Stimulus Plan: right or wrong for your town?

I have two problems with the whole situation as it stands. The recession may have been made official in the fall, but the economy was sliding down the sluce pipe well over a year ago. Are we putting band-aids on a decapitation? Also, we do bailout after bailout yet seem to be bailing the water into the sinking boat not out of it. Is another $900B going to be treated differently?

I say give it to the people. If you give it to the people they will pay off credit cards, thus getting them out of debt. People have been living off of credit for years. If the money goes to the people they can get out of debt and start spending again.

This "stimulus plan" actually contains only 25% stimulus. 35% is rebate checks, extended unemployment benefits and tax cuts. Fully 40% of this nearly trillion dollar package is regular old Washington wasteful spending. Nearly 1 billion for AmTrak? They've never made a profit! How will this create jobs? $400 million for prevention of STD's? Nice perhaps, but not a job creator. It goes on and on... This is not a "stimulus" bill at all, just a gargantuan money grab being rushed through in a time of crisis.

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste [...] it’s an opportunity to do things you could not do before.”

-Rahm Emanuel, Obama Chief Of Staff

http://woody.typepad.com/

if they gave me some of the money i would make my house payment and it would go to a bank,make my car payment it goes to a bank,make my credit card payment and it would go to a bank so if you give us the money we will give it to the banks for you.

I'm a lot like Senator McClain, I belive that the spending is likely going to get way out of hand and that there is to much pork already in the bill. I am for the stimulus but do belive more should go to all people not just a selected few. It does noyhing at all for people that are retired and live on a fixed income. I am retired from the Forest service and when I got my cost of living raise this year my Goverment insurance went up more than the raise so I lost money this year. All people need help right now not just the ones making $50,000 a year and up.

I live in South Carolina and just heard of our governor's decision to not accept any of the stimilus funds as he does not want to increase the national debt. I have been unemployed for 9 months and learn of more people everyday in my city/state losing their job. Our governor is an "idoit" and is playing partisan politics. Our state is in a mess as we have already run out of unemployment funds and had to get a loan from the federal goverment. I would like to know how our governor would feel about the sitmilus package if he hadn't received a paycheck for 9 months. I can't wait till his re-election bid as I will be campagning for his opponent.

I feel the best way to stimulate the economy would be to give every tax payer $20,000.00. That's right give. I think the American people would catch up their mortgages, then use the rest of the money as either down payments on more debt or investments to try to get back lost retirement funds. In other words I think the American people can be trusted more with the money than either American business or Government.

I agree with giving it to the people... It would be cheaper to give everyone half a million dollars so they can buy houses, cars ,pay off medical bills etc what a jumo start to the economy and it would be trilions of dollars...

Wrong for my state and wrong for this great nation! They are still "party bashing." Seems that is all these two parties can do. As I heard the senator from New York, Mr. Schumer, state on C-Span lambasting the Republicans for holding out passage of this CATASTROPHIC PLAN - his words were that it "takes two to tango" meaning that the Republicans need to get onboard and pass this idiotic plan. Well, if what he says is true, i.e "two to tango," then where was he and the other Democrats during the past eight years when all that is wrong in American supposedly took place?? If it "takes two to tango" then one can only assume they "tangoed" with the Republicans and therefore are EQUALLY responsible for what has happened and is still happening in this country. I SAY "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT TO THE REPUBLICANS!!! DON'T PASS THIS PACKAGE!

I think that President Obama forgot us history as a stimulus package back in the 30's didnt work back then and i dont think it will work now!
What america needs is to redue or overturn someone elses mistakes about sending jobs overseas, given big business tax cuts or breaks
for doing so. WOW dont we look like Chumps now for doing that?
Also, congress should really do something about ill legal aliens? What about really improving border security? I know that they have a big push on usajobs for about 2000 border guards. What about finishing that wall down in arizonia? What port security? Do i need to mention anymore? As far as those people who fell into those bad loans let them take it on the chin! It's a lesson learned! I dont want to pay for their mistakes and shouldnt have to! As far as wall street and banks are concerned it so happens that if one fails another grows and that is what business is all about!! It is the american way!
Yes, i know it sounds harsh of me but it isnt all true?
Sincerely
Randy
Los Angeles, Ca

I think it would be good. I live in a town with a shut down GM plant and dwindling other plants and rail service. A stimulus boost will save this area.

the money should be put back in the peoples pockets not the big wigs every where.

I strongly suspect that neither side really knows what they're doing. The problem is simply too large, complex, and interconnected with economies of other nations, over which the US has no control. To fix most things in the universe, you have to get it to sit still at least for a short period of time. This is a dynamic situation. If we as a society actually knew what worked, and could establish a cause and effect relationship with any certainty, we would have done it by now.

I amhopeful for the new President, however, not only did a lot of the factories close, but the machinery too has left. South America, China, Tiowan, and many others have bought our jobs.The buildings where the factories are plowed down. HOW , where will the jobs be? In my area, rural SC , know no other jobs than textile, light bulb, manufacturing. The money, we feel, will NEVER reach us too many at the TOP take it, education is the first thing cut, I think the Money should go to the middle first, if not the bottom. Let's face it when given to the top it fails, if it were given equally to the bottom then we the people would spend and help the economy. As is now, it never reaches us, and we are scared here in the middle / bottom !

I'm excited about the new stimulus plan. I am concerned, though, about the long term effects it will cause our children in the future. What about the solution, "The New Deal", from the depression, where the TVA was created. History repeats itself so why not try it?

Part of the stimulas plan should be to require credit card companies to cap their interest rates at 8% for the next 2 or 3 years so folks have half a chance at paying their debt rather than bankruptcy. With the current state of the economy a couple of medical bills went to collections as insurance didn't pay what they said they would and then we were late on 1 payment because the card changed the due date and I didn't catch it. All of our other cards raised our rates to the default rate and now all of our cards are over 23%. There's no way I can make ends meet now – what was managable at 9% is now impossible at 23% – 29%. I've written to every Senator about limiting interest rates as part of the stimulas and several editorials. No one is listening. We want to pay our bills but none of the credit card companies will lower our rates. I could've borrowed the money from a loan shark at cheaper rates! You want to stimulate the economy? Help us regular folks so we can spend money on goods rather than putting into the banks pockets for outrageous bonuses to folks who messed up in the first place!

Good Morning Robin:

How dare the republicans, who put us in the mess we're in financially, even comment on the stimulus package! I'm sick and tired of being a pawn in their game because they are playing with lives and behind the statistics is a face and a life who are hurting and I deem it an insult they are criticizing the financial plan to help this country back to a positive aspect. This is not the only problem in the world but I applaud President Obama for taking a stand and his can do attitude!

Here in Northern Ohio(Robin's old stomping grounds)layoffs and business closings are a daily event.Our county has an $80 million airport plan that could use some of that stimulus funding.It would definately help local economics.By the way,what ever happened to "Maverick McCain" and all of his ideas for the economy?

istead of bailing out the already rich people, the gov should give a check for $100,000 to every tax payer that makes less than $250,000 a year. people would get caught up on back mortgage payments and then the banks would get thier money, people would be buying new cars, so the car companies would get thier money. and the over all spending of that money would boost the economy back to good and everyone is happy.a $600 stimulus check does nothing for the economy.

Seems a lot of people have a lot of "its not the right solution" opinions to Obama's stimulus plan ....I haven't seen them proposing another solution! If those opposing this would get off the media platform and back in their offices and do the job they were sent to Washington to do we might have other solutions to choose from.... I'm already tired of hearing "what won't work".....they need to shut up and go build something that will!

I belive that we need to stop so many law suits !Doctors try to help peope not hurt .Because ofsomany lawsuits must carry expensive insurance.Hunters cannot find land to hunt on ,many activeties are not available any more because of fear of being sued and must carry expensive insurance.Doctors and land owners not the only people that have to worry about this problem.Manufactures,goodsamertians nonprofites,anybody dealing with the public,either must cost too much or doesnot happen! Lawers are always advertiseing to sue somebody.

Hi

Does this stimulus plan do anything at all for Senior Citizens who are also having problems in this economy, with drug prices and food prices?

It's borrowed money. Any good banker would want to know:
HOW is it going to be paid back?
WHEN is it going to be paid back?
WHAT is the cost of the money ( interest)

Since we, the public are the banker in this case; could we please address the " pay back " opportunities for each segment of this bill?

I just want to know...

somebody needs to do a news report on this stimulous plan. do they really think 20 dollars extra in my paycheck will really make a difference. will probably not even notice it.

Hi Robin I believe it would've been better for all Americans if they had given every single one of us enough money to pay our debts off. At least we would've known that the money was being used for the right purposes instead of being used for spa treatments and new jets and god only knows what else. I believe the stimulus might help somewhat, but I believe it's too little, too late. I'm from OHIO and the jobless rate is growing everyday. The Senate needs to get off their butts before we all vote that they aren't going to get paychecks until they do their jobs right.!! Maybe that would stimulate them !!

I am just wondering if Gov. Sanford is declining any stimulus funds for South Carolina people, (which I do not agree with either). Does that mean that my family and future generations will not be liable for repayment of any Federal taxes? How can this sort of segregation work?

In follow up to my questions of how we going to pay back the money we are borrowing from ourselves ( did I really say that?)

Reason I want to know is that I am trying to teach my childeren fiscal responsibility.. so what do I tell my children and grandchildren as to how they are going to pay this stumuls funding back?

They need to know...

don't these idiots realize that any one with a b.k. and or a forcloser DON'T have the ability to get a loan for a car or the ability to buy a home that doesn't help anyone. except their huge ego's

TOO MUCH DEBT?

I have made a number of comments because I have a number of concerns. We are a poor family, 23,000 in income last year, sevaral children to raise, and grand children too.. BUT – we dont have our hand out for this money!!

Because – It's being borrowed from US. It's money we dont' have yet, are expected to pay back. How absurd is that.. ?

Too much debt? Well, again following up my first two comments. WHAT is the cost for my teenage children and 3 year old grandson. Let me know their cost.. and i will ask them if the can are are willing to pay it back...

Getting kinda crazy isn't it.. ? Perhaps the stimulus should be viewed as a " gift" with no indebtedness... so, who is doing the giving?

God Save us...

Wasn't the original stimulus bill passed by a Republican Congress under a Republican President? Now they ALL act as if they never saw it before?

I dont understand. Everyone whining about money this and money that. What happen to the time when everyone never spend more thatn they make. That is the problem with our goverment and big business now. America is strong and will survive troubled times.

I have a stimulus plan. Only spend what you have. If you dont have it then dont spend it. If I dont pay my light bill or car payment I dont get a goverment bailout. If the goverment does not have the money then they are to big and they are not serving the people. They are robbing from us and our children. How can they exspect us to buckle down when they can not do it.

Pay for Military – Schools – Heathcare – Law enforcement – Cut all these Senators and Congressmen pay and perks. Then if any money is left then decide what to do with it. I would pay off our dept with it.

If US business are not solvent enough to weather this times then they need to go out of business. As alway others will pick up where they have fail. Bailing out bad business with our money is bad business. Good Business doest not burden the goverment. Big business today only worry about the investor and not the worker which makes them strong. I could go on and on. Bottom line is let them fail. Get the Losers out of management and let them get a real job. They have failed their employee, thier company, their consumers and most of all fail our country cause thier business not cant pay taxes and burdening those that they are to sell to. It a very sad day. America better wake up.

I watch morn.exp. every day. Today Clark Howard just made a very damaging comment about my business: hair. I am a struggling hair stylist now due to the econ. and he is encouraging people to do their own hair color. Thanks Clark. We in the salon industry need to eat too. A message therapist and a hair stylist are not both "luxuries". Try doing your own hair, great idea, try filling your own cavity too. Who needs dentists? Thanks Clark!!

I think we are all nuts for voiting these Senators to office. They argue back and forth and have no idea what the middle class, unemployed, family man/women is going through. Sure wish election day was today so we could replace all these people and get something done that will help the people.

They say they cant send everyone a stimulas check,because it wouldnt do any good .in my opinion what they have planned won't do me any good either.I'am behind the president and want him to suceed but I think they need to do more for the little guy,and less pork in the package.Thanks

To JR – NC

Here here! Bravo... could not have said it better myself..

There is one item on the bill that intrigues me as needed.. and that is spending to become energy independent and utilizing renewable CLEAN energy to make clean electrons to pump down a national grid of electricity.. THAT i can see..

other than that,, your comment is is RIGHT on!

I printed out the HR and the Senate versions of the plan (without amendments) last week just to see for myself what the politicians were debating. In short, I was amazed at what I read. Both bills have information about potential stimulus projects, but a majority of it was ADDITIONAL appropriations to exisitng agencies, much to be put towards RESEARCHING how they can use the money to stimulate the ecomony or for administrative programs to be used in monitoring funds use or for any other purpose. There is nothing stimulative about either bill, they only establish funding perameters with no real oversight, goals, requirements or deadlines. And if you are wondering how hard the politicians are debating these issues, read the content from those debates and you will find more blustering & showmanship accompanied by the pomp and circumstance of the Senate with regards to how and when someone is allowed to address the floor. I spent the weekend reading a great deal of information and found NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE that will make me believe this plan, or any other for that matter, will do anything but continue to drag our economy down..

