Organizing for America | Holly in Riverside: Focused Attention: House Party to Discuss Economic Stimulus

Focused Attention: House Party to Discuss Economic Stimulus

By Holly - Feb 11th, 2009 at 4:22 pm EST

Also listed in: Riverside for Change - Jacksonville, FL

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Neighbors in Riverside gathered on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 for a House Party to discuss the proposed economic stimulus package with sharp attention to a call to action, concern for our local community, and energy for getting to work to affect meaningful change.

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Letters Faxed-2-9-09 | Report to Admin

By David from Jacksonville, FL Feb 13th 2009 at 11:31 am EST (Updated Feb 13th 2009 at 11:31 am EST)

I faxed this letter to Crenshaw:

I am registered Republican and have voted in the past 11 presidential elections, 6 times for Republicans,5 times for Democrats.

I'm a general contractor and my wife is a consultant. I laid off all my employees and suspended my salary in an effort to keep my business afloat in the present conditions in the construction and remodeling industry. My wife received a lay off notice last Thursday.

Last year our savings lost 40% in value. We do not know what our home is now worth.

You can cut my taxes all you like and it will do me no good, nor will it help my employees.

I have followed the stimulus discussion and I believe the GOP caucus is wrong on this question. For years we have heard “cut taxes” as the solution to most problems. Jacksonville has cut taxes. Florida has cut taxes and has imposed property tax cuts on localities. You have cut Federal taxes. Meanwhile schools, colleges, basic government services are failing and underfunded, and then the GOP points a finger at government and says “it doesn’t work.” Well, I want it to work and to work well. It simply isn’t true that the aggregate of private market decisions always has the optimum results. As it is, the aggregate of private market decisions has resulted in unsupportable private debt and wasteful consumption.

Tell me how the Senate’s addition of $60 billion to the Stimulus Bill to limit or eliminate the alternative minimum tax is going to “stimulate” anything? People who would benefit from this provision are all making at least six figures. So, they will save this benefit, improving their balance sheets at the expense of Uncle Sam’s.

It is time for the government to take the lead, to invest in things none of us can individually contemplate, like education, basic research, energy technology and a rational health care plan. If you are convinced that these costs will generate unsupportable deficits, then have the guts to raise taxes.

It is also time for the government to set and enforce some new rules for the use of energy and the reduction of fossil fuel combustion, the protection of our land and natural resources, and the protection of investors and savers.

You should be working to make government effective and successful instead of working to reduce or eliminate government.

Respectfully,

David Wilderman

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