George's Bottom Line

The dems are spending borrowed money again, and he hasn't even been officially elected by the electoral college. Got to get those checks sent out to all the ghetto rats.

How does printing more money STOP inflation??? Jimmy Carter II strikes again... We are in the toilet now!!!

only if it is to create manufactuing jobs inthis country not - to be sent out as a check ato spend.. that is what got us into this mess in the first place... all this spenidng on goods and not on actually concretet hings such as factories etc...

It'll be $1 trillion by inauguration day. Now that's change we can believe in! Hyperinflation here we come...

I am all for a jobs programs where people work for their money and its good for infrastructure of the country roads, bridges & blighted neighborhoods, but a $500 check will be used to pay bills and not stimulate the economy! It didn't work the first time, it just postponed the pain. Another idea would be is to help pay for the education for the medical profession. More doctors leave the profession everyday as the pop. gets older. What will happen in ten yrs. when you can't get even simple medical care without long waits.

I would rather see the money go to a ghetto rat here rather than Bush and Cheney sending it to Iraq and let those people that hate us spend it. Bush, your so called conserative has destroyed our economy and way of life, so get over it and let Obama fix the mess.

The GOP spends borrowed money too...more than the Dems have ever spent. If you want small government you'll have to move to another country...no one offers it here.

One reader writes that we are going to be in the toilet again. I have news for you, Bush has had us in the toilet for years and looks as if he wants to flush it before he leaves office. My only question.....how much more damage can he do in the next few weeks???? It is amazing how a few can fault Obama and the Democrats when the largest percentage of the world's population including the United States thinks the world will be better off.

send each WORKING or RETIRED american a check and we will stimulate the economy pronto.

The government caused this problem by borrowing and spending money it did not have for the past 30 years. Our economy was not thriving, it was living on borrowed money in a false rosy picture. Now it all caught up and how does Obama propose to get out of this? Spend more and borrow more? This is like giving a drunk whiskey to cure his alcoholism. This is insane. The private sector needs to invest, create jobs, and we need to get the government out of business' way. The government doesn't make anything, and is the most inefficient organization ever conceived. Obama is a lawyer and knows nothing so you can't blame him. The American public elected an unqualified individual and now we are all going to pay.

I see Obama's plan is going to build roads and bridges and employ all these out of work factory worker. How absurd is this idea? No factory worker is going to leave Michigan and go build a road in Kansas. This is unworkable and just plain dumb. Manufacturing jobs need to be created where they live and only private industry can do this. The government needs to encourage business with lower taxes across the board, and the unions need to stop being so short sighted. Our companies need to be able to compete in the world economy and then people will have good long term jobs. The government is the problem and never the answer.

"send each WORKING or RETIRED american a check and we will stimulate the economy pronto.

Posted by: stella | Nov 23, 2008 10:10:22 AM
"

What do you think the "tax-cuts" go to????

re: bo. I find it very offensive that you call your fellow Americans Ghetto rats. We are all in the same financial crisis and we have a REPUBLICAN to thank. Why pretend that only democrats spend borrowed money? How much do we owe China and Russia under Bush's regime?
Bo, your holier-than-thou attitude is sad, esp. in the world we live in today. You are very fortunate for never having had to live in the ghetto. Why not realize that and be thankful instead of being such a pig?
We are all one human family.

Someone tell me how borrowing more money from our children's future is going to help them. This sounds very similar to the outrageous Paulson bailout. We need to see the plan BEFORE any more money is appropriated. This is robbery people!!! We need to offer immediate tax incentives for private industry to create jobs at home NOW! STOP THE BAILOUT MADNESS!!!

i tink the is good idia to send rebate checks to pople like bush did

Why was Onama ABC's choice? Both are afraid to offend the New World Order and neither puts the U.S. first. Check it out at www.snopes.com/rumors/noflags.asp

Locomotive systems are what made the US strong. Forget the roads--rebuild our rail system. Europe has done it, Japan has done it. Freight is moved over 400 miles on a gallon of fuel. Why rebuild roads no one has any money to buy a car to drive on?
Also--WW2 ended the Great Depression, not The New Deal. How do I know? I was there.

