Economic Stimulus -
You Know When It’s Real

What A Difference A Year Makes … Not!

Maybe you’ve seen one of the Wendy’s “You know when it’s real” commercials. They are from a really great ad campaign which is comparing Wendy’s “real” food to other “not so real” food. Here is a sample of one:

http://tid-bytes.s3.amazonaws.com/You Know When Its Real.flv

We are now one (1) year into the Economic Stimulus Plan that President Obama and our political leaders put into place to ‘save’ the U.S. economy. As expected, both parties (Democrat & Republican) in Washington are attacking each others claims about the $787-billion package of tax cuts and spending known as the Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

President Obama stated, “… the stimulus had saved or created 2 million jobs and is on track to add 1.5 million more this year.” But many are questioning his word because of the fact that the economy has lost more than 4 million jobs in the last year while unemployment is currently hovering near 10%.

Vice President Biden has also been on TV and in the news, making the following claim, “The Recovery Act is working. Not only is it working, but it is working well.” When asked by Harry Smith this week on the CBS Early Show if “Americans really got their ‘bang for the buck’” from the Act, Biden replied, “Absolutely, but I don’t think they realize it.” He then went on to explain that we have only been half-way through the Act and that the “job creating portions are really loaded at the second half (here).”

Well if we apply Wendy’s “You Know When It’s Real” concept to the question, “Has today’s economy improved over that of one (1) year ago?”, the “voice of common people everywhere” shouts, “Not !“

Harry Smith pressed the question saying, “with unemployment hovering around 10% – the real unemployment number is probably closer to between 15% and 20% – people don’t think you, or a lot of other folks in Washington – ‘get it.’ Does the Obama administration ‘Get it?’” to which Biden replied, “We get it… we understand why they’re angry. Look, um, we are in good shape compared to the Congress. No one in Washington is in good shape.” (Watch the video below)

Biden went on to say, “Washington is Broken” and, “I’ve never seen it this dysfunctional.”

The video below contains three excerpts. The first is from the speech VP Biden gave this week, the second from the Early Show interview, and finally from a speech President Obama gave on the anniversary of the first year of the Stimulus Plan.

http://tid-bytes.s3.amazonaws.com/What_A_Difference.flv

In the video (above) Obama says, “Millions of Americans are still without jobs, millions more are struggling to make ends meet, so it doesn’t feel like much of a recovery.” Defending the Stimulus Plan, President Obama said, “one year later, it is largely thanks to the Recovery Act that a second Depression is no longer a possibility.” (see http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obama-stimulus18-2010feb18,0,6738826.story Los Angeles Times, February 18, 2010 Author Don Lee)

Does anyone else feel like you want to take your knuckles and tap on top of some politicians’ head and say, “Helloooooooo?” We do “get it!” We “know when it’s real!” And we are still waiting!

Mr. President, Mr. Politician, when will YOU “get it?” You’ve bailed out the banks, the huge car companies and even some of our friendly insurance and investment behemoths. When is it our turn? After all, we’re the ones who are out of work. Those jobs that were lost – those were ours. Those homes being foreclosed upon – we lived there!

Note to: ALL POLITICIANS

From: Common People Everywhere

To those who aren’t concerned:

Sir/Madam,

We’re tired. Tired of working hard, doing the right things, paying our taxes and listening to your excuses. Mr. Vice President, do you really think the Administration is doing okay just because it has a higher approval rating than Congress? We wouldn’t let our kids use an excuse like that to explain their bad conduct (ie: I’m okay Dad because Johnny broke the window and all I did was tell that little lie.) I can’t tell my employer that I know my work has not been up to par but that it is okay because most of the other employees are doing sloppier work than me.

It is high time that each of you were held personally responsible! Stop spending our money without asking us. Stop telling us what we feel and believe. Contrary to your popular opinion, we are not stupid. We have had enough already. You need to listen up or the consequences will not be to your liking. We know how to vote! We can replace every one of you if need be. You were sent there to represent us – remember? Not the big companies, not the lobbyists, not each others campaigns!

No more excuses! We just can’t take it anymore! You can fix things by doing what is right – not by doing what you’ve always done. Do it now – if you don’t, we’ll elect someone who will!

Sincerely,

We the People

Note: The video above contains excerpts from the following sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/biden-touts-stimulus-bill-start-lent-9863574
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6215854n&tag=related;photovideo
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6219508n&tag=morephotovideo

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