We don’t want to be accused of jumping the gun but if the Democrats are intent on punting the ’10 midterms then introducing legislation with respect to son of porkulus could provide the tipping point.
Politics aside, the mechanics of a 2nd porkulus package defies existing logic and the results of the current porkulus package. The chief criticism of porkulus the Elder is that money is not getting out the door fast enough to “create” jobs. However, when money is being directed from the federal coffers down to the local and county levels, there is a tremendous amount of bureaucratic and administrative inertia that is required to be overcome before that money hits the street and that fact alone makes any desires for a federal stimulus package of this nature being quick-acting inherently problematic.
If part of the delay owes to the administration vetting, as best as possible, projects applying for stimulus money then the administration is to be commended for these efforts. It, however, again points to the flaws of quickly stimulating the economy in the massive, through-the-hourglass, manner of the stimulus package.
So back to the insanity of son of porkulus: Knowing what we know about porkulus the Elder, how in god’s name will a second stimulus package do what the first has not? What of the inherent logistics (not to mention regulations) of this federal spending program will be fundamentally different than the first?
Again, if the criticism of porkulus was the pinch point in the hourglass, will restrictions on the 2nd porkulus package be loosened and thus invite even more waste, fraud and abuse that has already been anticipated for porkulus?
Then again, maybe there is an evil genius to legislating for son of porkulus. Given what has been portrayed as the G.O.P.’s reactionary negativity the first time around, the Dems can camapaign on “We are attempting to resuscitate the economy via yet another massive and wasteful federal spending program that will not actually “create” any jobs because it is not actually “creating” any wealth, all the while adding to our already incredible debt and all the Republicans can say, AGAIN, is ‘No!’”.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Porkulus "reset" button
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4 comments:
I'm a little bit confused as to the calls and need for Round 2 at this point.
$57B has been spent on Round 1 to this point, which sounds like a lot (and is) until you realize that the original tag called for $750B to be fully effective.
My math skills are lacking, but that looks a lot to me like over 90% of the original funds have not even been distributed. Should they not wait for, oh, say 1/3 or -- better yet -- 1/2 of the original stimulus package funds are in the field and its effects analyzed before even mulling over a Round 2??
Perhaps the Stimulus Package is the greatest thing ever to come down the pike. Perhaps not. But this U.S. American who aced Econ 101 at San Diego City College night school needs a little more to go on.
- The Money Gets Divided, The Women Get Excited Mongo
Mongo,
That's a point I had forgot about entirely. The funny thing is, we were told by the architects of porkulus that the majority of the money would not be dispersed until 2010 and after... in a sense, it really is going as planned.
And with the public souring on Porkulus the Elder, the rumblings with respect to another one seems like political suicide.
But "signs" of things to come are posted on our highways.
These signs read, "Putting America to Work" in black letters on an orange background, and "Project Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" in white letters on a green background.
The signs typically cost between $500 and $1,200 to design, make and install.
So rather than fill a few more potholes, government spends funds patting themselves on the back.
So I don't care what the math is, or is going to be, the money being spent on the Murtha airport or self congratulatory promotional signs is typical of the porkulus package and as usual, not in the best interest of the American people as a whole.
PS Good to see you back Mongo! There's been no one to get my blud pressure going for a while!
"Porkulus the Elder" got a LOL.
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