Is the stimulus package creating jobs?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Almost a year since President Obama signed the massive $787 billion dollar economic stimulus package into law, turns out the public isn't so crazy about it.
A new CNN-Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows almost three-quarters of Americans say that at least half of the money spent has been wasted.
The poll also shows 63 percent say the projects in the plan were included for purely political reasons, while only 36 percent say the projects will help the economy.
Overall, 56 percent oppose the stimulus plan... last year, a majority supported it.
There's even disagreement among the president's top lieutenants on how effective the stimulus package has been. Three top White House officials gave three different answers on the Sunday talk shows about how many jobs could be credited to the president's recovery act.
Valerie Jarrett said the plan "saved thousands and thousands of jobs." David Axelrod said it "created more than, or saved more than two million jobs," while Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said it "saved or created 1.5 million jobs."
The so-called American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was meant to stimulate the economy by increasing federal spending and cutting taxes.
The White House predicted the stimulus package would keep the unemployment rate from going above eight percent - it's 10 percent.
Here’s my question to you: Do you believe the stimulus package is creating jobs?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Chandler from New Jersey writes:
Obama's economic team consists of theoreticians who believe that jobs magically spring up behind their charts and graphs of the abstract “economy.” In reality, a job is a miniature economic engine that has to generate more money for the employer than it costs to hire the employee. Between globalization, free communication, legal and illegal foreign workers, and computerization, American businesses have learned they can make money without hiring American workers. Wall Street parties, while Main Street withers, waiting for jobs that will never come back. My solution: kill all the economists. Sorry, Krugman.
Doug writes:
I live in the Hollywood Hills above West Hollywood. Our streets are in a disgusting state (haven't been repaved since 1927) as are most streets in Los Angeles, one of America's gateway cities. I see billions going to fix streets in areas where hardly anyone lives in other states, but our great city gets nothing… Pres. Obama, we have an estimated $6 billion of street repairs here in Los Angeles, that's a lot of jobs, and the project has been shovel-ready since 1927.
Elizabeth from Los Angeles writes:
It may be creating jobs someplace, but not for me: 65, female, Caucasian, probably assumed to be not in need of work. I'm not exactly the right fit for a "shovel ready" job, but my unemployment has run out and things aren't looking any too good any too soon for us seniors.
Beverly from Mystic, Iowa writes:
I know for a fact that it is. I travel the U.S. for a living and have come across many new jobs being created, not only in Iowa, but ALL across America. Right now, I'm in Oklahoma. In the local paper, I read about Tulsa's 244 Project. It praised the progress being made on Oklahoma highway projects funded by $465 million in federal stimulus money.
Jerry writes:
Jack, I think the varying responses by Obama's lieutenants were a misdirection play. It was to change the debate to these imaginary saved jobs away from an economy that was bleeding jobs. While many of us wanted to go to work, Congress and the White House were focused on health care reform.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Absolutely not, which is why they come up with the bogus "jobs saved" number. It's impossible to quantify and they can make it do whatever they want. It let's them say they have saved or created jobs by extending unemployment benefits. Completely falsified.
There is a lot of roadwork going on in Massachusetts due to Obama's new measures. From what I see with my own two eyes I'd say yes.
By the time money is skimmed off the top by greedy politicans,some will trickle down to the people. This is not enough and not enough thought went into job programs. They should take a look at the CETA ACT of the mid 1970's. This act trained people by working within the system. I,for example,became Assistant PR Director at our local PBS. I got to use my education and was specifically trained in working with the press and TV. All while collecting a salary and having myself covered with insurance. We need to put some white collar new graduates to work. Not just construction workers. A little more thought and a little less hurry.
No. It was all pork.
Yes but not enough. The econmomy will never be a robust as it was until FAIR TRADE is negotiated.
Not in the least! If jobs are actually being created as a result, the numbers are so small, they haven't hit anyone's radar. Anyone who feels the stock market valuation is appropriate, can't understand the numbers, namely the P/E ratios. We sold out to China and India long ago and as a result, our jobs are now in foreign territory.
Other than the supply chain of the auto industry and select bank executives, most Americans feel as though we are in a depression and jobs are extremely hard to come by. Underemployment lurks large in the shadows and is virtually overlooked by the statisticians. Let's face it folks – NO JOBS, NO RECOVERY! To see all of the fat cats in the banking industry collecting massive bonuses and "pensions" is an insult to common intelligence while the middle class takes a bath and loses most of what they worked for over the past 3-4 decades! That is where Obama is making big mistakes and to allow the B of A CEO walk with over $50M is a complete travesty.
The stimulus should have come with strict guidelines on "compensation" before it was distributed and if the people behind the companies involved truly cared about keeping the operations alive, they would have forgone the fat paychecks and sweet deals in the end!
2012 seems to be the mark for a noticeable recovery time frame in my estimation, I just don't see it as plausible before then, given the current practices in the banking and Mortgage industries that desperately need regulations in place. Tax revenues are likely to decline sharply over the next few years as more and more americans file for bankruptcy and default on their mortgages. As property values are adjusted downward, the city cash drawers are going to be short by a long shot. I say we should get used to our "New Economy" and live withing the means we have, cut up credit cards and cancel large credit lines – cash & carry until 2020!
I KNOW, FOR A FACT, THAT IT IS. (Sorry, I know you don't want to hear this.) I travel the U.S. for a living, & have come across MANY new jobs being created, not only in Iowa, but ALL across America. Right now, I'm in Oklahoma. In the local paper, I read about Tulsa's 244 Project. " . . . praised the progress being made on Oklahoma highway projects funded by $465 million in federal stimulus money." (Some of Oklahoma's pot-hole-filled roads are deplorable!) If there is any doubt about job creation, or anything else, you only have to go online, & see for yourself. What could be more simple?
The paper read today, "Sam's Club" (Walmart's, "Costco"). Is laying off 10,000 workers. Here in Sactown the Natomas Sam's is completely closing. Sam's Club, mainly sells crap(they're not alone) from Communist China. If Walmart is laying off, we are in serious trouble. Walmart buys/sells more stuff from Communist China than any other retailer in the World! It would be nice if we produced the products here that Walmart, or Sam's or even Nordstroms sells.
