Conservative Misinformation

by Dee Newman

Conservative misinformation about the President's economic stimulus and recovery plan is dominating media coverage.

Rush Limbaugh is leading the conservative attack. He has said he does not want the President’s plan to succeed. Congressional republicans are following his lead.

Their opposition to the legislation is based on the belief that they have nothing to lose by opposing it, thus, their determination to weaken the bill.

They would have you believe that the bill will do nothing to stimulate the economy and that it is too large and should be cut in half.

They still believe that the only way to stimulate the economy is cutting taxes for the filthy-rich – “trickle-down economics.”

In truth, those parts of the bill that republicans have singled out for criticism amount to only a tiny fraction of the plan.

The President’s stimulus and economic recovery plan, if enacted, will create or save 3 to 4 million jobs in the next two years.

It will double funding for the Department of Education and prevent hundreds of thousands of teacher layoffs.

It will create a half million green jobs and more than double clean energy production in the United States.

It will immediately help the unemployed obtain affordable health insurance.

If the plan does not pass, all of us are in deep trouble. Last week alone, 100,000 people lost their jobs in the United States.

Even John McCain's economic adviser estimates that without the stimulus, unemployment will be over 11 percent within a year, the highest level since the Great Depression.

Many economists have argued that though the plan should be larger, it is still a good down payment and it should to be passed.

Nearly 200 economists, both conservative and liberal, recently wrote to Congress, saying: "We do not have the luxury of a lengthy debate over the best course of action. This legislation may not be enough to solve all the economy's problems, but it is urgently needed and an important step in the right direction."