I read with interest the editorial from Steve Hilgenberg "Economy shows signs of recovery" on Nov. 4. This editorial was the Major League of Political Spin.
True, the GDP did grow during the last quarter, but most of that growth was attributed to government spending and incentives. Prime examples: "Cash for Clunkers" and "Homeowners Tax Credits" for first-time buyers. Since the government is footing these programs, this money will have to come from the taxpayer. So how many programs (debt) will the government continue creating to put our economy back on its feet?
Back in February, it was promised to us that if the stimulus was passed that unemployment would not go over 8 percent. As of today, national unemployment is at 10.2 percent. A report was cited in the editorial listed above from the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment that stimulus dollars in Wisconsin created or saved 22,000 jobs. A front-page story Nov. 5 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took issue with this report, basically stating that these numbers were severely overinflated. Bottom line - if the stimulus is saving or creating all these jobs, why is unemployment continuing to rise?
Maybe if we let some private businesses have less fear of rising taxes and continued meddling from the federal government, some of these firms might be able to create jobs. It certainly is clear the government does not have a handle of the situation.
True, the GDP did grow during the last quarter, but most of that growth was attributed to government spending and incentives. Prime examples: "Cash for Clunkers" and "Homeowners Tax Credits" for first-time buyers. Since the government is footing these programs, this money will have to come from the taxpayer. So how many programs (debt) will the government continue creating to put our economy back on its feet?
Back in February, it was promised to us that if the stimulus was passed that unemployment would not go over 8 percent. As of today, national unemployment is at 10.2 percent. A report was cited in the editorial listed above from the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment that stimulus dollars in Wisconsin created or saved 22,000 jobs. A front-page story Nov. 5 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took issue with this report, basically stating that these numbers were severely overinflated. Bottom line - if the stimulus is saving or creating all these jobs, why is unemployment continuing to rise?
Maybe if we let some private businesses have less fear of rising taxes and continued meddling from the federal government, some of these firms might be able to create jobs. It certainly is clear the government does not have a handle of the situation.