In regards to the next proposed Stimulus Package. Also, with much respect to Mr. Barack Obama, President Elect. It seems to me it would make more sense to give the money directly to the homeowners in foreclosure due to the Mortgage Crisis and lose of their job. The government/President Bush has already given money to the mortgage companies, and they continue to foreclose on homes. It just makes sense to give each homeowner between $250,000-100,000,000.00 and request proof that their mortgage has be paid in full. This would immediately stop the downward foreclosure rate. It never made good sense to me Bailout the vary people to started the situation in the first place, with a foundation of 'Grede'! I worked in the mortgage industry for 14 yrs and I speak from experience. As the news showed last nite a Countrywide Loan Officer was jailed for murder of two of his clients. A fraud for forging two checks for two different clients. He made promises he was not able to keep. Most loan officers are driven by the company they work for, as I said earlier I speak from experience. Also, companies are using monies to buy other companies not to make loans. Everyone continues to say the Mortgage Industry started the problem. Well think why not consider something simple; impower the people caught in the situation. The lenders will NOT hault the foreclosure, so if the money amounts I mentioned is given to each homeowner in foreclosure to allow the homeowner to payoff their mortgage, automatically the economy will be stinulated and people would feel free to shop, purchase power etc. I can not beleive the government gave money to the Mortgage Industry and expected the foreclosure rate to decline and/or stop. My lender is Countrywide the same that is all over the news, the internet, and 60 minutes for fraud, redlining, wrongful foreclosure etc. My loan was purchased by Countrywide before the first payment was due! I worked in the Mortgage Industry and lost my job one month after I moved into my home. To date Countrywide is trying to foreclose on my home. I know some of the govenment money went to Countrywide and still no help for the middle/little people. This is the United States of America and because of Grede, we are being forced to be homeless. The govenment granted the money to the wrong people. It should have and should go to those of us that are losing are homes for the same grede.
The gvoenment Stimulus Package needs to be of the nature to help solve the probloem. Paying off the mortgages of those of us caught in the middle, can and will only stop the foreclosure rate and give the mortgages companies revenue for loans, and stimulate the economy at the same time! It would be an instant automatic fix to each states foreclosure issues.

Hey, What about all of us comsumers? Give every person with a social security number one million dollars. (approx. 350 million in America) Freeze prices and wages for 6 months and watch the American consumer spend us out of the current crisis. We will buy new cars, new houses, clothes, vacations, etc! We are the American consumer and we know how to spend. Give us the money, NOW, and we will fix this economy.

Infrastructures are needed. To those who say the "The government is the problem and never the answer", I just want ask: who do you think should build the roads, the bridges, everything you use to go to work?
Or maybe you can fly and don't use this kind of infrastructure...

When it comes to money giveaways, our Greatest Smartest Leader only has sky as limit.

I surely believe this stimulus is outside, in addition to, his promise of $1000 if we voted for him. Stimulus and campaign promises cannot be confused together.

Long Live our Dearest Comrade Pres 0bama for giving us more freebies.

Just listen to all the brain dead republican morons criticizing Obama's recovery plan. These are the same rotted garbage that cheered as Bush mortgaged the future to fund his private war in Iraq. The reign of Bush started with a huge surplus and it was only under his direction that we've come to our economic crisis. Iraq war, ownership society...borrow, borrow, borrow until the hole is so deep that the way out is virtually lost. Obama's plan involves economic growth into existing and new industries, but the idiots in this comment thread are too fat and stupid to see the potential. And to you "bo", ESAD.

Let's make sure that this stimulus isn't just a subsidy to the failed New York financial center. America needs to rebuild its manufacturing sectors and infrastructure. Pushing phony monetary instruments around that aren't backed by real GDP will not provide jobs and real income.

