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Groups plan rallies promoting Obama plan

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 5, 2009 02:30 PM

More than 20 leading progressive organizations and unions announced today rallies across the country to support President-elect Barack Obama's plan to stoke the economy and forestall a deeper recession.

“These grassroots rallies for jobs and economic recovery taking place all across the county this week aim to amplify President-Elect Obama’s efforts in Washington today and to keep the pressure on key and potentially deciding votes for his recovery package in Congress. We hope every member of Congress resolved this New Year to put the nation ahead of politics and ideology and will support President-Elect Obama’s economic recovery plan that will create or save 3 million jobs through solid and sound long-term investments in health care, energy efficiency, transportation and education,” Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change, said in a statement.

The rallies will be from Florida to Washington state, and mostly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The coalition, which is spending $4 million to $5 million on a campaign backing Obama, includes major labor groups such as AFSCME, SEIU, and the AFL-CIO; environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters; and assorted other liberal-left organizations.

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The bailout began in the one half billion dollar range and now could go to 1 trillion dollars. Barack Obama is not in control; nothing has changed. The special groups have their special interests and investments; they need to understand we are going the wrong way.

There is no text, no details for the stimulus plan, just a dollar amount; something is wrong with this picture. What is He supporting and does he even know? The House is ready to fast track that. That fits in with Harry Potter’s new movie, “Half-Blood Prince” where there is a spell or potion that makes people blindly infatuated. I wonder if that was one of the four Harry Potter (witchcraft-sorcery) books Senator Obama read to his young daughters. There certainly seems to be a spell out there; things do not make sense. God rejected King Saul from being king for going after witchcraft; we will see how this works out. (The spell does get broken.)

Evidence shows the massive spending programs of the past big recession created a longer crisis, not a shorter one. History is supposed to teach us lessons. It was massive spending projects and science and technology to solve recessions in the past that have led to the expensive, dangerous and stressful lifestyle we have now. It has caused world problems of pollution, global warming, energy crisis, reoccurring financial crises, war, immigration, disease and the high cost of health care (soon to add health insurance costs to millions that cannot afford it), poverty, inequality, crime, child and elder care needs, and social security inadequacies and insufficiencies, etc. To get into massive debt and do the same thing only destroys us all the faster. It takes more polluting energy to create all the expensive energy efficient items to try to save us. We would also be encouraging other nations to do the same. Only destruction lies in this direction.

The goal in life is not employment; it is retirement in a garden paradise we can create here and now easily, fairly and inexpensively. Most of our need can be met nearby eliminating polluting transportation and processing of foods. That will solve the world problems at the same time. It is how God promises to "heal the land" when we follow His simple plan for an abundant life with no sorrow added. The way is prepared before us, even with an outstanding financial system that cannot fall or fail. We only need to believe.

Posted by Marie Devine January 5, 09 07:52 PM
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Amity Shales is not widely accepted as an economic authority. John Keynes is. Freidman said the depression was cause by the austerity of the fed. We see now that looseness does not stop the economy from plunging. Do we really want to chance a second depression. Spending would be most productive if it had long term benefits. But even if wasteful would have short term benefit.

Seems to me that the real problem is not writing down the mortgages that are going or have failed. The banks that are belly up must be so declared or merged into stronger banks. Falling housing prices will mean deflation. Becoming realistic about what mortgage debt is really worth is the next step.

We have had eight years of belief trumping reason. Acting reasonably is what we need more of.

Posted by Ron M January 5, 09 09:26 PM
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