Let me first admit defeat with regard to the article “Trade-Offs in the Stimulus Package” by Madison Powers. It appears Powers is addressing the common person, the average citizen of the U.S. who is trying to get a handle on the stimulus package presented by and to the House and Senate; but on first read it is difficult to weed through his terminology and digest the true point of the article. After three reads I may have a picture of his persuasive point and a hint of his sarcasm too. The way I see it is Powers wants the people to get behind the idea of planting seeds in each and every state, city and town in the U.S. to give us each a future to produce something with the stimulus package. This is not a long term production since we will need to cultivate the seed to a tree that bears fruit and later seeds for further production, but it is a start. I also understand that Powers wants us to look at planting now; not in the future.
I think our state is doing this with proposals to complete Pennies for Progress projects that have run out of money, and other projects discontinued due to lack of funds. Initiating new jobs at enlarging state employment facilities is another budget item on hold. I am not sure Bobby Harrell and his committee want to do this in our state, so maybe Powers should have directed his argument to those who would grasp his jargon quicker; such as, our legislators, and representatives in D.C. I am as frustrated as Powers at the constant “rising up of all boats” as opposed to “fixing the leaks”. We see middle class families facing the issues our government is avoiding by deferring to retain equity and refinance their homes to place more funds in the economy. Is this a wise decision? Maybe not, but it is what our economy needs to refuel spending and keep the leaks patched while we wait for the tide to lift all of our boats. The message here is to spread the wealth, and if we have learned nothing from our Greek ancestors it is that the poor need to be cared for and it is often the rich who will suffer. Instead of catering to the nobles and increasing the wealth of large corporations with CEO’s over six figures in salaries; it may be time to share the land and allow the majority an opportunity to repair their leaking row boat instead of refueling the yacht’s of the rich and powerful.
I am with Powers and hope his message has reached those who need to hear it. Powers appears to be an opinion columnist who has researched the stimulus package and broken it down from the constant revisions between House and Senate; this is only his interpretation though. I understand as Powers pointed out that it is difficult for both Republicans and Democrats to release these little seeds of money to each state and trust we will care for them, yet the people did elect our state leaders also. We have trusted our state leaders with our income and taxes; therefore, it is inconceivable why our leaders in D.C. would not trust them to care for our future by investing a small amount of funds to spur us on financially. Is it micromanagement in Washington?
