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Create your own stimulus..

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  • Create your own stimulus..

    OK....spill it...you are president of the united states...what is your stimulus bill?

    I would want to turn the spending into a long-term economic gain for our country. It might not alleviate the short-term as dramatically, but would hopefully grow on itself. The fact that I wouldn't include many social programs does not mean that I don't find them important and think they should be funded...just not as a part of an economic stimulus.

    I would allocate the money to put into research in engineering for the design of new products that we could export...this would bring jobs for scientists, engineers and ultimately workers who would build said products. As for industry and products, I would include new technologies, medical ingenuity, pharmaceutical products (but would make it mandatory that any pharm company taking money provide any new drugs at a low cost to US citizens already funding the research), green technology, even automotive technology (again...with very specific rules to the companies taking money...or else I would have the govt support the founding of new automotive companies).

    I would support Amtrak...though it doesn't turn a profit now, I would use the money to put engineers on the task of creating a nationwide, easily accessible through most areas of the country, rail system. This would bring in construction jobs and engineering jobs as well as create hubs of shops around train stations. Though it might not ever turn a big profit or might barely break even if that...I see its success in creating more businesses and jobs throughout the country as being a good thing. In Europe, the rails don't turn a profit...but the train stations are little shopping dynasties that rake it in...with restaurants, book stores, clothing shops, hotels...you name it.

    I would invest the rest of the money in education...primary, secondary and college....to lower the cost of tuition, increase standards across the board and create a future work force able to meet the challenges ahead of us with their heads screwed on tightly (and not too much debt!)

    How about you? What would you do?
    ~Mom of 5, married to an ID doc
    ~A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss

  • #2
    Re: Create your own stimulus..

    Originally posted by PrincessFiona
    OK....spill it...you are president of the united states...what is your stimulus bill?



    I would support Amtrak...though it doesn't turn a profit now, I would use the money to put engineers on the task of creating a nationwide, easily accessible through most areas of the country, rail system. This would bring in construction jobs and engineering jobs as well as create hubs of shops around train stations. Though it might not ever turn a big profit or might barely break even if that...I see its success in creating more businesses and jobs throughout the country as being a good thing. In Europe, the rails don't turn a profit...but the train stations are little shopping dynasties that rake it in...with restaurants, book stores, clothing shops, hotels...you name it.

    How about you? What would you do?
    First of all I'd like to say.... I know enough about the problems to know that I don't really know enough to give an intelligent answer or solution. That said, I really like your idea about rail system in the US. I'm one of those rare native Texans that would actually LOVE to use public transit on a daily basis. More so, I would love love love to travel the US on a wonderful rail system. It seems each time I've looked into Amtrak it was too limited or way too expensive. I also don't have the extra time to travel via rail, but in the future I know that will change.

    From your lips to the president's ears I wish this was a priority.
    Wife to PGY5. Mommy to baby girl born 11/2009. Cat mommy since 2002
    "“If you don't know where you are going any road can take you there”"

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    • #3
      Re: Create your own stimulus..

      Anything that can justify either 1) a job for someone- they then pay taxes, they spend their money, etc. etc and voila- things need to be ordered and thenthe stuff to make stuff needs to be ordered and there we go.

      or 2) rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of this country. (also creating jobs) Somewhere there was a website that listed all of the scary falling down bridges across the country. Two are in San Antonio. I'd like them to be fixed before me or someone I know and love happens to be on them or under them.

      3) I'd like to fix the tax system of this country, once and for all and make it simple. (I'm all for a flat tax, provided that EVERYONE has to pay it. The Fat Cats don't get capped.)

      4) I'd like the rest of my bajillions to go to research- if that means studying the sex life of the oyster (one of Sarah Palin's 'talking points') so be it. Because the oyster is indicative of the health of our nation's waterways- the Chesapeake Bay, and all of the coasts. I find it infuriating that people (aka Repulibicans) pick apart one teeny part of the various packages but don't bother to extrapolate to the bigger picture.

      Jenn

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      • #4
        Re: Create your own stimulus..

        I can think of tons of things that probably need money spent on, namely roads/bridges and rural schools. However, if I were president, I think I would take the unpopular stance of spending as little as possible. I would try to increase funding for unemployment and medicaid, and maybe cut taxes a bit (across the board, not just for "the poor").

        For me, there is a huge difference between things that need funding and trying to spend our way out of a recession. I really can't think of any of the stimulus items that I'm strongly opposed to, but I don't think that they will ultimately revive the economy. Politicians only have a few years to make enough of a difference to get reelected, so they feel like they need to do something, but I really think the best thing they can do right now is wait and see what happens. We don't know what the economy will look like or be based on when this is all over with, and this shotgun approach of spending money everywhere will probably hit a few good targets, but leave us in a really scary position in the end.

