READING the details?) I just got an email about it. Thank you Al Gore, for brightening my day with a good laugh.
