Let's stop pretending

Okay, the "stimulus package" is going to pass, for better or worse, it seems.

All the economists say for the better so let's stick with those people. It's an economy, after all. They should know what they're talking about.

But let's stop pretending we live in a capitalistic, free-enterprise society any longer. (Beats being in an oligarchy, in my view).

Geez, between W's 350 billion dollar give-away, right at the end of his 8-year reign of terror and this apparently necessary, nearly one trillion dollar prop-up of the economy, and the fact that the government now owns so many banks and that they're going to own a bunch more this year, let's stop living in the past or kidding ourselves or out-and-out lying to ourselves or whatever it is we're doing.

The United States is now, truly, officially, a socialistic state, at minimum.

We probably were--and still, likely are--some form of oligarchy where the rich rule--and so many of us like it that way, clearly. But we are no longer a free-enterprise, capitalistic group of people.

No way.

Have you seen or heard what's in the apparently necessary boondoggle that was passed Friday night? Here's a glimmer:

• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)

• $75 million for Smithsonian

• $600 million for Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)

• $327 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• $100 million for law enforcement wireless

• $300 million for federal fleet of hybrid vehicles

• $300 million for FBI construction

Don't get me wrong. I'm a follower of Paul Krugman (professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University, centenary professor at the London School of Economics, op-ed columnist for The New York Times and winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences last year) and he has made it very clear he thinks this stimulus is very important for the country, to the point of keeping us out of, in his words, a "catastrophe".

But there is both a huge bundle of "pork" in this bill and it furthers the Federal Government's extension into our lives. This extension being financial.

And then there's the fact that it seems insane to try to fix a financial problem that grew out of everyone--banks, individuals, companies, everyone--having and using too much credit.

Finally, there's the whole idea that this will likely cause a great deal of inflation.

That's a lot of things to go against this bill and the ideas behind it.

But what, exactly, are we supposed to do, as a country and as a people, to keep the country from spiraling down, into a 2nd "Great Depression", if we don't do this?

Is there some other option?

If there is, no one's come up with it.

Krugman has also made it clear he thinks the package should also, possibly, be even bigger.

Wrap your mind around that one.

I will say that building the bridges and roadways we need seems necessary and smart. Same with switching us to clean, renewable energy as soon as is wisely possible.

But are we just supposed to let everything fall apart and then try to clean up the mess?

That doesn't seem like a good option.

So this is the path we're going down.

It seems like our only option.

Let's hope it is.

Just don't expect any details. I've spent some time looking and there's nothing out there to tell us what's in this boondoggle.