This article titled "Trade-Offs in the Stimulus Package" was written by Madison Powers, who is Senior Research Scholar at Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University. Powers column appears weekly in CQ Politics. Powers wrote this article in response to the Stimulus Package President Obama has proposed. It has passed the House of Representative and is now in the hands of the Senate. Powers seems to be targeting three audiences, the American public, the legislative body and the President Obama. Powers seems to be trying to inform the American public and challenge the legislative and executive body.
Powers basic argument was like most editors who wrote about the American economy that it is bad shape. Powers believes like some of the editor who wrote about the mess the economy is in is that there is no easy way out of the economic downturn slash depression America finds itself in. Powers believes there are two special significances in the debate over the stimulus package. One is the goal of efficiency and the other is ideals of equity. Powers said efficiency has to do with increasing aggregated economic activity, which means they want our spending priority to yield a greater amount of economic activity per dollar. Powers also believes the stimulus package must be equitable or fair. Powers believes because the economic system has been unfair to some, namely the poor and middle class, some have an unequal ability to weather the economic storm than others.
The argument among economist is that now is not the time to think about fairness or equity but about keeping all from sinking, instead of making sure all will be lifted up. Powers also questions whether or not there are enough big infractured projects and suggest that maybe America needs to stop thinking big and start thinking small. Powers continues that thinking small will be a hard sell because Americans are taught to dream big. Powers said that is precisely what some economist think of as the new paradigm for spurring growth especially in developing nations. Powers, like President Obama and New York Times editor Friedman, believe this time calls for radical ideas, radical change and radical individuals to carry out this radical new way. May God help us all, because it will get worse before it gets better.