Because, production jobs, lead to warehouse jobs, trucking jobs then to retail jobs. Who, reorder and the process starts all over again. It's working America that supports, America. Working Americans money leads to other businesses that produce other jobs. All these jobs support the govt, in the way of...... paying taxes! Unless this stimulus can stimulate about.......what.......10 million jobs, then it's not worth spending. Get the jobs back from Communist China. Remember, when we used to produce the items that we consumed, here. We used to have really low unemployment rates. We used to export more than we import (low deficit). Now, we import, everything(high deficit).
Sorry for the length. The loss of our jobs, pisses me off.
Not long term jobs those have been sent to China and now India is looking to take what is leftover.
Nope
yes, yes, and yes! I work in recruitment and I have seen many jobs open up after the stimulus money made its way to our State (district). People who say there aren't any jobs do not know where or how to look.
Eric R.
Washington D.C
The Democrats in Washington say it has created or saved 2 million jobs in the economy but if it has those jobs are not here where I live. This stimulus bill is the most expensive bill in American History and it hasn't done nothing but go towards wasteful spending, the President and anyone else can say yeah it created or saved jobs but truth be told people it has not really done nothing at all and now our future generation will be stuck paying this back, we need a leader with experience in Washington.
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
Beyond my wildest dreams...only kidding, of course not. We are losing jobs every month. Now the transparent WH site is counting imagined jobs. What a non-transparent, arrogant, dangerous administration!!!
The President is so polarizing because he has allowed congressional leaders to drive his agenda. He has led by being led by the most polarizing insiders of Pelosi and Reid. But he set the tone by putting R. Emanuel in his administration. He may say he wants to work across the aisle but he has made no such genuine effort to do so.
I like how CNN posted an article how phoenix is getting job stimulus but pictured with "volunteers"!
The stimulus money at this point cant even be accounted for. Thanks for adding close to another trillion dollars to our deficit Obama!
Jack,
I am sure it is creating job the problem is no one can tell us where or how many! The closest example as to how it seems the stimulus is working is taking a handlful of seeds and throwing them on the ground and hopings something will grow.
New York
New York
Where? please tell me and i will apply for one...
It is probably creating some wealthy congressmen, we would all probably have a stroke if we knew just how bad congress is screwing us. I don't believe anyone in congress can tell the truth about anything, as they o are out for themselves only.
Kind of hard to CREATE jobs when all you are doing is sending money to- unemployment,banks that arent lending, and 'public works' projects that havent hired anyone. The fact is, until you make a SERIOUS effort to restart the small business lending in this country...job growth will not happen.
Jack
Of course NOT every person in this country except Barney Frank and Pres Obama knew that.
David
If it's anything like the stimulous package we have I have to say NO. Most of the money will be aimed at pet projects already in motion but won't create very many if any new jobs. Companies with projects on the go will get tax dollars to hire hundreds but instead will hire 1 tenth as many and keep the left over dollars,
no. the problem is that all the ppl in washington have money, so they really don't know what it's like for those of us that don't. they should've put the money from the stimulus and the bail out into the hands of every tax paying american citizen. most ppl would've have spent on bills and junk they didn't need (stimulating the economy.) then put the other bit in the bank anyway. it's not rocket science
Maybe for a few but all the pork jobs will be over in a few months,There just was never enough on infrastructure,but more for favorites as golf courses,beach sand replacement,Pig farm odor studies,studying the grandparents of Alaskans,paying bonsus to AIG,money for the arts,grants for students,just crapola,and on and on.
If anyone doesn't believe that countless new jobs are being created, or that numerous jobs are being saved by the Stimulus Plan, they just aren't paying attention. They need to do their homework before shooting their mouths off.
When Big Bank got billions, it didn't help small businesses (who were SUPPOSED to be helped) much. I'm guessing that the INTENDED and actual number of jobs created or saved don't compare well to each other.
If giving help to people is like "feeding stray animals" then isn't helping bad business practicers about the same thing?
Jack,
Stimulus is working especially to the states that appreciated the planning and implemented the expenditure. Ohio,PN, and Colorado are examples. My Governor(TX) refused to take stimulus package. In Dallas ISD over 1200 teachers and staff lost their jobs in the past 8 months. Weeks after Gov Perry refused to take stimulus package, he applied for federal loan to fund his budget deficit. Not only DISD but other school districts have laid off teachers as well. Yes political ideology is prevailing here at the expense of recovery. However those who received stimulus and who didn't will pay equal federal taxes anyway! If stimulus works elsewhere or not we shall know after recovery.
Jerry
Dallas-TX.
Because it would have been to hard to allow the money be spent rationally and outside the ideals of the internal party magistration of the halls of the Capitol. He who controls the party of control controls the treasury.
What have the people truly received: sure it seems a mass got paid, but who truly go employed and how did the national economy as a whole benefit in the long term.
The nation is caught up in itself and how it sits in the present because the method of election has been sullied to allow massive corruption in the due process of true nation building. The resources are funnelled into private agenda which benefit few but the truly involved...
The Government is meant to be a body of future planning: a model of reason and untility. Government requires instruction: the people of America have that instruction via the Constitution: and of that Constitution the government itself gains first order and initial structure.
A nation of the people: yet the national responsibility is to all of its citizens: not just those who find routes to application via progression of party donation and some right by championship of competitive party relegation of authority to allow only a select part of the public manage access to true people of power and order, while those people of power and order are replaced with those who can easily be manipulated into direction.
A Government stimulus should stimulate the government and not the people: if the people are the problem and in America(as the electors of your government are then found to be that problem: as you lack the information needed to give justice to the direction proper of Government,) placated with the notion of the norm, while the norm is only the product of years of mis-management falling back to 1779: to control the party controls the treasury... To make the Government go to parties become factioned: it is the oldest style of discord to disorder which is known: make the leaders fight themselves... and while they are distracted they take your empire: eventually return to run your treasury...
Build infrastructure: owned by the nation: this stimulates the nation in a long term. repairs and continued services. A nation which doesn't build can not support a service industry: greenbacked belief will not buy foriegn coffee beans forever... Currency is a tool: not a reward: fiat is a loan and not real currency. We were borrowed from by fiat: and now we do not produce enough to pay the interest. Where does that money really go: so your tax dollars now pay to afford calumnations and to facilitate mental rape, all you need to do is find out what stimulus deed did not get truly done: or which stimulus service does not make any sense.
