Some of what you say about gov’t spending is true, but I think you’re forgetting about instances where gov’t spending actually does something for our national economic growth. Examples where gov’t spending increases our capacity to grow are in infrastructre, science, education and research/development. All of these things are major drivers for our positive economic future. They are also ways to employ people in meaningful ways. Where would we be without NASA? Where would we be without roads, airports and bridges to move commerce? We would also be in a world of hurt if goverment didn’t fund scientific research and education as well. All of these things are in areas where private enterprise would not get involved until (or unless) there is profit to be had.
I am in agreement that much of the government spending we had under our President’s stimulus package was misdirected. I think, as you do, that keeping people on the payroll simply for the sake of putting money in people’s hands isn’t productive in the long run. But, building roads, airports and rail to move goods, is extremeely beneficial to not only the worker doing the job, but to the economy as a whole. Also, employing scientists to do research, or providing money to universities for education and research are all part of gov’t spending and have shown to pay huge dividends.
What we nned to do is focus on what we know and what we’ve done right over the last 75 years. We need to continue building our education system, so that people from around the world come here to discover and develop. We also need to take the initiative to continue expanding our infrastructure. We are a devloped nation that needs to continue develop through infrastructure, science, medicine, R & D, etc.
Now, as far as private business goes, we need to get back to manufacturing. Get folks working to make things. Making things, is what ultimately saves our human essence. We gave loads of money to the banksters to prop them up. Now they need to take some of the profits they’ve made by borrowing at .25% and buying treasuries that pay 2-4% and get things going. Too many players are holding on to money, so that they feel more comfortable, when the movement of that money could be employing some folks through investment in real projects.
