February 14, 2009

Stimulate This

The entire BBM family is oozing germs in some way shape or form this weekend. My head hurts every time I look or bend down; and my spine feels like it has been a heavy bag for Ikigai or something. Mr. BBM broke out with the flu this week too and is currently sporting a straight up in the air hair-do. Giving a hoot about how we look isn't at the top of the priority list right now.

Getting more ibuprofen. That's #1. Not letting our kids, who now have coughs and runny noses, breathe on us is priority #2.

Instead of being at my father-in-law's wedding today, we're at home, sporting pj's and sweatpants. I've spent a lot of time in bed over the past few days. I even had to cancel my class on Thursday morning because there was no way I could make it to campus. I felt like a Gremlin as in "Bright lights, bright lights!" Yes, that's pretty much what I look like right now.

My head was rocking the entire week pretty much. While in bed, I've watched a lot of cooking shows and a lot of political shows.

It could be due to the flu, but I'm particularly grumpy about this so called "stimulus" bill that is about to be passed.

Bankrupting future generations. . . check.

Stimulating our economy? I find it hard to believe given some of the nonsense in the over 1000 pages of political garble.

While the politicians certainly think they know best, I have news for them. Flu-inflicted citizens can come up with better ways to stimulate the economy. Here are just two of mine. . .

1. Instead of taking approximately 45% of my income that I make as an independent contractor/recruiter which gives me little to no incentive to want to work when I get my check and have to turn around and send almost half of it to the government, why not slash how much the government is taking from me by a good 20%? With that 20% that is back in my bank account I can afford to hire someone to build me a patio this spring, landscape my barren new yard, or finish off my basement. All of those things would stimulate the economy. I hire someone, they hire helpers, and buy supplies from a company to create my housing projects. . . see how this works? Instead, my 45% will be going for things like studying honey bees and STD awareness. Stimulating things, these are not. The $13/week tax cut for families written into this bill isn't exactly going to help me build that patio.

(Let me preface #2 by saying that I understand that these are tough financial times. I understand that there are people who legitimately need help and through no fault of their own are in economic ruins right now. #2 is not about these people.)

2. How about rewarding citizens who pay their mortgages and bills on time instead of bailing out those who don't? What incentive is there to pay your bills on time when the government now plans on lowering the rates of those who can't pay the mortgages on the houses they couldn't afford in the first place? I'd like my rate lowered too. Maybe I'll just stop paying my mortgage for a couple months. . . oh wait, see there are these things called self-responsibility and pride. I take those two things to heart. But seriously, why are we rewarding those who got themselves into financial trouble? AND, if we want to help them out, great, but maybe there should be some incentives for those of us who always follow the rules, pay our bills, etc. It's simply not fair. This isn't Robin Hood, you know. My hard earned money shouldn't be going to support those who got themselves in over their heads. I should be able to keep my money, and then maybe I could hire someone whose business is hurting. See #1. See how this works? Also, there are plenty of people who are not financially hurting right now who choose to help others, either through donations to charities, donations to soup kitchens, or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity or other organizations who help others. Private citizens should be able to decide who to help and choose where their money goes within local communities. How is Washington able to determine how best to use money in my hometown? Do you trust your Governor to distribute a blank check however he/she pleases? I don't trust mine. Something tells me a certain governor will have a new car and chauffeur, minimum, before too long.

There are other ideas too. The school district where I live has some of the lowest school taxes around. Why? Because they don't raise taxes every time they need to expand or hire more teachers. Instead, they decided to seek private money in the form of sponsorships for football stadiums and gymnasiums, etc. They thought outside of the box and made it work with no government intervention. If every school did this, can you imagine how much less we'd all be paying in school taxes? Can you imagine what you'd do with that extra money? I know what I'd do with mine.

Patio.

Landscaping.

Finished basement.

Oh, and a much-wanted-by-the-girls Disney vacation.

All of these things stimulate the economy. And that's just one family! Multiply that by all the families across the country and it's at least food for thought.

Then again, getting the politicians to read these ideas would probably be even more difficult than getting them to read that 1000+ page stimulus bill (which you can't tell me any of them did before voting on it). This non-reading of the single biggest spending bill ever in history absolutely blows my mind and should disturb everyone no matter what your political affiliation. It is completely irresponsible. Don't believe me about the non-reading, watch this. . .

(If you can't see this, go here to view.)

GRR. . . My head hurts.

I know these are hot polticial times, but unless you want me to breathe my hot miserable flu on you, keep your comments respectful. Have flu, not afraid to use it. Got it? Good.

Posted by Black Belt Mama on February 14, 2009 in Mental Strain for Mama | 18 Comments

Comments

18 Comments on Stimulate This

John on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 4:14 pm

These massive bailouts seem to benefit only the delinquent and the rich. Everybody in the middle gets hammered. Ironically it’s the middle/working class that holds the country together. As it is, government is irresponsible and held unaccountable for the way taxpayers’ money is divvied up.

