Gerald Herbert / The Associated Press
As Vice President Joe Biden applauds, President Barack Obama gets up from the table after signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Tuesday during a ceremony at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver.
A call for cheerleaders, not naysayers
Editor, The Times:
I never thought I’d hear myself saying this, but I believe the Republican Party, as it exists today, is a threat to the long-term stability of our country.
No, they are not the “loyal opposition.” As the term implies, loyalty should be to the greater society, not to party ideologies.
The no-more-taxes mantra of the GOP is now a corrupt strategy used to placate the population, all the while growing government, waging wars and creating entitlement programs for the wealthy. It’s simply nonsensical financial management.
Republicans’ behavior regarding the stimulus bill was shameful. An economy’s success or failure is largely due to psychology. To argue the merits of a bill is one thing; to close ranks in revolt against the executive is another and sends the wrong message to the public.
We need cheerleaders now, not naysayers.
Republicans generally like to think of themselves as clever business people. But, had they behaved like this in a corporation, they would have found themselves sitting on their bums outside the office.
— Rocco Cappeto, Seattle
Make the more-expensive choice
While I support our new president and hope he can help our present economic meltdown, I don’t think he can do it alone.
We can blame the past administration and the mega-retailers for forcing their suppliers to have products made in China, but it’s not their fault — it’s ours. We make the decisions where to shop and what products to buy. When you choose to buy that tool set because it’s only $10 when the made-in-USA brand is more expensive, but much higher quality, you are putting American workers out of work.
When your only priority in choosing an item to buy is price, you’re responsible for our high unemployment rate.
The government can’t do this by itself. President Obama can’t throw billions of dollars at this problem and fix it because when the money runs out, we’re back where we started.
We need to make the choice to keep Americans employed.
Can we afford to spend a little more to buy the better product that will last, rather than the cheapest one that will have to be replaced? If you want to have a job, I think it’s the only choice.
If the 110 million American households spent their disposable income supporting American labor, we could easily match the bailout money the government is going to spread around once more. The difference is it will go where it’s needed. It will support
companies that keep work in the United States.
I know in many cases their is no alternative for the imported product, but once manufactures realize the market for American-made goods, they will open or reopen factories in the U.S.
— Bruce Green, Kent