What the GOP’s list shows
February 3, 2009 – 12:58 pmCNN reported today that the GOP put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate’s version of Obama’s $800+ billion stimulus bill that Obama has put forward. Their list is composed of proposed spending bills that don’t have immediate impacts, but would greatly reduce long term costs. The list they composed shows a lack of foresight, patience, and fundamental grasp of economics. It displays their age-old desire for immediate gratification, and the inability to understand consequences.
The list is long, but there are several to highlight:
GOP claim: $75 million for “smoking cessation” is a waste.
Reality: Colorado ran a study in 2008, where they found the state pays for $1.3 billion in annual health care for smoking related health problems (heart problems, lung problems, et cetera). The study also revealed that smoking-caused productivity losses amounted to $992 million. And this is just in Colorado. When multiplied by 50 states, you can imagine how the annual cost for smoking-related problems touches nearly $80 billion. This demands the question, why are we only spending $75 for smoking cessation?
Our guess: the Tobacco industry is a deeply conservative institution
GOP claim: $125 million for the Washington sewer system is a waste.
Reality: The costs for maintenance in DC’s sewer system almost exceeds its yearly budget. And with a growing deficit, any fixes are all patch work, and don’t actually fix the problem; which leads to having to fix the problem again several months later. Spending $125 now may save up to a billion over the next ten years.
Our guess: This doesn’t create consumer spending so the GOP feels this is wasted money.
GOP claim: $6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings is a waste.
Reality: Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world. We need to upgrade our federal buildings. Amongst other things, this would pay for replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. The federal government consumes about 32 percent more energy per square foot than the rest of the nation. This ends up being about $5 billion per year to power half a million buildings and facilities. With Obama’s $6 billion investment taxpayers would save $1 billion annually for decades to come.
Our guess: The GOP doesn’t care if we save money in the long run, so long as today they can have more money
GOP claim: $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges is a waste.
Reality: Education is a cure-all. It lifts people out of poverty and allows them to be contributing members of society. Additionally, modernizing our work force to compete with the rest of the world is essential to our Gross Domestic Product.
Our guess: Education has never been a priority of the GOP, as education begets liberal thought
GOP claim: $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River is a waste.
Reality: These are the same critics that slapped down funding for repairing the levies in Louisiana, which lead to the Katrina disaster. They still haven’t learned from Bush’s mistake.
GOP claim: $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs is a waste.
Reality: Keeping youth active and employed greatly reduces crime while building futures for these kids.
Seeking entertainment is a primary cause of petty crime amongst youth, which is why the adage “idle hands are the devil’s work shop” is so true. Any study conducted in this field shows that even impoverished people commit far less violent crimes if they have a job. This is because jobs not only provide income, but also give workers feelings of meaning, existence, and being part of a system that’s rewarding them for their work.
Not only does this help form the foundation to becoming a productive member of society, but incarceration costs go down (housing a criminal costs ~$20,000 per bed per year), but law enforcement costs go down as well.
Our guess: The GOP is the same party that fought against a minimum wage increase. Helping workers has never been their priority, to the point where they will fight against it when given the opportunity to help
The list continues for several dozen items, but they’re all pretty much the same. The GOP refuses to spend a dollar today if they can’t see that dollar today — even if it means saving a hundred dollars tomorrow.
Note: Last year, a bunch of conservatives got together and flagged this website as spam on Digg. Because of that, this article cannot be submitted to Digg.
15 Responses to “What the GOP’s list shows”
The GOP. These are the same people that are responsible for the mess we are in. The unprecedented growth of government and spending.
Hmmm. I see little in there for these people. No wonder they are opposed to it. Republicans are unfit to govern this nation in its present shape.
By Blue Broctor on Feb 3, 2009
Unbelievable, just more wasteful spending on the backs of taxpayers. I guess this is the change we can expect.
By Steve Clabaugh on Feb 3, 2009
Are you kidding me? Did you see the rest of the earmarks that the GOP has identified? What a waste of money. You would never have thought that we are in one of the worst recessions of all time with the way the Democrats want to spend the taxpayers money. Yes, we MAY see savings down the road, but those are savings in the future. We need things to boost the economy NOW and turn this country around. Unreal liberals.