I am so angry about all the politicing occurring at this particular time while so many American families are sufferring. We need JOBS!!! If this plan will deliver jobs, I say let's go for it. The politicians have forgotten why they are in office and who put them there, they are there to help and serve the American people. The longer people go without jobs the more we hurt as a nation. They need to stop being babies and grow up. Pass the bill and help the people.

The first thing that needs to be done is bring back jobs to the US. Give large tax credits to companies that have relocated jobs to China and India to bring them back to the US. Tax credits for new home buyers and new car buyers will only help those whom can afford to buy a car or a first home buyer. That is relativly few of us. Get rid of the pork. Give a massive tax break ( refund ) for all taxpayers below 150,000 in income. This would create a large ammount of spending in the comercial sector. Also give large tax breaks ( larger than usual ) for capital improvements. When companies start buying new equipment instead of fixing what they have that will stimulate additional spending and growth.

Someone earlier said, "if they gave me some of the money i would make my house payment and it would go to a bank,make my car payment it goes to a bank,make my credit card payment and it would go to a bank so if you give us the money we will give it to the banks for you."

Must be nice to have a car, house and credit card payments that amount to a few hundred dollars total...

I oppose the "stimulus" plan, especially since the Obama administration is supporting it. I have yet to see or hear of any liberal idea that amounts to good for the nation.

When has government ever solved an economic crisis through taxes and spending? The congress that failed to properly regulate corruption in the banking and investment world while forcing over-regulation of toxic loans on banks is now the proverbial “fox” in the financial “henhouse.” I have no recollection of congressional leaders EVER holding down their own pay and benefits package or making serious “cut-backs” in government spending. Yet they showcase their fained revulsion at those greedy CEOs who are surely (along with Bush) responsible for all our economic woes.

I grow weary of the politically motivated droning from Democrats about how Republicans caused this problem because Bush was in office – and Republicans blaming Democrats for their “pork-barrel” spending. Together both parties have failed the American people who elected them. I’m ready for new government leadership made up of independents who are morally and fiscally conservative, yet focused on advancement of this nation.

No – I do not trust government to solve this problem by leveraging the future of our children with generational debt! I would much rather trust the balancing scales of the free market and the American people than socialism to bring equilibrium to our economic future.

You dont reward a child for being bad and you dont 'bailout' grown adults who have made bad choices. (I think our nation needs some parenting classes)

Okay so the WPA created jobs back in the thirties but times are so different that I have to ask who will get the new jobs? Most of the jobs are low or entry level jobs that degreed people are having a difficult time getting. So who does that leave? Illegal immigrants? Roosevelt also created welfare that funded those people after the jobs went away. So some may ask why even go after one of the new jobs when one can go on welfare without lifting a finger and get about the same income as one of these stimulus jobs? My state has a very large problem with this. So no thanks for Arkansas…

if the leader or "our nation" is worried about our money problems why does he need do spend the vast amounts of money to fly him here and there just to try and talk to those of us who know we have a problem.
why not and give each household a share of our "tax dollars."
do they not think people would spend that on homes cars food,etc!!!

I believeve this stimulus bill would help my community and any other community for that matter the consequences of doing nothing far out weigh those of doing something and I praise president obama for shaking things up we need to quit bickering and and get our buts in gear and do something instead of nothing the key is spend! spend! spend! if you still have a job of course. But what do I know Im just a dumb mechanic.

does anyone really know what will work and what will not. i think that it is time to get real, after all if you stop and take a good look everyone had a hand in gettings us in this mess. as yet i have not seen or heard of anything in any stimulus plan that will help the many families that need it today, that need to buy food, meds or the many other things needed daily to live. people need something to help today not 18 months down to road. tax brakes are fine but does anyone think that $15 or $20 a week will really do any good, a little bite of food or maybe a little more gas.
how about letting the chips fall were they may, no more to the banks, the auto makers, or to any other group whose greed that got them into there own mess. lets see a plan that puts some money in the pockets of the people that need it. how about an increase in unemployment payments, social security and disability.
the list of people with not so good credit grows everyday because of job losses and the general economy. if they want to help these people, they will spend money if given the chance. limit the interest on credit cards, so that people can get them paid down.
i know it not as easy as all that, but i was just thinking about a few things.
thanks,
jim hall

I worry about how this debt will affect future generations. As a father of two I have a hard time supporting a stimulus package that will burden my kids with such financial debt.

If they would give more money to the people, I know what I would do with it. Buy my two grandsons clothes and shoes without holes in them. Make their little lives better. I know there are a lot of grandparnents out there that are trying to raise their grandchildren that the parnets will not do or put the children in danger. We had our cell phones turned off and given up alot of other things just to raise the children.They come frist in our lives! Lets just pray that my 13 year old car holds out a little longer. Loving Grandma

I'm lucky that I live in an area that has relatively low unemployment and is seeing the development of new business (still, things aren't peachy). With that said, I believe every area in the U.S. can benefit from this stimulus package. Education, roads and bridges, healthcare, etc. can all benefit. I think that something has to be done. Congress has to work something out. Truly act as a bipartisan body and throw out suggestions and ideas, rather than ridicule and refuse to accept.

Karen asked, "Wasn’t the original stimulus bill passed by a Republican Congress under a Republican President? Now they ALL act as if they never saw it before?"

Ummm...no, that was a DEMOCRATIC congress.

My wife and I both think that the banks should not get any of the money. The last time they got the money it did no good so why would it be any different. Their crooks caused the problems to begin with.

Richard I think a lot or all of the monitary problems would go away or at least ease up if the federal banking laws were reinstituted. The usury iintrest rates are killing the economy.

Watching our elected officials debating on this while the rest of us continue to suffer makes me sick!! I do not claim to be that smart but if you gave me 5 billion I could put it to good use within my city! But of course I would follow the examples of my elected officials and make sure I get MINE first and everyone else later!!

The fastest way to get a stimulus directly to the american people is to stop the fuel price gouging that has been allowed to go on unchecked and without reprecussions during war time. 12 Straight weeks, again, of increasing fuel prices and no one says a word – are Americans no less hurting now than before the election? The idea of stimilating the economy with construction projects and not addressing the price of diesel which runs all that construction equipment is absurb. Diesel prices went from less than 78 cents a gallon to over five dollars a gallon and today is more expensive than gas – a refined fuel. In specific terms as it affects my bottom line – my fuel costs for our "small business" went from 500.00 a month to 500.00 a week to run the same equipment. Rest assured, if I were to sell ice cubes at an inflated price after a hurricane I would be fined and held accountable. During WW2 corporations were held to a limit in profits – is the "war on Terror" an exception? I thought that limit was put in place to protect Americans from being taken advantage of during war time. I thought the National Fuel Reserve was for Americans in time of crisis – does a hurricane with damaged refineries not qualify? Or is it business as usual for the oil producers and stick it to the american consumer for all you can get and get away with. And where is Kuwait with their huge reserves? Correct me if I am wrong but I thought it was American men and money which came to their defense and forgave their war debt not so long ago. Do they not have two way streets in their country. What makes Exion reaping the highest profits in history immune and above reproach?
Take the proceeds from the fuel wind fall profits tax and distribute that to the American economy.

NO to bailout , YES to stimulus. The banks got to big and Lost alot of money (some say credit swap market 50 trillion) , most economists say that in a recession the government should be the spender of last resort.

I think that the Presedents stimulus plan is the correct thing to do. John McCain has said that we are leaving a financial burden to future generations; however, if we can not improve this economy the future looks even darker for our youth. Under "W" we gave 8-years of tax cuts to business, did it help save jobs? No. Then we gave a $750-Billion dollar bail-out to the banks so they could once again issue loans to individuals and businesses and create jobs, did it help? No, the banks instead of issuing loans kept the money and gave some of it as bonuses to their upper management people. It is time to give the money to "John and Joan" mainstreet in the form of jobs, small business loans, some tax breaks, and the necessities of life. Ordinary citizens like myself are not interested in "the bottom line" so we will improove the economy by spending money, just give us a job so we can do so, Congress this is not the time to play politics. The Repubicans had their turn now give a chance to the Democrates. I support President Obama 100%.

A Stimulus plan is to Stimulate the ecomony! how can the Obama plan that plants trees in Washington DC create jobs in Rual America? America got into this situation by spending money OVERSEAS, not on US made products. If you buy / spend money here in the U.S. it stays in the U.S. Companys that layoff workers make the situation worse by putting people out of jobs, ie,.. no money to buy products! No items bought at the store – Store lays off workers – workers don't have money – don't buy items – Store doesn't sell items – Store lays off more workers – more workers with NO money! – people don't buy items ! – More items not sold ! more workers layed off !! on & on & on & on,.. The OBAMA plan will NOT help the people because the OBAMA plan does not Stimulate the Ecomony ! IT only plans for Years of Bigger Goverment. Obama is doing what ALL Dem's do SPEND Money on Goverment ! NOT the People

Our government made a huge mistake in 2008 by offering rebate/stimulus checks to the American Taxpayer.... what did I do with that check? paid down my credit cards... no help to the economy there, now they are going to try it again by allocating billions to roads, bridges, etc... and who is going to get the money? – not the taxpayer- it will go to the corrupt state governments who will squander it away on high priced contracts for little to no work. The rich contractors will get richer, the poor blue collar worker poorer. If our government wants to truely stimulate the economy then give the 1 trillion dollars back to the people in form of a gift card with spending requirements. The requirements for using the card would be that you have to use it within 12 months, or you loose it. Minimum purchase has to greater than $500, forcing americans to buy big ticket items (i.e. cars, houses, furnature, TV's, computers, etc.) and that half of the money has to be used to buy products from American owned companies. Difficult to manage, perhaps, but this is the U.S, we can find a way to make it work!

YES TO STIMULUS!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS RNC'S STEELE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN JOBS AND WORK. STIMULUS IS CREATING WORK AND REPBLICANS IDEAS OF TAX CUTS HELPS SMALL BUSINESS CREATE JOBS????
JOB – a piece of work, esp. a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or for an agreed price: She gave him the job of mowing the lawn.
post of employment; full-time or part-time position: She was seeking a job as an editor.
anything a person is expected or obliged to do; duty; responsibility: It is your job to be on time.
to buy in large quantities, as from wholesalers or manufacturers, and sell to dealers in smaller quantities
WORK – something on which exertion or labor is expended; a task or undertaking: The students finished their work in class.
productive or operative activity.
employment, as in some form of industry, esp. as a means of earning one's livelihood: to look for work.
one's place of employment: Don't phone him at work.
materials, things, etc., on which one is working or is to work.
the result of exertion, labor, or activity; a deed or performance.
a product of exertion, labor, or activity: musical works.
an engineering structure, as a building or bridge.
a building, wall, trench, or the like, constructed or made as a means of fortification.

The complexity of the crisis is enormous what makes any analysis very difficult. Bit by bit I´d say this: 1- even the more simple either competition or business across the world for many and many years involved financing engaged in risky business ventures seeking the chance of large profits or advantages. by both financier and debtor, as corruption, graft, embezzlement, lobyism started branching out. The financiers took possession of a huge amount of money, the debtors maybe not, other than CEOs.This procedure has collapsed and financiers, CEOs and everyone with income higher than $ 250 thousand dollars a year, should, on the other hand, pay a compensatory rate on tax return during, at least, two years from now. 2- collapsing the greedy and stick-in-the mud management style, unemployment started springing up everywhere. preventing the people from spending in fear of either a bad tomorrow or becoming as well laid-off.3- to recover the people confidence the laidoff work force has to be assisted, many laws have to be changed stopping the pulling strings and the making money hand over fist,besides, every goods and salaries both have to be worth less. It´s about time any bailingout had to stop. So, economy starts getting back to the rail.

Shouldn't the money go to the American people, it is our tax dollars!

I think that the government should approach this situation in reverse and give the bailout dollars to each and every tax paying American household. Let the citizens of the United States bail themselves out. This would save billions of dollars, restore the economy quicker, eliminate welfare, increase retail spending, lower the foreclosure rate, boost auto sales, increase jobs, etc...... We the people should have a say in how our money is spent seeing we the people are paying the bill!

And as far I am concerned the one the thing I would like to say to the banks and Wall Street, is "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"

This is suposed to create 3 milion jobs? All I have seen is construction and manual labor type jobs. So what does the hundreds of thousands of "white collar" type workers with and without degrees that got axed do? Try to switch lives and and go for a entry level construction job? Sure that will really work!!!...

It is bad for everyone.Many know that is not good, everyone sense that this does not 'smell' good, but it seems that everybody do not wish to come foreward and talk about it.

Even a caveman understand that the so called 'bail-out','stimulus', 'rescue-plan', or any other pet-name can be called is just a waste of time.

The ONLY thing this move does is to PERPETUATE THE ECONOMICAL MESS THAT THE ALMOST-TOTALLY DEMOCRAT CONGRESS STARTED WITH FANNIE, FREDIE AND ALL THE CROOKS AND THIEVES INVOLVED , BACKED-UP BY THE 'COVER-UP GROUP – PELOSI,REID,FRANK, DOOD,COX , and others weeds !!!

That is all to it, check the events !

And what happens is that Pres Obama and his gang – KNOWING WHAT IS THE TRUTH AND KNOWING THAT THEY ARE NATIONALIZING THE COUNTRY AND THROWING THE NATION TO THE SOCIALISM-MARXIST ARENA, …they do not want to be blame alone after the public DISCOVERS that they had been CHEATED by the present administration,…they do not want to GO DOWN ALONE,…they need to say that also republicans are to be blamed too,…and that is why they are desperately trying to convince atl least some of them.

