Over the past few weeks, public chatter about the so-called “stimulus package” has grown louder with each passing day and each minor development as Congress wrestles over the particulars of an enormous federal expenditure. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the public has plenty of reason to be paying attention. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will affect almost every federal department and agency and, in turn, will affect practically all Americans.
Still, it has been interesting to see people who are normally disengaged from and uninterested in the legislative process tune in so closely. Depending on whom you ask, the stimulus is either the ultimate panacea for our battered economy, a late gift to Americans from Santa Claus, a wasteful shopping spree or a misguided attempt to bandage bigger problems. While the perspectives on the proposed stimulus vary as widely as political opinions in this country, these difficult times force almost everyone to agree that the federal government must do something.
Despite the haggling and trading of accusations currently taking place in Congress, it is rather safe to assume that some sort of stimulus package will be passed within the coming month or so. What that package will look like, however, is not as clear. As the package has begun to take form in separate versions in the House of Representatives and Senate, myriad stakeholders across the country have picked apart the data that is available, all of them asking, “What’s in it for me?”
For the hundreds of thousands of people affected by job losses as a result of the miserable economy, it could mean extensions of life-sustaining services such as health care and food stamps. For parents, teachers and students advancing learning in crumbling schools it could mean better facilities and resources. For scientists and researchers, it means billions of dollars invested in their work that gives America its competitive advantage in many facets of the global economy. For those left behind or caught in the “digital divide” it could mean expanded broadband access, opening them to worlds of information and services.
The above paragraph could continue for the entire length of this newspaper, as the projects proposed are numerous and spending alone will make up a significant portion of the approximately $800 billion stimulus package. For many Americans, the stimulus can be represented with any number of metaphors: a lifeline, a hand up, medicine for the patient.
Unfortunately, no bill that passes Congress pleases everybody and no amount of deliberation will bridge some differences between the parties. As with any major government action involving spending, there will be winners and losers. Already some very worthwhile projects have been cut from drafts of the legislation, angering supporters of those programs. Upset with some of the spending proposed, House Republicans have voted against it, even though they lack the numbers to defeat it. Similarly, the American public is split among different lines when it comes to the particulars of the bill.
The proposed legislation is so enormous that it absolutely must be done correctly rather than hastily. Citizens and legislators alike have good reason to be wary of passing something too quickly in reaction to a crisis, as the botched Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, allowed greed and self-interest to obscure and derail the bill’s intent.
A balance must be struck. As we face the greatest economic turmoil since the Great Depression, the country is in dire need of a boost to spur the evolution of its economy and society. The many valuable priorities in the nation must be balanced with pragmatism to ensure that the desired results are achieved and nobody abuses this opportunity. If it is times like these that test Americans’ strength and determination, I am encouraged that so many are “tuning in” and engaging in dialogue on this topic.
Ryan Dinkgrave is a State News guest columnist and public relations graduate student. Reach him at dinkgrave@gmail.com.
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