Stimulas focus in the wrong place

As our elected officials plot new ways to waste the tax payers money. The focus seems to be turning to putting more money into a broken system. The concept of a handout over a hand up is always the liberal progressive thinkers answer to all economic and social problems. Let us throw more money at it and it will go away.

As Colorado's state government is grappling with a possible $101 million budget shortfall and lawmakers are looking to Washington for help. Gov. Bill Ritter's lean budget for next year could get thinner by trimming things such as money to stimulate job creation. State Sen. Moe Keller, a Wheat Ridge Democrat and Joint Budget Committee chairwoman. Said she's contacted some members of the national congressional delegation to talk about a potential second stimulus package.

"That is problematic for us, so I am hoping that some kind of economic stimulus package will come to us," said Keller. Yet another prime example of holding the hand out looking for aid instead of doing something about it. A key part of Gov. Ritter's next year budget proposal is setting aside $77 million in a "rainy day" fund that could be used to maintain essential services if economic forecasts get worse. Setting aside this amount of money, then expecting that federal tax money pick up the slack is not just stingy, it is a gimme, mimme attitude.

"Every successful business, you've got to either increase your revenues or decrease your expenses when the books don't balance," said Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, noting that the state can do little to raise revenues. Unless they raise taxes like the democrats propose.

The list of prioritised items that our elected officials want are in the following order. More money for Medicaid and unemployment insurance, and updating the power grid are at the top of what members of Colorado's congressional delegation hope to receive in a federal stimulus package for Colorado.

Notice the top of the list is handouts. More money for unemployment, medicare. If they were to go down the rolls on both of these and eliminate those who are on the rolls ILLEGALLY and undeservedly they may free up some money. Then this money can and should be used to create jobs.

By creating jobs I mean looking at state projects that need to be done. Once you kick off some of these projects you create jobs which in turn employee people who then spend money earned. What a concept huh?

The concept of taking monies and extending unemployment benefits only leads to a lack of initiative. You reward a person for nothing. If you set a limit and enforce the limit. Those who are on unemployment have more of an incentive to find a job. When people are looking for jobs (that is to say legally eligible citizens) companies compete for the more qualified workers. This creates a better work environment for employees.

When the economy is stimulated with work, not hand outs. The economy grows. If the economy is rewarded with hand outs and no direction to move forward, it slows and heads downward.

All these lessons are learned in ECONOMICS 101. Something our elected officials and the unions seem to have never taken as a class.

I AM WATCHING.