Is the government half-assing our plan for economic recovery?

[Slew Foot]

The govt pretty much half asses everything for twice the cost, does this really surprise you?

 

[ProfJohn]

The govt pretty much half asses everything for twice the cost, does this really surprise you?

Exactly!

They are half assing it, but charging us for a double ass.

 

[ProfJohn]

The real problem with the economic recovery is that Obama and his administration have no clue at all on creating jobs and wealth.

We elected a guy who spent his formative years working against businesses or on behalf of people to get things given to them from government.

And his policies show that.

Healthcare reform, cap & trade, the coming tax increases and a dozen other things all work against businesses and make it harder for them to create wealth and the jobs that come along with that wealth. I think the biggest problem is the liberal belief that companies exist to help people when they only exist to make money for their owners.

On the flip side Obama is great at giving away money to unions and others who share his views. The who stimulus bill was just one big give away. And then there is the endless extension of unemployment benefits without any time of work requirement or even mandatory community service etc.

 

[Moonbeam]

Keynesians: "Deficits aren't high enough, spend more, not enough stimulus."

Austrians: "Deficits are too high, cut spending, don't attempt to stimulate."

My point here is not which side is right, and which side is wrong. That debate has been around for a long time, here and elsewhere, and seeing how neither is getting their way, we'll continue to have that debate in the future too. And that is my point.

It seems like the Obama administration, or Congress rather, is trying to appease both sides here. As if this is a great time to be a "moderate." And it's ironic because, as I see it, in their attempt to appease both sides, they're really appeasing neither. Krugman said just recently, and has been saying for a while, the government isn't doing enough, and of course the other side (which, yes, includes more than just Austrians) has been saying the opposite all along.

I suppose however there are others who believe the government is doing just enough, the right amount. And I cannot help but assume this belief is based upon their political bias instead of some economic theory or understanding.

Given this, how can we expect a full economic recovery?

I like to set my alarm clock for some time I have to do something and then pace up and down screaming about how fast or slow the time is ticking. That way, when the inevitable ring comes, I feel important in having moved or stayed time.

You can't underestimate the importance of magical thinking in economic recovery, which comes when it comes.

 

[bamacre]

I like to set my alarm clock for some time I have to do something and then pace up and down screaming about how fast or slow the time is ticking. That way, when the inevitable ring comes, I feel important in having moved or stayed time.

You can't underestimate the importance of magical thinking in economic recovery, which comes when it comes.

LOL, easy for you to say considering you aren't part of the population in Shit Creek. I'm not there myself either, but I realize others are. However, that really wasn't the point of this thread.

 

[bamacre]

I think the biggest problem is the liberal belief that companies exist to help people when they only exist to make money for their owners.

Even someone with a basic understanding of capitalism knows that businesses make money by helping people. So your statement is rather, hmm, half-ass. :sneaky:

 

[Jhhnn]

You are blinded by your flawed ideology.

Easy for you to say, particularly when offering nothing to back it up...

CSG- I think the biggest problem is the liberal belief that companies exist to help people when they only exist to make money for their owners.

Apparently, modern companies exist to make money for the executives, not the owners, the stockholders. Witness Bear Stearns, AIG and others whose execs got rich screwing the stockholders into the dirt...

And, of course, It's all Obama's fault, even though the whole repub house of cards collapse is what provoked Obama's election in the first place. Well, that and the thought of Caribou Barbie in the big chair if McCain kicked the bucket... why, she'd just melt those nasty terrorists with that wink of hers...

 

[woolfe9999]

Keynesians: "Deficits aren't high enough, spend more, not enough stimulus."

Austrians: "Deficits are too high, cut spending, don't attempt to stimulate."

My point here is not which side is right, and which side is wrong. That debate has been around for a long time, here and elsewhere, and seeing how neither is getting their way, we'll continue to have that debate in the future too. And that is my point.

It seems like the Obama administration, or Congress rather, is trying to appease both sides here. As if this is a great time to be a "moderate." And it's ironic because, as I see it, in their attempt to appease both sides, they're really appeasing neither. Krugman said just recently, and has been saying for a while, the government isn't doing enough, and of course the other side (which, yes, includes more than just Austrians) has been saying the opposite all along.

I suppose however there are others who believe the government is doing just enough, the right amount. And I cannot help but assume this belief is based upon their political bias instead of some economic theory or understanding.

Given this, how can we expect a full economic recovery?

There was a compromize approach because that was only possible approach. So the options were to compromize - pass a stimulus with about 1/3 tax cuts, and arguably not large enough - or else do nothing. Obama chose to do something rather than do nothing. IDK, perhaps doing nothing was better, if you lean toward the republican side of the argument. In any event, whether a less "half-assed" approach would have been better is moot. It just wasn't possible. It was the same with healthcare reform, and financial reform, and will be with energy and immigration. With few exceptions, both parties govern to the center when in power.

- wolf