Assuming $150 billion, what economic stimulus plan would you propose?

[maui9002]

It appears the reception for the proposed economic stimulus plan is lukewarm at best. Assuming you'd spend $150 billion, what would you propose? In a letter to the editor in this morning's local paper (see link below), a reader proposed that the $150 billion be shared equally by the states ($3 billion per state) and that the money be required to be used by the states for job creation. Although it has some flaws (why should Wyoming, for instance, receive the same amount as California or New York?), it was an intriguing proposal. Would like your thoughts on what you'd do with $150 million. If we're going to spend money, wouldn't this be a great time to do it in a way that actually creates more jobs? I'm a strong believer and proponent of free enterprise, but this seems like a perfect opportunity to spend money on long overdue public projects--improving and repairing the nation's public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, dams, levees, and irrigation projects; subsidizing our public assistance programs by offering more highly paid positions for mental health and health programs in rural areas; rebuilding the Gulf Coast areas still reeling from Hurricane Katrina; and building and rebuilding thousands of schools particularly in less affluent areas--just to name a few. Such a program runs the risk that it could fall victim to competing political interests, but I think the public would be more receptive to this type of plan vs. the one that Congress is working on now.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0126satlets2-262.html

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Target the most depressed areas for public works projects

Rebuilding homes and infrastructure along the Gulf Coast would be an excellent use of this money.

[hollowdweller]

2. How about starting a new CCC?

A lot of our parks could use a lot of sprucing up?

[ixion]

3. grants and vouchers for distributed alternative energy projects

which would accomplish things on a couple levels. It would both put people to work and provide us with the next generation of electricity generating capability.

You could go through the process and apply for a grant for larger projects, or obtain a voucher that would be good for buying the hardware required to build your own.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. 1) end war in Iraq.

Use 50B of the 150B saved there to fund this years Iraq reparations. Assume a similar level of reparations payments for the next 20 years.

2) Use the remaining 250B to jumpstart single payer universal healthcare, putting everyone on medicare, fully funding a comprehensive prescription plan, and including long term care.

3) Continue to supplement the new universal healthcare system with about $150B/yr in addition to the tax changes needed to fund it - call it the 'end of the permanent occupation of mesopotamia bonus'.

4) Reduce the military budget by 5%/yr until our military budget is in line with planetary standards and our military mission is reduced to defending our borders and working with international organizations to ensure the safety of trade routes. Redirect that 5%/yr into R&D and individual tax based subsidies to develop and deploy alternative green energy sources. Our economy should transform itself from a MIC/PIC based fascist state to the Green America we could have been had we gone down the road that was open to us 35 years ago.

The trickle up from all the folks using their new access to Cheney quality healthcare should eventually work its way to the poor beleagured elites, so unsure of where their next billion is going to come from.

[ixion]

5. end the illegal invasion/occupation of Iraq would save billions, for sure

although I'm not sure how universal health care is going to stimulate jobs.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. More healthcare workers

More healthy people. More people using healthcare services. Consider it a public works project.

[ixion]

7. maybe... but not if it's structured like current programs

which are dehumanizing and massive invasions of privacy, hence I won't get anywhere near them.

[Johonny]

13. End war

End stupid programs as well. Bushes 100 million to promote marriage in the poor? Bushes 100s million is faith based charities, Close the department of Homeland security (which is nothing but more overhead on existing departments), end government subsidies to businesses that do not pay American income tax.

Invest in new technologies.

[denem]

8. 1% for me

and whatever it takes to nationalize Wal-Mart.

[dantyrant]

9. For one thing...

The Congress has the duty to create money. They've abdicated that duty to private banks, from whom we borrow at interest. A stimulus package in the spirit of the new deal, where the money is issued by Congress and spent into the economy is in order, and not private borrowing which will ADD to our debt burden and fuel inflation.

[niceypoo]

10. Certainly not giving away borrowed money

Thats what got us here in the first place.

The only solution is to bring back tariffs on industrial and manufactured goods and start paying off the national debt.

[Greyhound]

11. Pouring money into the lower classes has always spurred the desired

kick to the economy.

This package, as it stands, is nothing but camouflage for another massive giveaway to the upper echelons.

[Larry Ogg]

12. I’m sure people could come up with some great ideas but,

as long as the corporately owned Federal Reserve and international bankers, are allowed to create our money out of thin air – control its value - and loan to the government and citizens at interest, we will always be in a cycle of giving the status quo a free ride and keeping the working class in the chains of debt, inflation, recession, depression.

The federal reserve act of 1913 was the biggest government criminal sanctioned act ever committed against the citizens of the U.S., and it’s a gift that just keeps on rewarding a small number of supper elitist at the expense of the majority of all citizens – and its not even an issue…