No, but that doesn't mean it's a failure. In America, our health and medical well being is directly related to our boss's business acumen. For those of us who were laid off, the stimulus subsidized our COBRA payments so we were able to keep our insurance, Without that, for a single person, to stay insured would have cost two weeks' unemployment. For a family it would have cost all of it.
very simple NO
unemployeed sence nov. 30 2008
perry jones council bluffs ia
With CNN reporting on just the few jobs saved,but not the real wasteful spending on the pork projects.like Murtha's airport,Harkin's pig farm ordor study,the wasteful AMtrak spending,the study of Alaskan Grandparents,the golf course in San Fran,The replacement of beach sand in a few states, the money to the arts,the grants for students,increases in um-employment benefits,increases in medicaid,and the very small amount actually spent on infrastructure.
People can't be fooled by what they see – and that is roadwork done by illegals hired by contractors breaking the law. I have not talked to one person who has one of these jobs or even knows of someone with one. Do you know anyone who has gotten stimulus money except bankers and people who know how to run the maze of bids with outsourced and "undocumented" labor?
the stimulus has not worked jack. Although cnn likes to hype up stimulus money you have made your case to the viewers and we have rejected yet. Jack have u noticed how often your network praises the stimulus. And you guys always do the awww stimulus feeds the kids and keeps vets off the street all important but if we look at the amount spent vs. the results its a joke. Rather then trying to make our hearts bleed for the poor why dont we find out the average spent and how it compares to other projects. Cnn go's farther to defend the stimulus then obama jack
NO!! I would like to say there was some trickle down, but that would be lying. The money disappears as it moves down to the people it was supposed to help. The "management" gets a cut every time it takes a step. What would have unemployment been if they hadn't implemented this? 20%?!?! Rob in NC
I am closely following the outcome of the stimulus package and the Wall Street bail-out money. I don't have any real sense on how well the stimulus package is working or not.
My question to you is, before President Bush left office, didn't he approve money to be released? Maybe at least as much as President Obama has released? Was this for Wall Street bail-out or stumulus? How was that money tracked? Did it work?
Thank you.
Of course it's creating jobs. It's not enough to turn the economy around on a dime, but when you pump money into the economy it will obviously result in more money out there to pay people, more money in your pocket - $480 a year in payroll tax credits for individuals making less than 250 K per year - which you then spend, which pumps more money into the economy. Don't be stupid. It's simple addition and subtraction. Put money in – more jobs, take money out, less jobs. Note also: taxes don't take money out of the overall system.
Do you believe the stimulus package is creating jobs?
Look at the Jobs numbers duh! If I was a Democrat I would say yes. If I was a Republican I would say no. I am an Independent and the Job nubers say NO!
It's probably created more minimum wage and low paying jobs than politicians would dare admit. It appears that the stimulus package only served to create false numbers with no real impact income levels. Waste and fraud are the trade marks of government programs, and this one is certainly no different.
i think the president barack obama is right because i had seen so many people creates jobs even though they are not so dumb after all and i already know that they will do a wonderful job keep up the good job jack you are the number one best anchor guy
I no how to create jobs for us . first every store in the USA need to have half of its goods made in USA. Second need to tax or make other countrys buy our goods or gooding to tax their goods.AND last americas need to read the label if it was not made here put it back.Americas are to blame too buying all of chinas goods and wonder where all the jobs are?
How do nearly 75% Americans know that at least half of the stimpack funds were wasted? On what would they base this baseless assertion? This is a worthless poll that only perhaps is an indicator of the frustration that Americans feel over the economy.
No and the "progressive" aka radical trifecta don't want it to because they need as many dependents as possible to support their welfare agenda.
Jack,
I think the varying responses by Obama's lieutenants was a misdirection play. It was to change the debate to these imaginary saved jobs away from an economy that was bleeding jobs. While many of us wanted to go to work, Congress and The white House were focused on Health Care reform.
Sure, it's creating lots of jobs, government jobs. Unfortunately, that appears to be the only job sector that is hiring as of now...
A better question might be...How do you prove (or measure) that 2 million jobs have been SAVED? My brother-in-law is still working, does that mean his job was saved or would he have never been fired in the first place? For me, trying to justify this totally destroys a person's credibility!
Amen for ARRA! I was just downsized from my job, and without it, I'd be paying 1K to get health insurance for my wife and myself, as opposed to a little over $300. Bush did nothing while the economy collapsed, and at least Obama tried to do something. Would everyone be more happy if we were in a full-fledged depression?
I know that our local government just got their funds a month ago. The projects for these funds have been highly scrutinized before they were approved, and are tracked by every hour worked and job created. It took this long to get to the local and county level. It is working but people have to understand the red tape to get these funds through.
You must be kidding!! Why isn't there any oversight for jobs created.
We have bailed out Wall Street, but where is a committee to investigate how many jobs per state have been created.
Millions of people are unemployed, underemployed, and what about those who have fallen off the ranks of unemployment. Where is accountability? Let those in the White house get REAL!!!Let White House officials live on an average unemployment check. If the American people must learn to BUDGET why can't the White House?
it's creating jobs! YES YES YES YES YES!
The only way to create jobs is to stimulate and support small businesses. We small business owners are on an island alone. We are the backbone of the U.S. economy and no-one is listening. Stimulating the economy could be so easy if the money would flow to the small businesses ... why is everything we do in this country backwards.
I think the package probably saved some jobs of state workers because the money has found its way into the states before anyplace else. I don't think it has actually created jobs. The bigger issue is the blossoming unemployment number that the plan was supposed to stop at 8%. If one adds back to the unemployment numbers the people the federal government has dropped from is statistics of the work force, the unemployment number is closer to 11.5%.
"Wouldn't you think they'd all get on the same page before going on the Sunday talk shows?", you asked. Those morons? NO.
I'm sure it has created at least SOME jobs, but who knows how many, or how long any of them will last? We should definitely be seeing some results, and something concrete to show for it, but where are they?
Jack, of course the government stimulus is not working to create jobs because the government can't create jobs. All they can do is take from the productive private sector and spend it on less efficient government jobs. The government doesn't own or produce anything it can just take.
What a short memory we have.....the largest stimulus money was passed under Bush—the reason we have stimulus money is because of the lessons learned by economists from the Great Depression—when the FED cut the money supply and plunged America into the Great Depression....now, both Democrat and Republican economists agree on massive deficit spending to keep “liquidity” in the economy-So why all the waiving and flailing of arms about Obama?
Stimulus money saved jobs in our town. Alittle more and maybe we could improve our schools.
The bailout "was nessesary" we have been told.
I guess we all are to work for financal co's in the future.
