12 Cents of Every Dollar

According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan the democrats are hailing as the only way to quickly invest in the economy will only get 12 cents of every dollar to actually do something that can conceivably stimulate the economy.

President Obama has defined stimulus as money that would go into creating jobs and moving the economy in the next two years.

"From the beginning, this recovery plan has had at its core a simple idea: Let's put Americans to work doing the work America needs done. It will save or create more than 3 million jobs over the next two years, all across the country," he said during his radio and Internet address last Saturday.

Let's look at just how well the presidents party is doing on that statement;

$198 million in pensions for Filipinos who fought alongside the U.S. during WWII. U.S. citizens would get $15,000 a year, but even non-citizens would still get $9,000 a year.

NASA is set to receive $450 million for "Science" and another $200 million for "Aeronautics."

$28 billion is being provided to put kids in special education, Head Start and child care and development programs for disadvantaged children.

$100 million for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program.-- Can anyone tell me what in the holy howling pits of hades this stimulates the economy??

$200 million to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program.--Once again, the taxpayer gets to clean up the mess.

$300 million for "Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs".--What ever happened to equal protection under the law? Having been a victim of domestic violence, and being male, I promise you-- I was definitely not afforded this protection. Sorry, but this one really chaps my backside. No, I wasn't arrested- I knew I would be if I tried to defend myself. I stood and took a beating to avoid going to jail. Great system we have, eh?

$900 million for the IRS for the "Limitation on Administrative Expenses".--Ok, so we'll spend more money to cut expenditures. Sooo,, how's that work??

$1 million for the Railroad Retirement Board for administrative costs.--Right. Sorry, but I'm just ill even thinking about this.

$2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Act.-- ????

$50 million for Health and Human Services to carry out injury prevention programs. --50 million to prevent injury. What injury?? Where? Under what context??

$1.1 billion for studies on the effectiveness of different medical treatments.-- This is the trojan horse I spoke about. This one should scare the hell out of you. This is the health care Czar who will sit between you and your doctor, deciding what is actually acceptable treatment for you. Sounds ok, right? Ask the Brits if it’s ok for a bureaucrat to make your medical decisions.

$200 million to upgrade labs and facilities for the Department of Agriculture "to improve workplace safety and mission-area efficiencies". –Once more,, how is this a targeted program to stimulate the economy?

$10 million for urban canal inspection.—Have these people completely gone around the bend?

$16 billion to pay for student financial aid.—An admirable program, but once more—how does it fit the definition President Obama set?

$600 million to pay for a fuel-efficient federal auto fleet.—You’re kidding,, right? The taxpayer is going to pony up six hundred million dollars to buy a fuel efficient auto fleet??

$650 million for the Digital Converter Box Program to help the constantly delayed transition from analog television.—I’ll let you in on a secret—people are addicted to television. They’ll buy yhe damn converter box. The taxpayer doesn’t need to be on the hook for this.

$485 million to the Forest Service for "hazardous fuels reduction and hazard mitigation activities in areas at high risk of catastrophic wildfire".—Can you say—controlled burns? So, we’ll spend 485 million for controlled burns,, and then we’ll spend another half a billion probably defending the action in court when the save the environment folks sue.

Up to $1 billion for "summer activities" for youths as old as 24.—Come on,, is Washington really contemplating this??

$40 million for the occupational research agenda.-- ??????

$3 billion for the Centers for Disease Control wellness programs and vaccinations.- A admirable program,, but does it pass the litmus test of stimulating the economy?

$410 million for Indian health facilities.—I’m really really getting tired of asking the same question.

$2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstrations.—Demonstrations??? Not actual working systems, shovel ready?

So, with a quick perusal of the proposed programs, I can see about 12 billion that we can cut without losing a single job. Without. Even. Trying.

Now, if a country boy like myself can do that in thirty minutes, why is it that an entire city full of politicians can’t do that in weeks?

We voted for change, we didn’t vote to be forced down a socialist road. President Obama insists that these programs will be temporary, for the duration of this crisis. Unfortunately, dismantling government entitlement programs is almost impossible, and paying for them will tax the American work force into poverty.

Have any of the proponents of universal health care bothered to tell the American public what percentage of wages are paid in taxes in countries with universal coverage? Or how about the rationing of health care? Is this really what we want? Do we really want our parents to be denied medicine or surgery because a bureaucrat decides it’s not cost effective?

Every time the government decides, “something must be done”, they inevitably make things worse. They never seem to learn, to leave well enough alone. The Japanese lost decade, the Great Depression, the New Deal. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting a different outcome.

Sounds kind of like what’s going on now, doesn’t it?