Why the Stimulus Package is not frugal or thrifty
February 12, 2009 by kellys
Filed under budget, financial matters, frugal living, news
Ok, so I am not really trying to turn Thrifty Mommy into a political blog but there are some things that are just griping me!!
This stimulus package is a big one. These ideas are just mine and feel free to disagree as I am really wanting someone to explain the other side because I am just not getting it right now.
- If we don’t have the money to spend, why are we spending it? I realize that we need to do something. However, I am of the mind that if we don’t liek the practices of a bank, then we don’t do any business with that bank. If we feel that the auto industry is not being responsible with their finances, then we don’t buy their cars. That is what bankruptcy restructuring is for.
- If it doesn’t create a job in the next 6 months, it shouldn’t be in the bill. I don’t see any reason why $650 billion dollars is in the stimulus package to fund the digital TV switch.
- If it needs to be funded by the government, it should be passed through committee and voted on it’s merit instead of being pushed through in the stimulus package. I am not against giving $300 million to combat violence against women, but it should go through committee and be voted on by it’s own merit. Don’t bypass the system and sneak it in here.
- Every child needs to be taken care of. But $2 billion for child care assistance should be passed on it’s own merit.
- Funding college scholarships will benefit in the long run but it won’t bring on new jobs in the next 6 months. Deal with it separate and find a way to pay for it that won’t bring us further in debt.
- $4.2 billion for “neighborhood stabilization activities” should be a local governance issue. Not a federal issue and not here.
- Come on!!! $448 billion for a new home for the Department of Homeland Defense? Yes, it will bring more construction jobs, but why does it have to be here? Why can’t you pay for it in the budget for DHD?
- $350 million for Agriculture Department computers? That will make their jobs easier but it won’t add a single job or stimulate any economic progress.
I think some of these spending bills are good and will increase productivity but they shouldn’t be in THIS bill. Here are some good ideas that are in the bill that I think are good ideas.
- Money to rebuild bridges and roads
- Money to create jobs in the private sector in the next 6 months – not 2 years from now
- Giving the people back their money to spend how they want. I can spend it much better than they can.
My financial background has taught me a few things that I do try to live by.
- If I can’t pay for it in cash, I either need to save for it or do without.
- If I can’t afford to pay it back, I don’t need to borrow – a loan or credit
- If I can’t afford to save a little each month, I am spending too much.
So please tell me where you think I am missing the boat because I totally don’t uderstand why if we are in such a deep hole already, why we need to spend $1.3 trillion after interest.
I agree with a few of your points, like the digital TV allocation. If you don’t have a digital TV by now, I think you should just go out and get a new one! However, if we hadn’t been borrowing from China for the past 8 years to fund this ridiculously expensive war that we didn’t have money to pay for, we wouldn’t be in this position we are in now.
You are absolutely right! We wouldn’t be in this position. Those of us that are still alive would be learning Arabic and the Koran.
Thank you to all the soldiers that keep my kids safe to play outside.
Amen sister. I couldn’t agree more!
If the stimulus package wasn’t enough, now there’s supposedly healthcare stipulations written into it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–DbIZlJyvo
We should all be scared about what is “deeply hidden” in the stimulus package. That is my main problem with this bill is that things aren’t honest, out there to be seen easily, or forced to be sifted through committee. Financial issues should be a whole lot better vetted than Timothy Geitner. But then again, now we don’t have to pay our taxes either, evidently.
That one was for you, Karen
I don’t think you’re missing anything. I think you’re opinion is right on the money!
I was enjoying your blog until I read your comment above about how “Those of us that are still alive would be learning Arabic and the Koran.”
Seriously?! What an ignorant and inappropriate thing for a hip thrifty momma to say!
I think it would be a good idea to NOT turn Thrifty Mommy into a political blog because now I, for one, won’t be coming back to your site.
Thanks. Sometimes Karen and I feel like we are all alone out here!
Kasey, I hate to hear that. We will miss you as I think you would be able to give us a good run for our money here at Thrifty Mommy. We love a good conversation and I would love to hear your opinion on financial issues.
We usually don’t delve into politics! but the stimulus package, IMHO, is simply a bad bill.