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 4:50 pm

Maybe we should sell our domain names for a couple million and join the rich. 😉 You’re so right.
BBM

Stacey on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 5:05 pm

Have I told you how much I love your ideas? I vote BBM for President. Unfortunately, you’re too smart to take that position.

Lynn on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 5:08 pm

*sigh* I just don’t know anymore. As a mother, it scares me to see the direction our government is going in. Censorship, debt, censorship…

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 5:15 pm

Seriously, don’t even get me started on the so called “Fairness Doctrine.”
BBM

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 5:17 pm

Thanks Stacey! And about that last part, you’re right. If I do decide to though, want to be my campaign manager? Maybe I should run for senate against Specter! I bet I’d win!
BBM

Man of the West on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 5:37 pm

You said it, lady.

Marguerite on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 7:21 pm

It’s a shame our politicians *don’t* read, BBM! It’s also a shame they don’t talk to the people they’re going to put the burden onto…They might learn a thing or three!

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 7:46 pm

Thanks for your comment! I love new commenters even more than I like senators who actually read bills they’re voting on.
BBM

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 7:47 pm

Well, they’re going to learn a thing or three when they read all the emails I’ve been sending them. They’re also going to learn when I get active again politically to run certain people out of office (Specter for example).
BBM

Amanda on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 7:50 pm

Amen, Amen, Amen. I vote for you BBM! My husband and I are a single income family, bay our bills on time, donate to charities, etc, and what do we get? Nothing. I agree with you 100%.

Black Belt Mama on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 7:55 pm

Exactly! Who is looking out for people like us? No one! GRR, makes me angry.
BBM

Sarah on Sun, 15th Feb 2009 3:57 am

Right or wrong, I’m just trying not to let myself get bothered by things I can’t change.
I’ve been dirt-poor my whole life – the government hasn’t helped me or my family, nor have we asked for it. I don’t want to spend my life wondering how I’ll eat or where I’ll live – I’ll get out of this and see something different from my OWN work, savings, and frugality – not the government’s decisions, good or bad. *I* will be smart, at least. That’s all we can do.
That being said, I’ve spent the last four-five days in bed on a Nyquil-induced stupor so my thoughts, while NEVER clear – certainly aren’t now. I think the screen is swimming… oooh, I feel like I’m flying… hmmm…
My flu wants to kick your flu’s asp.
Showdown, anyone??
I thought not.

defendUSA on Sun, 15th Feb 2009 1:31 pm

BBM-
Here’s how I like to look at things. Can you imagine General Petraeus going into a battle with ALL of the troops, not even having looked at the 1000 paged plan of attack? It would be absolute, utter stupidity.
And, when all was said and done, they would fire his ass on the spot, because he cost lives and equipment. The debriefing for that would be hellfire and brimstone!
Yet, we the people are not afforded the same courtesy to kick the President to the curb and it’s our money!! We have to wait 2 and 4 years respectively to vote them out.
It is an absolute outrage that responsible people must suffer and that POTUS has broken several promises not even one month in. There is no transparency, no stimulus, and there is a tax cheat at the head of the class.
I have considered signing my 08 tax return with the words, “You passed the stimulus I didn’t vote for. You owe me. Tom Daschle, Charlie Rangel, Tim Geithner, Solis, Emmanuel all got away with it, so it’s my turn!”
Can you imagine if every taxpayer took the maximum exemptions? Why, I do believe I would term that “Tea party Tax Revolt!” Do you know how much it would cost to get to every taxpayer?
It just may happen.

Black Belt Mama on Sun, 15th Feb 2009 1:37 pm

You’re 100% right about the troops and not reading a plan of attack. Funny you say that about “tea party revolt” because that is exactly what my husband and I were talking about the other day.
Thanks for your comment!
BBM

CombatGal on Mon, 16th Feb 2009 12:41 pm

I agree with Sarah. I’m not saying don’t vote or try to educate yourself on the issues, but I’ve seen so many people that are way over the top obsessed with politics. How miserable people must be who have to insert politics into every single conversation. I’ve seen people get completely worked up over subjects in which they have no education or experience. Everybody with a soapbox or a keyboard is an expert. There is so much hatred and petty name-calling towards anybody who dares to disagree. I’ve noticed that people in general have become more competitive, but the type of person I’m talking about acts like their very life depends on their party winning. It’s partisonship and it’s not going away.

Black Belt Mama on Mon, 16th Feb 2009 1:31 pm

The attitude you have, about helping yourself is exactly the kind of attitude people should have. Good for you!
The thing about change though, you can let your representatives know how you feel and hopefully they’ll do their job and represent the people who elected them.
Feel better soon. I’m finally on the mend.

Black Belt Mama on Mon, 16th Feb 2009 1:32 pm

Agreed. Being around people like that is annoying. I don’t like the name-calling either. For me, it’s not my party winning or losing. I’m more about the issues, like this one for example.

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!