John Burke, Pbama already has plans to give more borrowed US tax dollars to Muslims countries than we already give these countries in foreign aid. So what do you think of that? I suppose you voted for this fraud, Obama who is not eligible to be President because he is not a "natural born citizen" of the US as per Article II of the constitution. And Bush haters called Bush the Great Pretender. Now you actually voted a real one in.

I didn't vote for Obama. Let us give the new President Obama a chance to write his name in history with our due cooperation. We gave the outgoing Republican President 8 years, so why not be nice and respectful to the incoming president. It is noble for a leader to be proactive especially when this great country needs to be rescued.

Here comes the WPA of FDR "fame" again, and with it an even bigger & more costly government. Instead of the gov't hiring all the 2.5 million who lost their job, why not not award contracts to private contractors to rebuild the roads & bridges, with a stipulation that they must have a certain percentage of their emplyees hired from that pool of recently unemployed. Private industry has ALWAYS performed better than gov't to do these things, more efficiently, quicker, less costly, and with a superior finished product in the end. This would creates jobs and repair the infrastructure.

We were able to spend $700 billion + on the banks, certainly we can spend at least as much to rebuild our infrastructure, start real work on new energy projects, creating jobs in the process , and lower middle income and senior taxes. At the very least !!

John Burke wrote: "I would rather see the money go to a ghetto rat here rather than Bush and Cheney sending it to Iraq and let those people that hate us spend it. Bush, your so called conserative has destroyed our economy and way of life, so get over it and let Obama fix the mess."

Guess again, John Burke. A big reason our economy is in such a mess is the DEMOCRATS, starting back in Lyndon Johnson days. The Democrats helped set up Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, and it was Democratic Presidents Carter and Clinton who pushed giving mortgage loans to people who can't afford them. It was the Democrats who ignored warnings by others that the mortgage practices they preached would have far-reaching impacts on the economy. It was the Democrats who blocked repeated attempts by Republicans to turn things around. There was an excellent article in the "Investor's Business Daily" newspaper, dated Nov. 3rd, I think it was, which spells out the timeline and actions taken by the Democrats that got us into the mess we're in today.

Stop blaming Bush. It was the Democrats who got us here, and the Democrats sure as heck aren't going to get us out. That will happen in 2012 when the Republicans are put back in power again.

Well, listen folks! Obama wants to build roads, bridges, hospitals, etc. so that each and every one will include the name OBAMA!

This will be a slap and tickle approach. First we give a tremendous amount of money to people that don't deserve it, then we will come back and say we need to raise taxes on everyone else. Hey Buddy, wanna buy a carbon credit?

Annette, what about the people who are not in foreclosure. It doesn't seem fair to just give some people there houses and make the people that are doing the right thing still have to pay for theirs.

bo wrote: "The dems are spending borrowed money again.."

Again? Is that an attempt at a sick joke? Dubya is responsible for 50% of our national debt and Reagan 30%. Where were your complaints while they ran up huge deficits for the benefits of the rich and with trickle-down theories Dubya's own father named "Voodoo economics"?

If you want to make a diffence.
Give every household in America who makes under $250,000. a year $100,000. to spend. Give it to them as a debit card that has to be spent to pay off their morgage or to spend.
This would get the economy going again and give money to the people who really need it. Why give money to companies to pay their CEO big fat bonuses.
This gets us nowhere.
I SAY TO OBAMA....put your money where your mouth is!!!!!
You want to help the working poor....THIS is the way to help the working poor and middle class.
THIS IS A Simple PLAN that would cost less than giving money to big business.

2.5million jobs times 100,000 per job if you factor in benefits would be $250 billion- a lot of money plus now a stimulus package of $500-750 billion you're talking about another $1 trillion in deficit. Wow- it's beginning to sound like how Bush got the country back on its' feet after the tech bubble, 9/11, housing crisis etc. Imagine that. That is real change. It may also have been just how McCain would have done it.

Schumer is an idiot. Most of the republicans and democrat's are idiots. They spend our money like it's water and allow private organizations like the Federal reserve to work in total secrecy.