How about investing in companies that are NOT on the brink of collapse? Like the ones that can fix our infastructure? Manufacture quailty products made by our workers? Make the Educational system competitive in the world?
Honestly, if the whole of Washington doesn't get moving in the direction "we the people" wanted, THEY are going to be out of work.
After all, what makes them think they are entitled to more than the American Worker? All American's are watching their backs at work, trying to keep the job they have. Washington should feel the same way.
Well it creates jobs because money is being spent. The real question should be whether or not people feel the jobs being created are helping our country in the future. It was packaged as a "New Deal" style infrastructure improvement plan, which it is not.
I know of a particular instance where $1 million was spent to buy Mac Book Pro's, which I fought to prevent.
The facts are simple: The first part of the stimulus alone prevented the Bush recession from turning into the second Great Depression, and saved millions of jobs. Job losses from the Bush recession have continued to reduce in losses each month, and soon will begin growth trends. Yes, just a portion of the stimulus is clearly working- Conservative policies would have destroyed us, and will, given any chance.
Sure it's creating a couple jobs. After the money is gone, those people will be out of work again and then we'll have to pay China back the borrowed money so they can create jobs that I bet will be more permanent. Roger Sargent Albion Pa
Well I think Obama is trying.,but not hard enough
There was a report on ABC Evening News with Charlie Gibson just before he retired proving the stimulus was creating jobs, no matter how much the GOP lies about it, and the rest of media propagate the lie. The GOP is just angry us lowly slobs got the tax cuts this time, instead of their rich friends. They didn’t get to pillage what little remains. At least not yet.
Jack if this helping I'm in Disneyland I have out of a job and looking for to long nothing thy can do short of giving out millions of dollars to us is not enough and by the way some 3rd world back water has a problem and everyone opens their wallets while their own country men starve hypocrisy to a new level from the 4% of the people with money and our Govement "Jerks " !!! God Help us all
Yes it is working. The President has said time and time again that a turnaround was not going to happen overnight. Mt sister got a job and a couple of other people I know have gotten jobs as well. If the President could snap his fingers and help everybody at one time, don't you think he would.
the only jobs being created are those for special interests and campaign contributors, however future generations will have to pick up the tab. Crippling is what it is! What a J-O-K-E !!
Yes, the stimulus package has created jobs. We won't get a straight answer from Washington..ever. That is why the work CNN is doing tracing the spending of these dollars is critical. PLEASE keep up your investigative reporting. Hard working taxpayers who are busy doing their jobs are counting on you. It is , after all, your job.
Stimulus money is only creating jobs for rich. You can not create jobs if you send jobs to India and China. We do not make anything any more and only import things. Very soon we will export service jobs too. I had call from insurance company that if I want tohave elective sergery then I should go toIndia because it is less expensive there. So even doctors and nurses jobs can be exported to other countries.
Some states have reported more jobs created, and others haven't. Don't you think we should wait a while before condemning Obama for not fixing up the mess Bush created fast enough? He's peddling as fast as he can.
Doris
Ojai, California
Emphatic No. Any short term boost to some of the low level jobs is just that – low level and short term at best.
The term "Save Jobs" was fundamentally designed to deceive and artificially boost numbers.
There are only so many jobs and you will eventually reach a low level critical number that corporations cannot do without. It is no surprise that the rate of job loss is declining.
Let Obama take credit for it. Let him say without him UA would have been 25%. You see this is all nonsense..... All he does is to show off, pretend and dig for glory.
Of course the stimulus package is creating jobs, and it has saved a lot of jobs from being lost.
Has it created enough jobs? No.
It obviously didn't create enough bean counter jobs for keeping track of the number of jobs created, and for that I am thankful.
Sun Valley, Idaho
I don't see it. Why do the administration's claims about jobs remind me of Mark Twain's comment about 3 types of liars. Liars, damned liars and politicians (or is that statisticians, sometimes it's easy to get confused).
No permanent jobs have been created – and the permanent jobs will not re-appear until we bring them back from abroad.
The only way to get permanent jobs is to restore our manufacturing base – clothing, steel, appliances, computers, television sets, automobiles, ... even the so-called 'green' jobs that make wind turbines, solar panels....
Poof!
All of the jobs the 'stimulus' has created will vanish as soon as the projects are complete.
Poof!
This 'stimulus' will pop – it is another 'bubble' in disguise.
Dear Jack,
Yer durn tootin' the stim package is creating jobs (& preserving jobs). My local paper just published an impressive list of new & sustained projects in our town - including road repair and solar panels on the roof of our new library. I think the stim package is really just kicking into gear.
The stimulus money for the most is supporting short term projects. Instead it should have been used to create manufacturing jobs for instance it could have been used to keep Whirlpool from moving a manufacturing plant to Mexico this year, I thought Obama said he was going to bring manufacturing jobs back to the USA. Well he could have stopped these jobs leaving he just likes the sound of his own voice.
William
Georgia
It would only be an assumption to answer this question as I have not seen any concrete data.
But my gut feeling is that it has saved jobs but done very little to create jobs....yet.
Until the remainder of the money is used to create jobs that were displaced by the loss in the auto industry, auto industry related, and collateral jobs the auto industry supported, in other words manufacturing and service jobs. It will be difficult to expand the job market.
The green initiative appears to be the way to open up manufacturing and service jobs, but if you thought health care was a brutal fight, wait until we get to cap and trade.
Yes, it's creating our jobs. Just down the street from my house there's a re-investment project underway which is improving the appearance of our main business district. Making this district more appealing will probably bring in more shoppers to the area and that too creates jobs.
A significant amount of stimulus money has not even been distributed. Most Americans would have no clue where the money is going anyway. The real question is how many jobs would have been lost without the stimulus?
By the way, it is all in how you ask the question. You should try to not sound biased when you ask a question. What up with that Jack?
How can they get back jobs, rebuild the middle class when corporations outsourced jobs to India Pakistan, China, Indonisia and the Philippines? No chance...
No, from my perspective it is only saving some existing jobs. Thus, at the most, I would consider it to have a minor neutralizing effect on the downward turn of the economy. The cost per job is unbelievably expensive.
What I "believe" is unimportant. The problem with the Sunday talk folks is that they were stating what they believe. What's important is how much effect the stimulus package is really having and it seems that those dispensing the money don't really know. They have gotten a number from somewhere and then run with it. What CNN is doing right now probably exceeds what the government has done or planned to do in order to precisely audit the dispensing of money and the effect of the dispensation. The government has given itself dispensation for not tracking its own dispensing of stimulus dollars.
