Pirate's Cove

Look, you know that a newspaper leans far to the left when it features “Truth To Power” as its tag line. But even they aren’t buying the hopeNchange of the porkapalooza plan

Will the stimulus actually stimulate? Economists say no

The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won’t stimulate economic activity, according to a range of respected economists.

“I think (doing) nothing would have been better,” said Ed Yardeni, an investment analyst who’s usually an optimist, in an interview with McClatchy. He argued that the plan fails to provide the right incentives to spur spending.

“It’s unfocused. That is my problem. It is a lot of money for a lot of nickel-and- dime programs. I would have rather had a lot of money for (promoting purchase of) housing and autos . . . . Most of this plan is really, I think, aimed at stabilizing the situation and helping people get through the recession, rather than getting us out of the recession. They are actually providing less short-term stimulus by cutting back, from what I understand, some of the tax credits.”

There you have it. Though, only a Democrat could think $30 million here and $50 million there is nickel and dime, but, regardless, the story goes on and on, telling us that it Just. Won’t. Work.

Unfortunately, too many people (mostly liberals) are of the opinion that only government can stimulate the economy. Mule fritters! The best thing government can do is to enable and empower, through getting people to go out and spend. Reduce business taxes to get companies to hire. Get out of the way so small businesses can be started. Etc. Consider that this whole thing started because of governmental (mostly Democrat) policies, and you realize that government is not the answer. Especially when they are going to punt the pain to our descendants.