The Federal Reserve must end. Period. Study it, why it was formed, what it's doing to our country. If you don't...you have no right to complain when you're on the street begging for money. The press is bought and paid for by the few private banks that are controlling the Federal Reserve. It's time to react before the middle class is banished into serfdom.

Look at our politicians. 90% of the people said, no bailout, and they ignored us. Make them pay! Big time!

Do you think congress will bailout the auto industy....no, and they shouldn't, but it's for a different reason. If they save the big banks then there won't be a run on the money....no run, preserves the banking industy. Preserves these stupid idiots that are running the country behind the scenes. The fall of the auto industry will not collaspe the banks....will be painful for middle class america but will preserve the rich. Stand up! Fight! Fight the bastards! Study the issue so you can vote them out of office next election.

Does anyone want to make a bet? I predict that in the near future the U S government will buy a great number of foreclosed vacant (now run down) houses at basement prices or no prices . Then this houses will be bulldozed to get them off the market- presto! now a shortage of houses- thus increasing jobs in the construction and home furnishing industries. Crazy, you say. Start with the 1946 spud surplus. U S government bought mountains of spuds and dumped them to be destroyed. Excess cheese and butter and other products went down a similar path.

I would much rather have the money go to those who are hurting instead of greedy ceos who don't deserve it. The people sho have been bailed out first not wall street.

I want to know why Schumer and every other member of the senate banking committee is still there at all. In my opinion, we should demand their resignations along with members of the finance committee. Have you noticed noone is taking responsibility for this mess? That is becausae they are in both parties so noone can bring it up. The public should scream so loudly about this that these morons will be forced to resign.

jschmidt: You have a collar with a leash around your neck and you don't even know it. Your masters will let you stand in front of a car as you get flattened.

The last 80 years all parties have been promoting this system. Obama is the twin brother of George Bush. Just look at the new tresury secretary. President of the Federal Reserve. I don't expect you to understand what that means and I'm not explaining. Get a tin cup...you'll need it.

Schumer is a joke. He 'thinks'..........????? He isn't getting paid to THINK. He loves the limelight and that's what he does best, making sure his face is on camera.
Silence this clown.

The rate of money creation by the US in the past few months is unprecedented in history. This will lead to hyperinflation, because there is more money chasing roughly the same amount of goods and services. It's not a question of if, but when. Look at 1920's Weimar Germany for one of many historical examples of this.

CMH: Bingo! But try and tell the folks that are standing in line with their hand out....they'll give you free cheese...from china with love. The same stuff that killed babies.

Dear folks, We all hope Obama is the Messiah. Dear folks, he's proved already he is in bed with the same devils of George Bush. You'll have plenty of money. You'll all be billioniars. It will cost 200,000. for a cup of coffee. Study pre WWII Germany. This spike in money creation that Obama is supporting is what will cause it.

Everybody's complaining but nobody is doing anything....actually nobody even cares. Who has read up on the history of inflation? If you haven't you are a dumb, stupid, blabbering, idiot. Who has wrote their congressman and said, your political head is on the line. When this crashes you better be on the right side. Who has lifted their butt of the couch and did something. For the stupid ones, You can't spend 20.00 when you only have 1.00 in your pocket. Oh yea, I can make my own money with a machine.

Inflation:
3 people in a boat. One has a dollar, one an orange, one broke. The man with the dollar says I want to buy your orange. He says sure. Before he can place the dollar in his hand, the other guy says, wait, I found a ten. There is now 11.00 in the boat. The man with one dollar now has a piece of paper worth 1/10 of a orange. It was worth 1 orange until the other guy found a 10.00. Get it stupid!

When did it start making sense to 'stimulate' the economy rather than let the market dictate winners and losers? In capitalism we are not 'one big human family', instead we are our own families and it is a competition to succeed. Many immigrants come to America and are millionaires within one generation. Handouts are not logical and only breed a type of laziness that is reserved for a lower middle class expectation. The brass ring of success is personal and comes from within and from expectations that your parents established for you or that you personally create. The government cannot 'stimulate' that drive to succeed.

