The Stimulus Bill

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you."

The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can."

The student did as he was instructed. The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student became worried that his economics professor had gone mad.

The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,

"Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

*

from Peggy's blog HERE

My Note: This analogy demonstrates futility, but in my opinion doesn't go far enough to explain the stimulus package. The water in the pool has to come from somewhere: it is depleting the reservoir that is necessary for indoor plumbing: the drinking water, the showers, washing the clothing, whatever. The area will become a desert while that pool fills with water.

This stimulus package is taking money from our grandchildren that THEY will have to repay. I'm sorry; I am not an economist, but I know enough not to run my own household the way the stimilus bill seems to be doing, which is to borrow more money than you can ever dream of making. In one stroke of the pen, the national debt has been tripled.

Where is the stimulus in this?

The Cloud of Witnesses

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... Hebrews 12:1, ESV

The role of our politicians in the stimulus package made me think, in a corkscrew kind of way, of this verse. As always, I will avoid taking this blog in a political direction, but do want to discuss some personal apolitical observations.

My impression is that this enormous 600+ page bill was rammed through quickly, before any of our representatives had time to read it, much less understand what it said. When we're talking about 800 billion dollars, give or take a few million (!), this seems to be a foolish thing to do -- after all, as a country we'll be paying for this for years, perhaps generations. Would anyone here buy a house, or car, or other big purchase, without at least figuring out what it is? Hmm.

I'm sure there is enormous peer pressure on the Hill to vote positively for something like this -- there has been much rhetoric about how this stimulus package is "needed quickly" and "we can't wait." Perhaps. Still, as an American citizen, with this quick acceptance I feel let down and yes, betrayed. I want to know what we're actually going to be spending the money on, and if the purchases will truly be helpful. Isn't this common sense? No matter that I called, though, my voice made not a whit of difference.

But here I go into the realm of the political, and really I wanted to make a slightly different point in this blog today. It is this: like those representatives, the above verse from Hebrews seems to suggest that WE are being observed, and our actions are being weighed to see if we succumb to peer pressure or stand up and do the right thing. Those observing us I imagine are cheering for decisions that honor the Lord, although I don't hear their voices.

Which way will I vote? Will my own actions be right?