Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
| The Obama economic stimulus: government spending or tax cuts? |
Pres. Obama was right when he said that “stimulus” means “spending.” How can we stimulate the
economy if no one is spending? The recently enacted $787.2 billion economic stimulus package is
meant to create jobs and spur new economic activities. The Republicans in the House didn’t vote for
it, despite Pres. Obama’s approaching them to get a bipartisan support. Only three Republican senators
voted for it; thus this economic stimulus bill is far from having a bipartisan support. But that is perfectly
all right!! We’re talking here of deep differences between how the Democrats and the Republicans
understand our economic crisis. The Republicans believe that “tax cuts” is the answer, while the
Democrats believe that “massive government spending” is the way.
Did we not have massive government spending during the Bush Administration that led us into this
economic rut in the first place? But where did the big spending go? How much did America spend
every day for the Iraq War? How much went to big corporations and banks from the first economic
stimulus package by the Bush Administration? Was the money ever monitored? How much did we owe
countries like China and Japan during the Bush Administration? And who will really benefit from tax
cuts? For sure they won’t be poor people like me!
It’s funny to watch Republican politicians talk about fiscal responsibility and why they oppose
deficit spending and more borrowing. The American voters were not fooled one bit by this rhetoric last
November! Hello? Anybody up there?
I hope that our GOP politicians come to their senses and set aside partisanship. Our economic
situation is so bad that it is threatening the fabric of the American society big time. We need stable
jobs; we need to help homeowners stay in their homes; we need good roads and bridges to move our
products fast; we need affordable health insurance; we need to help people learn new skills; we need
money to continue our small businesses; we need help for our children to go to college; we need to
find alternative energy sources fast so that we won’t be dependent on other oil-rich countries; and we
need to move fast as in NOW.
There is a popular saying in Filipino: Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (Why
would you need grass now when the horse is already dead?)
economy if no one is spending? The recently enacted $787.2 billion economic stimulus package is
meant to create jobs and spur new economic activities. The Republicans in the House didn’t vote for
it, despite Pres. Obama’s approaching them to get a bipartisan support. Only three Republican senators
voted for it; thus this economic stimulus bill is far from having a bipartisan support. But that is perfectly
all right!! We’re talking here of deep differences between how the Democrats and the Republicans
understand our economic crisis. The Republicans believe that “tax cuts” is the answer, while the
Democrats believe that “massive government spending” is the way.
Did we not have massive government spending during the Bush Administration that led us into this
economic rut in the first place? But where did the big spending go? How much did America spend
every day for the Iraq War? How much went to big corporations and banks from the first economic
stimulus package by the Bush Administration? Was the money ever monitored? How much did we owe
countries like China and Japan during the Bush Administration? And who will really benefit from tax
cuts? For sure they won’t be poor people like me!
It’s funny to watch Republican politicians talk about fiscal responsibility and why they oppose
deficit spending and more borrowing. The American voters were not fooled one bit by this rhetoric last
November! Hello? Anybody up there?
I hope that our GOP politicians come to their senses and set aside partisanship. Our economic
situation is so bad that it is threatening the fabric of the American society big time. We need stable
jobs; we need to help homeowners stay in their homes; we need good roads and bridges to move our
products fast; we need affordable health insurance; we need to help people learn new skills; we need
money to continue our small businesses; we need help for our children to go to college; we need to
find alternative energy sources fast so that we won’t be dependent on other oil-rich countries; and we
need to move fast as in NOW.
There is a popular saying in Filipino: Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (Why
would you need grass now when the horse is already dead?)
