Double Standard: Stimulus money

[manimal]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/11/sanford-stimulus-jobless-benefits/

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/20/branstad-stimulus-state-aid/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129246074

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aPeLiub0jnQE

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of the bailouts then take the money and praise what you have brought home for your constituents?

I have always though governors were the pragmatic leaders that saw the need for the federal government while senators and congressman stayed closer to ideological positions.

Tim Paulenty seems to be the only one taking a principled stand and turning away the federal funds...

 

[Slew Foot]

If youre being forced to pay for the buffet, you might as well take a plate.

 

[Throckmorton]

If youre being forced to pay for the buffet, you might as well take a plate.

Right after calling the plate poisonous? It's one thing if they were only complaining about the cost of the stimulus, but they decry the very concept of stimulus as evil and useless, or harmful. If it's harmful to their states, why do they want the money at all?

 

[dmcowen674]

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of the bailouts

Remember Bush - bailouts OK, Obama - bailouts bad

 

[bamacre]

Remember Bush - bailouts OK, Obama - bailouts bad

I don't remember that.

 

[zsdersw]

Another article on the stimulus. It's a pretty good read: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2013683,00.html

 

[Phokus]

Like i said in another thread. Fiscal conservatives will rarely, if ever, adopt economic conservative policies when shit hits the fan. While being known as a fiscal conservative who wouldn't mind poor people starving in the street and dancing as the middle class gets destroyed might get the right excited, for the general population, it's not a politically viable move.

 

[Phokus]

The thing that should really boil everyone's blood is that a lot of red states take in more federal money than they pay in taxes. Red States = leaches.

 

[Mursilis]

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of the bailouts then take the money and praise what you have brought home for your constituents?

I'm curious how many wealthy liberals who denounced the Bush tax cuts actually computed their taxes under the pre-cut rules and sent in that higher amount on principle? I'm guessing not many. But I don't fault them for that; I don't think it's hypocritical to take the benefits of a program or policy you opposed, if it actually passes. Might as well make lemonade from the lemons one is given.

I'm reminded of a statement from former Sen. Joe D'Amato, (R-NY). He was asked how he could denounce spending in one breath and then insist federal money get spent in NY in the next. He stated, "If someone proposed a program to create a cheese stockpile on the moon, I'd be against the program as needless and wasteful, but if it passed, I'd make sure it was stocked with New York cheese!"

 

[Mursilis]

The thing that should really boil everyone's blood is that a lot of red states take in more federal money than they pay in taxes. Red States = leaches.

If you're in favor of feeding the leeches, you should be the last one to whine about it. And yet you're usually the first. If it bothers you so much, cut 'em off! Time to put the "tough" in tough love for your fellow Americans. We're all becoming a bunch of soft fat doughballs anyways.

 

[Double Trouble]

Right after calling the plate poisonous? It's one thing if they were only complaining about the cost of the stimulus, but they decry the very concept of stimulus as evil and useless, or harmful. If it's harmful to their states, why do they want the money at all?

It is harmful and overall it's a bad thing, but if we're all going to pay for it anyway (we're being forced), then why not make sure I get my share of what I'm going to be paying for? Just because I think the whole idea is terrible doesn't mean I should forsake my part of what I'm paying for.

It seems very logical. If we all pool our money and decide to buy a product, I might think the product being selected is a bad choice, and that it's a waste of money, but that doesn't mean I won't take my share of whatever is bought since I'm paying for it.

 

[Double Trouble]

The thing that should really boil everyone's blood is that a lot of red states take in more federal money than they pay in taxes. Red States = leaches.

I've seen this claim repeated ad-nauseum. Here is a good link discussing the whole 'red state leeches' nonsense. Educate yourself: http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/75.html

In addition to all the problems measuring taxation (corporations that pay taxes count as taxes paid for the state where they are HQ'd, not where they do business), demographic shifts (older people retiring to southern / western states) etc, there is also no recognition of benefits reaped by everyone from dollars spent in a certain state. The CDC is based in GA, and is paid for by federal dollars. It gets tallied as 'federal money going to a red state!', but few would argue that everyone in the country benefits from the CDC, no matter where it's based.

Now carry on with your regularly scheduled program

 

[CallMeJoe]

I don't remember that.

There were a number of politicians here in South Carolina who carefully made the distinction in their campaign ads that they had voted for the good Republican bailout under President Bush but had opposed the evil Democratic bailout under President Obama; Gresham Barrett and Bob Inglis (U.S. Representatives) are two that immediately come to mind.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Like i said in another thread. Fiscal conservatives will rarely, if ever, adopt economic conservative policies when shit hits the fan. While being known as a fiscal conservative who wouldn't mind poor people starving in the street and dancing as the middle class gets destroyed might get the right excited, for the general population, it's not a politically viable move.

Fiscal conservatives like to see poor people starving in the street...everybody knows this. Sometime you should just stop and take an honest look at all the lies you hold so dear.

 

[Double Trouble]

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of the bailouts then take the money and praise what you have brought home for your constituents?

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of banks and wall street fat cats and then take their donations and political contributions?

 

[BoberFett]

Thread backfire.

 

[nonlnear]

...
I have always though governors were the pragmatic leaders that saw the need for the federal government while senators and congressman stayed closer to ideological positions.

How very quaint.

 

[her209]

Also, rail about bank bailout. Take contributions from Wall Street firms that got bank bailout funds.

 

[manimal]

Thread backfire.

Backfire how?

 

[MotF Bane]

Is it a double standard to rail on the evils of banks and wall street fat cats and then take their donations and political contributions?

But, but, that's different!

 

[Throckmorton]

It is harmful and overall it's a bad thing, but if we're all going to pay for it anyway (we're being forced), then why not make sure I get my share of what I'm going to be paying for? Just because I think the whole idea is terrible doesn't mean I should forsake my part of what I'm paying for.

It seems very logical. If we all pool our money and decide to buy a product, I might think the product being selected is a bad choice, and that it's a waste of money, but that doesn't mean I won't take my share of whatever is bought since I'm paying for it.

You don't get it. They argue that stimulus is harmful to states who get stimulus money, that's why some of them REFUSED IT. Then when they realized how stupid that was, they quietly accepted the money.

 

[theeedude]

GOP = eternal hypocrites. If you only learn one thing about US politics that should be it.

 

[bfdd]

Remember Bush - bailouts OK, Obama - bailouts bad

huh?

 

[her209]

The funniest is when NJ Gov. Christie basically told that teacher "tough shit" when she asked about the education cuts and then you see the guy screaming about being disqualified from the Race to the Top.

 

[BoberFett]

GOP = eternal hypocrites. If you only learn one thing about US politics that should be it.

So there are no Democrat hypocrites? Is that your final answer?