Columnist Jamala Rogers
If you’re a poll-respecting person, here’s the latest: 76 percent of Americans believe that President Barack Obama is doing a good job as president; 54 percent of those support the stimulus package he is pushing.
The CNN poll also cites that only 39 percent believe the Republicans are cooperating with the president. Good news for Obama’s popularity and bad news for the GOP’s bi-partisan efforts. And Americans are lukewarm on the stimulus package.
I’m one of those lukewarm people, for a number of reasons. There has been little explanation as to how some of the line items will stimulate spending or create jobs. I’m not saying do nothing, I’m saying break it down.
For example, I looked at some of the cuts made to appease Republicans and saw things like $50 million for detention trustee. What is that? What does it do? I’m quite capable of following logic if you give it to me. I’m not Rush Limbaugh who is praying for the Obama administration to fail. That’s like being on a boat and hoping the captain shipwrecks. Who wins when we all go down?
Some of the millions are going to state and local governments to appropriate to projects. Uh-oh, there’s a problem. We have a mayor who like the past president was spending and spinning to give the appearance of prosperity. Mayor Slay has been hooking up his supporters and friends with sweetheart deals at our expense. One has to only look at the big hole next to the stadium where citizens later found out there was never an agreement to develop the property.
The amount of construction in the form of hotels and lofts have a story behind them as well. We have the Renaissance Hotel, the largest hotel in the city, going under because they didn’t make their $3.5 million interest payment. The hotel received no bids at a recent auction which forced UMB Bank (the bondholder) to buy it at the $98 million debt cost. There has never been a City plan to validate the need for all the hotels and lofts that have been built.
Many of us can’t get over the billions stolen by Henry Paulson and his friends at the big banks. I say “stolen,” because they didn’t do what they were supposed to do with the money. So, until the report comes out as to where it is, we should report it stolen – grand theft of epic proportions.
These high rollers can’t seem to curve their addictive spending habits with $50 million private planes, lavish junkets and decadent bonuses to CEOs and shareholders for busting up the economy. The poor taxpayers are tightening up our belts as Wall Street puts the country in a noose.
The Republicans in the House and Senate are trying to send a message to their base that they can stand up. It is a gamble to oppose the stimulus package now – as imperfect as it is – as millions of Americans face economic devastation with losses of jobs, homes, cars, savings and pensions. Even Carl Rove thinks their obstructionism may backfire. These were the same folks who got us into this economic vice grip by partying like it was 1999 for the last eight years.
It is inevitable that a stimulus package will pass and that more TARP money will be given to the banks. Between standing in line at the unemployment office and going to the food pantries, we must find time to hold the Obama administration, Congress and the phat cats on Wall Street accountable.