Got it now ? Excellent ! ,..see ? and you do not have to be a caveman to understand it .

One more thing, the economy is not as bad as it is said,...when Reagan became president the situation was heavely even worst, and the answer was basically, TAX CUTS !

This thing of :- "...the economy is this or that ..., we are going tobe real bad,,,etc" is a desperate move to inflict FEAR into the minds of the ignorant populache ( the ones that do not get informed) and so they will accept ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT IS TRHOW AT THEM AS AN ANSWER,...they just eat it that way blindly !

Just remember when all this picture of 'bad economy ' started they said the 'BLACK-HOLE -TYPE-COLLAPSE 'WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN FEW DAYS! And now we are in 2009 and they still chanting this FEAR-MANTRA ! ? Oh!, give me a brake !,...America, wake -up !, WAKE-UP NOW !

Think of this and research.

sincecrely,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville,Indiana

If people would read what the bill actually has in it they would see that it is just special interest ruling the day here. For example, raise your hand if you think repairing statues in federal cemetaries is a stimulus need?

Don’t like that one, okay, how about providing health care to rich people who got laid off of their cushy jobs? Well, there is no maximum cap on that little perk in this bill, so the sky’s the limit on how much you can make when you get the pink slip, because it is an inclusive world and anyone can partake with this bill.

If that one doesn’t suit you either, maybe you could agree to the millions being funneled to the National Science Foundation. That sounds legit, right, so there must be some serious science stuff going on there; NOT, unless you call porn watching research. Oh yeah, they were investigated and it’s true: employees were watching porn on office computers while “on the job,” but we the taxpayers are supposed to just nod our heads yes to Obama and say, “whatever you think is best, Mr. President.”

Not this cookie.

My husband and I are both educators in the state of Alabama. Our state is in proration. Nearly 4,000 teachers are at risk of losing their jobs if help is not provided in funding. Our Governor Riley is set on keeping million dollar programs and increasing class size, instead of trying to keep teacher in order to teach those million dollar programs. What is a million dollar program that's still in the box? Why don't they get rid of the million dollar programs and let educators teach children like we were trained to do?

In 2008, the most damage done to our economy was the out of control gas pricing. Now companies are laying off left and right. In earlier years freezing the economy was the best thing to do. Counsel companies not to lay off, but reduce hours from 40 to 24 or 32. keeping people employed. Freeze prices and wages, CEO to the mail room and minimum wage. Monitor Corporation profits, bonuses, etc. A stimulus bill encourages Corporations to down size, therefore, creating the spiraling effect.

I think community.
I read a book.
What is s social movement?

the stimulus money will be ok if they would give to the right people and not to the banks,or to the fat cats of wall street.they should give every american citizen 58,000.00 dallors and that would get people to spend money on the bills they have an pay a house payment.why should all of us have to bail out companies that has people that can not manage their money.none of that money needs to go for some idit for a bonus.just let all the banks that has got in trouble shut the doors.JUST LIKE THE AUTO COMPANIES ,IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PRICE OF CARS SO DAM HIGH AND IF THEY DID NOT PAY PEOPLE 50.00 AN HOUR THEY WOULD NOT BE IN TROUBLE.I DONT HAVE A NEW CAROR HOUSE,SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HELP PAY FIR THEIRS.SO,SEND ME ABOUT 1 MILLION AND BAIL ME OUT.I NEED IT A.S.A.P

This stimulus reminds me of the household that is writing bad checks. Where is the money coming from to make this massive payout and who is going to pay for it? The taxpayers that are now hurting because of government budgetary miss-management. Putting the nation farther into debt is not the right answer. I think that most of the stimulus should go to families – and not the government to spend without close scrutiny. I do not believe that the plan will create long-term jobs – it is just a short term fix and will do nothing to help in the long run.

im glad we are paying for eco parks while irs is throwing people on the streets daily with no compassion. if the gov really cares about the housing prob...well looking at what this bill includes, it does not show it

I litterally live on Main Street in a small farming community in South Dakota. As I have watched the congress fight over who is going to get the benefits of the stimulus package, I have seen nothing in the package that would help the farmers. I see farms being sold every month, because the small farmer isn't making enough to even break even. This is caused by low crop prices. What is being done by the congress to help support the price of grain?

I think part of it should go towards jailing the Republicans who are attempting to cause the nation to fail due to their do nothing obstructionism.

And if you don't think that's what they're trying to do,all you have to is listen the winger talking heads.Every day they rail against"socialism",even though they have no conception what socialism is,lie about FDR and the Great Depression,and scream for the failure of President Obama's attempts to save the country.These people are evil.

Good morning Richard-I think the biggest issue that people like myself have with the stimulus package could be best addressed by a statement that I heard Bruton Smith say one day, "What have you done for me today"? All we here is about how much money is going to the bank's and about how it is going to create all of these jobs, and build infrastructure etc., everyone is scrambling to get a piece of this bill. All of this money and spending to fix all of these problems that arose out of corruption and blatent misuse of funds, it is an outrage for American people to have to sit back and watch as it all unfolds, when people need help so badly as individuals. Why can't the stimulus package be about the people first, and put the smaller portion of the package towards all of these other programs? I think it is manipulating the American Phsyche, by giving them a little bit of money so they will go along with the rest of the plan, isn't that sort of like legalized bribery? "Show Us The Money", that is all we want!

Working Class American's wake up the stimulas package may throw you a bone or two to pay a couple of past due bills in this reccession while the people and the companies with money get billions in relief to buy say COMPANY JET(example)!!! No matter who the President is the rich stay rich and the working class struggle, I know every little bit helps but please most working class americans deserve alot more than a pity check once a year!!! Not saying some people have not truly made it to the top and don't deserve it or didn't struggle but let's tell it like it TIS!!!!!!! Disabled Veteran Concerned about America

To stimulate the economy, the govt. should give the money to the people. If we each got an amount to really do something with,(not $300)But an amount to actually SPEND. The economy would be stimulated. I simply do not understand how the govt. can want to give millions to the same people who blew it. At least get rid of the folks at the top of the executive level = Obviously they don't know what they are doing

I am surprised that the President did not walk out touting "my fellow democrats" , instead of hey everybody, as he began his speech to the nation last evening. As I have seen in the newsprint-and the president was quick to point out, the election was about change, because, hey we won and the other guys lost. Well so much for bipartisanship.

The current plan is wrong. The banks shouldn't get the money for our mortgages twice. Same with the automakers. To work, the money should be given to Main Street. We pay our mortgages once. That bails the banks out. We pay our car loans off or buy new cars. That bails the auto industry out. We start spending again. That stimulates the economy. And it keeps the government out of the whole thing.

I have 2 points of contention about this debate over the recovery package:

1. I find it disgusting that Republicans actually have the audacity to stand in front of a podium and say "we're spending too much money on this." This statement comes from a party that wastefully spent our money like drunken sailors on a 2-day pass and that never saw a spending bill they didn't like. What hypocrisy! Time to get with the program, boys and girls.

2. I find it beneath my contempt that the first batch of funds that are getting trimmed are the funds for education. More DC hypocrisy! One side of the mouth says that we need to improve education to keep us competitive in the world, and the other side says "cut the funding, they don't need it." What is wrong with these people? Maybe they should go back to school!

Yes, I called it a recovery package. I heard an Op-Ed on the WTOP-FM here that said the term "stimulus package" make the whole thing sound like it's for the adult film industry. These investments are mostly long-term, similar to the New Deal. It is a "recovery plan".

I can't say how it will help my city, Tulsa OK. We housed a major data center for Amoco Oil before it was allowed to be purchased by BP under the pretense it would lower gas prices by eliminating all the redundant processing across so many companies; however, after the gas price spike, another investigative group pointed out that was due to too little competition. Just goes to show you the government can’t get it right so why should we expect them to do any better this time? Oh, sorry, they get it right for the rich and wealthy. Anyway, ever since BP took over Amoco they have actively been eliminating the data center here in Tulsa and moving all the jobs to other countries. Not only have they been tearing apart Tulsa but they have been tearing apart America.
I think the money could best be spent by funding investigative committees to look into treasonous acts by corporate America and actively prosecute all guilty parties and upon conviction they would have to forfeit all assets.

.....".a government for the people, by the people".......
has our government forgotten the people? We the taxpayers will be suffering from this stimulus plan for years when it is coming out of our money, but our opinion is not even considered. Our pocketbooks are not even considered. GIVE THE PEOPLE THE MONEY!!!! If you gave the average american the money, they would pay off their credit cards, pay their mortage, buy a new car, and spend at all the businesses that are struggling, I am not money expert but wouldn't that stimulate the ecomony?. What good are we doing if all of these million dollar businesses come through this safely, and the people who put their money in those banks lose their jobs!! The government needs to put half of that stimulus plan back for welfare, because if they continue to run the government this way, average americans will be on welfare.
How hard can this be to figure out? If you give to the rich, you are only making them richer, if you give to th poor, you are helping them survive. Why does our government not care if its citizens survive?

i been watching the news for the yrs the fox net work is all republicans i think they need to get over it . obamas the president they might not like it but the last eight yrs in a war we didnt need and the bush adminastration man .we can not afford to be the world power that we r scared of
we r not the world power now we once were . dont make sinse to bomb a country and then go feed them when they r the richest country in the world
we r in a resection because of the banks not the people . the banks wont lend to people that need it to stay afloat .if the goverment dont help we will be in worse shape. put people in the us back to work i have quit watching fox because all they do is put obama down

It is truly a problem when the president and congress can't agree on what is best for the country. Yes Obama was about change. Therefore, he needs to change the politics of it all and say "**explitive** republicans, quit the bickering and let's get this done". No tax cuts for the rich, more tax cuts for the poor (there's no middle class), no stupid amusement park money, or studpid stuff period! Stop the bickering, get to the point of saving the economy, and make the difference now!

I am confused why our government and the media are not willing to present the stimulus plan, item-by-item, to the American public. Why are we expect to agree to a plan that is kept hidden from us? Obama is attempting to panic America, but not inform America.

The economy needs help so GIT-ER DONE

Richard and Robin, shame on you ! You are both spreading Republican Party lies! There are no earmarks in the stimulus bill, earmarks are something that gets added after passage with no debate! If someone disagrees with a provision I can understand but the Republicans are making stuff up to drive the wedge issues between the American people just like they have for the last 40 years! Look at your poll! This is a crisis for our Country and we need to pull together, we need to pull in the same direction, so let's give President Obama a chance please, don't start trashing him and his policies before we even know if they'll work or not... the Bush years are over, it's time for positive thinking. Let us as Americans be Americans not partisans. If somebody lies call them a liar I don't care what party they are in.

from what I have read and heard, this "stimulus package" is NOTHING but another democrat spending bill disguised as something that will benefit the American people...what a bunch of garbage....Obama and his cronies want to shove this down our throats before we figure out the real truth and what is really included in this bogus spending bill.....If the American people dont wake up and realize we and they are being made fools of, our grandkids will still be paying for this when they are old

according to the budget office it will cost over 1 million dollars for each job saved or created with this stimulus plan. This plan at best will only save 3.8 million jobs. When the money runs out these jobs will also be lost. We have to find another way to create jobs

Has anyone given any thought to where the bailout money is coming from? Who's paying for all this? This is just another attempt to make incompetent legislators look like they are doing something. There has to be another way. The American taxpayer, specifically the middle class will bear the ultimate price of the bailout. Either today or our future generations will carry this onus!

Robin, I start just about every morning watching your show, and for the most part I find it to be very informative. However what distresses me is that you fail to give credit to the American auto makers. Yesterday you ran a segment with Howard Clark in which he stated that Honda has released a new Hybrid that gets 40 mpg. FYI GM is about to release a new car that will get about the same if not more and will be priced less. Please start giving the Americans some credit when keeping jobs at home is so important!

Hello. I'm a big Obama supporter; however, I'm also against all these bailout thing. I, like many others, believe the focus should be on how to handle the money to the people, not to the big corporations. It could be something like a predetermined-voucher system. I mean you give certain amount of money to the people to be spent towards mortgage, car payments, credit cards, groceries, even clothing and other branches which ultimately would bring the money back to the banks and government. This way we are helping those in bigger need. And we would make sure the money is spent in the way the government needs and not the way people would like as individuals. We would also be stimulating the economy from bottom to top; not in the other way around. We all know how trees grow to get big and strong, from the roots. Right? I am sure that we would have money enough remaining to do some of the other things this bill propouses; improvements of roads, education, health care, etc.

Stimulate but regulate. Perhaps a stimulation plan that gives people money but regulates how the money can be spent.

The only way to ensure that the American working families will be fully impacted by this stimulus package is to include an E-Verify type of system to it. If not, this package will benefit over a half million illegal aliens, and not the American unemployed worker.

So far only the "fat cats" seemed to have prospered from the billions and billions of dollars doled out by the government so far. No explanation as to how these billions have been used, no audits, no explanations from the fat cats because they feel they don't have to answer to anyone.
The Democrats and Reublicans continue to point fingers and vote in party lines.
We, as a country, don;t have to fear terrorists. Our greed and stupidity will be our downfall.

