Economic Stimulus Message to Obama

Below is a message I just sent to "Comments" at www.Change.gov (will anyone read it? Probably a young staff person, who will be slightly more educated as he or she engages others in Washington, DC.)

A bit wonkish, but...

You don't have to pay Paul Krugman, but you should heed his advice. Too much tax cut, as a stimulus, won't be effective.
1. Some of it goes into savings.
2. Much of it goes to cheap goods from WalMart/Chnia
3. It is merely consumption, not investment, e.g., in infrastructure.

As a State government manager, I urge you to a) fund local government jobs, b) fund design work, not just "shovels in the ground." Designer jobs are jobs too and we can expect to need well over a year of stimulus, so today's designs will be tomorrows "shovels in the ground."

Psssst... Do Something

Click on the Change.gov link above and leave a message for Obama's young staffer. You'll feel better for it.

Sources:

Thanks to Paul Krugman for the motivation on this one.

Text Message Privacy

We know the technology exists for the government and corporations to systematically collect information on us, and they are using it more and more.

But short of raising a rukkus to stop that, here's an article from the mainstream media on this topic as it applies to text messaging. It includes some common sense "tips," including the use of anonymous services like AnonTxt.com. And, of course, the security of your messages depends on the people who receive your messages.

Sources: