Madison Powers, professor at the Kennedy Center Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, is a guest columnist for CQ Politics. CQ Politics reports on congressional happenings in a fairly non partisan way. In his article, Trade-Offs in the Stimulus Plan, Powers seems to be talking to the entire U. S. population ,appealing to them to look at all the items in this stimulus bill, both big and small. He addresses the Stimulus Bill in concise fashion, looking at it from a business perspective. How refreshing! His article is the first I've read that relates government dollars spent to dollars pumped back into the economy.
I disagree with his assertion that we have all become Keynesians. Scores of economists dispute the governments' involvement in our economy. I tend to agree with those experts, believing that while painful, recovery can be had by letting the markets work themselves out of this recession. I also see a contradiction in Powers'agruments.He supports propping up state budgets and strengthening their vulnerable pension plans, but he does not seem to support corporate tax cuts. What does Mr. Powers think those pension funds invest in? They invest in corporate America! The success of our country lies in the success of our businesses. Can Mr. Powers say "trickle down" ?
I must say, however, that I applaud Powers' observation that government seems incabable of doing many small projects, instead of large ones. Didn't this spending bill start out at a measley $40 billion?
Now that this bill is certain to become law, I hope there is a revitalization in our economy. I have serious doubts, though. My gut feeling tells me this not the answer.I believe that this bill is a thinly disguised step, no, LEAP, towards socialism, and for the first time in my adult life I am truly frightened about the future of this country.
