Thread: And Repubs Claim the Stimulus Did Nothing?

I wonder if McCain had been elected, and there had been no Stimulus, where these people would be today? And still, most Republicans argue that Charities and churches are the ones that should be taking care of these people. I wonder how they would do that, Republicans never have offered suggestions on how charities and churches could take over the job that is overwhelming, even to the government?



Lifelines for the Poor are Disappearing


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With more people than ever living in poverty, the government's unprecedented effort to strengthen the safety net for needy Americans is running out.

Washington has spent tens of billions of dollars since the start of 2009 on programs to help feed the poor, house the homeless and support the unemployed. But much of this money has been used up or is about to expire in coming weeks and months.

A record 43.6 million people were in poverty in 2009, according to Census Bureau figures released Thursday. That's the most in 51 years of record keeping and equals 1 in 7 Americans. And the situation has likely become even worse this year, with the faltering economy and stubbornly high unemployment rate.

But it could have been even worse had it not been for the federal stimulus program. The Recovery Act kept more than six million Americans out of poverty last year, and reduced the severity of poverty for another 33 million people, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"It really makes a difference between getting to the end of the month or not," said Elizabeth Lower-Basch, senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, an advocacy group known as CLASP.

The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funneled money to a wide range of programs to help the needy. Some of these efforts were single infusions of cash, while others are set to run out soon. Only a few are continuing into 2011 or beyond.

If it wasn't for the Stimulus!

Originally Posted by mertex

I wonder if McCain had been elected, and there had been no Stimulus, where these people would be today? And still, most Republicans argue that Charities and churches are the ones that should be taking care of these people.

Despite all the Monday Morning Quarterbacking, any President, Left or Right, would have been forced to take measures to stave off a depression. Maybe they wouldn't have spent as much or maybe they would have spent more, it is impossible to tell, but I seriously doubt an American President of any political affiliation would have let the country tip over into a depression.

Originally Posted by Divine Wind

Despite all the Monday Morning Quarterbacking, any President, Left or Right, would have been forced to take measures to stave off a depression. Maybe they wouldn't have spent as much or maybe they would have spent more, it is impossible to tell, but I seriously doubt an American President of any political affiliation would have let the country tip over into a depression.

So, you are saying that McCain would have signed a Stimulus also? I don't know that Boehner and his gang would have approved.

Originally Posted by mertex

So, you are saying that McCain would have signed a Stimulus also? I don't know that Boehner and his gang would have approved.

I think there would have been a lot of hair-pulling, rending of clothes and the usual finger-pointing, but they would have had little choice. If this country had fallen into a depression, there would be a lot of angry Americans out there. The current unemployment rate is 11.8%. During the Great Depression it was about 25%. The tailspin of a depression would have been more difficult to have recovered than a recession...and we're all witnessing the difficulty in recovering from a recession.

Originally Posted by Divine Wind

I think there would have been a lot of hair-pulling, rendering of clothes and the usual finger-pointing, but they would have had little choice. If this country had fallen into a depression, there would be a lot of angry Americans out there. The current unemployment rate is 11.8%. During the Great Depression it was about 25%. The tailspin of a depression would have been more difficult to have recovered than a recession...and we're all witnessing the difficulty in recovering from a recession.

I wonder why Reps/cons don't recognize that? They are all the time bitching about the Stimulus and how it didn't accomplish anything except drive up the deficit. Why, they are all for impeaching Obama for all his spending - but they would have done the same? Hmmmm!

My memory is a bit rusty tonight but...I recall Hoover was the MOST QUALIFIED President we ever had, no joke...Yet he did NOTHING to stop the depression in the beginning, by the time he did it was too late...Cost him a re-election and has him remembered as a far worse President then he really was. The stimulus was a good move.

Originally Posted by mertex

I wonder why Reps/cons don't recognize that? They are all the time bitching about the Stimulus and how it didn't accomplish anything except drive up the deficit. Why, they are all for impeaching Obama for all his spending - but they would have done the same? Hmmmm!

It's simple, they want to be elected back into the driver's seat. I have no doubt if the situation were reversed, the Democrats would be all over them it. That's why Washington politics and the extremists who support it are both disgusting to me and an obstacle to bettering our government. Too much "Me" and not enough "We".

I'll give you a very specific benefit of the stimulus bill: My oldest daughter is a JHS teacher for "Special Needs" students. Her job was set to be cut if not for the added stimulus money. She's still working, paying taxes & assisting kids thanks to it.