| The United States has been in a recession since | | | | said that Obama's budget would produce $9.3 trillion in |
| December, 2007, as defined by the National Bureau | | | | deficits over the next decade. |
| of Economic Research, a private, nonprofit research | | | | This is a large chunk of change that needs to be |
| organization. But the American people, and the | | | | provided by the American taxpayer! But the question |
| Obama administration along with the democrat | | | | is, will all of this spending help the long term growth |
| majority congress, seem to be at odds on how to | | | | of the US economy? Growth being during the period |
| fix the American economy. | | | | of not just the next few years, but rather 10 to 15 |
| A robust economy means companies expand which | | | | years. We believe it will not and here is why. |
| results in job creation. Currently, the American people | | | | 2) These programs burden the tax payer. History has |
| are not spending because many are not working, and | | | | shown that long sustained economic growth can not |
| those who are working are spending less, most likely | | | | take place when the tax payer is over burdened by |
| due to the possibility of losing their job. Current | | | | a federal deficit. Also, when the government spends |
| unemployment rate stands at 9.6% as of August, | | | | money they do not have, they print more money, |
| 2009. A decrease in spending by the American people | | | | which results in a devaluation of the US dollar. This |
| results in a decrease in company profits, company | | | | results in inflation. |
| non expansion, and more layoffs. | | | | 3) Small businesses employ just over half of U.S. |
| Reporting on a survey by Watson Wyatt, a | | | | workers. How do you define a small business. The |
| consulting firm, the reported in November of 2008 | | | | Office of Advocacy defines a small business for |
| that one-fourth of U.S. employers plan to have staff | | | | research purposes as an independent business having |
| reductions during the following calendar year. We are | | | | fewer than 500 employees. In examining the $780 |
| now seeing this come to fruition for 2009. | | | | billion stimulus package, you can see that there is no |
| So how can the US economy improve? Improvement | | | | real help for small business. Remember, job creation is |
| being defined as two consecutive quarters where we | | | | needed for economic recovery. |
| do not have negative growth in the GDP (gross | | | | 4) The socializing of America will not result in long |
| domestic product). The following is what we call the | | | | term economic growth. The massive spending that |
| Steps to Economic Improvement. These are steps | | | | the Obama administration has proposed will result in |
| for consideration which hopefully result in a healthy | | | | an even greater tax burden to the American people. |
| bipartisan discussion between our elected | | | | Most Americans believe in the frame work and |
| congressman and their constituency. These steps | | | | meaning of The Constitution of the United States. |
| may result in non-recessionary growth of our | | | | The first words of the Constitution "We the People" |
| economy. | | | | make it clear that our government was established |
| You may or may not agree with these steps, but at | | | | to serve the people. The essence of a democracy |
| a bare minimum, these are points to consider, and | | | | was eloquently stated by President Lincoln in his |
| ideally result in a healthy discussion with our elected | | | | Gettysburg Address "that government of the people, |
| congressmen, which at last check, is one of the | | | | by the people, for the people, shall not perish from |
| unchanged notions of a free democratic society. | | | | the earth." This simply means that our elected |
| Steps to Economic Improvement: | | | | president and congress have a responsibility to listen |
| 1) The first step is to realize that it is business and | | | | to the American people. |
| not government that creates jobs and wealth within | | | | And it can be said that most Americans do not want |
| the American society. This is where we believe is | | | | a socialistic society for the United States. |
| the heart of the problem. It is evident that the | | | | Government needs to stop spending the American |
| Obama administration believes it is government that | | | | tax dollar, simply because an escalating government |
| will lead Americans to economic prosperity. This is | | | | deficit will not result in an overall improvement in our |
| why the federal government has put forth a $780 | | | | economy. |
| billion stimulus package. So where is this money really | | | | 5) Programs such as Cash for Clunkers, auto industry |
| going. Let’s take a look at the breakdown. | | | | bailouts, and the like, only in the end increase the tax |
| (source Republican Senate office, AC360) | | | | burden on the American people. These massively |
| $780 Billion Stimulus Package: | | | | expensive programs do very little to improve the |
