Economic Stimulus Package

The article I am criticizing is one based on the economic stimulus package.

In this article President George W. Bush is proposing to give the economy a “shot in the arm.” In order for such a thing to be effective the amount must be roughly 1 percent of the GDP, which comes out around $145 billion dollars. The largest part of the stimulus package would target the individual taxpayer. He believes that in order to not fall into a recession this must be put into place. Bush says that Americans can spend the money anyway they see fit. Bush believes that passing a growth package is “our most pressing economic priority.” Although the economy will continue to grow, it will grow at a much slower rate than years past.

Although I believe that this economic stimulus package would be good for our economy and is somewhat necessary, I believe that there are alternative things that we could be doing with all of that money. I am not saying that the economy does not need this boost because it does. I just think that we could put it toward something along the lines of universal health care or something of that nature. Also there is no way the determine if all of the money that is being given out will be spent. Some Americans might decide to just put it into the bank, or buy things that would not stimulate the economy so much. I believe that if we can put out this much money for the economy, we can come up with some more money to put toward other things that America is in need of.

The Democratic Divide

The article i read can be found here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/us/politics/06delect.html?pagewanted=1

This article discusses how the support is divided in the Democratic party between Senator Barrack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. This past Tuesday when 22 states held primaries, Obama and Clinton battled for states. Senator Clinton ended up winning California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, while Senator Obama won Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, and Illinois.
The race began with the first results in Georgia, then the two candidates traded victories about every 30 minutes. Throughout the night the biggest prize, California, vexed both campaigns, but early Wednesday morning Ms. Clinton secured a victory and provided a huge moral boost for her camp.
Missouri, another close state, was almost evenly split between to two Democrats at 1a.m. , with Obama leading by half a percentage point.
An analysis by the Associated Press based on incomplete vote totals showed that Senator Clinton had won 166 delegates and Senator Obama had won 146 delegates at stake Tuesday. Overall Ms. Clinton had 479 and Mr. Obama had 386, but these numbers are likely to change as vote tallies are completed.
The results from the polls showed formidable strengths for each candidate. Mr. Obama gaining appeal with white voters and Ms. Clinton solidifying her support among Hispanics.
Because most states gave nominating delegates to both Obama and Clinton based on proportions, as opposed to winner take all, both camps were predicting that neither of them would have a blowout lead. This sets up an intense race for Louisiana, Washington, Virginia, Ohio and Texas who are holding nomination contests in the next 4 weeks.
This article is worth reading because it shows how the votes are truly divided between the two Democratic candidates. Its going to be exciting to watch and see how the race pans out, it is way more close than the Republican candidates. We have some kind of idea who is going to come out of the Republican party, but in the Democratic party it is probably going to come down to the wire.