        I mentioned, somewhat jokingly, in another thread that the United States's credit rating should be lowered. I don't know that it will actually happen, but I don't think that most politicians truly understand the danger of that. If the United States is no longer considered a safe investment, we will need to start paying back that multi-trillion dollar balance sooner, with a higher interest rate. That means significantly higher taxes and decreased government benefits. Much higher taxes than other countries mean that the wealthy and the businesses will relocate, and the people left behind (with fewer jobs) will still have to pay those taxes. It also means that it would be harder for our nation to get credit if needed. It's easy to just assume that money will always be available, because it always has been, but I hope our politicians are willing to think past their next election and make the tough decisions that will protect our future, not just our present.
        Laurie
        My team: DH (anesthesiologist), DS (9), DD (8)

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        • #5
          Re: Create your own stimulus..

          This is horribly shallow and very very flawed, but...
          What about student loan forgiveness as PART of an economic stimulus package? especially with those obtaining anything higher than a bachelor's degree?
          I e-mailed both of my senators today and suggested this.
          Why? Because the young percentage-wise tend to spend more than they save, and they cannot purchase homes, cars, etc. because of student loan payments that are CRIPPLING the 22+ year olds.

          Has anyone else thought about this?
          Wife to Family Medicine attending, Mom to DS1 and DS2
          Professional Relocation Specialist &
          "The Official IMSN Enabler"

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          • #6
            Re: Create your own stimulus..

            We think about student loans every month - as we write out a bigger check to pay them back than we do for our mortgage. We're now in an income bracket where we can't even write off the interest. It's really frustrating and difficult to feel like we ever will be ahead of the game.
            -Deb
            Wife to EP, just trying to keep up with my FOUR busy kids!

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            • #7
              Re: Create your own stimulus..

              Originally posted by wildfin
              This is horribly shallow and very very flawed, but...
              What about student loan forgiveness as PART of an economic stimulus package? especially with those obtaining anything higher than a bachelor's degree?
              I e-mailed both of my senators today and suggested this.
              Why? Because the young percentage-wise tend to spend more than they save, and they cannot purchase homes, cars, etc. because of student loan payments that are CRIPPLING the 22+ year olds.

              Has anyone else thought about this?
              You bettcha we think about this. In fact DH had a very serious talk about this issue tonight after Obama's press conference tonight. IMO it's absolutely absurd that we are going to owe the student loan bill we will owe after this is all over with. Considering that my HD is a citizen of a country that is desperate for doctors in our neck of the woods. I mean it's really crazy when we stop and think about it. Of course we have it worse than most because of the education route we took.
              Wife to PGY5. Mommy to baby girl born 11/2009. Cat mommy since 2002
              "“If you don't know where you are going any road can take you there”"

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Create your own stimulus..

                Obviously I don't know enough about all of the various issues involved with a nationwide stimulus, but here's what I'd add (or remove):

                Health Care

                Yeah, I know universal health is full of scary stuff for us medical spouse peeps, but I honestly think this could work. Well, at least it probably wouldn't be worse than what we already have:
                • 1.) Do away with all taxes on health insurers. All taxes currently standing, that is.
                  2.) Require health insurers to cover ALL citizens at a minimum, basic level (that covers ALL pre-existing conditions, all preventative care, ob/gyn care, well-child exams, etc.) at no cost to either the federal government OR the patient. In return, the insurance company will be allowed access to the pool of health consumers in the US. The cost of this program replaces the other taxes while simultaneously encouraging cost effective practices that won't compromise patient care.
                  3.) Allow any patient to choose any insurance company that is able to do business in the US.
                  4.) Allow private individuals (or companies/corporations seeking to use benefits as recruitment tools) the ability to purchase more expensive/extensive coverage. Maybe an à la carte type of thing or in packages aimed at specific groups. Whatever. But give them the opportunity to purchase it and the insurers the chance to up-sell. (Which is where the insurers would make their profits. The better their reputation with the mandatory coverage, the higher the likelihood that higher end health consumers would seek out their more expensive products.)
                  5.) Include an all out education push for a collective paradigm shift in how we as American's view health. Too many of us refuse to take responsibility for our choices and then expect health care professionals to work miracles on seriously misused or abused bodies. I'm not talking about just being overweight, I'm talking about people who almost willfully put their health in jeopardy by refusing to do anything constructive about their controllable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, off-the-charts cholesterol, etc.
                  6.) Take food programs for the poor away from the Department of Agriculture and plunk it into the DOH. DOA appears to not give a flying rip about nutritional value of food fed to our most vulnerable citizens.
                  7.) Institute student loan repayment for all health care workers on a sliding scale ratio between what's owed and the income currently earned. I'd keep the current loan repayment programs for those willing to practice in underserved communities.
                  8.) Develop a VERY good EMR system and require implementation of it in every hospital/clinic/office/etc. The system should be well-tested by hired hackers to develop excellent security, made as user-friendly as possible, can highlight contraindications between meds if multiple docs are used, recognize "doctor shopping" or potentially abusive/med seeking behaviors. (Maybe by creating one health record on remote servers, accessible to the patient and his or her health providers/insurers?)
                  9.) Add more 24-hour urgent care clinics to help keep non-emergency patients out of ERs.


