Comments on: Anatomy of a stimulus effort gone wrong http://augustafreepress.com/2009/12/03/anatomy-of-a-stimulus-effort-gone-wrong/ The Valley. Virginia. Defined. News from AugustaFreePress.com. Sat, 26 May 2012 20:02:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Max Friedman http://augustafreepress.com/2009/12/03/anatomy-of-a-stimulus-effort-gone-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-96001 Max Friedman Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:36:16 +0000 http://augustafreepress.com/?p=15802#comment-96001 Chris: Welcome to the real world. As a former small business owner (family owned for 50 years), when you are dealing with any governmental agency, you usually end up frustrated and on the short end of the stick. The Stimulus Package hasn't stimulated anything for the small business owner, hasn't created jobs, and has lost (I mean can't account for) billions of dollars. TARP anyone? I presently work as a contractor for the US govt and you would not believe the ingrained stupidity of some governmental agencies. Even when they have a chance to save hundreds of millions of dollars annual, they refuse to do it because they have their policies and are not willing to change them - taxpayers be screwed. Big government means Big inefficiency. I've been trying to buck it for decades with some successs but also with some defeats, defeats which hurt the very people the govt was supposed to be helping. Also, I've worked with and for Congress/man in the past, and it seems that nothing has changed from the good old days. I have found that the Virginia state government and even my own local govt in Arlington Virginia have made major improvements in some areas, but often you need to make 7 calls before finding the right person to talk to. However, groups like VDOT are still using LSD before they make decisions. Try driving in Northern Virginia if you don't believe me. Don't even mention student loans. Meanwhile, in Dopenhagen, Big Govt is going to stick it to the American taxpayer Big Time, and it is going to hurt. Chris: Welcome to the real world. As a former small business owner (family owned for 50 years), when you are dealing with any governmental agency, you usually end up frustrated and on the short end of the stick.

The Stimulus Package hasn’t stimulated anything for the small business owner, hasn’t created jobs, and has lost (I mean can’t account for) billions of dollars. TARP anyone?

I presently work as a contractor for the US govt and you would not believe the ingrained stupidity of some governmental agencies. Even when they have a chance to save hundreds of millions of dollars annual, they refuse to do it because they have their policies and are not willing to change them – taxpayers be screwed.

Big government means Big inefficiency. I’ve been trying to buck it for decades with some successs but also with some defeats, defeats which hurt the very people the govt was supposed to be helping.

Also, I’ve worked with and for Congress/man in the past, and it seems that nothing has changed from the good old days.

I have found that the Virginia state government and even my own local govt in Arlington Virginia have made major improvements in some areas, but often you need to make 7 calls before finding the right person to talk to.

However, groups like VDOT are still using LSD before they make decisions. Try driving in Northern Virginia if you don’t believe me.

Don’t even mention student loans.

Meanwhile, in Dopenhagen, Big Govt is going to stick it to the American taxpayer Big Time, and it is going to hurt.

]]> By: afp http://augustafreepress.com/2009/12/03/anatomy-of-a-stimulus-effort-gone-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-94957 afp Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:39:26 +0000 http://augustafreepress.com/?p=15802#comment-94957 Two comments from readers in the e-mail box this morning on the column. One critical of the linkage of the matter involving SBA financing to the health-care debate. The other offering a corroborating experience from across the continent. From that e-mail: I’ve assisted small businesses get financing in AZ since 1994. To date, I have yet to have any client receive any money from the “stimulus” package. We (myself and at least 25 clients) have spent days in the attempt, but with no success. According to one of them originally from Texas, the program is “all hat and no cattle”. We know where it went. Failing banks are being purchased. Ultimately, maybe one of them will lend some money to a client and we’ll get the Trickle Down effect. Kind of like Goldman Sachs contributing to the small business fund. What’s really firing people up is the knowledege that it’s their money being used. No one pays more taxes per dollar than those who own a small business. Two comments from readers in the e-mail box this morning on the column. One critical of the linkage of the matter involving SBA financing to the health-care debate. The other offering a corroborating experience from across the continent.

From that e-mail:
I’ve assisted small businesses get financing in AZ since 1994.

To date, I have yet to have any client receive any money from the “stimulus” package. We (myself and at least 25 clients) have spent days in the attempt, but with no success. According to one of them originally from Texas, the program is “all hat and no cattle”.

We know where it went. Failing banks are being purchased. Ultimately, maybe one of them will lend some money to a client and we’ll get the Trickle Down effect. Kind of like Goldman Sachs contributing to the small business fund.

What’s really firing people up is the knowledege that it’s their money being used. No one pays more taxes per dollar than those who own a small business.

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