Conservatives have an incredible gift for denial. 8 years of failed Republican rule -- yes, rule and not governance -- has left this crisis at the doorstep of Obama's white house. Bush and Cheney have, over the last 8 years, ruined every good thing that Clinton did during his 8 years. Now the Democrats have to step in and clean up the kids' mess AGAIN.

To those who keep saying let business be business and all will be well... isn't that what we've been doing? Look where that has left us. Greedy banks giving government guaranteed mortgages to anyone with a pulse, then selling those worthless mortgages to greedy investors. Nice.

Then there is our precious auto industry. The only reason Congress wants to "bail them out" is because of the terrible damage another 2.5 million unemployed would have on the economy, NOT because we have any love for the greedy, blind, absolutely distasteful leadership of the domestic auto makers. For years Europe has been leading fuel efficiency standards, but folks like GM have been road blocking every single attempt to improve fuel efficiency standards saying "boo hoo, this is going to put us out of business"... but funny that GM cars in Europe get 50% better gas mileage than their domestic counterparts. Domestic auto makers, and Republicans, got what they wanted on fuel (non) efficiency standards, and GM is still going under. Hmmm, I wonder where the problem REALLY lies?

THANK GOD FOR OBAMA! He has vision for the future and can see beyond the end of his nose, unlike this little uneducated dictator we are about to kick out of office. We need to rejoin the world in its efforts to create a better planet, and in the process we will create more jobs and have more money for domestic infrastructure.

And to that person earlier who said that people won't travel for jobs, what are you smoking? If you are an unemployed manufacturing worker in Detroit, but your qualifications make you perfectly suited for a well paying job at a solar farm in Arizona, I think you better start packing your bags. In these times, you go where the work is. This is going to be a time of sacrifice folks.

I hope Obama's plan isn't just to give people money. Giving people money to spend doesn't create long-term growth, it creates a short-term bubble and more denial that Republicans can rally behind. Instead, we need to re-build our domestic infrastructure. Have you driven on a California freeway lately? Have you sat in Seattle or Phoenix traffic wondering why, oh why, is there no rail system in these large metro areas to get people out of their polluting vehicles?

We need a new vision for our country, one that tackles our major problems in a long term fashion. We need better roads and bridges, fuel efficient public transit systems to offload overburdened freeways, build more solar farms and generate power from renewable resources to gain energy independence. If Argentina can fuel its auto industry without a drop of middle eastern oil, why can't we?

Stop playing the blame game. Let's all look to the future with hope and excitement for what this country can be. If your instinct is to look back and blame, or feel negatively about someone who hasn't even taken office, perhaps you should take a long look in the mirror and find the real reason for your unhappiness within yourself instead of projecting it onto those of us who want to move this country forward.

Cheers.

With respect to Herb Grays Comment. It seems to me Mr. Gray you have 'blinders' on....President Bush is a Republicican. I really want to know when if ever we...the public will call them as there are not as we want the situation to be! Bush has been in the office the past eight years and look where the country is now, the worst crisis since the stock market crash of 1929. Like it or not REPUBLIC POLITICS GOT US HERE! Your comment as well as the typical for this country is to ignore what the govenment is and has done.....continue to think your way, instead of holding the Govenment and the Politicians accountable; we will all be homeless and on the street. I really don't care if Mr. Bush is a Republican or a Democrate. With all due respect to Mr. President Elect, I also don't really care if he's a Republican or a Democrate either! Just Fix the Mess! I worked in mortgage for fourteen years, lost my job of eight years about one month after closing on my home. Now foreclosure is possible, struggling to keep my car for work when new work opens up, barely able to eat. Living on just electricity, no heat and I am a two time Breast Cancer Survivor and still I have some major health issues along with the aforementioned struggles. It is time WE stop turning a blind eye; this situation is generally from concessions made during a campaign. Once again who really cares; we just need the situation FIXED! Additionally, its time to stop blamming the Democrates when its has been proven each time there's a situation its the Republicans that causes the matter! Once again, do you really want to continue to be 'stuck on stupid' conversing about which party caused the crisis, instead of who can and will fix the issue! I don't care who it is just fix it; I would have voted for the love of my life my dog Budd and his brother my 18 lb. Cat if I knew they would fix the matter.
President Elect Obama is an intelligent man and I think he will give the country a fighting chance to recover. But come on people when will we WAKE UP; stop focusing on blaming one party for another has done! We need to focus on who can, who will, fix it and if hold them accountable! And for God sake when will we as a country and a people tell to the government/politicans to stop taxing paychecks! The Bandaid effect is a temporary measure! If every American took home the gross there's another measure to enhance the economy. Tax what were purchase, which is already being done, so stop taxing paychecks. The money only goes to wars most of us don't want anyway. Or the policians mishandle the funds. The obvious change set the country back on the right track if we just WAKE UP! The United States of America, the greatest country in the World; yet we continue to utilize a 'Blind' eye; when we should hold the government/politics accountable. Stop bying the 'oakkidoc'

