Infrastructure spending won’t work
December 23, 2008 | By Nathaniel Ward
Aiming to create jobs, raise incomes and set the economy on a steady recovery path, President-elect Obama is proposing a massive infrastructure spending programs. His program is backed by left-wing pundits and special interests.
The rub, Heritage Foundation expert Utt explains, is that "past infrastructure spending – especially related to transportation – has little to show in terms of countercyclical stimulus or job creation." In short, massive spending on roads and the like doesn't work as advertised.
» Read more about failed "stimulus" programs on MyHeritage.org
— David Talbot
Other Heritage work of note
- By using the latest social networking technology, The Heritage Foundation is maximizing its outreach to members, supporters, lawmakers and both the mainstream and new media. For example, Heritage has established a presence on Twitter, and just this week launched an online donation referral program that leverages that social network to expand Heritage's membership. Follow Heritage's work at Twitter.com/Heritage.
- President-elect Obama will likely reverse the Bush Administration's "black healthy families initiative." Writing on The Foundry, Heritage expert Robert Rector explains that this unfortunate reversal rests "on the tired false premise that single parenthood, cohabitation, and marriage are interchangeable and all of equal value to children, adults and society."
- President-elect Obama's pick for Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, supports "sharp federal spending increases," Heritage Foundation education expert Dan Lips writes in nationally-syndicated column. Nevertheless, Lips notes that Duncan doesn't entirely fit the leftist mold. "Duncan is one of several innovative, reform-minded, big-city school chiefs. He recognizes the need for local leadership and innovation. And he supports amending federal policy to grant states greater flexibility and autonomy."
- Left-wing bloggers are riled up over Heritage's forthcoming missile defense documentary, 33 Minutes. A post on the widely-read Daily Kos blog accuses the film, which outlines the threat of ballistic missile attack, of "classic, slick, right wing fearmongering," and another item on the Huffington Post takes a similar angle. Heritage's experts respond on NationalSecurity.org.
In other news
- America's economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the third quarter, according to government estimates.
- The EPA reports that seven western states fail to meet its more stringent new air quality standards.
- The United States needs to teach new immigrants about the nation's history, customs and common language or face European-type problems, a new government report says. The task force particularly highlighted the importance of learning English.
- Israel threatens a major offensive into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
- According to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President-elect Obama will have to stick to many of President Bush's foreign policy positions.
- Falling demand and the surging yen caused Toyota to project its first-ever operating loss.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.
- On Tuesday, January 13 at noon, Greg Foster, author of The Contested Public Square: The Crisis of Christianity and Politics, will discuss moral law and the American Founding.
- On Wednesday, January 14 at noon, a panel of experts will discuss the shifting dynamics of market economies between the U.S., Saudi Arabia and China.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. David Talbot contributed to this report.