“You are absolutely right! We wouldn’t be in this position. Those of us that are still alive would be learning Arabic and the Koran.”
Are you kidding me? That is a pretty narrow view of this situation. Do you think that Muslims are trying to invade and take over the US? I am thankful to all the soldiers who put their lives on the line for our country (my sister and father included) But it’s not like soldiers are patrolling the streets of main street usa fighting terrorism.
I don’t think that is what AKS was trying to imply in her comment. Maybe I am wrong.
Additionally, perhaps you SHOULD learn Arabic and the Koran. you would learn that their beliefs are not far from our own (christian). Christian beliefs originated from Judaism and Islam. The extremists from both religions, christianity and islam, destroy the true meaning of their faith.
*descends soapbox*
“Do you think that Muslims are trying to invade and take over the US?”
Absolutely not! I do not think that the majority of Muslims have anything to do with the war on terrorism. I think that it is the extremists that target our country and our citizens all over the world.
“But it’s not like soldiers are patrolling the streets of main street usa fighting terrorism. ”
You and I are both probably so thankful that they aren’t. I truly hate that any soldier has to patrol any street. But I am willing to admit that I am selfishly glad it is not our streets that soldiers are patrolling. I am sorry that any child has to suffer that life.
“The extremists from both religions, christianity and islam, destroy the true meaning of their faith. ”
I totally agree.
Someone emailed this to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM
I totally agree with you. I am disgusted by what is going on and am afraid we are going to turn into France or China by the time this long 4 years is over.
Kelly’s response is totally unrelated to my comment. I was simply commenting that the economics of the war have been expensive and it’s probably a major reason our economic situation is so shoddy.
As for “Those of us that are still alive would be learning Arabic and the Koran”…Wow. Just wow. Those sentiments must come from fear and a deep-rooted misunderstanding of what this war is about. Not that it’s even on topic for this blog!
My 2 cents: comments like that will only alienate readers who don’t share your political or conservative views. I think keeping things on-topic and inclusive is more constructive.
I think talking about the stimulus payment is about finances. Our country is in a bad place and shucking out trillions more will only make things worse.
AKS, how do you directly relate the war to the current economic situation of lenders, banks, businesses, and job loss?
While we’re off-topic, a comment on hills’ comment. It reads: “Additionally, perhaps you SHOULD learn Arabic and the Koran. you would learn that their beliefs are not far from our own (christian). Christian beliefs originated from Judaism and Islam.”
Perhaps you should read the Koran and the Bible yourself as nothing could be further from the truth! Christianity originated from Jesus Christ, not another religion. It arrived to “do away with the old law,” which was Judaism, not originate from it. And while Islam’s history shares some similarities/teachings with Christianity the historical time line clearly shows that Mohammad borrowed from Jesus, not the other way around.
Regarding the stimulus package, I encourage everyone to contact their Senators and Representatives to voice your concerns. Let your voice be heard and let the politicians know that we as citizens are paying attention and expect to be represented, not played like pawns.
Best regards.
@Bette
Christ was a Jew. He incorporated his Jewish background with his new way of thinking. The old testament IS the Torah. All three religions (Judism, Christianity, and Islam) are called the Abrahamic religions. They are interrelated.
“And while Islam’s history shares some similarities/teachings with Christianity the historical time line clearly shows that Mohammad borrowed from Jesus, not the other way around.”
You are correct in that. I apologize.
How about we skip the religion debate and get back to the stimulus package.
Great, Hills. I say that we should take each spending aspect that they want to stuff it with which doesn’t produce a job within 6 months, and have it voted on separately. That should drastically reduce the price of the bill.
And yes, I did contact my senators.
Wow. I read this fairly regularly and while I disagree with you take on the stimulus package I was prepared for a lively debate until I read the learning Arabic and Korean comment. Well beyond the pale. I have to go with Kasey and find myself on my way as well.
I am so sorry that I upset so many to the point that you would leave our blog. My comment was never intended to cause such an exodus. We wish you well and hope you change your mind. We would love to have you back. Everybody can use tips on how to save money these days and that is really what this blog is all about.
