How the government can help the economy.

**saltinespike** · 8th April 2007, 02:42 PM

Okay, I would like to start off by saying that I was not sure where to put this - here, politics, or entertainment and media.

Last night, I was watching a standup comedy special featuring Lewis Black. He spoke on many issues, but I am focusing on one in particular.

He said that a few years back (forget exactly how many), we had the biggest surplus of money we've ever had, 2 trillion dollars. And this year, we are in th biggest debt we've ever had - 3 1/2 trillion dollars. That's 5 1/2 trillion dollars they spent and we don't know what the hell they spent it on.

I forget if he said what exactly it was, but that is beside the point. But now, they're doing tax cuts, and who are they doing that to? Lower class. The people who can barely afford an appartment. They cut after school programs in new york and gave people $400 dollars a kid which is just reminding you how screwed you are. You might as well have a congressman walk up to your front door and piss on your foot!

He proposed a different way to simulate the economy. We start in a place like Mississippi, because no one thinks "I want a vacation. I know, I'll go to Mississippi." So you go to Mississippi and hire a bunch of people to build a "big f*cking thing". Next, they'll spend the money, which helps the economy, too! Anyways, it doesn't matter what it is, it's just a big f*cking thing, because then, people will go "I gotta see the big f*cking thing!" Then there'll be a big f*cking thing restraunt, a big f*cking thing hotel and casino, a big f*cking thing day spa.

We did this with the Hoover Dam also. What do you think is the best way to stimulate the economy? I think this is.

**Nono** · 8th April 2007, 03:20 PM

Of course government spending stimulates the economy. That's an inconvenient truth that the tax-breaks-for-the-comfy right-wingers can't acknowledge for fear of exposing themselves for the chiseling egotists they are.

It's all a question of tax and spend, of redistributing wealth in society and -- until someone comes up with a better machine -- the government is in a better position to do this than anyone else.

**Canada.Smith.B** · 8th April 2007, 03:30 PM

Government spending to stimulate the economy is called Keynesian Economics I believe. When it is applied in a sober fashion with well defined goals, it's a god-send to the modern world. Alternatively, when haphazard application and usage as a political pawn - it's wasteful.

Just my 0.02

**Nono** · 8th April 2007, 03:37 PM

Quote by: Canada

Government spending to stimulate the economy is called Keynesian Economics I believe.

Well ... deficit spending to produce prosperity and a suplus was Keynes' real insight. But "Keynesian" is a worthy name.

Where in Ontario you live, Can? Yeah, I know, Toronto...

**Canada.Smith.B** · 9th April 2007, 09:50 AM

Oh man I only go to hog town for Nhl Games, and the Royal Museum

I'm in Waterloo, not a bad place. I'm not a native though.

**Keith Hamburger** · 9th April 2007, 03:28 PM

Quote by: Nono

Of course government spending stimulates the economy. That's an inconvenient truth that the tax-breaks-for-the-comfy right-wingers can't acknowledge for fear of exposing themselves for the chiseling egotists they are.

It's all a question of tax and spend, of redistributing wealth in society and -- until someone comes up with a better machine -- the government is in a better position to do this than anyone else.

Please explain how government spending, after bureaucrats take their 50% cut off the top, is better for the economy than individual consumer or business spending at twice the outlay?

Does the government know what the individual citizens would like to have for their money better than the individuals themselves?

Is government spending somehow miraculously better than what individuals would spend their money on?

Do our elected representatives, individual citizens themselves, somehow obrain a collective knowledge about where money should go that is somehow better or more insightful than the remaining 300 million citizens of this country?

Keith

**brien** · 9th April 2007, 03:43 PM

He proposed a different way to simulate the economy

Who is he? Stenny Hoyer, Harry Reid? Because the new round of taxation has been proposed in the House and moves to the Senate. All Bush does is either sign it or veto it. This legislation doesn't begin in the Executive office. All legislation begins in the House. So the Democrats are responsible here for this tax bill.

I forget if he said what exactly it was, but that is beside the point. But now, they're doing tax cuts, and who are they doing that to? Lower class. The people who can barely afford an appartment

.

I think you are a bit confused here. "Tax cuts" aren't being "done" to the lower class. The lower class doesn't pay taxes so how can you cut the rate of payments if they don't pay any taxes?

I suspect you mean that the new legislation that is proposing increasing the percentage on rate of tax payments made by the lowest income levels that are taxed.

. What do you think is the best way to stimulate the economy? I think this is

Government is the least effecient way to stimulate anything. Private investment is the best way to stimulate the economy because it doesn't cost the taxpayers anything. In fact, when more jobs are created by increasing the volume and number of businesses, then tax revenue increase.

**Nono** · 9th April 2007, 03:59 PM

Quote by: Keith

Please explain how government spending, after bureaucrats take their 50% cut off the top.....

Z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z ... The premise, man, the premise...
It's like saying "Please explain how I'm supposed to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube when agents hired by dentists keep freezing it solid on me."

**Nono** · 9th April 2007, 04:01 PM

Quote by: Can

I'm in Waterloo.

Got a stepsister there, and a stepmother in Kitchener.

**tman_ndsu08** · 9th April 2007, 04:06 PM

In a perfect world, Keynesism would work just as well as any other utopian scheme would.

In the real world, the simpler the better. Keynesism relies on a complex chain of events for successful implementation. One brakes and efficiency goes through the floor.