Thursday, February 12, 2009

Govt. Stimulus Plan As Plumbing Repair?

Being burdened with the ability to connect things with no seeming connection (while simultaneously not recognizing related things in front of my face) makes my life a challenge from time to time. Many times I am simply not able to put something in its proper place unless I can get a picture in my head to tie it to.
For the last few weeks, I have been struggling for a way to understand the Economic Stimulus Packages, though perhaps the fact that their initials are ESP has been throwing me off. Now I have a real problem with many of the things in these ESP's:
  • The original one bailed out the banks to help the markets, but the banks are still in trouble and the market is still in the tank
  • Most if the package has nothing to do with economic stimulus
  • The package will place my children and grandchildren in tax servitude to the government for their entire lives
  • Too many of the jobs that it provides are jobs in government bureaucracy
  • It is putting in place needless massive spending programs which will become a permanent part of the budget
  • It includes a medical records & review program that I categorically object to
  • Overall there is more pork in this program than there is in Iowa
Last night I was finally able to find a picture in my head that describes what Congress has done to me with this package. (now try to stick with me on this):

For some strange reason, Congress knocks on my door and asks to use the bathroom, citing an overwhelming problem that must be addressed immediately. For some even stranger reason, I exhibit a terrible lack of judgment and let Congress into my home to do so. 

In the same way that they have been doing to all of us for years, they go in there and take a crap on a Biblical scale. Completing the paperwork they flush, but the toilet clogs. Attempting to rectify the problem in the only way that they know how, they flush again, and the water rises in the bowl. Not accepting that doing the same thing twice has failed to achieve the originally desired goal, they flush again and again, now spilling water and waste all over the place. Having then achieved as much damage as they possibly can, they exit the bathroom and my home. 

With barely muttered "thanks" on the way out, they go on their merry way, leaving me to deal as best I can with what's been left behind.

Welcome to my world ...

8 comments:

Ben said...

The bill is just bad, I think.

I am no economist but that is the way I feel.

Timothy W Higgins said...

Ben,

I don't believe that you have to be an ecnomist to see how bad this bill is, a waste handler to realize that it's crap, or a funeral director to realize that it's passageis something to mourn.

Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny) said...

Tim,

You painted an extremely vivid and accurate of what's going on in my "head" (pun intended)/mind too.

Thanks. . . , I think...

:-(

(Reminder to self, proofread BEFORE hitting send...)

Timothy W Higgins said...

HT,

I would like to think that the ability to paint such vivid pictures would make me an artist. I am afraid that it is simply another example of drawing dirty pictures on the wall however.

Roland Hansen said...

I remember some other plumbers from the Nixon days.
Oh, that's right. They were a different type of plumber.
All the same, though.

Timothy W Higgins said...

Roland,

I am ashamed to say that I hadn't connected that when I wrote the post, but that you are exactly right.

SSDD

Roland Hansen said...

Tim,
SSDD --- How right you are!!! I mean "right" as in correct; although, I suppose I could refer to "right" as in your political perspective.

Paul] said...

Water plumbing is one important thing to learn to. There are lots of online tips and guides which you can read along to further increase your ideas on how to do it.