WSJ Editorial: Re-Election Stimulus

The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 25, 2008 | Editorial

[Aristotelian]

Nothing concentrates a politician's mind quite like a 30% approval rating, and for proof look no further than the "stimulus" package agreed to yesterday by both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We doubt it'll help the economy much, if at all, but then the real point of this exercise is to stimulate voters into absolving the political class of any blame for a recession.

The result is an almost perfect political stimulus: a one-year "middle-class tax cut" for Americans in the most populous demographic group, a few tax goodies to sweeten the cash flow of certain current businesses, and a boost to the business of those world-class lobbying firms and campaign contributors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

For the sake of bipartisan accord, the White House dropped any demand to make its previous tax cuts permanent, while House Democrats gave up for now on some of their spending plans,

(snip)

Perhaps the best that can be said of these Beltway antics is that they won't do much harm -- the housing credit guarantees aside. Americans lucky enough to qualify should enjoy this little windfall while they can, because the politicians are already planning to take it all back next year. After they're re-elected.

[Aristotelian]

the politicians are already planning to take it all back next year. After they're re-elected.

Washington's thirst for tax dollars is insatiable. Watch your wallets should the Dems win in November.

[verklaring]

Watch your wallets should the Dems win in November.

Or a RINO with no principles + a DEM congress.

At best the tax rebate is a refund on gas and oil taxes.

[tessalu]

It seems to me that the stimilus package will by pass the truly poor and those in need of it. Some in the USA have not had a job for so long that they are not on the unemployment rolls, and they are without jobs and need help. Our jobs have been going overseas, and illegal aliens are taking the jobs that they can find.