Should the Republican governors reject Obama's stimulus money?

Here's the USA Today article from last Wednesday:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-18-gopstimulus_N.htm?csp=34

Republican Governors may reject at least some of the stimulus money.

it seems like a lot of posturing. Unless your state is doing well, what do you gain from not taking the money other than the noteriety during your next election of not having accepted the money?

Okay, here's my two cents. The republican governors shouldn't take it if they don't support it. But the problem is that they are denouncing it, but still taking the money. So I will chose none of your answers, but rather will point out that there is a whole other issue at hand. Is it right that the republican governors bitch and moan about the bill, and then take 90% of the allocated money anyway?

No, they have no right. If they don't like the bill that they butchered with their bullshit tax cuts, they shouldn't take it. You don't denounce something then accept it, that isn't how it works. People have wondered about my issue of the republican politicians, and now they should know. Because they are (Almost all of them sadly) are childish and they bring out the worst in conservatism.

I'd say put it up in a vote and let the people of the state decide.  Not everyone voted for whatever governor they have in their state and people might feel differently about taking the money than the governor does.

Well if the republic states doesn't take the money, then the actual amount spent on the bailout would be a lot less; the government wouldn't be in as much debt but at the same time the democratic states still get the bail out money they wanted int he first place. Seems like a win win for everybody except for the democrats that live in republican states.

"Well if the republic states doesn't take the money, then the actual amount spent on the bailout would be a lot less; the government wouldn't be in as much debt but at the same time the democratic states still get the bail out money they wanted int he first place. Seems like a win win for everybody except for the democrats that live in republican states.
"

Or the government should not be giving away money and they should try to get ride of this damn debt.

ROFL @ USA today.. it's barely a step above the national enquirer.

If republicans want to act tough and give back the money , go for it.  As republican Ahnald here in Cali said, fuck that, I'll take their share!  I love how people are up in arms about stimulus money now that it is going to help regular people.  But when BOTH Obama AND MCAIN raced to fund AIG bailouts, barely anyone complained. 

Typical republican spin.  When it comes to corporate cock sucking, they can't wait to get on their knees.  But if the middle class are going to get any money, they pull that Joe the Fake Plumber bullshit and talk Palin rhetoric

"Or the government should not be giving away money and they should try to get ride of this damn debt."

@ Snipzor and sarahsdad,

sure why not?/ I never took any economic or political courses in college (that I actually paid attention to) so they certainly sound like valid points as well. However it plays down, this wouldn't look good on Obama since it shows the country is divided enough to pull something like this.

"interesting read on some governors rejection of the package.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/121845-for-state-governors-stimulus-money-may-have-too-many-strings-attached

one other issue, everyone points finger at the republicans and not the democrats.  why is that?  before you accuse me of being a republican, i'm not.  both parties are busy sleeping with their lobbyist.  corporate america rules and not the fed gov or the civ gov.
"

I don't really see the big issue here, the Republican version of the stimulus bill would have been largely the same except with more tax cuts for the wealthy (Reaganomics). Refusing the money from the bill is largely for future political purposes I imagine. Outright refusing the money entirely will hurt that state in the long run, and if it doesn't benefit the people then it's political grandstanding. A proper Republican governor would take the money, complain about how it doesn't have more tax cuts and how some of it goes to things they don't like as always, and take the money for the sake of their people.

you noobs and your federal governments

  A proper Republican governor would take the money, complain about how it doesn't have more tax cuts and how some of it goes to things they don't like as always, and take the money for the sake of their people.
"

It has long since been proven that spending is far more stimulative than tax cuts. Standing by and doing nothing is going to hurt the country, as well as the fragile state of the political careers of Republican politicians.. They think the problem was that they weren't conservative enough! Fuck no! They've been too conservative.

Debating the value of the degree government should have in the economy is one thing, pulling shit out of your ass and arguing with what every credible economist will tell you is just stupid.

They think that it is a show of bravado, moxy, and awesome sauce to reject this money. And as much as I would love to see the political fallout from their refusal to act, I do not want to see their states and OUR economy suffer. If they keep this shit up, we won't have an economy left to save.

GOP, Grand Old Party? More like Grand Obstructionist Party.

"Okay, here's my two cents. The republican governors shouldn't take it if they don't support it. But the problem is that they are denouncing it, but still taking the money. So I will chose none of your answers, but rather will point out that there is a whole other issue at hand. Is it right that the republican governors bitch and moan about the bill, and then take 90% of the allocated money anyway?

No, they have no right. If they don't like the bill that they butchered with their bullshit tax cuts, they shouldn't take it. You don't denounce something then accept it, that isn't how it works. People have wondered about my issue of the republican politicians, and now they should know. Because they are (Almost all of them sadly) are childish and they bring out the worst in conservatism.
"

There are people out there that need that money right now. It isn't right to withold it from their constituants. 

if you want to save money then get the fuck out of iraq
if you want respect, sue Bush and his cronies for war crimes and criminal actions against humanity

"Bullet_Jr said:

"Pibo47 said:

"Or the government should not be giving away money and they should try to get ride of this damn debt."

Though I agree, the stimulus money will help alot of people who lost their jobs.

Unemployment is a bigger issue, imo.
"

Unemployment is always a problem, it is never going to go away. Debt can be resolved. I rather hurt more now than hurt later, get the bullshit behide us so that way we can move forward with one less problem."

