Eugene Robinson isn’t the sharpest knife in the Post’s columnist drawer, but this has to be his most ridiculous column yet. Coming out in favor of the Democrats’ “Porkulus” spending bill, Robinson writes:
The most respected economic wise men and women of both parties believe a huge stimulus is needed quickly to keep a dire economic situation from sinking into catastrophe.
Two hundred economists (3 Nobel Laureates) disagree.
Normally, it would be insane to spend upward of $800 billion so fast. Given the hole we're in, however, it's insane not to.
Why?
The House of Representatives loaded up the bill like a Christmas tree as powerful Democrats found room for their pet projects. This was a good thing, not an outrage. Hundreds of millions of dollars for contraceptives? To the extent that those condoms or birth-control pills are made in the United States and sold in U.S. drugstores, that spending would be stimulative in more ways than one.
You have to be kidding! (Ed: unfortunately, no.)
One of the most effective items in the House bill was $79 billion to be transferred to state governments, which are hurting; in California, our most populous state, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is ordering furloughs of state workers. Any dollar given to the states will fly out the door by sundown. That $79 billion would have instant impact.
So you’re going to spend my savings, my childrens’ earnings, and my grandchildrens’ inheritance bailing out California for its prolifigate spending?
Republicans are using this debate as a branding opportunity, positioning themselves as careful stewards of the public purse.
And for the first time in a long time, they’re right.
With this dreck, why do I bother subscribing to the Post?
No comments:
Post a Comment