Sunday February 8, 2009, 3:53 pm
Ifg CEOs can get $87,000 area rugs for their offices and $1500 waste baskets. prostitues, limousines and free vacation sof rhteir families on private jets, then I want a 100% increase in my Social Security benefits immediately!

Monday February 9, 2009, 10:01 am

There is the expression "Act in Haste, repent at leisure" or something like that. This is one of those times that we definitely should not rush into this overblown, pork-filled 'stimulus plan", which more aptly should be called a "SPENDING plan".

Look, there is a lot at stake here. We (Americans) are being told to believe that we must act NOW! I say we should tell our representatives (who by the way work for us): NO. NO WAY. We don't want to rush into this.
Tell them to go back to the drawing board and start from
scratch if necessary!

Don't be bullied by them. Don't fall for the
'we must act now or else'.

We have a right to let them know we are giving them OUR input
about this so-called Stimulus Plan, and we DON'T want it the way it is.

IT NEEDS MUCH IMPROVEMENT. Radical improvement to say the least.

Further more, with the amount of debt the American people will incur with this proposed stimulus plan, we should NOT ACT IN HASTE.

PLEASE think of your children and grandchildren and the debt that they will inherit.

Call your representatives TODAY and let them know you don't want this spending bill. Tell them we want - and deserve - something better!

And, yes, I DO BELIEVE THAT GIVING GIFT CARDS of at least $1000 to all Americans to spend right away would be
much more effective in stimulating the economy!

Please go ahead and make that call, send those e-mails, whatever
to stop this ill-conceived plan before it's too late.

Monday February 9, 2009, 10:13 am
And the flaws grow bigger as Republicans demand more tax cuts, at least according to a consensus of economists. But do we see economists on TV or just pundits repeating conservative talking points about government spending.

Monday February 9, 2009, 11:18 am
Its a stimulus bill, so of course its all about spending. How do you think we can even remotely get out of the hole we are in, without spending ? We have had tax cuts galore in the past 15 years, and what has it gotten ? Our current hole in the ground is what its gotten. Tax cuts are fine, but they are a band aid and are not enough.. its time for more radical actions that plan for tomorrow, not just now, so we dont find ourselves in this same mess, again, a few years down the road. Or have we forgotten Bushs so called stimulus plan ? It was a drop in the bucket. We need to fill the bucket and that means spending money. Now is the currrent stiumlus going to be the be all and end all ? No, likely it will need modifactions as it goes and other things done, but right wrong or indiferant, we cannot just sit on our hands and do nothing, while the country bleeds to death.

Monday February 9, 2009, 1:00 pm

Here is BETTER PLAN by someone who has been trying to let us know for years what was was going to happen to the economy. He tried warning Bush, the Congress and basically anyone who would listen that the economic crisis was ready to hit. Did President Bush listen? NO. Did Congress listen? Basically,no. Did any of the "president wannabes" listen. Basically, no. Did the MSM for the most part ban and censor him and his message? YES (for the most part).

Was he right when predicting the economic crisis? YES. Has he been given credit, appreciation or accolades for trying to warn us of what was going to happen to the economy - and indeed has happened. No, for the most part.

He is not part of the "in-crowd" in Washington's loop. He is not a 'Pied Piper", and he's not a "puppet" for anyone. Does he have the "charisma' that is so attractive to American voters: No. But, he is one of the most honorable men in Washingon. He speaks the truth but the 'powers that be' have the big money and connections to shut him out and put their own spin on things, and,I think this is to the detriment of the American people and
the American way of life that is slipping away.



> A BETTER PLAN - Statement of Congressman Ron Paul
February 3, 2009

"Madame Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation to restore financial stability to America's economy by abolishing the Federal Reserve. Since the creation of the Federal Reserve, middle and working-class Americans have been victimized by a boom-and-bust monetary policy. In addition, most Americans have suffered a steadily eroding purchasing power because of the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. This represents a real, if hidden, tax imposed on the American people.

From the Great Depression, to the stagflation of the seventies, to the current economic crisis caused by
the housing bubble, every economic downturn suffered by this country over the past century can be traced to Federal Reserve policy. The Fed has followed a consistent policy of flooding the economy with easy money, leading to a misallocation of resources and an artificial "boom" followed by a recession or depression when the Fed-created bubble bursts.

With a stable currency, American exporters will no longer be held hostage to an erratic monetary policy. Stabilizing the currency will also give Americans new incentives to save as they will no longer have to fear inflation eroding their savings. Those members concerned about increasing America's exports or the low rate of savings should be enthusiastic supporters of this legislation.

