How Many Jobs Would Have Been Lost If Stimulus Was Not Passed? Think South Carolina and Texas

[Median Democrat]

I know many of us have read about the protests against South Carolina and Texas's governors as they postured about not accepting the federal stimulus money, and instead laying off thousands of teachers to balance the budget. Of course, these protests did not have the might of Fox News to prop them up, but hundreds of people still protested. My question, which is not clearly answered except through anecdotal stories, is how many additional jobs would have been lost if there was no federal stimulus and assistance to the States. For example, I can only imagine how police, fire fighters and teachers would have been laid off in California and Florida alone. Yet, there is no clear examination of the what if, which would help us ascertain the effectiveness of fiscal policy, as opposed to simply adopting tax cuts as proposed by the Republicans.

[napi21]

1. I think it would have been much worse than police, firemen & teachers.

How many people work for those 8 BIG banks? How many work for those HUGH brokerage houses? We're still batteling against the complete failure of the 3 auto cos. If they fail, how many dealerships & support businesses will go away too? Then all the smaller businesses where all those people used to shop would close because there would be no customers left. That's what Obama was talking about when he spoke about the downward spiiral, and if we don't put the brakes on it and stop it, there will be no economy!

[Median Democrat]

3. I Do Think Republicans Still Get A Free Pass On Their Alternatives

For example, for all the coverage of the teabaggers, there was no serious discussion of what would happen if we suddenly cut government spending in the middle of this recession. Fox News gets to rant against the President, but is not held accountable for the results of a right wing agenda. What would have happened if banks were allowed to go under (without a government guarantee of deposits), and if state and local governments had to layoff public employees enmasse. When Republicans say that banks should go bankrupt, are they also suggesting that the government walk away from all obligations, including a guarantee of deposits? Or, are conservatives really agreeing with Paul Krugman on nationalization, which would also require a massive expenditure of public money?

In other words, there is a vacuum of information regarding the impact of doing nothing or, simply passing massive tax cuts, as proposed by the GOP. They continue to get a free pass by the media.

[Oregone]

2. How many more would of been saved if the "bipartisan" abortion of a bill was twice as large

With half the tax cuts?