Maybe saved a few jobs. But more importantly. I understand $30,000,000 went to save a marsh mouse in Nancy Pelosi's district. Of course there are plenty others. I think if people knew how much pork was in that bill, we would throw them all (repubs and dems) out!
I traveled Interstate 80 this fall. From Wyoming to the Golden Gate the highway was being repaired – no doubt with stimulus money.
I personally know people who were scheduled for layoffs, teachers and other vital workers, who made it clear to me that the Recovery act saved their job. We also seem to forget taht the bulk of early spending was in the formof tax cuts to the middle class and extension of cobra and unemployment benefits. How many primary and secondary jobs were sabved or created fromthat flow of money. I'm glad CNN is examining the affects of the ARRA good, bad and ugly at this point. Some of the bad and ugly now may create the next ipod.
Not so much. Not yet anyway, but I think it's because they are too worried about the deficit and didn't spend enough on the stimulus. I know I'm in the minority on this, but I believe the Nobel prize winners on Economics, Stigler and Krugman. Jon Stewart said Americans are never satisfied and I think he's right. We want it all and right now.
from Sarasota, FL
There are buckets of statistics out there that the stimulus bill has created tons of jobs, as well as kept lots of people from losing their jobs. The problem is the enormity of the problem inherited by President Obama from the horrific Bush presidency. As most economists statedat the time the package was being debated, the size of the stimulus package was not big enough, so many if not most unemployed Americans will not experience help from the stimulus package. And Americans are very impatient and expect instant results when in reality we avoided a complete economic meltdown due to this program. We should be grateful we are not in bread lines like my grandparents were in the Great Depression.
Are you out of your mind.... Search for a job in monster, dice or any other websites available and count the number of jobs – you will find the answer.
It is obvious that there is no change in job numbers. It turns out Hillary is correct, Job experience is important after all, not for me...... but for Obama.
God bless America.
First at no time did the administration say the stimulus package would keep unemployment from going higher than 8% so don't throw that lie out there. The stimulus must be working because companies are not laying off as much as they were a year ago. My company for instance is increasing our location by over 160 folks this year. If you want to get this country moving again, stop the idiots executives who are sending jobs off shore to make their financials look better. Keep the jobs here!!
yes jack, the ARRA funds are creating jobs. the american people are impatient and need to stop being so easy to manipulate by the latest news gaga, it takes time to spend billions of dollars responsibly. who among us would run out and spend a hundred thousand dollars without looking carefully into how it is spent. Im a gov employee and its my responsiblity to spend money wisely on small engineering projects in montana. the american people can feel safe knowing we all, are doing our part to make it happen, be patient, only now are the majority of the construction contracts being started up. the large ones. its coming. companies with no work, now have work, and they will spend that money for supplies and salaries and it will trickle down. it takes time though. be patient.
The so called stimulus package did not create permanent jobs but rather one shot projects that were ginned up to spend our money. In our area we have a dandy new fence along I-80 to keep the critters back but where will the money come from to maintain it? It did protect lots of state and local government jobs by throwing money their way; another burden we taxpayers will have to pick up later.
Wall street doesn't seem to having a problem with their job situation! So, the answer to the question is yes. But the question should be where is the stimulus package creating jobs? Certainly not jobs on Main street!
Yes it's working! After 16 months of no work as a residential contractor in Tampa, FL, we started two new "affordable" houses a couple of months ago, for a local non-profit organization. Without the stimulus funds to our City and County we would still be sucking our thumbs, along with all our sub-contractors and suppliers that have not lost their businesses.
Trying to stimulate a seriously damaged economy is difficult under any circumstances. But when you inject politics as another hurdle it becomes almost impossible. By my estimation the biggest mistake was to try to run the money through the states. Here in Texas, Gov. Perry has rejected over $1.2 billion so that he can further his anti-Washington campaign and agenda, he would rather that the stimulus fail for personal and political reasons than to have people here and elsewhere, put to work.
Keith
Lewisville, TX
The fact that I don't know if it worked is a problem. I am all for saving the economy because that affects us all. But I am not feeling saved or affected. Who's jobs were spared? What jobes were created as a direct result of the money. Find out and get back tous. Soon.
Doris T
Gaithersburg maryland
We have to give it time. People need to really understand that we dodged a economic nuclear bomb. We could have been and should have been in a huge depression that would have taken a decade or more to crawl out of. The TARP and Stimulus Packages are ugly and not what anyone wanted to do, but sometimes you have to amputate a limb to save your life. We are economically alive and in a very inconsistent and slow recovery, but very few seem to know how close we came to the abyss.
From what I've studied of American economic history, it's a slippery slope to determine what effect, if any, efforts made by the federal government have had in stimulating national economic activity. FDR was highly criticized for his public works projects and his efforts to bring the US out of the Great Depression are still hotly debated. For as polarizing a president as President Obama is – at least he's getting Americans active in political debate again. Do I think his stimulus projects are working towards creating a stronger economic basis for the US? Not really. But after eight years of GW Bush and his Republican cronies assuming the American public to be their personal scatalogical receptors, I'm delighted to see Obama at least attempt to fix problems that festered under Republican rule.
absolutely not......
our children are going to college and getting further in dept and upon graduating , they cannot find a job.
upon finding a job,they have to relocate and pay their high utilities and high rent plus their college loans.
anything the government tries to do costs the taxpayer and accomplishes nothing.
lets vote in a new government .
Definately not. This is just more of Obamas failed policys.
Jack, I think we Americans think everything should give us instant results. We have instant pudding, and almost instant internet access. Hey I'm here in Delaware communicating with you! That's fast isn't it? People think the economy should be the same. I believe it'll take time for it to work thru the system. I work in State Gevernment and can see projects comming online that'll put people back to work.
no one seems to be using the common sense approach in answering these questions. Just because there is stillo unemployment, doesn't mean that the stimulus plan is not working. The president stated in the beginning, things are not going to change overnight. It does not take a genius to agree with that. THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND.
SYLVIA
CALIF.
Jack, it's too early to tell. Give it some time, it was just put into action last year. Things as big as this need alot of time to take affect. Then again, the media seems to care too much about a good story than it does giving things time.
Jack it depends on how you look at the numbers ,it's 2 million dollars if your talking about waisted jobs, and thousand if your talking about good jobs !
Well Jack, I don't believe the package has been even half employed yet.
