Comments on: Dear Uncle Sam: Please Stop Stimulating Me

By: Baker

Baker — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:12:23 +0000

I’m not convinced it would only need 2-3 billion to have a *lasting* effect. I really hope that I’m wrong, because that would be great.

My biggest concerns is lack of focus on the source!

By: rob in madrid

rob in madrid — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:02:19 +0000

The cash for clunkers program is a good example of the kind of stimulus program that is need 2-3 billion vs 785 billion. Good value for the money, much more importantly it fulfilled two (in my opinion) important criteria,, one it had an immediate effect (the other stimulus program will take several years to take effect by that time the economy will have recovered and may feed inflation) , secondly it’s limited in time, enough to pick up car sales.

Well it’s unfortunate that overpaid autoworkers laid off autoworkers are being recalled it is having a very positive effect on your local community in the fact that it’s helping to keep local dealers and those jobs alive untill the economy recovers enough to go on it’s own.

By: Brad @ enemyofdebt

Brad @ enemyofdebt — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:20:07 +0000

@MLR – Having consumers go into debt now, during a recession, instead of later doesn’t seem like it would produce much confidence. People didn’t buy cars because they thought the market was on the rise, they bought cars because the Government fooled them into believing that they were receiving a “REBATE” of $4,500. Usually a rebate doesn’t cost the person that receives it money.

Consumer confidence rises when the Government gets OUT of the picture.
.-= Brad @ enemyofdebt´s last blog ..Oh No It’s Monday: Carnival Edition =-.

By: MLR

MLR — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:29:46 +0000

Agreed with the past few posters, the header is a great picture. I love it, too.

In re: to your letter to Uncle Sam… I would have asked him to cut the Defense funding. That would fund everything we could possibly ask for

Oh well, there’s always time for more letters ;p
.-= MLR´s last blog ..TED Spread – What Is It? =-.

By: MLR

MLR — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:27:25 +0000

Whenever you look at economic metrics, a large part of it is consumer confidence (as I am sure you know!).

So, if this program speeds up those purchases that would have happened otherwise, that is GREAT for the economy.

Consumer confidence is not something to be scoffed at.
.-= MLR´s last blog ..TED Spread – What Is It? =-.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:43:49 +0000

Love your new header and picture. Anxiously waiting for the next post on your journey abroad.

By: Brad @ enemyofdebt

Brad @ enemyofdebt — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:02:01 +0000

Oh yeah...Baker I think your header is perfect! What a great picture! .-= Brad @ enemyofdebt´s last blog ..Public Service Announcement: Cash For Clunkers Equals Debt For Suckers =-.

By: kosmo @ The Casual Observer

kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:42:52 +0000

Do you wonder if this was the intent – to create a distraction? To get people thinking about buying cars and onto the car lots, even if they don’t have a clunker?

The program was such a small amount of money at first (a billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but compared to the entire budget, it’s petty cash) that I can’t imagine anyone would think it would have taken every single clunker off the road and replaced it with a 35 mpg car. The math just doesn’t work out.
.-= kosmo @ The Casual Observer´s last blog ..JC Penney =-.

By: JT@BigBabyBargains

JT@BigBabyBargains — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:54:30 +0000

Preach on brother, I hear you and I second your opinion!

By: Brad @ enemyofdebt

Brad @ enemyofdebt — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:23:38 +0000

I agree 100% MoneyEnergy! I actually think that giving an incentive to go into debt during economic hardship is a bit backwards. About 750,000 people are going to go into debt because of this, and it will strain their wallets even more considering they are adding unnecessary expenses. People do not NEED new cars, they’re just spoiled and want them!

It’s not really a discount since our children are the ones that will foot the bill. Remember this money was printed out of thin air. The Government is giving us money that will be paid off by us, so how do you call that a discount or a deal? huh?

I personally do not recommend going in debt for the Government in the name of a “possible” stimulation to the economy. In the end I have to ask, was it worth adding to the colossal debt load that 70% of Americans already have? My answer is NO WAY!
.-= Brad @ enemyofdebt´s last blog ..Public Service Announcement: Cash For Clunkers Equals Debt For Suckers =-.