                That's just my health care list. I'll have more, trust me. I just don't have time right now to jot it all down. Today's a half day of school and I'll need to pick up the three stooges soon.

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                • #9
                  Re: Create your own stimulus..

                  6.) Take food programs for the poor away from the Department of Agriculture and plunk it into the DOH. DOA appears to not give a flying rip about nutritional value of food fed to our most vulnerable citizens.
                  School lunches too.

                  Oh and I really like the idea of expanding the rail system. I wanted to take a train the last time we went home and couldn't...so we drove. YUCK!
                  Mom of 3, Veterinarian

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Create your own stimulus..

                    Add me to the rail system crew.

                    Also, I think we should invest in an alternative energy grid in some strategic areas.

                    Obviously, we should fund any repairs that are required for safety issues. Here in Ohio, it seems that we have a new bridge closed every six months because it is deemed unsafe for travel. Water mains in decaying cities should also be repaired.

                    I like the idea of a funding a granting program for the arts because I know that the NFP museums, ballet, theaters and galleries are going to be written out of people's budgets over the next few years as corporations can no longer sponser and individuals tighten their belts. It would be sad to see them disappear - and I don't see the Rockefeller's and Getty's of this time period stepping up to the plate to save them.

                    I think the modernization/organization of healthcare records that has been discussed would be a good program as well. Equipment would be bought. Technology would have to be refined and systems would have to be installed. In the end, either private health care or public health care will still benefit from the cost savings.

                    I liked the idea of building school buildings in area that are overcrowded. We could reduce class size and save property tax money for teacher salaries, etc.
                    Angie
                    Gyn-Onc fellowship survivor - 10 years out of the training years; reluctant suburbanite
                    Mom to DS (18) and DD (15) (and many many pets)

                    "Where are we going - and what am I doing in this handbasket?"

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Create your own stimulus..

                      Originally posted by Deebs
                      We think about student loans every month - as we write out a bigger check to pay them back than we do for our mortgage. We're now in an income bracket where we can't even write off the interest. It's really frustrating and difficult to feel like we ever will be ahead of the game.
                      I'm with you. The income cut-offs need to be adjusted. What used to be considered "wealthy" is really just middle class these days. While my husband is the only breadwinner, I'd say probably 70% of our neighbors make what he makes, just as two income households.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Create your own stimulus..

                        Some ideas that I think are plausible are:

                        - Invest heavily in nuclear power. Reduce the cost of heating/cooling homes as much as possible.

                        - Completely overhual the tax code. Institute a flat tax with no loopholes for corporations or those who have enormous incomes.


                        The way to stimulate the economy is to stop taking so much of people's money away. Two of the most obvious areas of change are energy bills and taxes.

                        This enormous spending bill is getting its money from where? The American people. And, that means this isn't about helping Americans as much as it is about taking away MORE money from Americans to be allocated as a government beauracracy sees fit. It's just a continuation of the downward spiral towards socialism.
                        Who uses a machete to cut through red tape
                        With fingernails that shine like justice
                        And a voice that is dark like tinted glass

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                        • #13
                          Re: Create your own stimulus..

                          Originally posted by Rapunzel
                          - Invest heavily in nuclear power.

                          I'm about as nutty-crunchy as they come and I have no problem with this so long as newer technology is utilized. There are new ways of storing spent radioactive fuel that greatly reduces the likelihood of accidents or Chernobyl-like meltdowns. IRRC, they've developed a ceramic enclosure to encompass the spent material more safely than previous technologies. I'll have to see if I can find a link for this...

                          I'd also add heavy investments in wind and solar power to improve technologies to be more economically viable and to increase production efficiency.

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