Let me finish tonight with a simple proposition. It's how President Obama can get Congress to pass a jobs bill. Call it "porking out.”
Got it? Bet you do already.
All he has to do is combine the projects that all the members of Congress have asked for in their districts - all the dams they want fixed, the road projects, the sewer and water systems that they want funded.
Now take all these projects - skip the bad apples, the wasteful stuff - and put them all together in one big fat bill - a wedding of pork projects - and send it up to Capitol Hill.
Now, alert every media outlet in the country - every blogger - about what's at stake in each little hamlet in the country. All these projects - pet projects in some cases - that will now finally get done and put local folk on the job - getting a payroll - getting it done.
Okay, I'm calling it "porking out" because that's what it is. It's doing jobs that people at the local level want done.
But, you know what? At least it's something. It's putting people to work doing jobs that people - dare I say the word voters - want done and will "see" being done.
Voters will see people being put to work who were previously unemployed. How's that for an improvement in reality? And, you know what, it would be hard for Congress to vote against it because these are the projects that they have been pushing for themselves - drafting bills to get funded, talking up in their newsletters and in the local press.
I didn't get this idea from an old ward healer, somebody out of “The Last Hurrah.” This is my idea.
So, why not Mr. President? Why not “pork out?” Put a jobs bill out there that they're already on record supporting. Make them an offer they can't refuse - or can't without looking even more politically constipated than they already do.
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You let the Tee idiot tell you about a balanced budget in my state?!?!?!?!? What happened to the Matthews of old? We are so far in debt. The cuts are all for education and everything that makes a state great! The jobs were PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS@!!!! Stop sitting there and do something besides complain!!!
Ok, Chris, I am a big fan of yours. However, I am also a fan of Rachel Maddow. Didn't I hear this idea on her show first?
This is a GREAT idea -- but could the two of you get together and decide whose idea it was? And then put your heads together and come up with a plan for real momentum to get it adopted, which would be a lot better than competing for credit.
Yes, Rachel Maddow talked about it just the other day when she interviewed Steve Benen, whose idea it was.
Great idea, but I'm quite convinced that Steve Benen was originator.
(Not counting those possible politicians and staffers who might have had the idea, but have not gone public with it.)
Let's give credit where credit is due: Rachel Maddow publicized this idea first when she interviewed its originator, Steve Benen.
Yes, Rachel Maddow talked about it just the other day when she interviewed Steve Benen, whose idea it was.
Great idea, but I'm quite convinced that Steve Benen was originator.
(Not counting those possible politicians and staffers who might have had the idea, but have not gone public with it.)
Let's give credit where credit is due: Rachel Maddow publicized this idea first when she interviewed its originator, Steve Benen.
It's a great idea. How long will it take to get the permits,EPA approvals,union contracts.? If taxpayers can keep more of their money,they will spend or invest it, and jobs will be created. This would create more hiring until the big infrastructure projects can get underway
Okay....Here's where we went wrong...i think that everyone should have the basic unemployment insurance like we do now. However, Why...Why, didn't we put a stipulation on the 2 extensions that the government approved. For example, If you wish to extend your unemployment benefits you have to show up and work say at the local park or city hall...If you want to extend the 2nd time you have to show up 3 days a week.
You see we already have people on the government payroll. We just pay them to sit at home and do nothing. We have a wealth of knowledge and skill out there we are letting just sit....and sit...and sit...until the government or "JOB MAKERS" give them something to do.
I believe what Rachel Maddow when she said,"We have to build our way out of this."
Why aren't they listening?
Hello.....Washington....is there anyone there? Oh yeah, everyone is on vacation...AGAIN!
Hi: Finally, someone with a good idea.
Chris,.......Dude, you worked your ass off to get this incompetent boob in office and now you want MORE of what clearly hasn't worked !Check 4 things: unemployment, the Dow, your ratings,......and last the number of people bothering to Post on your blog !
Pork - yes - lots and lots of it. That's essentially what FDR's CCC was, and it worked out fairly well then.
Also, the rich will need to be taxed at the same rates they were when Ike was in the White House. There is only one way we will be able to dig ourselves out of this hole and it will involve taxes - decades of SERIOUS taxation. The uber rich will bear the shovel. It's been their party for the past thirty years and you and I were not invited to it.
Tom Degan
Chris, where were you when the First Stimulus package came out? Because it would have worked if the money went for the shovel ready jobs, instead of bailing out the people that caused the problem and giving money to people to stay home instead of giving a paycheck.
take the money we give to whale fare ( yes I know it is spelled wrong) and pay people to stay home, and pay people to work.
Dear Mr Matthews,
Could you please clarify something for me? Is it true that a large portion of the first stimilus funds were given to the various state Governors & that instead of using the funds for job intense infrastructure projects many of the state Governors used the money to balance the state budgets as the balanced budget amendments in force required of them?
Thank You,
David Allardice