I think that the only immediate hiring response would be from civic infrastructure which can put people to work immediately. The civil side of the equation needs more time to ramp up, especially small business.
We love you Jack – but what stimulus package? My husband has been layed off for nine months. Tell me where these so called "stimulus jobs" are and we will move to that state today! Unfortunately, if you don't live on Wall Street or are in employed in big government, you don't have a fighting chance!
"stimulus" package? more like an excuse to pillage the federal budget by dems (and i'm a dem) who finally found an excuse to send federal money to any number of stakeholders and voting interests.
let's rewind the "crisis." it begins with a real estate bubble fueled by poor finance, flimsy derivatives, and short-sighted investors. when the bubble bursts, the banks and other financial institutions declare themselves "too big to fail." they threaten economic disaster if they aren't bailed out. the government bails them out. they stop lending and invest the TARP money they get. they borrow even more cheap money to lend at higher interest overseas, profitting from the infusion of cheap money. by stopping lending, the banks stall the economy which then begins to shrink. now, everyone is told that we are in "the worst financial crisis since the great depression." meanwhile, congress uses the excuse of the "crisis" and takes advantage of its new "super-majority," to pass over $3 trillion in spending bills, mostly targeting projects and sustaining unemployment and related benefits, with a nod to some new cars (mostly foreign) and first time house buyers (who would have been buying houses anyway).
does this sound fishy?
Jack,
I have been unemployed for over a year. If you think the government is going to help us then we are really in trouble. If you want a stimulus package you better get out on your own and do it yourself. I have been making a living buying and selling on Craig's list over the past year. I can pay my bills and thats it. But no hand outs from the government!
The government would mess up a 2 car funeral!!!!
The US government can't even manage their own buisness. Then I heard Vice President Biden talking this morning. He mentioned in his conversation that the average American makes a 100k a year and it was tough for them to be care givers for ageing parents.
What a stupid comment. It goes to show exactly how our leaders think.
They are really quite stupid.
NO It did no good They used this to pay people for their votes, and were stuck holding the bag. Oh yea we got a 13.00 tax break per paycheck,and now I found out we have to pay it back in this years taxes.What a Guy that Obama!! Jerry /Iowa
My husband was unemployed for nearly a year and a half despite sending out numerous applications. During that period, he ended up in the ER with emergency surgery and I ended up with an autoimmune disease requiring over two thousand dollars monthly for medication. Of course we had no insurance. Obama's stimulus package gave my husband a job and our family much needed health insurance.
if it is then the numbers certainly are not showing proof of it. with all the numbers the president and his agents are throwing out, one would think that the unemployment numbers be in the low single digits. instead the number remain in the double digits and may still continue to go up. maybe when they are talking about all the jobs saved and created they are actually talking about those in china, india, and all the other places they've outsourced to.
Hillsborough, NC
A few years ago one had to listen to the radio each morning to avoid construction delays when driving to work. Today that is a thing of the past, no construction, no delays in getting to and from work. What a breeze. Now I just need a job so I can enjoy my drive to work. Just can't win.
You would think if the stimulus bill has created so many jobs, why is the unemployment rate at 10% and climbing? Something doesn't add up.
The answer is YES, there was a guest on CNN the other day who eloquently explained that many Law enforcement jobs were saved along with Education jobs that without the stimulus they would have had to scale back. We know jobs lag behind after a recession and many employers take advantage of employees working harder (more productive) because of the fear of not being able to get a new job or losing their existing one.
I cannot understand how anyone can say the package has not saved jobs. Where would we be without it? The correct numbers may be up in the air at this time but I am sure they will get that together. Watch the unemployment start to drop going forward.
It depend upon the definition parameters, Jack. If a teacher in Tampa was about to be laid off due to budget cuts and the stimulus prevented that, was there a job created?? I say , Yes! However by someone else's standard, it might be no, because the job already existed.
Statistics can be manipulated to mean anything. And Republicans WILL use that manipulation to defeat ANYTHING Obama tries.
If I were Obama, I would make the announcement at the "State Of The Union" that I was recinding any and ALL stimulus help, ALL bailout help, ALL financial reform, ALL Health Care reform AND I will NOT send a buget request to Congress. Then I would state, "If the American people want ANY change, they MUST contact their Senator and Congressperson and convince THEM to do what their constituents want." Then I would state, "If the American people think the Republicans have solutions to our country's woes, LET THEM SOLVE IT. If the American people think I am ruining the country, I will do nothing for the next year."
No. I'm an environmental consultant, and I've noticed a slow-down in projects due to uncertainty about stimulus funding. Project managers wait and wonder, "When is funding coming?," "How do we get funding?," and "Will we be funded?" The end result is that people delay starting projects until they figure out what is going on with stimulus funding. While waiting, we see funding go to political supporters for projects that often don't seem to create jobs. Many projects are still on hold, while waiting for funding, which has the effect of slowing the economy. Other projects are abandoned when after months of waiting, funding never comes.
It would appear that the stimulus was geared for wall street and clearly missed main street.
I think people would rather have jobs than handouts. As the largest consumer of goods and services in the American economy, the adminsitration could have easily leveraged that position to generate jobs, albeit temporarily. At least it would have generated momentum and provided a respite for those struggling in this economy.
As an independent voter, and not basing my opinion on being from the left or right; I think it is too early to tell exactly where our money is going; I mean c'mon.....it's $787 "billion" dollars. Do we really think our question will be answered the next day? The only way for anything to succeed in what our government does (regardless who's President), is for both parties to stop acting like children, and start wearing their big boy boots, and work together. You have to create a blueprint, before you build a house, and that is exactly what I believe Obama is doing. Patience people, patience.
I'm going to be 66 this year and they finally tell me I can got back to work.
How can that be possable? I've worked my whole life. Where am I even
going to find a job? No, Obama's plan for health care should not be passed. Then you will have to stand in line for hours to even see your
doctor. I just know that Obama should never have been elected in the first place. He's just going to make it harder on everyone. We are going to have to pay for him until he dies anyway. I don't know about anyone else' s view. I just know I don't like the man and I don't respect him for what he has done to this nation. How many more trillion dollars is he going to cost the USA?
No. It is intended to pay back supporters for his election. Payback to State governments that used the money to pay for patronage jobs and UNION workers. { I used the term WORKERS by mistake, sorry.}
Please,,,,,,like at Craig's list, I have only seen "Gig's" created from this so called stimulus. No real careers are being created. The only one being stimulated is the businesses that have learned how to capitalize on a piece of the pie, without having to hiring anyone.