Well, let's put this in some perspective:

"Well, let's put this in some perspective:

If someone wanted to give you some money, would you say no?  Would your morals honestly get in the way of it?

The fact is that moral choice doesn't play into this.  It's all politics.  Should the Republicans take the money?  No, not if they don't want it or need it.  Will they?  More than likely.  Why?  Because it's money.

"

"jakob187 said:

"Well, let's put this in some perspective:

If someone wanted to give you some money, would you say no?  Would your morals honestly get in the way of it?

The fact is that moral choice doesn't play into this.  It's all politics.  Should the Republicans take the money?  No, not if they don't want it or need it.  Will they?  More than likely.  Why?  Because it's money.

"

for the republicans the answer  is easy, they would say no due to their "morals",
why?
because they already have enough money and don't give a shit about others
"

Everyone should reject it, not just Republicans.

I do find it funny that the Republicans were all for reckless spending when a Republican was president. Where have these people been the last 8 years?

"There are people out there that need that money right now. It isn't right to withold it from their constituants. "

I'd say they should do as they see fit.  Don't take it if you don't agree with it, or don't take the money you didn't think should have been a part of it.

The main problem with the stimulus is that while it creates a lot of construction jobs, those are temporary.

The main problem, is that the jobs that are being created are not being created because they are in demand, but because of government using employment as a goal, rather than a result of production. The money is taken from the private sector where employment is valued, and then redistributed to the public sector where employment is not always valuable.

Not good...not good at all. This whole thing is rampant with the broken window fallacy.

Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in.

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

I doubt it. I think the point of it all is to get your money's worth on the whole plan, to hire people and put them to work on infrastructure projects that benefit everyone. If it were digging holes and filling them in, they'd just skip the timewasting and write out checks."

Not every state is in debt, you know.

Should be making long term jobs.  Modeled after China's transportation projects, which are proven to work.  Nation wide railways and improved roadways.  Would keep people working for 50 years.  Public transportation like trains, subways, and improved driving roads, open the way for new development.  Residential units, retail stores, and public schools.   Plus they take years to build.  Keeping people employed. 
 
I still don't trust my Governor at all. I am sure she will waste to much of the money.  But thats the change they voted for.  So I say give her the money and lets see her fuck it up.  This country needs a kick in the ass and if that means another depression.  SO be it.  They voted for it, lets give it to them.

I am sure we will pick a fight with Iran to get out of it.  War always means money. 

My state governor spent the first two weeks on the job, on vacation on some tropical island.  Calling is a "Working Vacation."  Gee... where have I heard that before?

America, we don't care and it shows.

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

I doubt it. I think the point of it all is to get your money's worth on the whole plan, to hire people and put them to work on infrastructure projects that benefit everyone. If it were digging holes and filling them in, they'd just skip the timewasting and write out checks."

"BoG said:

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

I doubt it. I think the point of it all is to get your money's worth on the whole plan, to hire people and put them to work on infrastructure projects that benefit everyone. If it were digging holes and filling them in, they'd just skip the timewasting and write out checks."

But the money is taken from the private sector, so there is less money for employment by people with valuable jobs.
"

"BoG said:

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

I doubt it. I think the point of it all is to get your money's worth on the whole plan, to hire people and put them to work on infrastructure projects that benefit everyone. If it were digging holes and filling them in, they'd just skip the timewasting and write out checks."

But the money is taken from the private sector, so there is less money for employment by people with valuable jobs.
"

I'm talking value, pure and simple. Value is producing anything in demand by the market.

The government cannot know what jobs or goods are valuable, because they don't operate on a system of profit/loss. Supply and demand does not apply to government and they have no price system. Businesses stay alive by producing things which are valuable (are in demand). If they fail to do so, they go out of business. If the government fails to do so, it doesn't matter. They don't run on profits, but on taxation.

Bottom line, the government has no way to know what is in demand and has no way of calculating value. Only the market does which relies on supply and demand.

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"BoG said:

"lilburtonboy7489 said:

"Obama would probably agree that the economy would benefit if we hired people to dig holes and then fill them in. "

I doubt it. I think the point of it all is to get your money's worth on the whole plan, to hire people and put them to work on infrastructure projects that benefit everyone. If it were digging holes and filling them in, they'd just skip the timewasting and write out checks."

But the money is taken from the private sector, so there is less money for employment by people with valuable jobs.
"

What money that comes from the government doesn't come from the private sector in some way?
 
...
"

This stimulus package ((cough)) I mean spending package is like giving a crack addict more crack. Sure it may feel good for the crack addict at first, but in the long run it's only going to hurt him even more. That crack addict is our country and our country needs to go through rehab. It needs to stop with the government intervention and let the free market forces get us out of this recession. Everyone thinks a recession is a bad thing, IT'S NOT. A recession is supposed to get us out of this mess. Government intervention will only drive us into a depression. People need to start saving their money. The government needs to stop bailing out these incompetent companies and let them fail. Let the smaller more competent companies take their place. This is how you get out of this mess. Unfortunately, The Obama administration is locked into Keynesian economics, when they should be following Austrian Economics. The Federal Reserve is the biggest reason why our economy is so screwed up. Austrian Economists have predicted this economic collapse to happen for the past 20 years.

Also people in this country need to stop drinking the political Kool-Aid. The difference between a democrat politian and a republican polititian, is the same difference between a glazed donut and a powdered donut.

regarding infrastructure you need to put the stimulus on infrastructure projects that make US less car centric and more friendly for bicycles, collective transportation and alternative energy vehicles