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2/19/2010
Who cares if it makes sense? I do, darn it.
The feds throw around hundreds of billions – and who has a clue if it makes sense? Nearly $23 million in federal stimulus money is making its way to Wisconsin to provide better, high-speed Internet access to schools, colleges, and libraries in all 72 counties.
…. "By linking together all of our schools and universities, we are going to guarantee all the libraries don't have to sit still, they can come into your home. Access to information has never been more important in a global economy let alone it's an opportunity situation where jobs are getting hard to find," Congressman Steve Kagen (D-8th District) said.
However, it was about a year ago when officials in Brown County teamed up to present their wish list of "shovel ready" projects that could be funded by stimulus dollars. Internet upgrades weren't part of that proposal.
"I thought that there were things a little higher priority. But look, Congress makes those decisions and we need to react to that and that's what we're doing," Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said.
Trying to make the best of the situation, the mayor is committed to working with local businesses that could potentially benefit from the announcement.
But even Steve Schneider, who is president of Hilbert Communications and is optimistic about potential businesses opportunities associated with the broadband, recognizes the uncertainty.
"It really comes down to companies hopefully such as ours and others who create a business plan as to how to use these facilities to create economic development," said Schneider.
So will the big bucks be rejected if the biz plan makes no sense? What do you think?
Unbelievable.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Jo, your comments suggest that you don't agree with using Federal stimulus money for better internet access but you don't say why you don't like it. Why not? It makes sense to me.
Dean Weichmann (Fri Feb 19 09:44:19 2010)
Dean, you need to read "Not Yours to Give" by David Crockett. I'm sutre you could find it on the net. It explains why!
emily matthews (Fri Feb 19 15:19:22 2010)
Dean- Anytime the Government spends taxpayer dollars, it always costs 3 or 4 times as much as if it was done privately. For ever one dollar that is taken from taxpayers, only 25 cents comes out the other end becuase of fraud and government expense.
greatscott (Fri Feb 19 15:54:52 2010)
"Dean- Anytime the Government spends taxpayer dollars, it always costs 3 or 4 times as much as if it was done privately. For ever one dollar that is taken from taxpayers, only 25 cents comes out the other end becuase of fraud and government expense"
Care to back up that claim that gov't costs more? What of all the fraud and inefficiency of large corporations? Do you think that money collected as taxes just disappears?
Dean Weichmann (Fri Feb 19 19:09:18 2010)
Emily, I read the speech. I do not know what that reasoning against government charity has to do with internet access. I would compare that to public roads. Would you prefer that our roads be private, with tolls every half mile or so and no standards?
Dean Weichmann (Fri Feb 19 19:24:32 2010)
Anybody care to answer why the privates in Iraq cost five times more than govt troops?
Sorry, I know that's an inconvenient question.
Jack Lohman (Fri Feb 19 19:45:35 2010)
My comments suggest not that I necessarily disagree with using Federal stimulus $s for better internet access, but rather that it's abhorrent to have federal money thrown at a project that may or may not make economic sense - or may or may not be the highest priority in a region if indeed all this printed money stolen from our grandkids is going to be thrown around.
Jo (Fri Feb 19 19:51:18 2010)
What is the problem with "printed money"? How would printed money be stolen from our grandkids? Printed money might refer to money created by the government that dilutes the value of the currency (inflation). We are now in a deflationary period. Deliberate inflationary policy is what we need now.
Dilution of the currency reduces the real cost to debtors. It stimulates the economy.
Dean Weichmann (Fri Feb 19 20:13:17 2010)
This is why we need people in Congress like Terri McCormick. She has PROVEN that she is the only one worthy of calling herself a conservative. She will reel in these big fish spenders and hold them accountable.
Michael S. Murphy (Thu Feb 25 21:09:53 2010)
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