Though the Federal Reserve policy harms the average American, it benefits those in a position to take advantage of the cycles in monetary policy. The main beneficiaries are those who receive access to artificially inflated money and/or credit before the inflationary effects of the policy impact the entire economy. Federal Reserve policies also benefit big spending politicians who use the inflated currency created by the Fed to hide the true costs of the welfare-warfare state. It is time for Congress to put the interests of the American people ahead of special interests and their own appetite for big government.

Abolishing the Federal Reserve will allow Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over monetary policy. The United States Constitution grants to Congress the authority to coin money and regulate the value of the currency. The Constitution does not give Congress the authority to delegate control over monetary policy to a central bank. Furthermore, the Constitution certainly does not empower the federal government to erode the American standard of living via an inflationary monetary
policy.

In fact, Congress' constitutional mandate regarding monetary policy should only permit currency backed by stable commodities such as silver and gold to be used as legal tender. Therefore, abolishing the Federal Reserve and returning to a constitutional system will enable America to return to the type of monetary system envisioned by our nation's founders: one where the value of money is consistent because it is tied to a commodity such as gold. Such a monetary system is the basis of a true freemarket economy.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand up for working Americans by putting an end to the manipulation of the money supply which erodes Americans' standard of living, enlarges big government, and enriches well-connected elites, by cosponsoring my legislation to abolish the Federal Reserve."

http://www.house.gov/apps...

Monday February 9, 2009, 2:57 pm
What Matters



Charming. Just charming. Nice going, "centrists." Nice %#&!*% job:


$40 billion State Fiscal Stabilization

$16 billion School Construction

$7.5 billion of State Incentive Grants

$5.8 billion Health Prevention Activity

$4.5 billion GSA

$3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction (Eliminated)

$3.5 billion Federal Bldgs Greening

$2.25 Neighborhood Stabilization (Eliminate)

$2 billion broadband

$2 billion HIT Grants

$1.25 billion project based rental

$1 billion Head Start/Early Start

$1.2 billion in Retrofiting Project 8 Housing

$1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees

Via Kos, that's what got cut from the stimulus bill. Bipartisanship is the
victor! Huzzah, huzzah, we all feel good about ourselves for being friends! Wheee! Way to go, Senator Nelson, Senator Collins, Senator McFlockingCaskill. Way to be. You cut some kids' textbooks and made sure we'll get our a$$et$ kicked by the Chinese IN SPACE just to continue going to lunch with your favorite people in the whole wide world: One
another.
So you schoolkids, trying to do math problems with the windows nailed shut and your coats on, who walked through doors with padlocks and chains just to show up today, you can just bugger off, because the Republicans and Democrats still love each other, and that's
what matters.
You families, living in your apartment on Section 8 vouchers in the only part of town your snotty suburb will allow Section 8 housing built, wondering why your heat is off in January and you can't get hot water and the sewer backs up and your locks don't work (which is good, because the crackhead next door likes to come in at all hours) and the roof's caving in? Not as important as maintaining Senate collegiality and crowing about working together.

You parents, trying to raise little kids while working the five jobs you work to be "uniquely American" and pay your mortgage? Not as big a deal as being able to Twitter joyously that you aren't for pork and earmarks, no siree.

You know, I think I really wouldn't have a problem with bipartisanship. But this isn't bipartisanship, making these cuts in order to make these friends. This is narcissism. This is the same mirror-kissing bullshit that got us FISA and the Military Commissions Act, that got us the war and the spying and the debt and the death. This is prioritizing being friends over improving people's lives, and that's not bipartisanship, that's institutionalized selfishness.
I have a news flash for Nelson and McCaskill. Nobody really gives a %#&!*%
about you. Nobody really cares if you can still pass notes to Susan Collins in the coatroom between classes sessions. Nobody out here in the world in which our local governments can't pay people to do such trivial work as teaching people to read gives a %#&!*% about how you look on the Sunday shows because we're too busy working extra hours to watch the Sunday shows.
We only care about "ending the gridlock in Washington" and "working with Congress and the president" and "moving things along" when it results in our lives being better. Otherwise we don't really care that much. So quit sucking face with your reflections and acting like it means something to us. It's embarrassing.
A.


Posted by Athenae on February 09, 2009 at 09:05 in Congress | Permalink

Monday February 9, 2009, 4:27 pm
GOP-Leaning Business Lobby Worried Republicans Will Ruin
Stimulus


The National Association of Manufacturers has also weighed in, telling Republicans that votes on the bill "including potential procedural motions" may be considered for designation as key votes in NAM's scoring of their legislative record.

