I had my policitical awakening this year, and now there is no turning back. Ignorance was bliss, for now I am obessed and addicted. I am thinking I made need an intervention but who to call? So today, I am writing my first post anywhere!
I love this site. I found it last fall after Keith L. referred to you all on Countdown. I live in Omaha, Ne, a blue dot in the red sea...Omaha gave President Obama one electoral vote, which I am proud that I helped campaigned for him.
So, last month I emailed both my senators requesting a yes vote on the stimulus package: Ben Nelson-D, some of you may remember him, voted yes and our new senator Mike Johanns-R voted no. Surprised aren't you.
But something I never thought would happened, did: Johanns wrote me a letter explaining why he voted against it. Interesting. Knowing that he is a republican I figured that no matter what he said, I would not like it, but I told myself to give him a chance. Here are his top reasons:
- ...the bill will create about 3.5 million jobs...translates into $229,000 per job...
- ...Only 17 percent of the discretionary spending in the package is for infrastructure items...
- The bill creates 33 new Federal programs and expands more than 70 existing programs. If the govenment makes these programs permanent, and there will be tremendous pressure to do so, their budgets will have to increase by 42 percent annually as compared to the current level.
- Tax provisions represent 27 percent of the total, which means that 3/4 of the bill is spending and only 1/4 is tax relief.
- Tax relief to small businesses makes up only a sliver of the overall a package...
So what do you all think. I am not sure how to respond.
The dow is down almost 300 points and Hardball is coming on.