What's Wrong with This Economic Picture?

"President Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve at least $50 billion in long-term investments in the nation's roads, railways and runways in a pre-election effort to show he's trying to stimulate the sputtering economy." "While the proposal calls for investments over six years, the White House said spending would be front-loaded with an initial $50 billion to help create jobs in the near future." "While the proposal calls for investments over six years, the White House said spending would be front-loaded with an initial $50 billion to help create jobs in the near future." "Officials said the White House would consider closing a number of special tax breaks for oil and gas companies to pay for the proposal." "Obama will also call for the creation of a permanent infrastructure bank that would focus on funding national and regional infrastructure projects." (Pace, Julie; 9/6/2010, Associated Press, Obama calling for more infrastructure spending, Retrieved from news@yahoo.com).

If there were honor in our society, there would be more people than me who say that there is only so much that government can do. They would say that if we really what "change that we can believe in", every part of this society must do their part to make them happen. They would see what Washington is trying to accomplish and instead of sitting on our butts crying "why me", we would get to our feet and get involved. Closing the special tax breaks from oil and gas companies to pay for this proposal sounds as good to me as getting those new financial regulations passed into law. For years it has been the public carrying corporation's water, now it is time for Corporate America to step to the well. As I saw great justification in passing the new financial regulations to stop the gambling on Wall Street, I support the closing of the special tax breaks for oil and gas companies to pay for this proposal. But to those who see this as a political win instead of an all hands on deck moment, all that we really hear is negativity.

"The proposals would require congressional approval, which is highly uncertain at a time when many legislators and voters are worried about adding to federal deficits that are already sky-high." "Even if lawmakers could pass a bill in the short window between their return to Capitol Hill in mid-September and the elections, it's unlikely the spending would give the economy a significant boost by the time voters head to the polls." "Obama made infrastructure investments a central part of the $814 billion stimulus Congress passed last year, but with that spending winding down, the economy's growth has slowed." "With the unemployment rate ticking up to 9.6 percent, and polls showing the midterm elections could be dismal for Democrats, the president has promised to unveil a series of new measures on the economy." "Republicans have likened the bill to the unpopular bailout of the financial industry." (Pace, Julie; 9/6/2010, Associated Press, Obama calling for more infrastructure spending, Retrieved from news@yahoo.com).

Fox news had Ron Bonjean as a guest commentator and he spoke strongly about raising taxes in a recession which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering it was his party who blow the surplus. Mr. Bonjean says that he does not know what is in the Republican plan but he is sure that "it but it will be about growing jobs." I did not hear the interviewer ask him about the jobs bill that has been staled in the Senate for months now which could have possibly helped create jobs. Mr. Bonjean spoke about the president's proposal being of "broad themes and not creditable" while he supports the Republican party's position of waiting on revealing their plan until there is very little time for the public to properly read the entire plan as they have been so quick to criticize others for doing the exact same thing.

Does it really impact the public when Washington does anything? No and the reason is because groups like the Chamber of Commerce convince businesses not to do their part. The "cash for clunkers" were quite effective because auto manufactures did their part and now the big three are now doing well. The homeowner's modification plan did not do as well because banks refused to do their part. Employers had a wealth of opportunities to do their part but still refuse to hire the unemployed and seek currently employed persons. If they had done their part, the unemployment numbers would not be as high as it is but then that would not help them get elected those who helped them crash this economy in the first place. One of the largest talking points is that this president promised a reduction in the unemployment numbers but if you block anything which may create a job or help convince business not to hire the unemployed, did you not have as much to do with the increasing of the unemployment numbers as those that you blame?

Voters can just sit back and whine or allow those who think that doing something for the middle class is "likened to the unpopular bailout of the financial industry." (Pace, Julie; 9/6/2010, Associated Press, Obama calling for more infrastructure spending, Retrieved from news@yahoo.com), as some Republican's say that it is then we deserve whatever we get from this midterm election.