It only created the appearance of jobs, which was enough to fool the media and the general public. The White House continued to report that jobs have been saved and the media jumped on it as well. One big problem is I don't know anyone whose job was saved but I know many who have lost jobs and their business. Sam's Club just report 11,000 jobs to be cut (where is the stimulus there?) We were all fooled then and now we are finally taking a look at into it. Where was the media then?? Wait until we see where all the money went...oh thankfully we are going to be transparent.
Jack, as a business owner with 16 employees I suggest using the following formula. Figure one employee making 50k per year and add 100% overhead. 100k per year of stimulus money would create one job theoretically. The big question I wonder about is how many jobs did the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts create and where are they now (the jobs that is, the tax cuts are still in place)?
Jack,
Now that imminent danger has passed, some are second guessing the package based on the random reporting of job creation. It would stand to reason that a meme from the wingnuts would be pushed into the system. They have nothing else because they got us into this mess!
Jobs are rarely created by stimulus but the loss of jobs is sometimes averted by putting money into the system for new projects- TVA comes to mind. However, the frustration of the American people is understandable because we ALL want immediate attention paid to our BooBoo first–if not we reject the whole thing as not effective! The job loss numbers have dwindled which is a good thing!
It is difficult to do much when you are acting on your own with spotty support from your own party let alone the other side wanting you to fail! Think we need realtime fact check...for all the bobbleheads who are hosting these fools in congress on AIR and allowing these people to lie blatantly lie or give divergent numbers in the Admin!
Among all the people I associate with I have never heard someone mention a friend, neighbor, or relative who actually got a job from the stimulus money. That dosen't mean it was wasted - maybe Tony Soporano was able to expand his outdoor pool.
Hi Jack
Yes I think the stimulus package has created job. The problem is not with the President Obama. The problem is with the American people in general. They want instant gratification. That is what got us in this situation in the first place. I want it and I want it now. Wake up people give the President time. For god sake you can’t even get a degree in one year but you want the President to fix the economy, bring unemployment down, and stop foreclosures. I think it can be brought down, but surly not in one or two years. It took longer than that to get in to this situation. It is going to take at least that long if not longer to get out of it. As American we have in the past and we will in the future.
I voted for Obama and I still have absolutely no regrets and I'm unemployed. Why would people be so weak in hard times to vote for a republican who got us in this mess to begin with is beyond me. Stop being so we people, look at the strength the haitians are showing. I believe the stimulus will work and has prevented things from getting worst. Here's my proposal to Obama. Suspend the federal income tax for everyone, including businesses for the remander of the year. Best Stimulus EVER.
Jack the stimulus is an absolute joke the liberals will drive our system to communism. Ben, Southampton Hampshire U.k.
It is NOT creating jobs! I am an educated 40 year old man who's always been employed and never had a problem getting work with good pay. I've been out of work for nearly a year now. I search the internet for work 7 days a week, I'm lucky to get an interview. There are very few jobs available, mostly low paying entry level positions.
I don't qualify for unemployment because I was 1099 on my last job when I was laid off. I just ran out of savings and don't know what we're going to do. I do know, our president who promised change has changed nothing!
Politicians are best at promising everything and putting a rosy picture on a bleak situation. They claim either 100s of thousands , 1.5 Million or 2 Million jobs have been created or saved. Guess this is a multiple choice question for the public – you decide. Where's the evidence? I don't see it on main street.
Of course it does. Because of the massive bank failures, source of capital for businesses big and small dried up. The stimulus package fills that void. It prevents loss of jobs and foster new hirings. Big infra-structures projects will do the same, and the multitudes of programs and incentives built into the package. I assume congress approved this package with the interest of the country foremost in everyone’s mind. With an endeavor as big as this there would be some screw-up in the administration of it. The other alternative; doing nothing – is not an option.
The American people want real jobs that allow for innovative thinking. This is the type of thinking that may or may not be found in academia or business.
The best place to find great innovative thinkers is in coffee shops like McDonald's. Great minds usually sit there alone looking really ticked.
Build whole new inventions and industries around these folks. They don't "fit the mold." They define it!
Lets just all be honest and say the truth which is due to massive outsourcing beginnig with NAFTA that there are really not as many jobs to save as there were 20 years ago or at least not enough to put a dent in the unemployment rate facing this country. People always want to blame the president but the reality is the country is run by the house and the senate. Please put school house rock back on TV Saturday mornings and teach our youth who really makes the deals with the lobbyist and special interest groups. Things will only get worse in this country as long as our population believes the president is the sole cure all for our problems. Anyone who doesnt believe this should watch J-Walking, "Point Proven".
Yes the stimulus is creating or saving jobs! After the worst economic downturn since the great depression, did we hear any economic expert say that this would be fixed completely, even by the end of Obama's first term? No! 10% unemployment could have been 20 plus percent unemployment. With the upcoming midterm elections coming I think you will see more Obama bashing by the right wingnuts intent on trashing any program the president proposes.
Yes! Employment Ads have increased three fold lately offering a wide variety of jobs. If the concept of the WPA could be established, as the President asked, we could employ thousands of people to improve our roads, walls, bridges and the floundering electrical system, among other things our country needs to update.
Jack, I don't even know why this question is even being asked. The so called Stimulas hasn't done a darn thing to create jobs to help us. Just a bunch of hot wasted air this administration is blowing. The folks that are in the position to hire don't hire because they are scared that one day they will lose their position to the very same person they hired, is a threat. The numbers don't show it anywhere. Look at gas prices. Former Pres. Bill Clinton had the economy at the best it will probably ever be in my lifetime. At least President Bush helped us by giving us a little help. This administration is deep in it and come 2012, the real Change will take place. $57 million has been raised for the relief of Haiti, but yet, we still have homeless folks living on the street in every state. Put money in working people's pocket. Thanks Jack.
all the first stimulas has not been spent. there are millions, possibly
billions left. why not use this money? divert it to a jobs package
or to what the president laid out today? why do they need more of
our money? i bet you could find out exactly how much has been
spent.
thank you jack
susanne
I don't know, Jack and neither do you. To me, the real question iought to be, where are the jobs going to come from? The previous eight years saw millions of highly paid hi-tech and manufacturing jobs sent overseas. Those jobs ain't coming back, Jack
Cutting taxes for the wealthiest of Americans isn't going to solve the problem, either. Trickle-down economics and market fundamentalism have probably done more to exacerbate the problem than to solve anything. I think what we need is a stimulus plan that foucuses on rebuilding our long neglected infrastructure and moving us towards energy independence.
