By:  Barry Secrest

Lately we have actually been hearing a smattering of "Lunatic Politicos" talking about the possibility of another "Stimulus"...Indeed. Is the first one not doing enough damage for these folks?

The reason for the initial "Behemoth Economic Stimulus" according to the "Messianic Monty Python Accounting Troupe" in the Executive and Legislative Branches of Our Government was to jumpstart the US Economy, which has been in a depressed mode to put it lightly. As a result of outlaying an estimated 10% of the total $787 Billion for 2009, our economy has now, according to virtually every Mainstream Media outlet, jerked forward again. Truthfully, none of us knew that a Skateboard Park in Pawtucket or the Wild Horses sauntering around out West had anything to do with our economic vitality, but this just illustrates how the US Economy is intricate beyond any plausible reason ...I suppose.

I can hear everyone clapping and whistling and jumping around out there right now. It's over, right?

Well, maybe/maybe not. According to a Senior VP at a large Charlotte bank whom I recently met and befriended, the "Back Pain" from all of this upheaval is soon to start. According to this gentleman, no amount of stimulus from any quarter is going to erase the continued pain that alternate industrial sectors will be feeling. After a frequently heated argument over "whom or what" actually started all of this economic mess, I came away at least enlightened that it was not "all government’s fault," although I was still able to successfully maintain that "government meddling" was more culpable than any one other single impudence brought to bear by the guilty parties.

To get to the point, the US is looking at massive deficits that stretch off into the hinterland as a result of the TARP Payments, auto bailouts, bank, and AIG bailouts.  In fact, the stimulus has been like a hyper-wrecking ball when it comes to these deficits. In leafing thru the CBO's estimated impacts on our budget, the one thing that an individual can take away from it is "GOVCO is spending our nation into oblivion."

Can't you guys just burn your credit cards, too?  Or perhaps the US flag is your parchment of choice.

Hypothetically, what would happen if "We the People" decided that the remaining economic stimulus plan was unworkable?  The total payout for the Bill as passed was set at $787 Billion dollars. Interestingly, the total deficit for 2009 will be $1.587 Trillion, and then the deficits will supposedly stabilize at roughly $700 Billion thru 2019. Instead of talking of another Stimulus we should be talking about a REPEAL.

At any rate the wildcard in all of this is inflation!

The CBO's estimates do not take into account a wild and uncontrollable ramping up in inflation as a result of our poor economic showing, because it is only hypothetical. But the true risk we are taking in these "seemingly controllable" deficits may take on a life of their own in the not-too-distant future. If this happens, our "little wish list" spending spree could become the US economic version of "Godzilla" rampaging thru our cities, but in this case, he will not just stick to the coastline.

In other great news, the President has now appointed a "Diversity Czar" in order to make sure that our local radio stations are "fair."  If they are not "fair" as judged by a hand-picked but extremely impartial panel appointed by the (extremely impartial) President himself (thank goodness), a penalty will be assessed that may equal the entire yearly gross of the station in question (thereby effectively putting it out of business ).  Then an impartial FCC will allocate the license to a station that is fair. Oh, and by the way, the penalties that are assessed will go to "National Public Radio" long known as a.......... bastion for fair thinking?

The main thing to remember about our current Executive & Legislative Branches of Government is that the determination of Fair seems to belong only to those who have a Majority of Legislative votes and in the past "fairness" has normally been decided by our Justice System.  It is indeed unfortunate that a "Diversity Czar" is not being appointed to monitor this current Administration.  I feel certain that the assessed penalty levied for "Fairness Transgressions" would cause even China massive deficits.

The President should be mindful of the fact that He is the President of this entire country rather than just his democratic constituents.  Since the early days of the defining Constitution, each President has been tasked to understand that his responsibilities go way beyond his own ideologies and that few men can successfully navigate thru these difficult introspective waters.  But this was why a majority of Americans voted this particular man into the office. It is the nature of how we vote for our presidents.

This would also seem to imply that "abrupt changes" in the course of this country could cause upheavals that are destabilizing across all economic and social sectors but to the Democrats this could be simply part of the plan. I have often thought in looking back over the last several years that other countries probably view our extreme political weaving from left to right over time to be much like a "drunk" speeding down the highway of political ideologies.

Appointing "Czars," a practice left over from the Bush administration, should best be left up to the Russians since they garnered centuries of experience at it, notwithstanding the fact that this practice more appropriately belongs in an Oligarchy than a Democratic Republic.  If, indeed, we still are one.