Allow me to read between the lines: That is a "traditionally Republican-leaning business lobby" warning Senate Republicans that they will take a pound of flesh from anyone who obstructs the stimulus bill via filibuster. It's not everyday that NAM backs an $800 billion bill from a Democratic president. If that's where the business community stands on this bill, it's leverage that Obama should use.

Monday February 9, 2009, 6:59 pm
Why so little. The goverment should be giving millions to us. How about a gift card for 100 million dollers for everyone. Or One Billion. It would cost less then they have spent so far. And we would all have plenty of money to buy stuff.

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 12:07 am
Way to parrot Faux news GOP talking points, Ryan. Tell me, what kind of pork is in the stimulus? What makes you think $1000 check is going to do anything? Big deal, $1000.

What we need is job security, and this is something that is, sadly missing so far. A layoff freeze would get us on our feet again. Tell the people their jobs are secure, and businesses will think its Christmas.

Spend the remaining 350 billion on helping employers make up the difference in payroll budgets and tell them it's now illegal to lay off workers due to budget shortfalls.

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:23 am
Also, more food for thought...

When A COMPANY falls on difficult times,
one of the things that seems
to happen is they reduce their staff and workers..

The remaining workers need to find ways
to continue to do a good job or risk that
their job would be eliminated as well.
Wall Street, and the Media
normally congratulate the CEO
for making this type of "tough
decision", and his board of directors
gives him a big bonus.


Don't you think our government should not be immune from similar risks?

>>>>Therefore: Why not reduce the House of Representatives
from the current 435
members to 218 members
and Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per
State).
Also reduce remaining staff by 25%.

Accomplish this over the next 8 years. (two steps / two elections) and
of course this would require some redistricting.

Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:

$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X
$165,200 pay / member / yr.)

$97,175,000 for elimination of the above people's staff. (estimate
$1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in
staff per each member of the Senate every year)

$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those
members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government
pork earmarks are at $15 Billion / yr)

>> The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and would
need to improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests
to work together for the good of our country?

We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more
efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to
keep track of what your representative is doing!

Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in
1911 when the current number of representatives was established.
(telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few).

hmmm...

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:33 am
What I find funny about this is that you put credence in Glen Beck...loud mouth blow hard.
The country is in dire straits and the suggestion is $1000 gift cards...WTF
Why not start with the withdrawn of the expensive war machine in Iraq. that would save a few billion a month,

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:34 am
margaret, i agree with you about withdrawing from iraq and afghanistan as soon as possible which would indeed save us much money -- and save lives of Americans and innocent civilians in those countries.

As far as Glen Beck, i don't agree with him on all issues...

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:39 am

By the way, Congress did not hesitate
to head home when it was a holiday,
when the nation needed a real fix to
the economic problems.

Also, we have 3 senators
that have not been doing their jobs
for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail)
and still they all have been accepting full pay.
These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.

Summary of opportunity:

$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.

$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.

$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.

$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.

$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of
congress members.

$8,073,383,400 per year, estimated total savings. (that's 8-BILLION
just to start!)

Big business does these types of cuts all the time.

If Congresspersons were required
to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else)
in order to collect retirement benefits,
there is no telling how much we would save.

Now they get full retirement after
serving only ONE term.

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:42 am
Alf, you have a good point... i now suggest at least $10,000 for each American. At least then we would REALLY KNOW how OUR money is being spent!

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 5:51 am

hey, Bryan, this current economic crisis was not caused by Republicans or Democrats -- it was caused by BOTH over the last few decades.
We can't change that, it's "water under the bridge",

But what we CAN do is to be more responsible citizens
by watching what these people in Washington are doing
with OUR MONEY, and immediately let them know if we don't
agree with them.

Remember, they are supposed to be
working for us (and are getting paid VERY well with
'perks' we will never have as ordinary citizens).

So, everyone who possible can - as best as they can - should
be more politically active. We can't just sit back and hope
and assume that those we 'hired' are actually looking out
for our best interests.

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 6:52 am
What has to be remembered here is this is a world wide recession..not just an American or Canadian one ,,,it will settle itself out .
But I think it only fair to allow this current administration to do its job and quit with the attacks ...they have only been in office 2 or 3 weeks ...hardly time enough to figure out where the washrooms are never mind the problems of every american..

