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I am including govt websites to help guide you through my argument. http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/arra.aspx
At this site you will see quotes by President Obama as to what the Recovery Act Billions would be spent on.
“For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together… All this we can do. All this we will do.”
President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address – Jan. 20, 2009
Notice his phrase “that feed our commerce and bind us together”. So, what does this mean. To me it meant highways and bridges that connect our homes to our employment. As you follow along you will see my confusion. It apparently is not what he meant…
On the same page is the following:
Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
What do they mean by “addressing long neglected challenges”. Considering that I learned from the retiring Superintendent of the Antietam Battlefield Park that the roads in the Park had not been repaired since 1951, and this was a Recovery Act project, perhaps this is an example of what they meant by “long neglected”. I find it strange that when our economy was at a high that the Clinton Congress saw no reason to address long neglected challenges when we HAD the money available without contributing to a deficit. When I posted this on a LinkedIn Group for the DNC a response said that this would have happened but the Republican Congress stopped it. Regardless of what happened then, I am speaking about NOW, and NOW is not the time for these types of expenditures.
So, lets take this a step further… Where did the money go and did it “modernize our nation’s infrastructure” and as the paragraph ends with “protect those in greatest need.”
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/arardistribution.htm
Distribution of Highway Funds under
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Let’s try to understand the 3rd segment of this official graph. Are park roads, roads in indian reservations, forest highways and refuge roads infrastructure? I guess they are but where are the bridges and federal highways that connect our homes with our employment. How does this $550M allocation help protect those in greatest need? I suppose if those in greatest needs lose their homes they will need somewhere to live. Perhaps it is an unwritten plan by the White House that they will create tent cities in our National Parks? Ludicrous thought but how else can they justify spending this much “DEFICIT” money on these projects?
Not done yet. Let’s dig a little deeper…
http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/list.aspx
Once you open the file, go to Column H and restrict the list to Recovery Act only.
I trust you have the intelligence to read what the projects are for.
I dont mean to say these projects should not be done. I am just saying that Clinton should have done these things when we had the money. As noted on the website above it states in bold clear terms…
The Act is an extraordinary response
to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression
It seems to me, Mr. Taxpayer and future Deficit payer that someone up top took advantage of this dim situation and threw lots of PORK into the ACT.
Personally, I believe that one of the first things the new Congress should do is put an immediate halt to all Recovery ACT projects that are not being done to connect us from our homes to our places of employment.
You be the judge. Thanks for reading.
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