Our financial system is crumbling this week.

[docellis]

Do economists back this latest stimulus? I mean seriously, with consumer confidence as low as it is, how is this going to help? It seems like another deficit plumper to me.

Bernanke backed it I think

[Arthur Dent]

Do economists back this latest stimulus? I mean seriously, with consumer confidence as low as it is, how is this going to help? It seems like another deficit plumper to me.

Yes, but stimulus doesn't necessarily mean just handing out checks. Other proposals include aid to state and local governments, increased unemployment insurance, infrastructure projects, etc.

[Hungary Jack]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

[Arthur Dent]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

Agreed. This is an excellent opportunity to make these important investments.

[clement]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

Agreed. This is an excellent opportunity to make these important investments.

I agree as well, but the argument I'm hearing from the right is that these kinds of investments take a long time to get off the ground and a stimulus package needs to put money in the economy right away. Of course I haven't heard what the alternative proposal is other than to just give more rebate checks (which we've seen already isn't as stimulating as people were hoping).

[ghostrunner]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

Agreed. This is an excellent opportunity to make these important investments.

I like this idea too. Seems like Obama ought to be able to get that in motion, and I imagine most of the public would be on board.

[Popeye_Card]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

Agreed. This is an excellent opportunity to make these important investments.

I agree as well, but the argument I'm hearing from the right is that these kinds of investments take a long time to get off the ground and a stimulus package needs to put money in the economy right away. Of course I haven't heard what the alternative proposal is other than to just give more rebate checks (which we've seen already isn't as stimulating as people were hoping).

I've been saying this for a long time, because it's a much more efficient way of cycling the money within the American economy, rather than the hand-outs that we lose a lot of to imported goods (sending money out of the economy, back to China where we borrowed it from in the first place).

I realize that it would take a while to get going. But let's start with a very simple concept/project--high speed rail lines connecting major US cities, much like the interstate highway system. You can even build the tracks in the medians of most of the highways. Instead of using an Amtrak type of set-up, which makes too many stops at smaller cities/towns, make it work like the airport system with hubs and spurs (then smaller spurs to the smaller cities/towns). Train travel is much more efficient than air travel.

How do you staff a project like this? Create a new governmental unit, almost like the military, where their main purpose is to plan and build these projects. For the white collar employees, provide scholarships to colleges like the ROTC program, where you get close to a full ride in exchange for 5 years of service for the government. Blue collar employees (construction workers, etc.) can enlist at age 18 much like the military.

Above all else, ensure that most everything on the projects are done domestically. Engineering, materials, etc. When you keep the money here, it's spent again here, it's taxed here, etc. I'm for helping out other countries too, but let's help ourselves first.

[Freed Roger]

Story about the survivalists -

Getting ready for ‘TEOTWAWKI’
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27244465

[Hungary Jack]

I still think this country needs a Marshall Plan for its infrastructure: mainly roads and bridges, energy efficiency measures, high speed and freight rail, and water conservation measures. That would be a good use of stimulus money. I'd rather not see it lavished on consumers.

Agreed. This is an excellent opportunity to make these important investments.

I agree as well, but the argument I'm hearing from the right is that these kinds of investments take a long time to get off the ground and a stimulus package needs to put money in the economy right away. Of course I haven't heard what the alternative proposal is other than to just give more rebate checks (which we've seen already isn't as stimulating as people were hoping).

There is some truth to this, but those that argue for consumer stimulus ignore the fact that we are borrowing even more money to spend it on depreciating assets. It's really no different that going out and partying, buying a big screen TV, 200 cases of Fat Tire, and some new Toughskins and putting it all on the credit card.

[planet planet]

41 states reporting job losses in Sept. Surprisingly, MO was the biggest gainer with 3,800 jobs in Sept (although it only reduced unemployment rate from 6.7% to 6.4%, still above the natl. average).