I have been listening for help for military members and their families, but have not heard anything yet. My husband just found out his squadron is moving to San Diego and we live in Florida. We bought a house in 2007 not realizing what was in store for the market or expecting the move. Now we can't sell it because we are $40K "underwater". We called the VA since it is a VA guaranteed loan to find out if we can short sale it and they said only if we are behind on payments, which we are not. Then if we are behind on payments we have to prove we can't afford the payment, which will be the case this summer. I don't understand why companies wouldn't want to try short selling a house and still receive a mortgage payment while waiting for the sale. Also, why has there not been anything put in place for military members who are forced to transfer.

Stimulous Package: If our new President is to make a difference in the lives of American citizens, we must give him a chance! Americans overwhelmingly want CHANGE. Why can't our elected officials get on board and work together for the benefit "of the people, by the people"!
ARod: When we have false gods before us, we put our adoration in the wrong place. Let's remember that sports idols, ARod, and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps are as human as we are – and who hasn't made disastrous bad decisions. When Popular Sportscasters perpetuate unneccessary attention and court of condemnation on the air, day after day, is it no wonder that contracts are lost, Presidents weigh in, etc. Let's stop holding judgment on the air. Your innocent questioning of the American Public to opine on the subject is absolutely a tactic in perpetuating the "court room of condemnation"
Get back to reporting the news. Just the facts, please. If you have a shortgage of News Worthy items you just are failing to find news that's worthy of our morning attention.

There is a much less expensive and guaranteed solution to jump start the economy. Stop the spending hysteria first. It will only line the pockets of a few, much as the gulf war seemingly lined the pockets of big oil and other cronies. Then simply tell everyone to file their 2008 income taxes as they normally would, then give everyone a 100% refund on their 2008 income taxes. The economy would realize an immedate influx of cash and not have to wait for the bureaucracy excrete it's endowments. The people who pay the governments bills would be seeing the benefit, not the low bidders on mostly unnecessary pork projects.

I think Obama is right on track and I fully support his stimulus pkg.
We have roads falling apart, bridges falling down and they cannot handle the growing pupulation of America. Has anyone crunched the numbers for the debt we are and will be accruing from the millions of Americans that are out of work who are receving unemployment monies, food stamps and medical benefits from our government. We elected President Obama for CHANGE, why are we not supporting him in this effort.

I see all this spending and people wanting to be bailed out, but i have not heard of one insurance company like progressive, geico, allstate in any trouble what so ever. that is where most of my money goes is to pay my insurance right now and not one insurance company has lowered my rates. i spend more on trying to keep my insurance going to i can keep my business going than putting the essentials on my table. thanks for letting post

Why do they always short change education? Education for our children should be top prioity. The our are countries future.

I believe that the stimulus package is important but I think congress has lost sight of what really has happened. The reason for so many bankruptcies is high interest rates on unsecures loans that make it impossible to ever get out of debt. I think that a cap on interest for any loan should be no more than 10% above prime. It will still allow credit companies to make money yet make it realistic to pay off the loan too. The other thing is that the government should buy up foreclosures then rent back to the people that live in the house based on there income level (government housing). The rent could be adjusted each year based on the renters income.

well my feelings are that if you want Americas business to grow and hire more workers they need a o % loan to get going on building green products for the world to buy and nothing in the bill that does not relate to that for now then latter in a different bill figure out the rest

All the talk of how the stimulus will help Americans, what stipulations are there that the money will be spent, tracked and accounted for to ensure that it goes toward the home base of American citizens instead of being spent on non-citizen workers that take jobs from our high tech, construction, manufacturing and other job areas?

I live in one of the highest taxed counties in the US, we could use that extra money, Just in the past 6 months I know of at least 127 people that have lost their jobs in this county myself being one of those people. A little extra money could help out us out a lot.

Guess you can't speak out against the stimulus and show facts about Obama . This is a one sided Slobberfest over Obama site thanks CNN for showing me your true colors

I say let the banks take the heat. Lower ALL mortgages for primary residences regardless of credit, regardless of situation, to, say, 5%. "Happy holidays, love, your bank and the fed." Would that not restore faith in the system? If a $250,000 mortgage at 9% dropped to 5%, it would put almost $700 more a month into the homeowners pocket. Those that need it will use it for thier bills. Those that DON'T will start shopping again. Welcome back Starbucks and Macy's! Roll out the new rates over 6 months, starting ithose in pre-foreclosure. The fed can help pay these number crunchers if they choose. Give people perhaps 90 days to catch up. Not rocket science. Have I just missed something?

We are in the middle of a home foreclosure with GMAC Mortgage and by taking a hardship from our 401k is our only way to get caught up. In order for us to survive we have requested a loan modifaction with GMAC Mortgage. The government has sent the money to help them out, but GMAC is not willing to help us out in anyway. Is this fair to the American people? Please foward me any information you might have to help me through this Mortgage crisis.

Thank you,
Texas Homeowner

Why doesn't the Government put a HIGH tax on the celebrities in America. After all what rapper needs 20 different homes and 32 different cars. P........ lease, it's time to stop going to the concerts, ballgames, etc.

Being from SC, I agree with our governor. I don't want to participate in this stimulus package. It is a pork package that stinks and I hope our senators and reps. get the message.

hears a little food for thought.after dividing the money equally between(say 400 million people) give the people 50% of it and the other 50% back into the program to create jobs or wherever,.

Where was all the debate about spending billions for the two wars or billions to rebuild Iraq or any of the other money Congress sends overseas?
This Stimulus Plan is help for American Taxpapers; is that the difference?

Since we are in such a bad spot right now with the economy, why not cut the pay for athletes? Why not cut pay for actors? They get paid million and millions of dollars while we are struggling to make ends meet. We need to stop paying these people millions to kick a football and read a script. It's not fair to the rest of us. Take the money they would pay these people and give it back to the economy. Give it to to the ones that are struggling. It is ridiculous what we are going through and the actors and sports players are living in luxurious homes and buying five cars at at time. I just lost my job and my husband and I only have one vehicle. I have two small kids to care for. I just started a non-profit organization called Mia's Gift. I am hoping to one day help the kids that are being abused and stop abortion. Come on people we need to do something to help our economy.

I just want to know why the media and/or the American citizens are not being made aware of everything that is included in the stimulus plan. Why are we not able to have some say? We have so many special interest groups with their hands in pockets of our politicians and no one is truly asking the people what they want. Can someone please tell us what all is in the plan, not just what the policitians want us to know about.

Giving the money to the people would solve all the problems. Even if you gave everyone in the country a million dollars each, it would be less than they are giving away now to unknown uses. If people had money, we could buy homes, cars, medicine, take vacations, just afford to live.
The people in charge have no clue what its like to need money. And they have borrowed so much that we will never recover. You have to pay your bills, but our leaders don't pay for anything, they just keep on spending and keep on borrowing, and I guess it will end up with China foreclosing on us all, will we be the UNITED STATES OF CHINA? We have all had enough of this, but we have no say in the matter. We will have to pay it back for eternity . I think Iraq should pay for its own war and yet, they get rich off U.S. citizens by robbing us on fuel to fight their war and our fuel to go to work and heat our homes. The fuel for all the vehicles and planes the are in their country fiighting for them, are being paid for by money that the Bush gang borrowed from China. What is wrong with our leaders. Can't they see? Can't they count? My six year old grandson watched the presidential debate , stood up and said very thoughtfully, I think I could be a better president than either of those guys. I know he has more common sense and I think he counts his money and takes better care of it than those guys.

I agree with another poster: if I don't pay my bills I lose my "things" but if the government can't pay its bills it just borrows from another country.

What kind of logic is that?

Haven't they heard that eventually you have to pay the piper?

So tell me, Robin, which Piper is Obama putting us into bed with: Russia, China, Iran, Saudia Arabia?

I am appalled at the comments made by some senators during the stimulus hearing last week. Their rationale is stark-raving mad. Here's the deal:

States that are fiscally conservative and don't need medicaid funds will be the ones who get it. States that have run up debt and need funds to fix their problem will not get any of the stimulus bill money for that.

Now I realize that we should reward those who manage what they have been given, and we shouldn't throw good dollars after bad, but why are we sending money to states that don't need any and not sending money to states that do if we are going to borrow the money from another country in the first place?

Still do not get , eh?

Ok, let's try this in more simple aproach;

Economy is in flames – not as bad as Obama and his gang is saying but is not good anyway.
The Obama buddies start all this pushing the banks to do bad deals (and here goes the very well known agenda of FANNIE,FREDDIE, ALONG WITH THE COVER-UP GROUP ;- PELOSI, REID, FRANK,DOOD,COX , AND OTHERS WEEDS,...ALL PART OF THE OBAMA BUDDIES SPECTRUM.

The new proposal is designed to PERPETUATE THE ORIGINAL SIN – sort of speak – AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS ,and in doing so,... violating the trust and money of the american people.

Obama and his gang (Geithner, Pelosi,Reid,Barney Frank,...and others) are trying with DESPERATION TO SELL THIS JOKE . AND OBAMA HIMSELF IS PUSHING HERCULEANS EFFORTS WITH HIS VERY EFFECTIVE ORATORIAL SKILLS TO ENGULF THE MASSES ,ONCE MORE ,AS HE DID FOR THE FRAUDULENT PAST ELECTIONS.....(remember ACORN?,... and others things?

This so called 'stimulus' is MORE OF THE SAME,...MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE ALREADY CONSUMING AMERICAN ECONOMICS.

It is just a TOOL for the step-by-step NATIONALIZATION OF THE PRIVATE ASSET that brings as result ,SOCIALISM-MARXISM and ultimately, COMMUNISM INTO OUR LAND ,...in other words, THE END OF OUR CAPITALIST FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, FOUNDATION OF OUR ROOTS IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMICS.

If anyone believe this is good?,....then start to endorsing the soul to Carl Max, Fredderick Engels, Trosky, Stalin and so forth and so on.

Now this is just in nut-shell. Want more?, then read, investigate, research, get information ,...for in final analysis?,... KNOWLEDGE IS THE REAL POWER.

Once you get POWER?,....no Obama gang or nobody else can fool you.

People, listen up!, get real now!

sincerely,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville,Indiana

Does anyone else find it ironic that our president is flying around the country in a 747 bad mouthing business exects while so many people are choosing between food and mortgages. If he wants to stimulate something take the cost of all that fuel and give the middle class a gas credit.

Please help me get the word out. The thousands of people who have been laid off will be looking for help when their serverance pay or unemployment runs out. But the majority of them won't qualify for help because they won't meet the "means test." Many of them are middle class and even though the money they may be getting won't pay their bills they are still considered as having too much money to access non-profit programs. I have gone from being a teenage welfare mother to Assistant Welfare Commissioner in adult life time. 25 years of being responsible for local, State and Federal grants has taught me how strict the income requirements are. For instance to access the HEAP fuel program you cannot make more that $1700. The majority of means tests are based on HUD's Federal requirements. When I reached out for help (my health failed so my business failed too after getting a letter from Eliot Spitzer tell me I had two weeks to get out of my office) I discovered I was expected to sell my van despite being severly disabled and let the welfare office put a lien on my home. I've created a webpage called "How to be Poor In America" in hopes of helping those that I call the newly poor. You can read it at http://www.skcllc.net. The information that you and Ms. Westhoven provide is critically important to American's at such a difficult time. I hope that you will consider the information I'm working on to be worthy of your consideration also.

Well I certainly have very mixed feelings about this stimulus bill, but then again I am a Libra and always see both sides of every story. I did not vote for President Obama (I voted for another) but have completely supported him since his election. I find him to be very articulate, extremely intelligent and I believe sincere. But the congress is up to business as usual with absolutely no cohesion as an American unit, instead reverting to party lines once again. Will this plan work? I have great doubts though I belive in the intent of the stimulus bill. This country is in severe trouble and I do not see Congress getting off their high horses and addressing the reality of our issues. On a personal level, I have been laid off for three months now, have had to already drop my Cobra insurance coverage due to cost, and have a new mortgage and personal debt to cover. I am a breast cancer survivor (one and a half yrs ago) and have multiple other health issues. Are these scary times... oh, yeah!!!! My trust and faith lies in the Lord not in the Congress, while I continue to back our country 100% plus. Once my small unemployment benefits are finished I must be able to at least find a PT job to help my husband cover our expenses or we will begin to lose assets. He is self-employed as a carpenter and Thank God the economy is keeping him very busy in the renovations arena. Thank you for giving each individual American a voice, on sites such as this. HLN is a very important part of my life right now, the Morning Express Challenge does indeed comfort and challenge me and I am totally enamored of the cast and crew of that show. God Bless America!

All this talk about tax breaks and tax credits from everything from new cars to new home credits for people struggling today. What about credits for everyone who had trouble last year. I relocated for a job, after working there for 8 months, bought a house and 9 days later the plant announced its closing. I have struggled for the past few months digging heavily into my savings, took a lower paying, but available job rather than collecting unemployment so I would have medical insurance. The president promises relief and change and all I have seen in the news is a nothing more than the political jockeying we have grown accustomed to in the past....empty promises. Let the fat cats at the banks go broke, let the "big three" fix their own business problems and help us, the American People who pay his (the preidents and senators and congressmen's) salaries. I'll bet they still get their raises this year.