Part of the stimulus package is to build new school, this is bunk. They built three new schools near my house in Meriwether County, Ga. and the wages offered were so low that only illegal’s would take the jobs. The crooked contractors charged 16 dollars an hour per employee on the contract and then paid 8-10 an hour and kept the rest. The contractors collected taxes and pocketed that as well. Unless wages are guaranteed this plan will only help the rich contractors and the same will happen with bridges etc.. As stupid as it sounds the earlier poster said give each american 1 mill and thats only 350 mill a lot less than the 700 bil

I personally don't like this plan, but many of the economists I talk to think that the danger for the economy is _deflation_, not inflation (at least in the short term). I think this will probably not help much, and will be wasteful, but will ultimately not have any impact on short term inflation.

This is the wrong way to do it. We are not only becoming a heavily socialist nation, but we are starting to show signs of Communism too. If the government controls the job market, opening up to one industry and ignoring others, I feel it's Communist. The government shouldn't have any authority over the job market. We need free markets to thrive, not be controlled. We need to get rid of unions, because they drive down competition and quality of products, a great example is the American auto industry. Any sort of "stimulus" package will only put us more in debt. The wrong things are being discussed in saving this country. No more stimulus packages to put a band aid on the gushing wound. We need real solutions. This government is not working for us at all. This has become a very lazy, fat, inefficient government.

Re: Mystified! I meant no disrespect to the ones that are currently paying their mortgage payments. I only mean to focus on that, since its what is being credited for the start of the crisis. Actually, if the dollar amount is given to every tax paying American we can stimulate the economy. I truly mean NO disrespect to the ones doing the right thing. However, let me as this comment also, I purchased my home on employment of seven years with the same company, two months after the purchase a conference call from our headquarters announcing closure of the entire Wholesale Division. Now I'm on unemployment which in no way will permit to make my mortgage payment. Its a struggle to maintain my car payment, lights and water; no heat I can't afford that luxury. This in conjunction with the fact that I am a two time Breast Cancer Survivor, the first time I was stage 3, next stage is usually death. Second time a reoccurance. Additionally, serveral other medical issues to add to and guess what, Mystified I was doing the right thing too! My first cancer I missed work for two weeks after my right breast mastecomy, went back to 80 hours a week at the bank. I did chem in cyces and missed 1-2 days after treatment and back to 80 hours. Blood draws on my lunch break. Second time, I missed exactly 5 days and back to work, did my herceptin treatment on half days every other week, back to work on the following Monday. I think I have been doing the right thing too! I am not crying 'whooo is me' I'm just saying! If the money is given to each American to pay what we owe; this would Stimulate the Economy Immediately! And Stop taxing paychecks allow every American to take home the Gross.

Also, one word to The_Mick; AMEN!

Everyone speculating on what to do with the ECONOMY!!!!

I suggest allow the markets to crash and start from a NEW!!!!

I know that it's not the wise thing to do but it is going to happen, anyhow!!!

