A stimulus for creating more debt

The stimulus package is a "spending" package. Obama urged everyone to go out and SPEND IT!! "That's the whole purpose," he said emphatically, obviously afraid it might go into savings instead. This hyped-up spending program, as designed, gives Obama a psychological boost as he launches his new administration. People are temporarily reassured and delighted that things seemingly return to normal with maybe better things to come.

However, on a smaller scale let's compare this to the personal overuse of credit cards. Ongoing excessive credit card spending has provided brisk business in stores requiring many clerks; eating-out in restaurants requiring more service; housing sales with virtually no money down supporting the active building industry.

There were jobs and the economy looked great. But eventually credit bills come due. Purchasing disappears; businesses hurt and die. It appears Obama is taking our entire country down that same route, using borrowed money to make us feel temporarily happy while seeking false security. The day of reckoning is surely coming.

Government projects such as bridge reconstruction will put some people to work and stimulate demand for construction materials. But where do workers go when those projects are completed? Newly renovated bridges are nice, but they do not represent a lasting industry. We have simply created added debt from bridge construction. Many non-essential projects have suddenly been introduced, which would constitute wasteful spending. We should not just be looking at the number of short-term jobs created, but at long-term job opportunities or careers through reactivating long-term industries.

Spending on non-essential, feel-good projects only provide superficial, deceiving end results and compounds our problems. As an example, bike paths and hiking trails are nice but are non-essential luxuries in this time of failing economy, recession or pending depression. Road removal in our fire-prone forests may also provide immediate jobs, but destroy existing roads essential to forest management and fighting the ever increasing disastrous fires. We should consider using stimulus money to update those existing roads to provide expansion of the current but inadequate fuel reduction program that would help save our forests and wildlife from catastrophic fire. Waste material removed could be burned under environmentally controlled conditions to produce renewable energy much needed in reducing energy costs and jump-starting our economy.

Government does not create wealth and prosperity, but drains the citizens forced to finance it. Government is, however, in a position to establish the policies that could facilitate opportunities for people to use their skills in providing for themselves.

History shows that profit-motivated business and industry is best able to effectively and efficiently make this possible. We must rid ourselves of unneeded restrictive legislation that kills revenue producing industries. The most damaging regulations originate from extremist environmental philosophies which have permeated decision making at all levels of government as well as big corporations that control the money. Operators hesitate to invest capital in industry that is not guaranteed long-term availability of raw materials, energy and sound money management, all of which are essential to a recovered economy. It was the small businesses that made America the prosperous country it once was.

Controls must be placed on big corporations to control their power. The country has gradually been converting capitalism into unruly, all-powerful corporatism. We have allowed a monster to develop from within, forcing out the healthy free enterprise system. Big corporations endorsed by big government have evolved into massive monopolistic operations destroying small businesses. Citizens losing their income enterprises, property and jobs become more and more dependent and subservient to government and major corporations. They become welfare and grant dependent and are serfs on their own land.

In August 2000 in Elko, Nevada at an emotional Jarbidge property rights rally, Elwood Mose, chairman of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, told the crowd, "You are the new Indians!" In essence he said, "You put us on the reservation. Now they are putting you on the reservation."

Clarice Ryan lives in Bigfork.