I can't understand why the people in charge are so dense! Hows this for an ecconomic plan – the government is willing to throw billions and trillions of dollars at someone. How about making out two party checks to homeowner and mortgage holders (like auto insurance companies do) so people can pay off their mortgages? It does no good to give money to banks if people still can't pay for housing. If people's homes are paid for, they will have money to spend on appliances, furniture, cars, clothing, etc. Bam! The ecconomy is healthy again!

It is totally WRONG and will hurt bad for many generation to come. The only ones who will come out ahead are the big company CEOs, congress and other countries who we borrow the money from and who will finish taking over the US!!!!!!!!!!

I live in Oklahoma. What we are seeing here are that hundreds of
the people working, are illegal. Crews of construction workers that
are unable to even speak English. Are "all of the jobs" this is bill is supposed to create going to go to tax paying American citizens or
the illegal visitors that the companies hire for less pay?

It may sound selfish, but this stimulus bill will not help me one bit. I am a 49 year old female. I have been in the automotive industry all my life. I do not know anything else. I lost my job last March and cannot find another one. I never made a lot of money as I worked for smaller part suppliers. So I have nothing. I have no hope for this to help the upper middle-aged people of this country.

President Obama , should fly to Wilmington , Ohio, land at the almost deserted DHL Operating Facility, go to the courthouse square, have a meeting with the 9000 people who have lost thier jobs, convince them that the stimulus bill will help the people of Clinton Couny Ohio.
If he can convince the residents of help through this bill, then I am all for it.

What happens after the infrastructure is rebuilt; we will be no better off than we are right now. We have become a nation of service not industry; however, if you get rid of the NAFTA, limit other trade agreements and reduce the hold of unions over industry we may be able to bring manufacturing back to America giving all permanent employment.

Give people food and they will have a meal; teach people to grow food and they will be able to feed themselves. This can apply to many things not just food.

RSD361

TO HELP OUT STIMULAS PLAN WHY NOT PUT MARS ROVER ON HOLD INSTEAD OF PILING MORE MONEY INTO IT. I HOPE MARS ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. THE SPACE SHUTTLE COULD CANCEL EVERY OTHER FLIGHT AND HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD THIS GIVE BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS?
NOT TO MENTION THAT THE LAWMAKERS COULD ALL TAKE A PAYCUT. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY THAT ARE LIKE ME AND IN DANGER OF LOOSING THERE HOMES AND CAN'T FIND WORK.
ONE MORE IDEA IF ALL THE CEO'S OF THE COMPANYS WE ARE BAILING OUT WOULD TAKE A 10% PAYCUT THE COMPANYS COULD GO ALONG WAY TOWARDS BAILING THEIR SELF OUT.....INSTEAD OF LAYING OF THE LOW PAY EMPLOYEES.

THANKS FOR LISTENING, DARIN

Riots! Remember them? I was in Los Angeles when they happened in the early 90's. The city was burning. The same thing is happening i.e., real estate crash and high unemployment. Mark my words...if not enough is done to give people jobs, we will be seeing even bigger riots across the US. We need to turn around the economy NOW!

STIMULS SUCKS ONLY GIVING THE GOV. BACK IT'S OWN MONEY NOT HELPING THE WORKING MAN ALL MONEY GOING TO GOV> JOB'S OBAMA NEED'S TO RETHINK HIS PLAN

It seems i keep hearing about jobs created for roads and bridges, thats fine i know these folks need work to. My consern is i havent hrd anything about us in the building trades, are we going to be in the gutter before we get back to work?

I have just one question about all the new jobs that will be created by the Stimulus bill.
How many of these New Jobs will be given to Illegal Aliens, and what if anything is being done to make sure American Citizens are the only people
benefiting for the Stimulus Bill and not people in other countries in the form of employment (Out sourcing)?

Carl Grant

I do not believe in giving more money to entities that have a reputation of poor money management. The people making decisions for the rest of the country do not know what it means to live pay check to pay check, and there are alot out there who don't have a pay check right now. Where I live in Northern Maine, the wages are low, and people struggled to get by even before this mess happened. The rich in Washington do not have a clue to be able to comprehend someone who struggles day to day, to eat, put food on the table, buy clothes for their children. The money should have gone to every household to help pay their mortagages, put food on the table. The banks are not suffering. They still have their 6 figure salaries and have no worry about where their next meal will come from. Put the lower class as the priority for a change.

The press conference about the stimulus?,…AN ARTISTIC PERFORMENCE ON SOMETHING FICTTIONAL.

Just remember he IS a THE FRONT MAN IN THIS THEATRICAL PRESENTATION!

GOT THAT EVERYONE?

Anyone with sufficient gray matter inside the skull, can see the herculeans efforts by Pres Obama to sell this 'simulus'-piece of yunk.

He still in the 'campaign mode', but NOT IN THE LEADERSHIP MODE.
Does he has the required leadership?,...or is he only a 'front image' for the masses?

The press conference about the stimulus?,…AN ARTISTIC PERFORMANCE ABOUT SOMETHING FICTTIONAL.

Just remember he IS a THE FRONT MAN IN THIS THEATRICAL PRESENTATION!

GOT THAT EVERYONE?

Now if our mesianinc president wishes to do something fast and effective about al this mess?,....well, the answer is simple.

Instead of that full of problems Clinton-clone phony cabinet people?,...you know, tax cheaters , etc,... hire real powerful people, for this require MAGIC !

And so the best officials would be MAGICAL PEOPLE!,..... let's have then, HARRY POTTER, TINKERBELL,THE WIZARD OF OZ,AND MERLIN !

And if by any chance this is not enough get in mercenary contract, THE LORD OF THE RING, THE X-MEN, WONDER WOMAN AND HANCOCK.

How is that? I bet my shoes ( and I will not loose them ) that this definitely, will work.

Pease, do not choke on your pop-corn.

I do not mean to sound sardonic but it looks like Obama and his gang seems to be almost at border of desperation, willing to push or infuse this so called stimulus to the taxpayers even by means of rectal lavatory procedure (enema).

God only knows,…if they were bold enough to go the extremes to fraudulently win the elections,(remember ACORN among other things?)…perhaps they are willing to do others things too.Actually nothing takes me for surprise.

Please , nobody gets agitated , is just,…. a ‘slight scapade’…just like the tax cheating,…a 'small overlook', right?.

Respectfully,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana

I downloaded both the Senate and the revised Senate version and I am appalled at the lack of detailed information about where this money is really going to be going.

They are going to give this money to existing agencies to "research" how they think it should be spent to stimulate our economy. Hello! Those agencies aren't doing anything good with the money they have right now or they would not be in such a hole already...and you want to give them more to squander at our expense?

I am beginning to believe the naysayers that this bill is just about paying back supporters, Robin. I read all those pages and can't see where it will help me or my town at all.

Stimulas plan for who? The CEO's who can't manage their own busineess and money, who use tax payer's money to spend on worthless outings, Enough is Enough, I was always told that the I should manage my own money.

Has the Goverment ever heard of "Supply and Deman" I guess they need to go back to business 101.

Its strange a lot of us at work and community all agree that we could save the goverment and tax payers millions of dollars vs the 500 so called leaders of this country who think they speak for the rest of us. so here is our plan

If every household receives let say 1 million dollars. What would we do with it, we would pay our debts down, remodle our homes or buy a home, buy a car, take a vacation, buy electronics ect, well doing this we would creat jobs. First banks would get there money back, houseing market would take off, car makers would be selling again, buisenss would need to hire, and we are back to the phrase "Supply and Demand"

So why don't they do it this way, we all agree that this would be a better plan than the goverments. Lets make it a refrendum lets vote on it.

If I where a betting man I would bet that the companys that are getting all this stimulas money was to put to a general vote, they would fail.

The Doctor that implanted the 8 babies that were born, is the one that should pay for Nadias hospital bills and all her 14 babies . I wouldnt be surprised if he was the donor anyways!! why should the state pay for her family?

what greed in america. the ceo spent and abused tax payers money. and all that will happen will be nothing. get the focus off of michael phelps and concentrate on procecuting them, we will get a total of 8.00 a week that will buy lets see a extra loaf of bread and a gallon of milk. lets see how that compared to some of the ceo bonus it doesnt. peole are losing their homes and jobs, i dont think 8.oo a week can save the economy.these ceo need to go to jail this is stealing.why are they allowed to get away with this? this continues to happen and not once has their been any consequences.

The proposed stimlus plan takes away funding from a lot of people projects, and puts it toward other projects for things that will have no effect on helping those in trouble. I haven't seen any proposals for the Congress and Senate taking any cuts on their frivolous pay checks and benefits, that match the cuts working people are taking. Why is this and when are they going to see the inequality? If they had to live on Social Security and health insurance, they would be fixing this mess.

I read that stimuls package. What a joke. I think they should focus more on manufacturing jobs and less on public works projects. I live in a rural area in PA. What is this package going to do for me? Nothing
It looks to me that the only jobs that are going to be created will be jobs where the people make the big bucks. What about us little guys?
I think if they would give the money back in tax cuts people would spend more money and creat more jobs. But then the fat cats in Washington couldn't get their cuts that way. So it looks like business as usual. The rich get richer and the poor get nothing.

It is not going to do anything for my town!

I see all this help going to larger cities, but what about small towns. My home town was half destroyed by flood and oil spill, now the economy is taking the rest. That $600 dollars last year didn't help and I am sure the $500 this year won't either. Instead of giving all those large corrupt bonus giving companies billions of dollars, they should of divided it amoungst tax paying citizens. Think of how many people would of shopped for cars, bought homes and so on!

What will this do for my family. My company moved production to Mexico. (we made wheels for the big 3) Now I get $330 a week down from $700 a week. I can't find ANY kind of work. In the near future I will lose my home and sttill not be able to pay for rent. I know I'm not the only one with this problem.
I also have a problem paying Fed. tax to keep up the lifestyle of someone who makes millions of dollars a year.

Government's Plan
–spend $800+ billion that gives taxpayers $13 more a week

My Plan
–spend $300 million by giving $1 million to every US taxpayer

My plan saves over $750 billion and promotes spending, saving, debt relief, etc.

No wonder we're trillions in debt!!!

Obama seems to think he is still on the compaign trail. He is a good lecturer, knows how to sugar coat his message, never really answers questions, and making treatening remarks if people don't agree to HIS stimulus plan. If he really does want to help the people, more needs to be addressed to helping the elderly who don't qualify for medicade because they are making more than the people who have not paid taxes and can get into assisted lliving and long care facilities. The people that are in between the salary levels. People who have put their sweat and lives into the system but don't have enough monthly to be able to afford the monthly payments to get the assistance necessary for the same accomidations that the very wealthy or the extremely poor get. I have an aunt that never worked a day in her life and has no problem getting into assisted living facilities: while my mother who has worked all of her life, and paid taxes until she retired and stills pay taxes on her pention money. It does't seem fair that these big banks and the car industries get all of the money while the elderly are neglected. Sorry I got a little off tracy. Back to the president. He seems to me that he is another slick willy. He wants us to believe every word that he says, do what he says, but he does and do what he says. But who am I to say. After all I am only one voice and I am sure that more people feel the same way that I do.

Did i understand correctly that every pres. gets a new airforce one Jet, seems to me that the president should have started right there and used the old one. They did slash corperate jets in the begining, and i just wonder whos paying for all the trips hes on now?

If congress is bent on giving away play money we will have to borrow from Chini they should give it to the American TAXPAYERS so they can spend it where it counts!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM WORKING IN AUTO FINANCING FOR 35 YEARS IN NEW YORK THERE ARE PLENTY OF CUSTOMERS WILLING TO BUY CARS BUT BANKS ARE NOT LENDING THEY ARE GETTINGTIGHER EVERY WEEK. I STILL SPEND ALOT ON ADVERTISING CAUSE MONEY NEEDS TO MOVE I CERTANLY DO MY SHARE. THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS THE BACK BONE OF AMERICA AND A TAX BREAK FOR PURCHASES IS GREAT BUT NOT WITHOUT BANK APPROVALS. IN FACT IT IS TOTALY USLESS WITHOUT BANKS TO BUY PAPER. I HAVE ALOT OF FAITH IN THIS GOVERMENT AND THE NEW CHANGES THAT ARE COMMING BUT FEAR IS NOT A GOOD MOTIVATOR. EVERYTHING IS ENERGY ATTITUDE AND POSITIVE THINKING . PEOPLE NEED TO START MAKING MONEY MOVE AND WITHOUT FEAR .START THE WHEEL TURNING SMILE AT SOMEONE HELP A STRANGER SEE HOW GOOD IT FEELS DO NOT STAY HOME IN A STATE OF PANIC BECAUSE YOU WILL ONLY BRING MORE PANIC TO YOURSELF.PEOPLE HAVE TO STOP WAITING FOR A MIRICLE START RELYING ON YOUR SKILLS. THINK POSITIVE AND TRY SMILING ITS FREE.THERE IS NO PERFECT WORLD YOU ONLY GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.I BELIEVE AMERICA IN TWO YEARS WILL BE SO BIG AGAIN .THIS GOVERMENT NEEDS TO PUT A REAL PUSH ON LENDERS TO START THIS WHEEL MOVING AND GETTING EVERYONE BACK WORKING.CAR DEALERSHIPS WOULD HIRE MORE WORKERS THEY WOULD SPEND MORE ON ADVERTISING BUY MORE PARTS TIRES ETC... I THINK THE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THEY WANT TO SEND EVERYONE IS USELESS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE EITHER SEND 50,000 PER HOUSE HOLD OR DO NOT BOTHER SPEND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT COULD STIMULATE SOME JOBS. WE COULD TRY LEAGALISING POT HAVE PHILLIP MORRIS GROW IT TAX IT AND END CRIME SMUGGLERS AND CREATE A INSTANTE BOOM IN THE ECONOMY. I DO NOT SMOKE CIGGERETTS OR POT BUT ALOT OF THE COUNTY DOES. LOOK AT LIQUOR AND THE MONEY YOU MAKE ON THAT. BE CREATIVE IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE TRY SOMETHING NEW. WE ARE PUTTING SO MUCH MONEY INTO WELFARE FOOD STAMPS UNEMPLOYMENT INSTEAD OF JOBES AND MONEY DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE INTEAD OF INSTIUTIONS THAT ARE ABUSED BY THE PUBLIC AND BELIVE ME IT WILL BE MILKED. I COME TO WORK EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND MAKE NOT ONE TENTH OF WHAT I USED TO MAKE BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP THINGS WILL CHANGE AND I PLAN ON BEING THERE TO REAP THE BENIFITS WHEN IT DOES. GOD BLESS YOU I WATCH YOU EVERY MORNING.