Would we be in this mess if the Federal Reserve hadn’t messed with interest rates? This stimulus bill seems to be more of a spending bill than anything. Much of this money is directed towards things like walking and hiking trails, the arts, protecting field mice, research for embryonic stem cells, and over $50 billion is for mayors and governors to spend on discretionary items they have requested. Really? Seriously? We are in such a financial crisis and recession that we need to spend billions of dollars on these kinds of issues? When are we going to wake up and realize what this really is and see that we’re setting ourselves and our children up for taxes that we can’t afford to pay?
Kelly, I don’t directly relate it to the current economic situation of lenders, banks, businesses, and job loss and don’t believe I said that anywhere. I do relate it to the point that if we hadn’t spent so many billions on the war we wouldn’t be in such a defecit now and spending this money to help our own citizens wouldn’t be as big a deal. That was my point.
And my point is that, setting the war aside, we spend way too much money on frivolous spending that is irrelevant. There are too many examples out there where non US citizens get everything paid for and our kids aren’t eligible for any of that money. I don’t believe that it is financially responsible to throw good money after bad. I think there should be tighter restrictions on disability and welfare.
I have a dear friend that gets government assistance. She can’t get any job that pays her $20 more than what she makes now because she would loose medical benefits. However, she also can’t get a full time job because she is on disability. So she can’t even work at our church watching kids for $20 a week because it would send her over her income limit. She is willing to work more but the loss of medical outweighs the $80 she would earn. The system is broken!
We need an overhaul of entitlements and wasteful spending. Then a war, that in some people’s opinions is very worth the price, wouldn’t put us in such a bind.
Hi,
I came across your website searching for ways to save money. I liked your blog very much, but when I read “Those of us that are still alive would be learning Arabic and the Koran.” I was really very disappointed.
Yes I am a Muslim, but for your information all Jews and Christians are considered as “People of the Book” and deserve equal rights and protection as any Muslim. We even believe in Moses and Jesus Christ Peace be Upon them both, as a matter of fact we have to believe in them in order to be Muslims. The name Muslim means one who submits to One God in peace.
Yes the media has been against Islam for so many years, and the people believed every word they said about Islam. But most of it was pure fabrication to scare people off, which most people figured that out by now that media is the biggest lying machine created for its own political agenda, but the damamge has already been done.
Just for your information, during the Spanish Inquisition, it was the Muslims that saved the Jews when they sought refuge in Northern Africa now Morocco. Even under the Byzantine rule, Jews sought refuge in Tunisia. http://www.mindspring.com/~jaypsand/tunisia2.htm so as you can see, Jews lived in peace with Arabs, and by the way, there are several million Christian Arabs still living and enjoying life peacefully with their Muslim counterparts such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
Again the main problem is the media, Zionist movements and Evangelical TV shows like 700 Club that spread fear and hatred, the most destructive power to control other human beings. It was this same fear and hatred that drove the SS to kill innocent Jews, to rally KKK to lynch African Americans.
If you doubt everything I have said, do the following test and it will open your eyes. Bring toddlers of different races together (white, black, yellow, Jewish, Christians and Muslims) and see how they would play with each other without fear or hatred. God loves his creation and has instilled it as instinct in all human beings; but fear and hatred is created by human beings because of ignorance.
I hope I have not bored you, but you know what, do not take my word for anything I have said, maybe you should find out for yourself if what I am saying is true or not by grabbing a copy of the Koran and read it and then decide for yourself. After all, you are very smart person enough to decide for yourself what is best for yourself and your family, since you’re running this successful blog. Why listen to the media or myself, listen to yourself.
Peace, and I will visit your site again. If God can forgive you for your mistakes, who am I not to accept an apology for an honest mistake?
Hamada
Hamada,
I strongly disagree with the premise that all Muslims should be painted in the same light. I find that the majority of Muslims are peaceful, kind, loving people who are very family oriented. I have never held the belief that radical Islamists should be the example for your religion. That would not be either accurate or fair.
Likewise, I hope you don’t judge my Christianity by what you see on TV. And I HOPE you don’t judge America by it’s leaders as most don’t speak for me or my beliefs.
We are glad you are here and hope you come back soon. We enjoy a great, stimulating, conversation.