SOOOoooo.... how can we get in on the action? (Stimulus Plan)

[FirstLight]

I am wondering, other than the "usual" phone calls, emails, faxes, etc to the congresscritters...WHAT recourse do WE THE PEOPLE HAVE with this stimulus plan? This plan is just to be drafted in the halls pof power and we have to 'take it'...?

President Obama wants us to be active in our government, wants transparency, etc... will WE get to really make a difference on this legislation??? ...will our comments make a damn bit of difference??

Too many economists are saying that we only have ONE CHANCE to get this RIGHT. If the package doesn't do the trick, then we are in for a ride SOOOO much worse than the 'other' Depression.
The biggest problem is JOBS and creating new ways for wealth to be made and distributed to those in the 'middle' right?

I capital was the real problem, then having banks give money to people would be the solution. But noboidy can take out a loan when they don't have an income. duh, even I can get that idea!

AND
what happens of the stimulus, in all it's glory and bipartisan wonder, doesn't do more than slow down the inevitable crash...?
what happens then?
will there even BE a PLAN B...or PLAN C for that matter?
at what point is there just no more money?

[FirstLight]

1. KICK ...for some answers!!

opinions, ideas, etc... thanks!

[Double T]

2. Stimulus as proposed will not work as was proved in the last failed bush stimulus.

Products and services need to be made in America. Trade with countries that want a one way street will be halted; equal trade or no trade at all. Close the door on immigration to the USA. GD Americans CAN'T THINK THEY CAN HAVE IT ALL, because they can't!!! Since the chance of most of this happening is unlikely, prepare for the greatest depression ever.

[marketcrazy1]

3. they did not listen last time

why do you think they will listen this time?? for the record i was AGAINST the TARP bailout.. I faxed, I called, I petitioned, I wrote Congress, I wrote to Obama`s campaign with a detailed opinion of WHY I opposed that bill and everything i said turned out to be correct. I agree with Double T this package as it stands right now WILL FAIL... by late summer they will announce a CASH stimulus to ALL Americans but unless they get this right ( and there is still time ) that will fail too!!!

[debbierlus]

4. Thank you! There are CRICKETS chirping in here on this issue...

Obama needs to hear from us, NOW.

Loudly.

I am going to write a much longer journal post about activism OUTSIDE of election cycles. The work BEGAN January 20th, it did not end.

[FirstLight]

5. kick again

So, we have plenty of comments about exporting jobs, and bitching about this or that stupid reference that someone made on "meet the press" but when it comes to
STANDING UP

nothing but silence...


gee, and I thought we were ASKED by our new President to GET INVOLVED

anyone?.....anyone....?

you know that CHANGE doesn't happen when we all sit around and talk about how it'll never happen

[tosh]

7. Same sentiments, Journalgrrl.

I'm contacting all the critters, but I'd feel a lot better if we were putting together a mass effort of some sort.

I'm terribly disappointed in the size of the pie that's being committed to infrastructure. I'm so F'ing tired of these rethugs on teevee with their free-market drivel. I am not happy with the "concessions" that are being made.

What can we do?

We have voted, we have spoken, we are not being heard.

Will we have to take to the streets?

[groovedaddy]

6. Public Citizen is doing something on this issue...just checked their site

but couldn't find anything yet.
They sent out an action notice earlier today, but I've already deleted it.
http://www.citizen.org/

[mbee]

8. I sent an email to the President asking that he

discuss with Congress the drafting of immediate legislation making it unlawful for any financial institution to charge an interest rate higher than 15% and to make bill payment time periods a uniform time period of 30 days. The financial institution need to be regulated yesterday. They gave all those bad loans out and then when the chicks came home to roost they tried to make up for it by ruining their good customers credit. They change due dates up interest rates any time they feel like it. I personally think just these two moves would help people more than the little tax cut that they want to pass.

[FirstLight]

9. I checked out the citizen site

nothing yet on the stim bill, but I was able to draft and send a letter to the congress critter from my dist...

we'll see what else we can come up with, though I think the decision has already been made in so many words.

[GOP_refugee]

10. Stimulus as written is corporate welfare

Did you know that, buried in the tax provisions, there is a huge gift to failing corporations.

Under current tax code, a business can "carry over" a tax loss to claim a credit for past taxes paid for only two years. The stim package would expand it to five.

This would allow failing banks and corporations like big builders (Toll, KB Homes) to essentially raid the treasury. And if you think they are going to create jobs, forget about it. These guys are going to use the money to enrich themselves through bonuses, or buying back their own stock so they can dump it later.

Call the Senate!