Markets around the world need to stop trading for at least a year to focus on fixing the problem. Let each country take care of it's own!

We need to go back to basic and retool America!!

It is amazing how Republicans can be okay with throwing away billions on a wild goose chase in Iraq and yet be so opposed to helping Americans and the country get back on its feet.

Our retirement accounts will be worthless before he is even inaugurated with this kind of constant trash talk.

Worst President-elect EVER!

Open the flood gates!

I love that Sean and Rush cry they want to spread the wealth, on my, lions, tigers and bears, what about hording the wealth? The problem is that 1% has all the money and it will get much worse, they are like a sucking machine, they keep us in debt with car loans credit card loans, college loans, house loans and so on, guess where all that money is going? They try and make a killing in the housing market, but forgot that their greedy brethren in the oil companies were gouging at the same time. How is it that oil is half what it was before, we are so dam stupid. This stimulus package is there to rebuild the fortunes of the Gates, Buffets, and Walton’s of the world.

"Bush signs $286.4 billion highway bill" - Aug. 10, 2005.

This shlt never works. When will you FDR idiots learn?

Funding the building of infrastructure, investing in education of our future citizens, and most importantly providing for our common defense is what our government is supposed to do. Bolstering failing private institutions is not.
The Obama Stimulus plan is beneficial to all Americans. We all benefit from improved transit systems(I have to agree that rail must be included, especially if we are promoting energy independence). We all benefit from having a well educated society. We all benefit from having an energy infrastucture that reduces our dependence on foreign energy sources. We all benefit from a comprehensive national security plan that embodies thinking and engaging before acting and sending brave American's into harms way. Most importantly we benefit from having Americans WORKING and making money so they can continue to spend it. Atleast that would keep the economy stable while this economic correction runs its course. Sounds like a better plan than giving freebies to the fat cats.
While government may not have the ability to stimulate the drive to succeed it sure can make sure the opportunity is there for it to occur. I bet that that factory worker from MI would not have a problem taking work building a road, railway, or improving a school in another state if it meant that they could retain their home and feed their family.

the smartest commets on this page is the ones talking about giving the money to the working people not banks,insurance co people that could use the money, spend it on mortgage loans, car loans, workers 55 and older could retire and would creating more job openings more tax dollars for city gov from sales tax

War on Poverty.

$10 Trillion spent so far and the poverty rates are unchanged, other than 5% the EIC tax credit trimmed.

When will you LBJ idiots learn?

please! - Don't eeeeeven attempt to put this problem on Obama. Your guy and Republican trickle down, no regulation for corporate America is what allowed our country to be fleeced by crooks and now the Dems need to fix it. So sit back, shut up and enjoy the return to a prosperous respected America that's coming your way.

AgeofPaper, recheck your math. $1 million per American is a lot more than $350 million. That would only take care of 350 people (the top 1%...just kidding trying to make a joke). There are around 350 million Americans. Actually a $500 billion stimulus given to each American equals about $1500 per person. I also realize that 350 million is more than the working age/working population of the USA.

Sure...first save Wall St. and then THEY will save Main St, right?
Well, we're about to find out just how badly the conservatives, both Dems and Reps have destroyed the 'social safety net' of the 60's and 70's. 10% unemployment calls for millions of 'welfare moms'...remember them? And anything President Obama does to try to reconstruct the governments ability to help these people will be construed by the Republicans as SOCIALISM. Can't wait to here these 'America First' crowd denigrate the white middle class as 'welfare queens' looking for handouts! The Republican who can galvanize this position the best will qualify as the Republican 'leader'. It's all about marketing and sales. The only way out of this trap is for Obama to keep his campaign oiffices open and convert them to food pantries!

Hey Steve, explain to us what "trickle down" is? My guess you have no idea, and it was bad regulation that caused this, not deregulation. Republicans wanted lending regulated like it used to be....but you already know this.

