what do food stamps, unemployment benefits, infrastructure spending and tax cuts do to the GNP?

[Anonymous]

These figures are from Mark Zandi of Moody's economy.com (a Republican, and former economic advisor to McCain).

To the extent you care about the economy of this country being in expansion rather than in recession, it's pretty clear who is right (and it's not the GOP).

Bang for the Buck

Bang for the Buck = estimated one year $ change in GDP for a given $ reduction in federal tax revenue or increase in spending.

Tax Cuts
•Non-refundable lump sum tax rebate 1.01
•Refundable lump sum tax rebate 1.22

Temporary tax cuts
•Payroll tax holiday 1.28
•Across the board tax cut 1.03
•Accelerated depreciation 0.25

Permanent tax cuts
•End alternative minimum tax patch 0.49
•Make Bush income tax cuts permanent 0.31
•Make dividend and capital gains tax cuts permanent 0.38
•Cut corporate tax rate 0.30

Spending Increases
•Extending unemployment insurance benefits 1.63
•Temporary increase in food stamps 1.73
•General aid to state governments 1.38
•Increased infrastructure spending 1.59

To be clear, if you're not good with numbers: the choice is between giving millionaires and billionaires a tax cut which will make the economy shrink (and may take your job with it if you still have one)
or
extending unemployment benefits so that those who have lost their job can maintain some dignity, extending food stamps so that the HALF OF AMERICAN CHILDREN who rely on them can thwart hunger, fixing our infrastructure so that your car doesn't get crushed under a bridge on of these days, etc. and helping the economy recover at the same time. Oh yes and a payroll tax cut isn't bad either.

"I've had all I can stands, and I can't stands no more."--Popeye the Sailor Man.

.

[TheManWithAUsername]

There's been no question among economists about this stuff for a long time. But the Reps know, as Colbert observes, that reality has a strong liberal bias. It's better just to pray on it and go with your gut. Or with what Faux news says - close enough.

[Anonymous]

well, if the healthcare problem of the nation is obesity, maybe a famine will not be so bad.
At least the rich will grow richer when the poor will agree to work in exchange for a plate of food