| MORE THAN $43 BILLION IN TRANSPORTATION | | | | viability and strength of most small business. Based |
| INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS | | | | on 2008 figures, there are 155 million workers in the |
| $27 BILLION FOR HIGHWAY, ROAD AND BRIDGE | | | | United States. The car industry accounts for about 13 |
| INVESTMENTS | | | | million of these workers. Therefore, most Americans |
| $8.4 BILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT INVESTMENT | | | | will not benefit from the bailout of the auto industry. |
| $2 BILLION FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL | | | | There is only a marginal at best improvement in the |
| $1.3 BILLION FOR FAA AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT | | | | economy from such programs. |
| FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT | | | | 6) We do applaud the Obama administration for the |
| $850 MILLION FOR AMTRAK | | | | injection of capital into the financial institutions, |
| $250 MILLION FOR GRANTS TO STATES FOR | | | | because for small business to flourish, there needs to |
| INVESTMENT IN HIGH SPEED AND INNER CITY | | | | be capital available, and commercial banks and other |
| PASSENGER RAIL | | | | depository institutions are the largest lenders of |
| $100 MILLION TO MARITIME ADMINISTRATION | | | | capital to small business. |
| FOR ASSISTANCE TO SMALL SHIPYARDS | | | | 7) The economy will do much better when |
| $76.8 BILLION IN EDUCATION INVESTMENTS | | | | companies are left to compete in the market place |
| $39 BILLION FOR STATE FISCAL RELIEF | | | | with minimal government involvement. A case in |
| TARGETED DIRECTLY FOR EDUCATION | | | | point, the Reagan administration had a policy of less |
| $13.9 BILLION FOR PELL GRANTS | | | | government during the 1980s. This resulted in long |
| $13.5 BILLION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING | | | | term economic growth. This is the exact opposite of |
| $10.4 BILLION FOR TITLE I | | | | what the Obama administration is trying to do. |
| $6.4 BILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER | | | | The Obama administration was given a bad economy |
| INFRASTRUCTURE | | | | when Barack Obama took office. But the Obama |
| $3 BILLION FOR JOB TRAINING | | | | administration has taken a bad situation and made it |
| $3.25 BILLION FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT | | | | much worse. Many economists believe that our |
| PROGRAMS | | | | economy would return anyway, with minimal |
| $160 MILLION FOR JOB CORPS | | | | government involvement. In terms of the economy, |
| $87 BILLION IN TEMPORARY AND TARGETED | | | | the government many times creates or prolongs |
| MEDICAID RELIEF TO STATES | | | | problems and really does not solve them. A case in |
| $5 BILLION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS TO | | | | point, the deregulation of the banking industry which |
| PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES FOR CAPITAL | | | | resulted in sub-prime lending. This created an eventual |
| NEEDS | | | | financial collapse, which resulted in the down turn in |
| $4.7 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL ENERGY | | | | our economy and our current economic meltdown. |
| EFFICIENCY BLOCK GRANTS | | | | To conclude, the concept of minimal government is |
| $4.4 BILLION FOR SMART GRID | | | | an important component for a strong American |
| $2.9 BILLION FOR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS | | | | economy. Letting companies naturally compete within |
| $2 BILLION FOR ADVANCED BATTERY | | | | a free democratic society, with minimal government |
| MANUFACTURING | | | | involvement, produces a robust economy, which |
| $7 BILLION FOR LOAN GUARANTEES FOR | | | | benefits all Americans. The writers of the Constitution |
| STANDARD RENEWABLES | | | | of the United Sates, our founding fathers, believed |
| $800 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PORTS OF | | | | that the role of government in the lives of people |
| ENTRY | | | | should be minimal. Should we not adhere to the |
| $500 MILLION FOR FIREFIGHTERS ASSISTANCE | | | | principles of our Constitution? |
| GRANTS | | | | By letting your voice be heard, it is the American |
| $1.2 BILLION FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE | | | | people who in the end control the destiny of the |
| FOUNDATION | | | | United States. And in the end, it is the American |
| As part of the 2010 budget proposal, the Obama | | | | people who will control the destiny of the American |
| administration has also proposed additional measures | | | | economy. Go to your congressman’s website |
| to attempt to stabilize the economy, including a | | | | and contact them, discuss these points, express your |
| $2–3 trillion measure aimed at stabilizing the | | | | opinion, and let them know how you feel. It is your |
| financial system and freeing up credit. In a nutshell, | | | | right and duty as an American citizen. |
| auditors from the Congressional Budget Office have | | | | |