To Mystified: I am not feeling well today, but could not lie down without sending you further comments. It's important to me, to say this, those of us; the majority in foreclosure are not there because WE did not do the right thing! I am single in addition to the Cancer I mentioned. My income was more than enough to meet my financial needs, however $320.00 a week unemployment is not; its a joke! I am greatful for it but its not enough to pay rent let alone a mortgage and car payment! Those of us out of work due to company closing and in foreclosure my in lieu job lose, I beleive were doing the right thing too! Ask yourself if you and/or your husband lost you incomesw tommorrow how long will your saving maintain your mortgage. Mine managed for exactly three months. Lenders don't care if you lost you job, not quit, but lost it because the same companies based on grede closed down. I am not begging, nor whoo is me, but those of caught in the middle don't have any options! I am glad you're Blessed to be able to still meet your obligations, but ask yourself without employment how long can you maintain? I never dreamed I would be in this position and I had the funds to maintain, or so I thought! When your funds are going out and nothing coming in it does not take long to find yourself in trouble! If you doubt this, then I hope your Mortgage Lender is not the worst one out there; Countrywide Home Loans. Countrywide does not intertain the concept of working with the borrower to kept their home. Also, any loan underwriter is guaranteed by either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Genie Mae so the Lender will get their money after foreclosure. You, I and the Public get vacant, vandalized homes that only hurt the economy and the neighbor hoods. Thus, my earlier comments are meant to point out the obvious; give the next stimulus package to the people; you, me the people. Not just a Bandade. (my spelling is off a little). I'm a good, hard working person caught up right in the middle of all of this! I hope you don't have to end up being a part of this crisis in the same manner that I am! Please, I just want you to know that most of us caught up in possible foreclosure are not there for lack of doing the right thing! Even when I was sick I still worked, and guess what after my company closed down, we got an email the first paragraph announced a new high pay executive, yet we lost of employment. And those same companies got the 7 trillion dollar bailout! Question: Who can do more to stimulate the economy; the companies that started the mess or you and I the People; the Public?

We already have money allocated for roads, bridges, infrastructure. Giving aid to state governments with money that does not exist is fraud. Return OUR money to us, we know better how to spend it than any politician (vote all out, start anew) The feds should not be investing in education (this is a state right). Feds should get out of our lives.

Not hearing it......sorry if calling people that sit on their a$$es waiting on their welfare checks, ghetto rats, offends you. It is not racist, merely a fact. They are a drain on our society. They have as much or better opportunity to get an education(free) and better themselves, but alas, most would rather perpetuate the welfare status quo than work. You and I both know it is true.

That's enough money where there's going to be fairness issues doling it out. One person might not get their $2300 just because their birthday is off by a day or whatever, that kind of thing. Perhaps this much money would more appropriately be added to the economy as a sales subsidy?

It was Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Finance Committee, and receiving 25% of his campaign funding from the financial industry (see USA Today, September 25, 2008) that helped us taxpayers get in this problemm. How much was Schumer encourage by the financial industry's lobbyists to promote this. Answer - A LOT

He is trying to copy FDR's public works programs. The conditions are not the same, and he is dealing with a different class of people. When FDR didn it people were hungry there was no welfare or unenployment. people were more family oriented, the young men in the program only received part of their pay the rest was given to support the family. Young men today care less about the family they want the money to buy a new fancy car or dope.

In late January 2009, the US DoD will get a huge shock as the new Executive and Legistative Branches take away about 1/3 of the DoD's future funding. All the other departments are interests of the liberals. Adjust pre-911 defense spending for inflation, remove the difference between then and now, and that is how Obama will fund his vision.

larryesperando - We obviously do NOT have enough money allocated for roads and bridges, or they wouldn't keep collapsing and killing people. You say you know better how to spend the money than any politician. Do you know how to build a bridge? Would you spend the money on a bridge if you had it to spend? Do you know how to find out who in the country needs help the most? Do you know how to win wars? Do you know how to do medical research? Do you know how to fight fires? These things would not happen if the government did not fund them. Yes, we need to discuss which things government should or should not be doing, but government has a role, in the things we cannot do ourselves.