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Politics : View from the Center and Left
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To: JohnM who wrote (103842)2/11/2009 2:45:31 PM
From: slacker711  Read Replies (1) of 541957
 
So, where are you on all this?

I agree on the seriousness of the problems and think that a combination of spending increases and tax cuts are the right way to go. The problem is that this single bill conflates priorities. We are rushing through long-term spending that needs to be thought out and mixing social safety net increases with a Christmas list of random expenditures. Yes, any expenditure can be a form of stimulus but they arent all created equal in terms of impact.

I never took you for a cultural relativist. But who would have thought. If the Reps favor it, it must be just politics; if the Dems favor it, it must be just politics.

Relativist? My comments are absolutist in nature. The Democrats bill focusing on spending is better than an across the board tax cut (at least in near-term impact) but you dont get the moral high-ground when you are simply grabbing the opportunity to shove billions at traditional Democratic priorities, regardless of the actual stimulative effect.

Just to throw one out there....from the House bill.

The
remaining appropriation of about $6.6 billion would fund various programs, including
capital improvements and maintenance for the Forest Service and National Park Service,
the Superfund program, and wildland fire management. Historically, those activities
expend funds over about four years. Because the legislation would significantly increase
resources for those programs, we expect that spending would be slower initially as
agencies prepare to contract for new projects.

$6.6 billion is still real money and we will regret throwing money at the problem now when we could have better uses for the cash later.

Slacker
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