How do we Improve Our Economy?

nited States has been in a recession since December,$27 BILLION FOR HIGHWAY, ROAD AND BRIDGE
2007, as defined by the National Bureau of EconomicINVESTMENTS
Research, a private, nonprofit research organization.$8.4 BILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT INVESTMENT
But the American people, and the Obama$2 BILLION FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
administration along with the democrat majority$1.3 BILLION FOR FAA AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT
congress, seem to be at odds on how to fix theFACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
American economy. A robust economy means$850 MILLION FOR AMTRAK
companies expand which results in job creation.$250 MILLION FOR GRANTS TO STATES FOR
Currently, the American people are not spendingINVESTMENT IN HIGH SPEED AND INNER CITY
because many are not working, and those who arePASSENGER RAIL
working are spending less, most likely due to the$100 MILLION TO MARITIME ADMINISTRATION FOR
possibility of losing their job. Current unemployment rateASSISTANCE TO SMALL SHIPYARDS
stands at 9.6% as of August, 2009. A decrease in$76.8 BILLION IN EDUCATION INVESTMENTS
spending by the American people results in a$39 BILLION FOR STATE FISCAL RELIEF
decrease in company profits, company non expansion,TARGETED DIRECTLY FOR EDUCATION
and more layoffs. Reporting on a survey by Watson$13.9 BILLION FOR PELL GRANTS
Wyatt, a consulting firm, the reported in November of$13.5 BILLION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
2008 that one-fourth of U.S. employers plan to have$10.4 BILLION FOR TITLE I
staff reductions during the following calendar year. We$6.4 BILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER
are now seeing this come to fruition for 2009. So howINFRASTRUCTURE
can the US economy improve? Improvement being$3 BILLION FOR JOB TRAINING
defined as two consecutive quarters where we do$3.25 BILLION FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT
not have negative growth in the GDP (gross domesticPROGRAMS
product). The following is what we call the Steps to$160 MILLION FOR JOB CORPS
Economic Improvement. These are steps for$87 BILLION IN TEMPORARY AND TARGETED
consideration which hopefully result in a healthyMEDICAID RELIEF TO STATES
bipartisan discussion between our elected$5 BILLION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS TO
congressman and their constituency. These steps mayPUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES FOR CAPITAL
result in non-recessionary growth of our economy.NEEDS
You may or may not agree with these steps, but at a$4.7 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL ENERGY
bare minimum, these are points to consider, and ideallyEFFICIENCY BLOCK GRANTS
result in a healthy discussion with our elected$4.4 BILLION FOR SMART GRID
congressmen, which at last check, is one of the$2.9 BILLION FOR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS
unchanged notions of a free democratic society.$2 BILLION FOR ADVANCED BATTERY
Steps to Economic Improvement:MANUFACTURING
1) The first step is to realize that it is business and not$7 BILLION FOR LOAN GUARANTEES FOR
government that creates jobs and wealth within theSTANDARD RENEWABLES
American society. This is where we believe is the$800 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PORTS
heart of the problem. It is evident that the ObamaOF ENTRY
administration believes it is government that will lead$500 MILLION FOR FIREFIGHTERS ASSISTANCE
Americans to economic prosperity. This is why theGRANTS
federal government has put forth a $780 billion stimulus$1.2 BILLION FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE
package. So where is this money really going. Let'sFOUNDATION
take a look at the breakdown.As part of the 2010 budget proposal, the Obama
$780 Billion Stimulus Package:administration has proposed these and more spending
MORE THAN $43 BILLION IN TRANSPORTATIONmeasures to attempt to stabilize the economy. Only
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTStime will tell if it works!