Bail outs not going to stop job losses

Honestly, I have been trying to stay out of these bail out discussions because I am an economics student and I am still learning basic economic theories. However, it increasingly seems to me that the economists in Washington are completely impotent and scardy-cats that lack the balls to actually do what they are supposed to be doing - providing ideas for CHANGING the economy for the better, not prolonging it's depression. You are right lil, throwing money blindly at companies isn't going to change anything! It's just prolonging the inevitable. I think it's funny how no one is advocating for companies to stop outsourcing their labor. It seems like an easy solution - more people will have jobs, and more people will be able to afford their products and services in the US. But of course companies are wrapped up in their own self-interest that they can't imagine that doing something that might cost more could actually interest them more in the long-run.

I think they're doing it because they honestly have no other ideas for what to do. Which is downright sad, if you ask me! Alot of things could be done, that could help alot. Investing in alternative transportation -- which means, more bike lanes, for one...improving our mass transit system (which right there could equal plenty of jobs. People to clean the trains and buses, nicer trains and buses, more trains and buses...maintaining the rails, mechanics to keep them running, drivers...etc etc)...encouraging local agriculture. ESPECIALLY small oranic farms and community gardening efforts, since food is a huge expense for the common man and can make alot of money if you're thinking ecotourism... Stuff like this. There's so much that we actually need. If you want to throw money and expect it not to come back, give this nation gifts like a new and improved set of options for transportation, make it easier for farmers and small businesses, and prepare for potential new problems to arise. As or the banks, I know it's still radical to say, but...we should let them fail. There's very little we can actually do to "save them"...and even less we can do to lessen the impact of their failure in the first place. We're wasting our finite resources trying, so we should just stop.

I think at this point it's more about the appearance of doing something than really achieving something with it. No matter what they do, it will not stop the downward spiral, just slow it a bit. It's supposed to boost confidence, but we are well beyond that point. Most companies are using bailout money to restructure, boost their bottom line, and hopefully survive. People do the same, tuck away as much as they can, hoping not to lose everything they own. Obama's package is designed to artificially create jobs with projects that wouldn't have been tackled anytime soon otherwise. I suppose it's better to do it that way than to extend unemployment and other benefits the jobless masses will soon need and ask for. But really overall, other companies will lay off more and more people, streamline, take a hard look at what they really need. Obama's package and the jobs it's supposed to create will ultimately barely put a dent into unemployment.

Throwing money at a problem is usually the Federal Governments answer to a problem. I think the best thing the Feds can do is lower taxes so businesses won't have that burden on them and then get out of the way and let the economy fit itself.

I don't know what they can do... I'm a product of a layoff and have been 3 times in a year and a half! last one was nov. 4 (ironic no?) and I haven't found anything since! This whole stimulus thing... I didn't get the last one because I was still claimed by my parents and now they are saying that I might not get the new one... from what I have heard, but I don't know much about it. I know the unemployement rate here in SC is over 8% and climbing! It's hard because I live in a small town that just had a HUGE company layoff everyone and shut down! It's hard...