I haven't heard anything that would lead me to believe that it would help my small town of Susquehanna, Pa. There won't be any jobs headed this way. It's next to impossible to get a state or federal job here unless you know someone who is already in. As for the banks, I just got a letter telling me that my mortgage company was sued. They were convicted of trumping up charges, creating false charges and otherwise cheating me and other homeowners out of hundreds ofthousands of dollars over the past several years. My share of the settlement? 500 dollars. After those cheating lowlifes got me for almost 2000. Now they get the money for my mortgage from my tax dollars ( ie., the bailout) and again when I finish the mortgage payments. Or my house, which looks more likely.

Am I missing something? Money back in paychecks? How many people in the country are not now receiving a paycheck?!? And how many more of those are coming? I myself might be in that category come July, when that benefit is supposed to hit. I appreciate your reporting on the bill as a whole though, thanks for helping make sense of it. This piece = no sense to me.

I heard that the Stimulus Plan might offer a $15,000. tax cut for those people buying a new home after it takes affect. We are in the process of buying a home. Did this make the cut?

IT'S JUST LIKE THE FIRE FIGHTER SAID, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE $20,000 TO EACH TAX PAYER AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY. BUT I BELIVE THAT $20,000 IS NOT NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING POSITIVE FOR THE PEOPLE, THE AVERAGE PEOPLE HAVE $20,000 IN DEBT MOSTLY MEDICAL, WHAT ABOUT THE REST PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA LOOSE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR MORTGAGES. I STRONGLY BELIVE THE WE SHOULD ALL LET THE TELL NEW PRESIDENT TO GIVE AT LEAST $50,000 TO ALL FAMILIES THAT MADE $75,000 OR LESS IN 2008 AS WELL AS SENIOR CITIZENS WITH THAT i'M SURE THAT EVERYONE WILL PAY OFF ALL THEIR DEBTS AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO INVEST TO BRING THIS COUNTRY BACK UP ON IT'S FEET.
tHEY SAY THEY WANTED TO SEND AN EXTRA $1000, BASICALLY IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T EVEN COVER MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

IN THE SENATE DEBATE, I DID NOT SEE ONE PAGE OF PORK IN THAT BILL. WHY DINT THE GOP SHOW IT, JUST ONE PAGE, IT GOES TO SHOW, ITS ALL POLITICS, JUST A FRAME WORK OF MALICIOUS DISARRAY,

In 1986 Congress approved sweeping revisions of U.S.Tax Laws.
One revision was the eventual elimination of interest deductions that
Americans were allowed to take when filing Income Taxes.
By eliminating these deductions,it may have become more difficult
for some Americans to finance a new car.
Wouldn't it make more sense to allow people to take interest
deductions than to give car companies billions of dollars?
While people who own houses can still deduct real estate taxes,
what about people who rent houses or live in apartments?
If we're ever going to put Americans back to work and have a boom-
ing economy then we need to pass a law reinstating interest deduc-
tions otherwise things may never get much better than they are now.

How can something so costly and so stupid do good for any place or person. The communities who will receive money under the plan will only do as little as they can to get by the requirements. The few jobs it creates will not be the types of job being lost. The jobs it creates will be labor intensive jobs but the jobs being lost are blue collar jobs. I could support this type of package if it were being paid for by stopping the large pay raises of all congressmen, cutting back drasticlly on SSI and Medicaid, stopping all so called EARNED INCOME CREDIT (how does someone earn a tax credit when they never paid income tax????) , cut out ALL of the pork barrel spending in the bill. Another area congress can help the middle class is to stop utilitiy and oil companies from raping us. Oil prices have been steady for a while but gas prices are going up again. The lower the gas and oil prices go the more utilitiy companies charge us for their so called fuel cost, watch your bills and you will see. The attitude of ALL large companies is to get as much from their customers as they can as fast as they can while it last.

I am a bit frustrated,8 yrs of trickle down economics have not worked. Now we find that only 3 republicans voted for the stimulus plan. The republican party still seems to be focused on trickle down economics. Why can't the politicicians get together and do what we pay them for! I am neither democrat or republican. I have always considered myself an independent. But I feel that if this plan works, everyone that voted against it should be voted out when their term is up. This should have been about America and the recession. All I am hearing is partisan finger pointing and I for one am sick of that. Washington needs to learn to "think outside the box", stop listening to the lobbewists and get in touch with the American people that need their help and guidance.

The big buisness' shouldn't be bailed out. They made bad decisions then that's their fault. All the banks receiving money are not concerned about their customer, just that they received money to pay off their bad financial decisions. The way the credit card/banks handle interest rates and fees should be criminal. I don't care for either political party becuase to me it seems as if they are all corrupt and have their own agendas. I'm bothered that all the people who sit on their behinds all day are going to receive more money. Most of those people are just lazy and don't want to work. Is this a way to keep them down? Seems that way....the government owns them.

Jen, my husband and I would like to know how the stimulus package is going to help the retirees. What I am hearing is people working are going to receive $10-$20 on their pay paychecks, does this mean for retirees who only get a paycheck once a month that we will receive the $10 a month? Wow, we may be able to buy bread and milk. Thanks

I absolutely agree with Cindy in Peoria. I'm self employed and I don't receive a paycheck so where do I get my money! Business has been slacking off too so I need my stimulus check!

Why doesn't the Government come out with assumable non-qualifying mortgages
for home owners in foreclosure if they have a job or income
at 5 to 6% interest rate on 80 to 90% of its as is value.

banks would get 80 to 90% rather then 30% or so at auction
Owners get to avoid foreclosure and or bankruptcy and keep there home
and if they cant afford the new payment they can let someone else take over payments
with out qualifying for a new loan.
People will be able to upgrade or downgrade into homes without asking for a new loan
or coming up with a large down payment...?
??

Since I am retired, will I see more in my pension check?
If not, then how does the stimulus plan benefit me?

First I'd like to say its almost desperately humorous that republicans are complaining about how Obama is pushing bills through congress, I guess it can be upsetting when someone borrows your recipe. I guess this proves that sometimes you have to stoop to the old ways in order to build a new hope. I see a lot of complaining and a lot of "we can do this better", all I can ask is "why didnt you do better before?"
Education: a large chunk of school expense is in books... if we want to support and develop the minds of the future why doesn't anyone build and promote a "Universal Scholastic Web-based Library"? All literature readily available at a fraction of the cost. A set cost for publications without public advertising funds and a lower cost version which shares the site with web based marketting.
When will the policy makers finally realize that if we dont educate our next generation properly, they will not visit you when you are withering away in the retirement home.

I think it's right for are town...
Theres been alot of people off of work here in the tri -state.. including me..
I havin't been able to get a job for a year and a half and i can't wait to get this stimulus plan working for are town...

I'm still wondering when they're going to "bail out" the working tax payers? Instead of giving money to greedy CEO's. Even if they gave the taxpayers $100,000 each, it's still a lot less then what's projected now. Sure, I would pay off our debt first, BUT we would OWN our home, (no chance of foreclosure then) and the banks could start lending again, then the money that wasn't going to our mortage could go to that new pickup truck we would like to have (creating jobs or at least keeping people working), maybe we would could go to the local furniture store to buy that kitchen table that we like so much, then this spring when schools out, we could afford to take that vacation.
Maybe I'm just a dumb housewife, but I don't think Congress has anything up on me! Or "We The People" that they're suppose to be working for.

I think the best way to stimulate the economy,let people take monies from thier 401 without taxes, they have lost eneough, I promise you people will spend and we would not have to have the stimilus plan where we will never recover from

Tax cuts go directly to the pockets of Americans and have worked everytime we have used them to get out of economic downturns. Its the private sector that is hurting, not government. Government jobs are all secure and fat. All I can see is a long term plan to stimulate the government. Thank you but no thanks.

John
Milwaukee Wisconsin
"The rust belt blue colar state"

Praise to the Republicans for not bending to pressure for a quick, expensive solution. It's never smart to go into debt to get out of it. This was just an opportunity to pay off politicians and get social programs that the Democrats wanted. Socialism doesn't work; it's not the homeless and the welfare recipients that support our economy. It's amazing how breaking the law among the democratic politicians is excused. If I didn't pay my taxes, I would pay high penalities or go to jail, not be rewarded with a government office–same with perjury in Illinois.
One thing I've learned; it doesn't pay to work hard and pay taxes because you just end up paying for those who don't.

Hmmm, an extra $13 a week! Wow! now that's going to stimulate the economy! Thank you Mr. President! Thank you! Regular folk being screwed again! Yep, this is "CHANGE". $13 – chump change! Over $700 billion and we each get a little over $600! Wow! Oh and it's only a tax credit so next year that money you're stimulating me with will be counted on my tax return toward my deductions. Gee, thanks!

Hey, Mr. Obama, after meeting all the "folks" you met on the campaign trail, sitting down to lunch with them, going to their town halls, "listening to and hearing the American people" as you touted all over the media, where did you get the idea that $13 a week would actually make any difference?

All the politicians talk the talk but they don't actually represent the people. I personally e-mailed every sitting Senator asking that they require the companies that receive bailout money to give us a repreive on interest rates – like limit credit card interest to a reasonable amount.
Give homeowners who make under $150,000 a year but who have a reasonable mortgage, a tax credit and require companies to let us refinance at the same low rate as the people who messed up by trying to buy more house than they could afford. Guess what! My own Senators, Lugar and Bayh, DID NOT BOTHER TO RESPOND. All the rest had an aide send out a "thanks for contacting us but we're too busy to respond unless you are a constituant" meaning from their state. I am so glad my concerns (and the concerns of many others as well) were addressed or even considered when this Bill was being wrangled together. I am your constituant when you are deciding what to do with my money!
No amount of money thrown into this mess will stimulate teh economy until it is given to the people who spend it. For $700 billion they could send every tax payer $100K and I'm fairly sure that 90% of those people would pay their debts off and spend, spend, spend! But we can't spend anything when all our money is going to pay debts at unfair interest rates!

All the talk about oversight equates to one thing: additional bureaucracy which is nonproductive. The only jobs that will create are government jobs that do not produce a product and soak up tax money like a sponge

please tell me how the stimulus package is going to help the ranchers and farmers in this country.

THERE ARE 365 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITE STATES, IF THE PRESIDENT WOULD GIVE EVERYONE A 1 MILLION DOLLARS PEOPLE WOULD SPEND MONEY AND THERE WOULD BE WORK THEN EVERY ONE COULD BUY STUFF AND EAT AND PAY THERE BILLS, AND THE WORLD WOULD TURN ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL , THE WAY ITS GOING TO WORK ,IS THE BIG BUSINESS IS GOING TO GET RICHER, AND KEEP SCREWING EVERY ONE OUT OF MONEY AND KEEP CRYING FOR HELP WHILE THE REST OF US SUFFER TRYING TO PAY THE ELECTRIC AND GAS BILLS, AND MORTGAGES AND A COUPLE CREDIT CARDS THAT WE CAN NOT PAY ANY MORE BECAUSE BIG BUSINESS HAS ALREADY SCREWED US OUT OF ARE MONEY, YOUR BANKS ARE A SCAM WITH ALL THE OVER AND ABOVE CHARGES THEY HAVE COME UP WITH TO STEEL ARE HARD EARNED MONEY THE CREDITOR'S ARE DOING THE SAME THING WITH ALL THE LATE FESS OVER THE LIMITS FEES FEES FEES, BUT THEN THEY WANT US TO SPEND MONEY , THERE'S NONE LEFT TO SPEND,! THEN THE FUEL COMPANY'S( OPEC AND OIL REFINERY'S) HAVE STOLEN THE REST OF THE MONEY NO ONE HAS, IF THEY WOULD JUST BRING THE FUEL BACK DOWN TO LITTLE OF NOTHING, TAX THEM !! SO THEY HAVE TO GIVE BACK TO THE PUBLIC, BUT OH NO MAKE THE LITTLE GUY PAY ..YOU NO ROBIN 1 WORK , 3 JOBS PUT IN 75 HRS A WEEK AND HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 25 YRS AND RAISED 2 KIDS AND I'AM MORE IN DEBT NOW THEN I HAVE EVER BEEN AND NOW THAT I GOT BEHIND WITH EVERY THING SLOWING DOWN ,WE HAVE A TRUCKING COMPANY THAT HAS LITTERLEY FEEL APART BECAUSE OF FUEL PRICES, AND ALL THE BROKERS CUTTING RATES I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD... I AM LUCKY TO CLEAR 200 WEEK AFTER PAYING FOR FUEL AND DRIVER WAGES AND TAXES AND REPAIRERS AND ALL ITS CRAZY,

the stimulus is a joke, the two biggest contributors to the problem are excess houses and excess cars. Ihe genious's on the hill aren't doing anything about reducing either of those inventories. I forget, they're also the ones that thought giving tax breaks to companies to ship our jobs overseas was also a great idea. Its pathetic.