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 8:36 am
yes, indeed it is a world wide problem. It is not my purpose to 'attack' the current administration. The current and former administrations were warned that the economic crisis was going to hit. They KNEW, and let then Bush, the Republicans, the Democrats acted SO SURPRISED when the economy did get much worse. Then we heard from them: We've got to do SOMETHING and do it RIGHT NOW!!! Well, they did the TARP thing, and I don't see how it has worked the wonders it was promoted to...Now, we are hearing it again "We've got to do something - Something Big and Bold -- and do it NOW!


What Americans (and the world) need to understand is that this 'Stimulus Plan will accomplish this one thing for sure: It will just PROLONG the agony. It will only TEMPORARILY prop up the economy.

I know folks want to believe that it will turn things around in short period of time. I wish it could, but I'm too much of a realist to believe that for a second! So, with this Plan, we have a little "breathing time" while under the illusion that it will help. In the next several months, people will begin to realize it is not working and they will have to accept the fact that this is going to be a long drawn out affair.

Therefore, prepare for this very bad economy to continue for probably the next few years - maybe even up to ten years??? I know Americans are used to the idea of having a problem resolved within an hour as is the case of a tv show. That's our mentality. Folks who went through the Great Depression know differently.

You and others should start thinking about: Do we really need cable tv, do we really need or can we afford to eat out? Can we afford to buy presents for Christmas, etc. or should we just bake cookies? Forget about vacations (sorry, you're going to have to put that on hold...). The reality is that we all are going to have to start looking at things differently and for quite some time. And the sooner we adjust to this fact, the better prepared we will be (financially, emotionally, etc.). Life is going to change.

I believe the former and current administations have deceived the American people. Perhaps they realize that Americans expect an somewhat esy and quick fix to the problem. When someone is sick, would they choose a bitter pill over , say, some ice cream?

I believe that if the government had not meddled in things - and let the free market do its thing naturally, yeah, things would have still been very bad (bitter pill) but it would not have lasted as long as it will now.

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 9:03 am
Yes, I want to say to Congress and President Obama:

GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

START OVER FROM SCRATCH!

And, when you start over, We (American people who are paying your salaries)
want you to do this FIRST of all as you create a new and improved
'Stimulus Bill':

We want you to GIVE EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN
A CHECK (GIFT CARD) FOR
AT LEAST $10,000

Let us spend OUR money the way we want
and need to,
in that way we will know
for sure where it is
going.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED

- AND THIS WOULD STIMULATE THE ECONOMY ASAP!!!

NOW, BACK TO WORK AND SHOW US A BETTER STIMULUS BILL
-STARTING WITH DIRECT HELP TO AMERICAN CITIZENS!

Tuesday February 10, 2009, 4:02 pm
From ICH- thought I would share it-
The Growing Army of Angry Men

Lives Have Been Destroyed by the Federal Government

By Mark R. Crovelli

February 10, 2009 "Lew Rockwell" -- - One of the hardest things to deal with in the current economic depression is the disgusting hypocrisy of the U.S. congress, the new president, and the members of the Federal Reserve System. It is one thing to be told, as we all are, that we must hand over fat wads of our hard-earned money to these warmongering and thieving snakes or face jail terms, but one feels a whole new level of revulsion when these people make statements to the effect that they, and they alone, are in a position to "save the economy" by "creating jobs." These statements are made by people who have done virtually everything in their power to destroy the American economy over the last few decades, but who have now proclaimed themselves to be our saviors. Only the most naïve and unlearned among us could possibly be falling for the idea that a bunch of self-serving politicians, bureaucrats and bankers are going to "save" us from problems they have caused.
On its face, the idea that politicians, bureaucrats, and bankers could "save" the economy is laughable. These are people, after all, who live exclusively at our expense. That is, these are people whose entire livelihoods are dependent upon taking money away from productive people and spending it on themselves and their favorite wasteful projects. It's true that they do not all share the same ideas about how to spend the money they take from us. Some prefer to use it to blow up innocent people in foreign lands, while others simply want to take our hard-earned money without our consent and hand it over to other people. The bankers, on the other hand, merely content themselves with printing vast amounts of new money out of thin air that they either hand over to the Treasury Department, or gift to their other banker-buddies to lend out at a profit at our expense. Nevertheless, it should be crystal clear that these people do not actually produce anything themselves (except the bankers, who are very skilled counterfeiters of money). They take money from us through taxation and inflation, (and threaten us with severe punishments if we refuse to obey), and then spend every last penny of it – and more – on war, socialized boondoggles, and welfare. These are the people who would have us believe that they can "save" the economy? How exactly would they accomplish such a thing? More taxes, more idiotic socialized projects, more war, and more newly-printed green paper? Do these actions really seem likely to produce a vibrant and healthy economy, or do they seem more like the actions undertaken by the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R.?