By Doug on Feb 3, 2009
OK, I think maybe the GOP is not the one with the issue concerning proper focus. This money, which we will be paying off for YEARS to come, is supposed to help strengthen the economy, not save us money later. I do not discount that MANY of these programs are worthwhile, however, the GOP is DEAD ON when it says that in the confines of, Economic Stimulus, they are misguided and wasteful. Let these worthy causes request the money through REGULAR channels. Not piggyback off a bill that is supposed to CREATE JOBS and support consumers. This is TOTAL RUBBISH.
By Ryan on Feb 3, 2009
What gets me is the fact that the MSM makes such a big deal out of Republican opposition. A long list of objections looks impressive, but when you add it up the GOP is opposed to $18.9 billion of a $900 billion plan. Why isn’t the media talking about the fact Republicans think two percent of the bill wasteful and are using that as an excuse to vote no? And like you point out, many of the programs would cut down on costs over the long term.
By Wes on Feb 3, 2009
The issue is not whether these programs aren’t worthy, it’s whether they offer an immdiate benefit to us locally. It’s the PRIVATE SECTOR stupid ! It’s middle class America ! Most of these programs offer nothing. They appear to be benefiting a select few and government workers. Real stimulus is helping local small business’s meet their payrolls. Real stimulus is helping me with the two high cost items on my budget – taxes, and health care premiums. Real stimulus is forcing the Banks to engage, instead of buying $50 million Corporate Jets and paying huge bonuses to high Mucky-Mucks who obviously are incompetent pin-heads when it comes to management skills and fiscal responsibility. And finally, real stimulus isn’t what we see from this current inept Congress.
By Dennis on Feb 3, 2009
Why didn’t you make an excuse for this one???
$248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
By Jason on Feb 3, 2009
Are you insane??!!!
By Amanda on Feb 3, 2009
It seems that the GOP just has it against Obama and his stimulus plan. As one can see in many of these points, they are thinking as a cheap uncle would think. We don’t need that, we can last one more year with that old computer. But it’s not about whether or not things can keep going on without a fix for a couple of more years. It’s about getting people out there to work, and while at it to get these people to build wealth for the country. Seeing the example of the US having the highest energy bill in the world is an example of how we would be building wealth while making many more jobs available.
By Rene on Feb 3, 2009
What a waste, I don’t even recall seeing anything about our kid’s education and nothing about Healthcare. Sometimes I think those guys in Washington where born with silver spoon in the mouth and thinking with somethings else other then their head between their shoulders.
By Doug on Feb 3, 2009
Well I can agree on most of your points but one factual error really stands out. The Katrina incident was a true travesty but the state had the money for the levies. The STATE decided instead to funnel that money to dredging the canal that is hardly used. Don’t let your love for Obama cloud the facts.
By Dean on Feb 3, 2009
You clearly do not understand economics. While you may be able to make an argument for the necessity of some of these projects,9 out of 10 economists will tell you that none of the programs on that list will do a damn thing to stimulate the economy. If they want to call it the “Democratic Christmas List” that’s fine, but let’s be real here.
By Sean on Feb 3, 2009
The litmus test should be: Will any specific provision of the stimulus plan create enough new jobs to provide adequate return on the investment? If so, keep it. If not, toss it. Of course it’s not always easy to make such a determination, but that’s what we pay our legislators to do.
The entire GOP list adds up to $20B, which is a little over 2% of the entire plan. Is that all that concerns them? Am I supposed to infer that the GOP thinks the rest of the plan is OK? Is that how close we are to passing the stimulus package? Democrats should just say, “OK, we’ll drop $20B out of the program – are you happy now?”
By John on Feb 3, 2009
“The list they composed shows a lack of foresight, patience, and fundamental grasp of economics.”
Taking this comment to heart throughout this article, how is the GOP not grasping the fundamentals of economics? One of the most basic and fundamental proponents of economics is that a dollar today is worth more and better than a dollar tomorrow. Also, all these billions of dollars looking to be spent today are paid for by someone — none other than the taxpayers who are trying to maintain or find jobs. All these programs help people, yes, but at what cost? Basically, we are being TOLD to pay this bailout so that we can receive more money. How do the American people expect to profit by spending almost $1 Trillion RIGHT NOW?
I believe that the GOP is right to try to save the American people from giving away their hard earned dollars (not to mention their kids’ money as well). It appears as though some people need to re-study the basics of economics before bashing the GOP for being the only group of people to not blindly support this bailout mess.
PS ~ It still makes me laugh to see that people actually think it’s Bush’s fault that the levies failed. What is the purpose of local government? Contrary to Obama/Liberal beliefs, the federal government cannot save everyone…
By Big T on Feb 4, 2009