Im not going to speculate on what the this bill will do, i just want to get back to work before my wife and i really lose everything we have worked for. I see alot of good blogs here but complaining isnt going to fix anything, i will start complaining if they screw it up. i say at least give them the chance and stop living in the past.

I live in a small town, it seems to me that the "Stimulas Plan" will only affect large cities, and their populus. What will the stimulus do for unemployed, non-home owners? It seems to me that, a tax-refund would be better suited for small town families, and not so much for the bigger metropolis's.

Currently I owe the IRS a bill for 2008 and a Refund from the state of California. Since California is going to hand out IOUs instead of a refund I have a suggestion. I have NO way of collecting on the IOU if they delay the funds SO can I endorse my IOU over to the IRS ? I know the IRS has ways of collecting. Seems only fair to me !

One would think that with a spending plan of this size that more than 3 million jobs could be created. Getting people back to work is the key, and that means more jobs and/or retraining those who work in outdated industries.

the republicans may be upset about the stimulus package but actually its a way for Americans to recoup some of their losses
when the Reagan administration passed the 1986 tax law which eventually eliminated interest deductions.

If there is such a recession why are the department stores parking lots full ,the resturant you can't get into.
I think the only recession is the goverment to spend money like it is going out of style. The goverment needs to be ashamed of themselfs.I have never seen such a mess in my life. Every state wants to be bailed out so all of a sudden none of them have money either Good Lord where does it stop.
Our Children and Grandkids, Great Great Great Grandkids will be paying for this.

Hi,
My brother came up with the best stimulus package, Here it is there are 380 million people in the U.S so give each american a million dollars that would be 380 billion and let them spend and stimulate the housing, car companys and he will still have enough to do all of his porks package. Most people could pay there loans off and spend what left which would put people back to work. There you go

Great plan don't let the republicans hear you!!! Jeo the plumber might get mad..
How can this stimilus fix this economy! It can't be done. I hope it works or even help a little even 50%. The econmy didn't crash because of you and me not doing what were supposed to do or anything like that. The economy is very challenging for president Obama because "GREED" was and is the cause of this predicament what most people are in right. YES, GREED! GREED! GREED that's why stimulus can not fix this mess. Instead of worrying about this stimulus package in which the President has no other choice but do to something. Rather, we should be asking about what happened to the 400B that went missing under the previous administration. The new president has no choice but to tryi to do something and his gambling in some projects. At least he's not pocketing the money.

I couldn't find any stimulus for the Wildwood, Fl area. Is there any? Also the auto industry is doing just what the Penn/Central RR did when they went BANKRUPT... Taking junkets and parties all over the whorld buying lear jets and paying off CEO positions and assistant vice presidents millions of dollars until there was none left and then wanting the govt to rescue them. The only rescue should be for the govt to take over the auto industry...at least there would be some money coming back.In this case NATIONALIZATION is not a bad word and all jobs in the industry would be saved and perhaps the price of cars would come down creating fiduciary fidelity in the extreme.

what about seniors & our social security? What about our drug cost? We don't have enough to take care of it all!!!!!!!!!
having to do without some drugs we need & cut others to every other day & etc? Everything is going up? But our social secutity doesn't cover it??

I think that giving money to banks and auto industries isn't going to help the economy at all. In stead of giving billions to big companies, give the money to the average person with under 70K a year salaries. you could give each person in this group 25-15K. Then they will pay back the BANKS, they'll buy HOUSES with a good down payment, they will buy NEW CARS ( I would), and over all increase spending. This would have a higher chance of bailing out the large corporations.

Also they need to pass a bill that states that if you buy American you pay little to no tax, and they can double the taxes of imported goods to help put the spending focus on American products, especially in the auto industry. I would have more interest in buy a American car if I could save thousands in tax and get a low interest rate.

My little one truck trucking company had to shut down locally herer in central Idaho because of the housing crisis shutting down the lumber and tranportation industry. How is sending all this money to the banks and the auto industry suposed to help me get back on the road? Why is it such rocket science to put the money into the peoples hands and then watch the trickle down from that point. It would be far more lasting and more effective than waiting for big buisness to share my money with me.

Truman did it!! Hoover did it!! Eisenhower did it!! And
OBAMA CAN DO IT!!!!!

Create Jobs for LEGLE AMERICANS & SOLVE our immigration problem…

Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the
deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work.

Harry Truman deported over two million Illegal's after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican nationals! The program was called 'Operation Wetback' so that American WWII and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs.
It took 2 years, but they deported them!

Now, if they could deport the illegals back then, they can sure do it today!!
If you have doubts about the veracity of this information, enter Operation Wetback into your favorite search engine and confirm it for yourself.
They abuse and overcrowd our school system & medical facilities & pay no taxes... The people that hire them should be fined and put in jail...

Reminder.
Don't forget to pay your taxes...12 million Illegal Aliens are depending on you!

i live in a Mountain Home Idaho which desperatly needs an upgrade in hospital and longterm nursing facility not to mention emergercy room facilty in our tiny hospital. and we have tried for bond a few times and faild. it would create several jobs if some stimulas money could be seen to help up grade our small hospital where it can meet the needs of the community it serves.

i also think that it would be a good idea to help the economy by putting some of these people that are out of work or on welfare on farms to help raise their food, which would also provide worker retraining like jobcorps which would give them a sence of worth instead of looking for a hand out.

another issue i would like to know if it is being addressed is is there any help for student loans out there. i was forced out of school do to lack of finaces and reaching the cap of my student loans (with only 12 credits left until reaching my bachlors degree in business managment, which is necessary to get a better paying job because im a single mother), i was told i had to waite 6 months to conslodate my student loans just to find out they dont consloadate loans any more. i would like to know if there is going to be any student loan forgiveness or renogotaiation like they are doing for the morgate companies. i know there are alot of people out there in the same boat im in. seeking an education to try and get a better job, and cant... due to the cost ...... so is there any help on the way or are we a class of society that has fallen through the cracks of this economic hardship?

help me understand why something as simple as raiseing wages couldn't spread some of the money out ..our postman makes a million dollars yearly.. and celebrities out there with hundreds of millions not to count the internet aires ...point is everyone could use a little more money and everyone being the people that dont really have any . Everyone needs to do there part and not souly depend on our goverment to be able to fix this on there own.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just dense but I don’t understand why we have to buy the bad assets for the institutions that made bad business decisions in making to many sub prime loans. We just got done giving away hundreds of billions of dollars to replace what they lost by doing this and now Obama wants to turn around and buy these dead beat loans from the very same institutions. Seems to me the government is allowing these folks to double dip the system.

what i hate is that i can barely make it from pay check to pay check and i went to see if i would qaultify for some food stamps not finacial aid. and they go by gross income; we dont see our gross income. i wish i did it is like 200 dollars more than my net.. but by time taxes and health insurance etc is taken out you dont have alot left... but that does not matter... my take home pay is right around 450-500 a payday which is about twice a month and my rent is 500 a month... well you pay rent which is one complet check and then use your other check to pay utilities etc there is not alot left for food expecially when you have a family of 3. and 2 of which is 2 growing teen boys.. and you are being told sorry you are not qaulified basied on your gross income. go figure... somebody who makes the rules should actually try and live off of less then 15 thousand a year gross income....!!!! and they wonder why people get mad when the exuctives get the big fat paychecks... and you barely get minum wage........

As much as I hate to see our tax money going to failed giants like the big three, you have to remember that when a business fails, their debts don't just disappear from the books. That is real income lost by all the smaller suppliers associated with them. Letting the car manufacturers sink would cause a huge chain reaction of additional bankruptcies and job losses. Have we already forgotten Enron and WorldCom?

The Government gave the money to wrong people. They gave the money to the crooks. They should have given the money to the working people and let it trickle up. What are the Banks doing with this money? My bank Capital One just sent me a notice that if your 3 days late the interest rate will go from 16.9 percent APR to 26.9 percent. With millions of people laid off and those that are going to loose their jobs in the next year or two they know most will default at one time or another so they get more money from the people and their trying to get more from the so called stimulus package. Instead of counting the first 100 days lets start counting down how many days are left.

Hello:

Where do the people fit into this stimulus plan? I would like to receive some money to pay my house off, pay my credit cards, pay my utilities bills, car payment, insurances and the like. Most citizens are unable to pay their bills. Since the government is unable to trace the money, I suggest that you give the taxpayers some of their money back. Why keep giving money to the big fish and nothing to the people? I say give every homeowner, taxpayer, citizen at least $1,000,000 to get the economy back to where it should be.

Why are we still bailing out the auto industry? Why are we still giving billions to the banks? All they do is take their employees on vacations to Hawaii and buy personal jets. Why are we still paying the Sports teams millions of dollars a year just to kick a football? Why are we paying actors and actresses millions of dollars a year just to read lines? Why not use that money to help the ones that really need it. The ones that have lost their jobs or the ones about to lost their houses. Come on now people we are struggling to make ends meet working 60+ hours a week and the football and baseball players have it made making 23 million dollars a year. This is ridiculous. We need to change something here. We have Shriner hospitals closing because there is no more funding for them. That's where the money should go.

GM announced laying off 37,000 people yesterday and Chrysler will downsize by a Third. This is what they needed on their plan to get their bailout loan. This is what our government requested them to do as a good thing. This will spread to Transportation and manufacturing companies like wildfire and thousands more foreclosures, causing banks to fail. But we'll look forward to the $8.00 – $13.00 per paycheck in tax breaks. The 200 oz. bottle of Tide laundry soap has increased that much in the past 18 months. They should have given the money to consumers to purchase certain products as an instant rebate (cars, RV's, etc.) That is the only way to keep companies and their employees working and cash flowing. The stimulus package is patching a few things, but not fixing anything.

hello i would like for you to ask the demacrats and president obama how are they going to help us that are on social security disability and cant work are they going to give us stimulus checks or how are they going to help us finacial wise because theres no talk about us and they should give us stimulus checks like they did last summer so i think obamas spending bill is being spent in all the wrong places thanks very much richard d from burlington vermont 41 yrs old

Sit back and watch the dollar drop,if you are smart you better exchange all your dollars into foreign currency.Pesos?

WE ARE IN A FREE FALL ,OUR GREED CREATED IT. A DEEP DEPRESSION WILL BE HERE SEPT.OF 2011. UNTIL THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A DECLINE IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY. BUT IN 2015 ,WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE ENVY OF THE WORLD.WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. BUT NOT BECAUSE OF GOVERNENT HELP ,IT WLL BE BECAUSE WE ALL ACTED AS RESPONSIBLE AMERICANS, AND HELD OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLY TO THE PEOPLE. DON EUBANK

Mortgage with Countrywide. 5 months ahead on mortgage. I called Countrywide to refi my current mtg. and 2nd mortgage of $9400 into one, still keeping me under 80% loan to value. They pulled my credit score which 2 months ago was 721 and told me it is now 625! No change in any thing on the report that would have triggered that kind of drop. Appears credit bureaus are helping the banks be able to deny loans or get higher interest rates. I have have spoken to others who have seen their credit scores mysteriously drop also.

The stimulus bill will not help those in Eatontown, NJ.
Yesterday, I became aware that the population in NJ is one of the highest per Sq mile then anywhere else in the USA.
Unfortunately, the people are not in our neighborhood... nor do I believe they exist any other city or township in NJ.
This means these people either own the homes in NJ, but do not live here; or, they are registered with the State of NJ but live elsewhere.
The annual income and assets of all of these out-of-state persons qualifies NJ as one of the wealthiest US states.
This is unfortunate for those in-state home owners, who pay state and federal taxes, are middle class wage earners, and must account for the brunt of the tax payer revenue.
It would please many if those who are registered with NJ, but live in DC, Maryland, CT, NY or Europe could reimburse the state and help to lower the tax burden of the instate residents.

As all the money scams are coming out of the wood work and including the politicians the are lieing, that dont pay taxes, im not seeing a end to this yet. You folks are 100% on it,GREED GREED GREED. HOPING OBAMA ISNT NEXT!

hello bailing out banks is just plain wrong let them suffer and let auto dealers shut down and take care of us americans that are on hard times like stimulus checks like they did last summer thats the only way to get the economy going once again bailing out people dont deserve the money they are getting richer off us tax payers and that should'nt be people on wall street should bust and let them go broke tough banks dont deserve to get bailed out eithar and bring back chiropractor services back into law in medicaid you folks are just hurting us thats nothing new from the goverment

I wish there would be some attention given to the following practice by the big banks receiving our money through the bailout. I have tow accounts with Bank of America, one directly, the other a VISA card whose management was assumed by B of A recently. I have a perfect payment history with both cards, yet B of A raised my interest rate 10% on one and 9% on the other in the Fall of last year. I have tried to negotiate with them, but they will not lower the rate. It's bad enough that they can't manage their own accounts, but to hit tax payers up twice with this practice is dishonest and unethical no matter how they justify it.

