Governor Sanford in WSJ: Why South Carolina Doesn't Want 'Stimulus'

Doesn't matter if "we take it or not".  The costs will be borne by all across the nation.  So why not let another state enjoy the benefits of new jobs, roads and other goodies? 

 After all, we're only #3 highest unemployed, #47 in education and there's room to grow.

Wonder if he would take it if it were allowed to be used to pay for school voucher programs?

He's already said he'd take it if he could pay down debt.  Anyone know how much interest would be saved?  I think in Gov't they call interest "debt service."

Being debt free is really a GOOD THING, you know

Yes, Ed, being debt free is really a good thing.

But what our Governor conveniently failed to point out was that when he pays off  his State's debt with stimulus funds, he is not reducing American's overall debt. Those funds are borrowed funds and that paid off debt simply takes it out of one pocket and puts it into a different pocket.

HIS !

Principle would refuse to be involved in the whole "stimulus" mess.

 

 

Here are a couple of fictional scenarios that speak my feelings toward the "welfare" mess.

I asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'

She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

'Wow...what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds while her Mom glared at me, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?'

I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'

#2

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words, redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn’t even have time for a

boyfriend, and didn’t really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, ‘How is your friend Audrey doing?’

She replied, ‘Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She’s always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn’t even show up for classes because she’s too hung over.’

Her wise father asked his daughter, ‘Why don’t you go to the Dean’s office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.’

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired back,

‘That’s a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I’ve worked really hard for my grades! I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!’

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, ‘Welcome to the Republican Party.’

It's too bad Demacrats don't get it!
But hey that's why I call them

"DUMACRATS"

Yes, Ed, being debt free is really a good thing.[image]
But what our Governor conveniently failed to point out was that when he pays off  his State's debt with stimulus funds, he is not reducing American's overall debt. Those funds are borrowed funds and that paid off debt simply takes it out of one pocket and puts it into a different pocket.[image]

-pappy

Pappy;  Do you mean to say the money is going to come to SC in the form of a loan?

If it comes in the form of a loan and we accept responsibility for it, the governing officials should be able to say how it is used.

If it is a loan, at say 1 percent, why not pay off 3,4,5, and even 6 percent loans?

The Governor is not creating the Overall American Debt you speak of.  The US Congress is saddling the Nation with that.That is money that is not going to be recouped in our lifetime, nor our children's children's lifetime

If the money comes in the form of a grant, I say take it and try to:  a; reduce expenses  or b; put it into something that grows.  Funding "entitlements' only delays a day of reckoning....

My guess is that taxes are going to go up, up and away.  Taxes on Gasoline, smokes, licenses, and every darn thing you can think of. 

   Enoughalready, please don't put so many spaces between paragraphs on your posts. It makes scrolling through to see what you have to say cumbersome, and some of us have a very, very short attention span. Thanks.

Pappy;  Do you mean to say the money is going to come to SC in the form of a loan? If it comes in the form of a loan and we accept responsibility for it, the governing officials should be able to say how it is used.
If it is a loan, at say 1 percent, why not pay off 3,4,5, and even 6 percent loans?
The Governor is not creating the Overall American Debt you speak of.  The US Congress is saddling the Nation with that.That is money that is not going to be recouped in our lifetime, nor our children's children's lifetime
If the money comes in the form of a grant, I say take it and try to:  a; reduce expenses  or b; put it into something that grows.  Funding "entitlements' only delays a day of reckoning....
My guess is that taxes are going to go up, up and away.  Taxes on Gasoline, smokes, licenses, and every darn thing you can think of. 

-ed-evans

Very well put, what we are being forced into is generational theft, and we should be fighting this garbage with every ounce of our being.  Think about it we have a sitting President telling the Governors how they will spend this bogus money which does not even exist.  Does anyone know what the 10th amendment states very clearly?  Although I question the bonuses being paid out in a lot of companies these days, it is another clear violation of our constitution, (Artilce one to be specific).  I have heard that Gresham Barret voted for the recent 90% tax on these bonuses.  If this is true for this action, and his refusal to listen to over 90% of his constituents when we said no to the first stimulus package, Gresham needs to be rejected as our next governor possibility.

   Enoughalready, please don't put so many spaces between paragraphs on your posts. It makes scrolling through to see what you have to say cumbersome, and some of us have a very, very short attention span. Thanks.

