Say No To The Stimulus

New versions of the stiumuls plan are currently being dicussed in the House and Senate, and the whirlwind of controversy doesn't seem to be coming to an end.

People seem to be frustrated over the lack of bi-partisanship concerning the bill, and the finger is being wagged out House and Senate Republicans... not surprisingly.

The fact is this: Republicans don't want to watch America go down in flames. They don't want American taxpayers to suffer due to poor spending choices made on their behalf.

Obama wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post where he made his case for urgency. One key quote I picked up was this:

"What Americans expect from Washington is action that matches the urgency they feel in their daily lives -- action that's swift, bold and wise enough for us to climb out of this crisis,"

Alright... there are many things wrong with his statement.

First, he's calling for swift action. Yes, of course he is. The faster he can push through this pork-filled bill, the more junk he can attach to it without having to explain it to taxpayers. All politicians have to do what they can for their districts and make good on their promises, but the thing is, I don't really feel like paying for a mob museum for the people of Las Vegas. It's stupid. Things like that have polluted the bill, which at this point as lost all the key components of what it was originally meant to do... which is help the country come back from our recession.

Second, he wants to be bold. I think he is being bold, actually... in the fact that he feels he can take advantage of his position by screwing over the people. We know that the democrats that are pushing for this ridiculous bill don't pay their taxes, so obviously they have no stake in it. They see money to satisfy their re-election needs, and don't bat an eyelash at the pricetag. Listen, I refuse to put money toward the re-election of Nanci Pelosi. Bold action? Yeah, I'd say committing robbery against the American public as a president is bold.

Third, he wants wise action to be taken. Someone please tell me what is wise about this bill? Most of the jobs lost have been blue-collar jobs in manufacturing particularly. The very wise stiumlus bill proposed will send money to things such as urban forestry and training doctors and nurses how to work in a socialized healthcare setting. Wise? I think not. That isn't job creation... at least not creation that will stand the test of time. All the plans in this bill will fall apart within a few years, or they won't go into effect for years. How does that help Americans now?

Another problem? The fact that Americans are depending on this bill at all. I'm not being fair to the democrats here, Americans are also to blame. They have taken on the role of victim and expect the government to hold their hand through tough times. Since when are Americans dependent and weak? I've always thought this was the greatest country in the world where strong, independent people lived. It seems to me that we are giving up our freedom and independence for a quick fix and easy road. The fact is that if we give in to such ridiculous ideas now, we will just push ourselves further into dependency.

I, for one, want to stand on my own two feet. I don't want the government to be messing around in my business. I'm a struggling college student. I don't have any money. My family doesn't have much money either... but we're not about to go ask for handouts from the government. It's a part of life that people have good times and they have bad times. How someone handles the bad times is what makes them stronger and stronger. Tough times builds the character that is needed to keep America at the top of the world totem pole. Why has everyone forgotten that? Why is it okay to throw in the towel and beg for government assistance? Are we really that weak?

The "action" that needs to be taken shouldn't be taking place in Washington DC. It should be happening in the homes of Americans. We should be tightening our belts and braving the storm. If you don't have money, then you need to give up some luxuries that has made you soft.

What am I talking about?

How many Americans have cable? How many have cell phones? Multiple televisions and cars? Think about it. We are so blessed in this country that we come to expect the luxury items that we enjoy. Everything past food, water, and shelter are just pork.

I'm sick of the comparisons between our recession and The Great Depression. Have any of you looked at the pictures from that time or done any reading about it? Do you think our grandparents were asking the government for assistance so they could keep their... cable? I don't think so. They couldn't put food on the table. Go look in your cabinet and think about how much food you have in there. We are not nearly at that point, so get over yourselves.

President Obama, his team, and the media are blowing this situation way out of proportion, and Americans are letting themselves get carried away in the crosswinds. Instead of believing the hype, look into the situation, look at your own situation and please think about how blessed you truly are. We don't need this ridiculous stimulus package. What we need is a kick in the pants and a push off the couch. Oprah won't help your situation, and neither will Katie Couric.

Be smart. Let your congressmen know you don't need that bill and get working. The recession isn't as bad as it seems, and with hard work we can pull ourselves back up. It's the American way. Let's not be France... that won't work for anyone.