Feb
12
What States Really Need
February 12, 2009 |
By Jim Gilmore
People in Washington like to throw around elegant economic theories while debating the needed economic stimulus. But whether they’re Keynesians or supply-siders, conservatives or socialists, none seem to be focusing on what state governments need and could actually make use of to help them through these tough times.
We conservatives aren’t opposed to a stimulus package. We’re opposed to waste, to further gov-ernment interference in our economy, and want only to make sure the government takes action that is right, not simply expedient.
Read the complete story at Human Events.
Comments
16 Comments so far
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Property Rights
I served in the Reagan, Bush, and Bush Administrations, so it is with considerable pain that I confess we flew the plane right into the mountain. We forfeited our right, at least for the moment, to be the opposition. The American people grounded us and took away the keys. It’s both ungracious and unethical to attack those who are trying to fix the mess we created.
Stimulus can be very good if it’s the right size without all the pork. How about streamlining VDOT regulations so that shovel ready projects can actually get built? Less government in our lives is better for our economy. Let’s get back to our Free Market roots. How about lowering federal tax witholding for two years? That might stimulate more spending and saving.
Gov. Gilmore, Just wanted to throw my two cents in the pot.
How did we ever allow the US Gov. to take over all aspects of American’s lives? I am old enough to remember when the states took care of their education, county roads, state highways, welfare and medical? How did we ever allow people to over extend their credit?
I grew up before credit cards and believing when they were introduced that one didn’t charge unless they could pay the bill when it arrived.
With that being said, somehow it is time to make states, counties, towns and cities along with individuals accountable. We are looking at multi generations of welfare people that just don’t know another way of life. These numbers continue to increase minute by minute.
A stimulus is not throwing more monies at these issues. A stimulus is getting all of the above off the Government “nipple” and in a workforce. Therefore incentives for small business is a must, cutting back on the giveaways would be a good first step.
We are going to have to ride this sled to the bottom and learn a way to carry it back up the hill.
WE just have TOO much GOVERNMENT on all levels. Just look at the statistics on how many people that do work that are paid in one way or another by a government agency.
I for one am tired of working and paying taxes to support my lazy over spending neighbors in this country.
Maybe a 1st step is to ban all in the lobbying business. Take special interest off the table and deal with folks taking pride in their country and themselves and earning an honest pay.
All the talk about more efficient automobiles..why don’t any of you mention all the items used daily with a petroleum base? Plastics being #1 followed by cleaning supplies~cosmetics etc. It would be interesting to know how much goes into these products.
About health care…isn’t it funny to look back at the day when most of us didn’t have insurance and somehow survived. Perhaps there wasn’t the price gouging? Perhaps all didn’t run to Dr’s and emergency rooms as readily? Maybe we just put a band-aid on it and went on with business as usual. Maybe there were the frivilous lawsuits?
We all need to be jerked up and learn how to fly right/including those on the high end of life.
Why do we even have to waste time on the Hill to argue about “In God we Trust”, prayer in schools, religous holidays, saving “critters”, and the like? Why are we arguing about immigration irregularities, welfare fraud, tax evasion, getting business back in our country…
Why don’t those Republicans bring up the FAIR TAX as a solution at this point?
Thnx for the opportunity to vent,
Deedee
5th District of VA
I think this stimulus bill is a disgraceful display of wasteful spending for the benefit of special interest groups. The entire process of how it has been handled by the Democrats is also a disgrace. There are ways to stimulate the economy quickly to help the American people, but they’re not interested. There needs to be a much better balance of spending and tax cuts to truly help the economy. If we have more of our own money, we *will* spend it!
What Virginia needs is to eject Dillon’s rule and allow the cities and counties to govern and compete without having to go to the State for everything.
Hap
Infrastructure: there is a “man on the moon” infrastructure opportunity for Obama. It is FTTP (fiber to the premise) by the end of the next decade. U.S. is 18th in the world for telecommunications and falling. FTTP (connecting every home and business with fiber) would make us number 1 and chart a course for world dominance. U.S. would be a magnet for jobs and industry.