In response to the mortgage bailout. I understand people need help. I just paid our March payment on time like I have for years. It makes me mad that the irresponsible people are going to get their principal and interest paid down. What is in it for the responsible people that did not get a $300,.000 or more mortgage four to five years ago when the rates was so low on a balloon loan. My husband and I would love to have a bigger home but do not want the payment we could afford a bigger payment but we are responsible enough to know what if something happens. These irresponsible people on minimum wage that went and purchased these kind of homes and the idiot finance company's that gave them these mortgages. Did they think about when this balloon loan came due how they were going to make the new payment when the interest rate went up. And for the extra money in our weekly checks my husband and I will never see it.

What's really going on? Any plan is better than no plan! The stimulus bill may not be perfect but it is a start. Some say it's unfair and blame Obama. But what's really unfair is for Bush to allow this country to be in such a mess for so long and no one said a word until he left. Maybe "Big Brother" should have been watching him as close as they are watching Obama. The Republicans complain about the stimulus plan, but I would like to know what was their plan to bail us out before Obama took office?

The only way this stimulus package will work is if government, and the businesses are going to have some kind of accountability for the money. Do i trust any of the above, yeah right!!!!
I would like to see jobs created, like; Oregon state, which has workers pump your gas, or maybe have workers separate trash brought into landfills for eco purposes. Machines have taken alot of our jobs away. Auto plants are using robots instead of humans, what gives with that?
How about we open old factories, if any left, and build our own products, instead of China and Japan.
This country needs to think about ourselves for a bit longer and not all the others, as we must come first now!

Richard,
Can you answer a question for me. With all the talk on the stimulus plan, I've not heard one thing where the plan helps the senior citizens and they pay taxes just as anyone else does. Is there any help for the senior citizens in the stimulus plan?

Thank You,
Dan McGrew
Hixson, TN

i would like to know how come colleges can charge the same if not more for online tuition that campus charge when there is no buildings to maintain, etc... it cots 2200 dollars a semester for online college, which offers very little finacial aid, and if you go to campus it costs about 1800-2200 per semester and they do offer pell grants and finacal aid? isnt there a way to reduce some of that costs to help the economy if there is no class rooms to maintain, etc.. to help make it more affordable for the average person? i was kicked out of school because i reached a cap of my student loans i did not even know they capped student loans i thought you went till you got a degree. i have 12 credits until i get a degree, i was put on self pay because there was no finacial aid for me with out me knowing and when i couldnt pay they locked me out of my classes three weeks into the semester and still charged me full price wich is 2200 dollars.. and i was basically told tuff pay up... now where is the assistance for people like me.? a single parent trying to get a head.. trying to get a degree to earn a better living, but stuck scrubbing toilets...because the system wont help...and student loans are no longer being conslodated... and the stimulas plan has forgotten about those trying to learn.... heres an idea... how about making education on a sliding fee scale per class..(much like the doctors offices do when you visit..) see how fast that would help the economy!!!!!

here is another idea.. suspend taxes on gas... with no taxes on gas it would reduce the cost of people going to work wich would increase peoples liquid assest would also free up people to travel and spend more money by taking more road trips and vacations etc.. as if it is not bad enough that most of our money is already being taken in taxes.. so if they would just tax every body ten percent of their income accross the board for taxes it would simplify the tax code and get rid of the whole IRS system or if not reduce it alot which in itself save the goverment alot of money.......so keep it simple people....10% accross the board.... instead of making rules so complicated you need a whole branch of goverment to try and figure out all the rules and regulations of taxation.... May mr. president should take that one in consideration.......

The Democrats like HUGE government and a quick fix. They don't think long term and thats going to hurt us. The government messes up ALOT of things and people want MORE government?!?! Right now most of the problems come from bad planning or no planning at all, (most..not all) There are those that overextended and didn't save, those that bought too much house(I had the banks trying to get me to borrow more but I used common sense and self control and said no) alot of people said yes and now the responsible people have to bail them out. I say take the short term pain and let those that should fail...fail. We tell our kids to learn from mistakes they make, and so should we. We should force companies and individuals to suffer the consequences for their bad decisions. I am a lower middle income taxpayer and and I planned ahead, I am proof that smart planning works.

Many servived the Great Depression; however, many forget that WWII was the reason that it ended. Hopefully, this will not grow into an end result of a World War.

Wow, $65 whole dollars more per paycheck? A drop in that bucket with the hole in it. I wonder if $65 is per paycheck, or once a month. For those who get paid weekly, is it $65 per week?

And, what tax bracket does that now put you into? If you make $65 more per month or bi-monthly, will more taxes be taken out of your paycheck? So, in essence, does $65 is cost you say $85 in lost income due to being taxed for making more money? When you get a pay increase due to a raise or cost of living, the extra money will create more taxes taken out of your pay, per pay period.

Initially, this sounds like a good plan but could end up putting you behind the eight ball instead. Leave it to the government to give and take.

I am person who is currently unemployed. I would like some help. They say this package will help by creating jobs. But then i hear that senators and goveners are turning down the money for their states. Why i ask. They act like the money is theirs,. The way I see it is that the money is from the people, the senators work for the people, so if we want some our money back then we should bee able to get some . These senators get on my nerves...If this had been a republican stimulus bill it would have passed with flying colors. You know like the jock who can't add but always gets an "C" or better just because. That is the senate.....in al intensive perposes there being sour over the fact that Obama is president.. All you hear is how there looking out for their selves for 2012.. That for years down the line...this recession is now , stop b*tCH"N and do something for that people not for your rich self senate.

Many states will take the stimulus money regardless of whether it is prudent, ethical or the right thing. That is how we all got into this mess, we all took the money, the easy route is just that too easy. The trouble with not taking the money is the other states will, and all our grandchildren will pay for our mistakes today and the mistakes we made yesterday.

When people ask, "Where is the money going to come from for President Obama's Recovery Plan?" They should be made aware that under the Bush administration, the Pentagon was spending $3.2 Billion about every 40 hours.
When the troops are withdrawn from Iraq, as the president says they will be, much of that money will stop pouring into Iraq.
Even with Afghanistan operations continuing, there will be a much more responsible budget under Mr. Gates.

As a southern bred female I see through the actions of Congress. Their actions are the actions of "sore losers" who are intent on proving that Obama is not qualified for the highest office in the land. Even with the large amount of opposition, President Obama still manages to attend to his agenda. I wonder what would happen if the Republicans ceased fighting and became open to the ideas of working with the Democrats? Perhaps we would see more results that could propel us in the direction of economic recovery. Republicans, Stop wasting my money as a taxpayer to prove a point and start doing the work that you are paid to do.

We need to look where this recession started. Housing and Gas.
Unfortunatly we need to restructure the banking industry. We also need to put in place regulations to prevent run ups in oil prices. Tax credits for companies who invest in capital spending in the US. Tax credits for companies to bring back jobs into the US. Outsourcing of jobs has helped fuel the recession because laid off workers can not afford to make their houses. It is a visious cycle. Spending needs to be controled first and formost. All this is coming from a life long Democrat who voted for Obama.

I have written Senators and Congressmen about the Presidents package and I still say that when you stimulate growth by feeding the roots not spraying the flowers. The plant will blossom! Why not give head of house holds 50, 75, 100,000 and think about it what will happen. They will go out buy a new house, fix there old, buy a new car, pay there bills off, and then at that point you have put people back to work, bailed out the banks now people will get more loans and so on.

The stimulus package is bad for ALL working Americans. It only helps the hudge companies, overseas companies, and congressmen!!!!

The real problem is all the money lost by the American taxpayers on Wall Street. Stop bailing out big corporations with money that isn't there. Put a leash around wall street to stop the bleeding.

If you look at the moneies already paid out and what is going to be paid out they could of given 1,000,000 to all head of households!

Jen, I was wondering if the ones of us who get Social Security only will have to file a tax form to get our stimulus check this summer?

I dont see it loaning FAT CATS my tax dollars, JEEZ , im unemployed how can i loan money i dont have. Dont really see this working for my family, unemployment benefits went up so now if i could find work i have to try to work for more money or it just dosent make sence. I would like to just go back to work in my trade, i have to many years vested in it. Obama can you help?

I telling you that the stimulus package,if given to 300 million people in the U S, would amount to 2.6 million for every man, woman, and child. The govt could give $600,000.00 to them and hold the $2,000,000.00 for schools and Highway, Railroad pASSENGER SERVICE and other infrastructure that is already in the stimulus bill. This would still leave enough going to big business to kick back to the Congress their stimulus check. DO THE MATH,

Moon Man

Paying off credit cards only helps VISA & MaserCard come off risk on their loans although it will improve their cash position and their balance – temporarily.

Why – because they are in the revolving credit lending business and they will just re-lend it you in thenext 2 -3 months.

So how did you benefit?

You should only be allowed to pay off the credit card debt only after agreeing to having your personal credit card limit dropped to $ 2,000 – as no one really needs more than this samll limit for emergency funding (car break down etc). . . . and your creditcard purchases should be restricted to major needs only – and not for video games rentals, fast food etc. – the debit card or cash should bethe only accepted paymentmethods.

And you should have to attend a Money Coach or a Credit Counselling Service that will teach you how to properly user revolving credit properly.

The improper use of credit is the problem . . . not the government being used as your excuse why people cannot act like an adult and control your desires on purchasing of useless items on a credit card that adds no value to their personal and family's long term lives.

How is that for a taste of reality . . . assuming you pay tax . . . the cost of the bailout is $ 4,000 per taxpayer that Obama will use from taxes the IRS collects on your W2 and W4 respectively.

Obama's plan may break us out of this tailspin . ..

Some simplistic ideas of some bloggers ~ have merit if we were writing a Dr. Suess book.

Yes, I agree that there should be stricter limits on credit cards and whom they are given to. But also I think there should be limits on wages. It is all about greed!

Please let Schumer know that the people who struggle to "bring home the bacon" care a great deal about "pork" and piggish, ridiculous expenditures!

For the next Webster's:

Stimulus Plan: the ultimate oxymoron

Synonyms: Choke, gasp, help, pork, billions

Pronunciation: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Note: There is a reason "moron" is part of that word.

2009 Remake of Popular Movie during Stimulus Plan's Discussion

Directors: Washington Politicians
Locale: Entire USA
Title: The Six Cents
Starring: No one who would give a name

Cost: Billions beyond belief

Best Quote from film: "I see DEBT people."

NOW PLAYING AT A BANK NEAR YOU!

Americans were promised CHANGE !
Most would now beg for some: Common 'cents' !

Bail Outs and Billions and Debtors, Oh My!

IT HAS AND WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME! ALMOST ONE TRILLON DOLLARS AND I STILL CAN'T GET A JOB. WTF! I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW WHAT IT WILL DO FOR ME! I DON’T WANT A STIMULUS CHECK! WHAT GOOD IS TAX CUTS WHEN I DON’T HAVE AN INCOME? WE DON’T WANT MONEY SPENT ON COMPANIES OR ON SCHOOLS! I WENT TO COLLEGE AND IT DID NOTHING FOR ME. WHAT WE WANT IS JOBS RIGHT NOW!

How much of the stimulus package has trickled down into your home? Not one dime! Richard Lui-I feel so proud of you everytime I see you on TV. Tell Mom and Pop that CJ from lab school can see their faces in your genes. I couldn't be happier for you all. Sahli pipets...they will know it's me.

I live in Union,SC. We have been in a recession since 1932.When the textile mills built that was like finding gold.Since then,there haven't been much happening.Therefore,when I hear someone say recession Ijust shrug my shoulders.

Recession, What is that? Here in Georgia where I live we also been in recession since, I don't know when. Minunmin wage is all that is paid no matter who you are. Some will pay 50 cents more so they can say we start out above minunmin wage. The Govenement has been dictataing all along what we get paid. We scuffle for money for a loaf of bread and our boss rides in very nice rides. Takes vacations in Alaska. We sell our vacation back to company so we can pay insurance on car and home. I for one cannot understand even Obama. Why is he not helping the poor? President Bush was told by congress that he was not getting a blank check to fight a war in which those people wanted all Americans dead. Now Obama has been giving a blank check to pay all the rich people around Washington and New York. Obama thinks to hell with the rest of them. About AIG Good for them. I know this soun;ds two face but I am proud of them. We have a crazy woman and a President that has no idea what either are doing. She gives him the check and he fills it out. If they want to keep giving this money to people like AIG, then AIG should take it from these crazy folks. If who ever is reading this wanted to give me a $100 every week I would take it in a heart beat. However I would like for them to think not only of me but for all of us that donot have a job at all and do not know when we will find one. If Obama does create jobs, it almost means evreryone has to move to the job sight in which no one can afford to move like that.

All fine and well but when is dc going to do something about medicare health plans I'am on social security dis and humana's health plans i can't afford in 2010 come on dc get it together!!!!!!!!!!!