A Defense of the Stimulus

These days it is easy to find critics of the various economic stimulus bills wending their way thru Congress. They look like pork-laden pieces of political claptrap designed to do nothing so much as pay off the friends of politicians. And most of the defenses are simply lame, "We have to do SOMETHING!" i.e. The supporters of a stimulus bill feel it needs no reasoned defense in light of the crisis. As though a fire were an excuse for any action, even throwing gasoline in its general direction.

Finally, someone has bothered to put together a clear defense of a stimulus which explains why its supporters feel that the details of the stimulus are less important than the bill itself. It is a short article and worth a read. I do not think it addresses many of the concerns of critics, but it is a good, clear defense.