-jdtippett

Is this one of your silly laws?  Please try spacing your words apart it will help in erasing the uneducated image we suffer under here in the south. 

     It's not one of our "silly" laws, Muckraker. It was just a simple request.
     As for spacing my words apart, "Enoughalready" (no spaces) is the screen name of the poster I was addressing. I'm not sure when you say something about the "uneducated image" in the South if you're referencing you or me, but I really don't care what you think.
     Since you claim to be new here, let me remind you that this IS a moderated forum. The comment to Enoughalready wasn't even a warning, but even if it had been it is of no concern to you. If you cannot accept moderation, just go back to your cave and find another website that's more to your liking.

An article in IM indicates that our Governor 'blinked' first.

Pappy;  Do you mean to say the money is going to come to SC in the form of a loan?

No, Ed, I meant that the stimulus funds were  loans, mainly from China and Japan.

If the money comes in the form of a grant, I say take it and try to:  a; reduce expenses  or b; put it into something that grows.  Funding "entitlements' only delays a day of reckoning....

I think the entitlement that the disputed funds are meant for is extended unemployment insurance coverage.
Ed, you know full well that there are folks that were laid off that want to work and are looking for a job 24/7, but with this economic mess just are unable to find a legal way to earn in order to house, clothe and feed a family. Without such funding their 'day of reckoning' is now.

My guess is that taxes are going to go up, up and away.  Taxes on Gasoline, smokes, licenses, and every darn thing you can think of. 

No argument with that statement.

-ed-evans

This didn't look the way I meant it to, Ed. The above seems to show that you were responsible for the whole comment.

Let it be known that I wrote the 2nd, 4th and 6th paragraphs.

Sorry. . .

Will do,  Thanks

Today is a sad day for the taxpayers of SC/or not.  After sitting in a very interesting meeting (ALL) about media and it's influence on the public, I am as confused as ever about the information that I have received. Is today the last day that Governor Sanford can accept the stimulus package, mainly for improvements in education?  The print and broadcast news I have received both "quote" the Governor as saying that he has an extended time to pontificate on his decision. (up to two years)  The State Legislature says that today is the last day to accept the money.  The Governor says they are "using" scare tactics. Supposedly our own SC Senator Clyburn passed a bill in the US Senate that the state legislators could overrule the Governor.

Will someone in the media or with good researching skills on the internet find out and let me and the all the other taxpayers in SC know what is really going on?

Today is a sad day for the taxpayers of SC/or not.  After sitting in a very interesting meeting (ALL) about media and it's influence on the public, I am as confused as ever about the information that I have received. Is today the last day that Governor Sanford can accept the stimulus package, mainly for improvements in education?  The print and broadcast news I have received both "quote" the Governor as saying that he has an extended time to pontificate on his decision. (up to two years)  The State Legislature says that today is the last day to accept the money.  The Governor says they are "using" scare tactics. Supposedly our own SC Senator Clyburn passed a bill in the US Senate that the state legislators could overrule the Governor.
Will someone in the media or with good researching skills on the internet find out and let me and the all the other taxpayers in SC know what is really going on?

-petunia1

First of all, this money wont' improve the education system in South Carolina.  The sky ain't fallen and this is not an economic Armegeddon. 

We didn't get in this mess overnight and we ain't gettin out overnight.  This is a short-term fix to a major, major long-term problem. 

I will ask you this.  What will happen in 2011 when this money is no longer there?  Not only, do we have to pay it back, but we have to supply the money that is lost with new money.  Sure, the easy thing to do would be to take the money, but we need to look long term.

Education in SC needs reform and needs it bad.  Jim Rex ain't getting it done.  Actually, no one has.  It takes parents and their attitudes have to change.  You cannot legislate good parenting or good education.  The tools are there, but the the willingness to utilize the tools are not. 

Our problems in SC are generational.  And it will take several generations to change the mindset.  when that happens you will see us prosper.  Taking one-time borrowed money and expecting it to change our state, our economy and our education system is disengenuous.

 Not only, do we have to pay it back, .........

-yankeefann

I keep hearing about having to "pay it back."  What is the repayment schedule and the exact payment mechanism that is specific to this stimulus money? Or, is this just additional deficit spending and more piled on to our unsustainable national debt trend?

I believe that SC already receives $1.35 in federal money for every $1.00 we send to Washington, DC.  No one here seems to complain about taking money from other states.
JK