Stimulus Package

The LA Times today reports that Obama is planning to make a massive stimulus plan.   When I read the article, I wondered if the projects that placed in the bill might just be pork for special interest groups

"Though no stimulus bill has yet been drafted, Republicans are wary of some of the proposals put forward by groups that are talking to Obama’s transition team. They cite a report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors listing myriad projects cast as vehicles to create jobs and boost the economy. Those include a dog park in Hercules, Calif.; a bike path in San Diego; and a $1.5-million push to curb prostitution in Dayton, Ohio.

The question that I have is that these projects are going to serve a useful purpose or are these projects going to have a return on investment.   The article goes on state

"Grover Norquist, a Washington anti-tax activist who has been at the hub of conservative policymaking in the Bush years, said the package should be posted on the Internet for a minimum of 10 days so that Americans have a chance to inspect it and look for dubious projects"

Normally, I do not agree with Grover Norquist  but this time I do.  Obama promises to make the goverment more transparent via e-government  and yet I see little action by the administration to the list all of the projects that would be proposed to the public.

This bill would cost more than the Iraq War  and yet, there is no plan to disclose to the details to the public on how the money would be spent.  Since this bill would be an significant investment of the taxes that I paid to the goverment, should I know what the government is doing with the money that I pay for them.

Snow in Las Vegas

Yesterday was a very cold day in Southern California.  It was windy, chilly, the rain was bitter cold.  Not a good day to go out.

In Sin City, the city got an early white christmas.  Here are some pictures to prove it

Marriage