They would also very much like for us to believe that they are the only people in the world capable of "creating jobs" in the United States. A more ridiculous idea would be hard to find. Again, these people are only in the business of taking money from productive people, and either wasting it entirely (e.g., war), keeping it themselves, or giving it to other people (e.g., entitlement programs, foreign aid, and paychecks for bureaucrats). As such, any actions undertaken by these people will necessarily depend for funding upon those who are forced to pay taxes; namely, the increasingly-dwindling group of productive people who have not yet lost their jobs in the private sector. Does it really seem possible that this sort of parasitism on the productive people of the United States really can create jobs that produce the things that people actually want? If socialized job creation is the only way out of this economic quagmire, as the politicians would have us believe, then why don't they socialize the entire economy? If it were indeed the case that the federal government can "create" productive jobs better than the private sector, then why don't they take over all aspects of the American economy, and we can all live happily ever-after in a brave, new, socialized America where everyone is enslaved, I mean employed, by the State.

And don't think for a moment that the politicians and bureaucrats are themselves going to help the productive people shoulder this onerous tax burden. On the contrary, politicians and bureaucrats do not actually pay taxes. As Murray Rothbard has noted in this regard:

"If a bureaucrat receives a salary of $5,000 a year and pays $1,000 in 'taxes' to the government, it is quite obvious that he is simply receiving a salary of $4,000 and pays no taxes at all. The heads of the government have simply chosen a complex and misleading accounting device to make it appear that he pays taxes in the same way as any other men making the same income. The UN's arrangement, whereby all its employees are exempt from any income taxation, is far more candid."

Hence, while Mr. Obama is fond of telling us that "we" are going to have to get out of this recession together, what he really means is that those of us who are employed in productive private lines of work in this country are going to have to hand over more and more of our hard-earned money to those people in this country who pay no taxes at all; namely, men like Mr. Obama himself and the rest of the fat, parasitic political and bureaucratic class that infests this country.

Some of the more shameless of the political class in this country, or their academic lackeys, have even tried to convince us that the trillions of dollars they are wasting in Iraq and Afghanistan are going to help us get out of this depression. They have been taking our money and blowing it up in these two dreadfully poor countries year after year, and they would like for us to believe that this senseless destruction of wealth is going to make us richer. Often known as "Military Keynesians," this group is perhaps more aptly described as the "kill ourselves rich" crowd. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that neither you nor I are made better off when the federal government steals our money, hands it over to Lockheed Martin to purchase bombs, and then uses those bombs to blow up Pakistani civilians. The only people who benefit from this forceful expropriation of our money and indifferent murder are the merchants of death occupying lucrative posts at Lockheed, Blackwater and the Pentagon.

What the political and bureaucratic classes are actually accomplishing very well, however, is creating a veritable army of angry men whose lives have been destroyed by the federal government. Many have lost their jobs, thanks to the collapse of the largest artificial economic boom in American history – a boom that was directly caused by the actions of the federal government and the Fed. In addition, thanks to years of merciless and ceaseless money creation by the Fed, this army of men has found that their savings purchase fewer and fewer goods over time. This depreciation of the dollar will inexorably increase astronomically over the next few years as the massive amount of new money the Fed and treasury have already jointly printed, and are planning to print over the coming months and years, floods the system.

This army of angry men has very little to be optimistic about in the near future. At best, they might be able to keep their present jobs in the private sector – shouldering a heavier and heavier portion of the tax burden that funds the congress and president's wars and socialization schemes, while the value of their savings continues to erode into dust. Those who have lost their jobs might be permitted to work on Mr. Obama's "public works" projects, and thereby become virtual slaves to the whims of the political and bureaucratic classes. Many others will simply find it easier to start sucking at the state's teat in the form of unemployment insurance or food stamps, et cetera, and thereby lose all respect for themselves. One thing is certain for every member of this army of angry men, though; every single one of them will now find it very difficult, if not impossible, to carve out a living for himself, on his own terms, and without being at the complete mercy of politicians, bureaucrats, and bankers he has never even met. The age of the independent, responsible, and free American citizen is now dead.

The hour is fast approaching when each and every one of us will have to decide for ourselves whether we will try to fight this devastating government machine, or join it.

Mark R. Crovelli [send him mail] writes from Denver, Colorado.

Copyright © 2009 LewRockwell.com