I am not sure,but apparently Mass. independents did not think so.
How is it possible to ever know whether the stimulus is creating jobs when you have no idea how many jobs would have been lost without it? The whole question is hypothetical since the stimulus is a fate accompli and we'll never know if we have more or less jobs because of it's creation.
No, The banks and other companies got the money and just went crazy. It was like the MONEY was theirs to spent how ever they please. Giving out bonuses, and not giving any loans out, Not help the people at all. WHERE IS THE MONEY PEOPLE? THIS IS SUCH A MONEY HUNGRY NATION. Show me the money.
Look at the numbers.....still losing jobs every month. This job creation propoganda is nothing more than a myth perpetuated by the Obama regime. My city got stimulus money. The newspaper reported that zero jobs resulted from that money. However, it had to be reported to the federal government that one job was created for every $92,000 spent whether one was created or not. That sounds like fuzzy math to me.
Yes, it created a lot of busywork jobs for their friends and cronies.
Look at Geithner's dirty laundy with AIG, SEC, and Federal reserve, spending other people's (taxpayers) money. They not only bailed their buddies out but looks like they were stupid enough to document by emails... and he is the architect of the recovery, and the stimulus? Hello? Please kiss us first!
The only thing bureaucrats create is bigger bureaucracies, to justify their pitiful existance...
Thanks and keep it up!
Jack, you are a very smart man. That is the reason I watch your show every day. You are always prepared with the facts. Today, I must say this has got to be the worst question you have ever asked of your viewers. Anyone who is alive, knows that the billion dollar economic stimulus package was a waste of funds. More people are out of jobs, and more are losing everything. Stay with your better questions!
Are you from Minnesota or a Vikings fan-just a little sore about last nights game?
There's no question the stimulus package worked. Everyone should go back and read the headlines from late 2008 and early 2009 and be very thankful about where we ended up. Economic decisions like hiring and spending are all about psychology. The stimulus package didn't work because of the federal spending, it worked because it produced a placebo effect for American corporations and consumers.
Yes, I do think the stimulus money is working. The President needs the Republican congress to work with him along with the Democratic congress. When you have a bunch of people bent on voting "no" on everything that has come through to be voted on, even though they have been implored to help write the bills; had many admenments included in the bill; and still vote "No". Finally after a year of trying to break thru at trying to include these "Say No", waiting for the President's Waterloo Republicans, What else should the President do? I say he should go on with his Agenda. Going back to your prevous question, The President has been villianed as the polarizing figure. It was my Senator, Governor, and a representative from my state who has been so outlandish at making this President the villian of being a polarized figure. It is only the hurdle the "Black" person has to overcome if he/she has ideas of their own and sets out to enact them. Only President Obama has to overcome his hurdle within a year.
No real jobs were created by the stimulus package.
It is easy for politicians to take money from taxpayers (or use borrowed money which eventually is the same thing) and spend it by giving the money to government and non-government organizations, mandating that the money is given to individuals in payment for "work" they do. This is NOT job creation. It is just a form of public assistance or payback for political favors. Jobs are CREATED only by the private sector and in response to demand (by the non-government economy) for the fruits of the labor.
Whatever jobs are "created" or "saved" will quickly disappear if more government payments do not follow. More real jobs would be created if the government left the money in the hands of taxpayers.
Ask the illuminati, Jack.
Jack ,
The bottom line is had they asked Taxpayer to vote on Tarp or stimulus bill it would of been an overwhelming NO . But the money should have gone to the people who are the back bone of this country , "the middle class" , in forms of manufacturing , and small Business . Instead it went to Wallstreet, Big business and private interests . We should have been More like FDR and get people out there fixing roads , Dams , Bridges etc. , instaed congress just dropped the ball ....again
Why trust the greedy capitalist bankers to do something they already proved incapable of instead directly fund minicipalities but only when they prove those monies will go to creating all levels of jobs which are rebuilding infrastucture and healthcare/education
All I hear is blah, blah, blah from Obama, the Democrats and yes the Republicans. Obama and the Democrats haven't done a thing to help unemployment, I have been out of work for over a year and I have over 30 years of work experience and a Masters degree. And the Republicans (the party of NO) aren't doing anything to help either. Hey Republicans, you are missing a golden opportunity to do something about unemployment and create jobs. You want to be back in power, then create jobs and show Obama up. And of course the same could be said to the Democrats but unfortunately the two parties are having too much fun fighting and meanwhile the people suffer.
What do the politicians care? They have paychecks, a great retirement (only need to be in office one term to collect) and the BEST health care in the world.
Green technology spouted by the President won't become a reality until it is more widespread in a concerted effort by many industries.
Closed factories need to be re-opened and renovated to operate with clean/green technology. Bring back some of our manufacturing from overses, then we will see viable use of stimulus funds and fulfillment
on campaign promises.
Existing factories need to be upgraded to operate with green/clean technology and subsequently receive tax break incentives to do so.
There are many architects, electricians, engineers etc. who want to
go GREEN but they can't do it alone nor should they be exclusive limited to the elite population because of exhorbitant costs of green technology. JOBS are key here and until this nation reverses the bad trend of outsourcing we'll never regain our economic strength. As I see it, our strength lies in having the best equipped military and largest prison pop. on the planet.....certainly not from having its citizens employed so that they can contribute to the economy..
I know the Stimulus Package has saved jobs. Teachers, police and firefighters were to be laid off here. I know people whose jobs were saved. I've also seen construction work that is stimulus related. Unfortunately those "created jobs" are fewer and not permanent. The "renewable energy" jobs just haven't materialized fast enough. The real value of the Stimulus Plan was NOT job creation. It softened the blow of what could have been a depression without it. It provided unemployment benefits and COBRA to millions. It kept many, many people in their jobs. And the truth is. . .there were also projects that were funded that were also "politically desirable". As the theory went, it HAD to be big enough to work. It helped, but it didn't entirely work.
jack,,as a American living in Canada,enjoy CNN,,Money spent in Iraq,,Afghanistan,and all over the world, for different reason.
Why don't you called that Stimulus money as well,,
That will help your American listener's to appreciate the Stimulus money spent at home,,Wake up ,before it's to late..
Val.
Moncton, New Brunswick
Canada