Hap
President Obama talks non-stop about fixing what Bush and the Republicans messed up over the past 8 years. Yet he fails to talk about what the Democrats have accomplished over the past 40 years.
The time has come to expose the Democrats record for what it is: a total failure. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure to bring your glasses, because you are about to enjoy a scenic trip along the Joe “Choo-Choo” Biden express.
My name is Leon, and I will be your tour guide. Sit back and relax, as we make our way from Union Station to Grand Central Station.
We are approaching Baltimore. No need to clean your glasses. The run down buildings you see are real. You are looking at, not 8 years of neglect, but 40 years of neglect. The Democrats have controlled Baltimore for Decades. Billions upon Billions of tax payer money has been devoted to Liberal ideas to help the poor. Do you think we got our moneys worth? Of course, the solution is more money.
We are approaching Philadelphia. No need to clean your glasses. Liberals have struck again. More money should solve the problem.
Off to Trenton NJ we go. As we hug Interstate 95, you might notice a large number of vehicles pulling U-Hauls. No need to clean your glasses. Economists refer to this phenomenon as “Rust-Belt Exodus.”
For 40 years Liberals have been promising Union workers in the Rust-Belt that liberal policies will turn things around. What you are witnessing is fed-up union workers and their families, leaving the Rust-Belt for jobs in the Republican controlled South East.
I’m going to take a nap. As we make our way through Trenton and Newark, don’t bother to clean your glasses. Liberals have struck again. No need to donate money. The probability that Liberal policies will ever work has been and always will be 0%.
Enjoy your stay in the Big Apple.
I think America has lost. America as we know it is over. The government should never have been involved in the economy. We have been ignoring the Constitutional boundaries of the federal government for years. Obama, and 3 republicans have just shredded the Constitution. I fear they are inflicting irreparable damage on the country. I was willing to fight and die for my country. I am not so sure I would do the same for what we are becoming. God Bless the USSA.
What Virginia needs is clean courts.
I don’t trust CONGRESS TO DO ANYTHING!
THEY DON’T LISTEN TO YOU WHEN YOU WRITE THEM, just do whatever their party says!
THEY DON’T KNOW THE TRUTH IF IT KNOCKED THEM DOWN!
The next thing will be NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE WITH A CZAR TO OVER SEE IT!!!
God HELP US!!
Welfare bill!! The rip-off of the century!!I do not want a stimulus bill!! It has been proven over history that they do not work!! Lowering taxes has proven to be th only form of stimulus that has boosted the economy!! If we had done nothing in my opinion job loss and shut-downs would have been less!! Far less! And amazingly I’m not even an economist!! Republicans need to reform this party and if you are a politician and plan to succed and advance then I suggest the word “bi-partisan” be emoved from your vocabulary!! You would be surprised to know we can even pull some of the fed up Reagan dems to our side cuz even they are fed up!! But we need to act very quickly as the dems are in a big hurry to turn this country into a social state!! And dont think it cant happen!! Lets actually get tough for a change!! No more sand in our faces!!!!!
What Virginia needs is clean courts. Our nation needs clean courts too!! Stop the corruption.
I think the Stimulus Package is a Stinker! How can our representatives vote on a bill like this and never read it? It shows me they follow the party. Well it’s time for all that to stop! I think what Virginia and all other states need to call for a Constitutional Convention to repeal the 17th amendment and call for congressional term limits. Senate - two terms (12 yrs) House three terms (6 yrs) maybe we will be served by representatives who truly want to do the job instead of people who are power hungry and think they are untouchable.
I am appalled by the “spending” frenzy that is going on right now. It is amazing to see all the garbage that they have thrown in there, at the same time telling the American people that it is to create new jobs..Bull!
This is so unbelievalbe…I think someone should do something about Nancy and Reid! They have no right in their positions, and frankly, I don’t know why they are still there..what is wrong with these people, other that the fact that this is all about personal gain…not the people in this Country..I am thoroughy disgusted!!!! My children and grandshchildren are going to be paying for this garbage…this infuriates me! Susan, Va. Beach
What do the states need? Less meddling by the federal government.
Our Congressmen/women will not listen to us. They are bent on pushing their agenda regardless of what the people say.
I’m fed up.