Special Guest Judge Joins Economic Stimulus Contest!
Entires are flowing in to our economic stimulus contest. You can win $100 for doing the best job of calling out good and bad in the economic stimulus bill.
And we’re pleased to announce that we’re being joined by a special guest judge. Adam Hughes is director of the federal fiscal policy program at OMB Watch. OMB Watch is a nonprofit government watchdog organization located in Washington, with a mission to promote open government, accountability, and citizen participation – exactly what we’re doing with this contest!
Thanks to Adam and OMB Watch for lending his time. He and I will be reviewing the entries and picking the best comment that identifies good stimulus spending – the spending that will do the most to get the economy on its feet – and the best comment that identifies bad stimulus spending – spending that will just fall in a hole or even make the U.S. economy worse.
Here are the basic ground rules from the original contest announcement:
Take any part of the stimulus bill and write a short case for why it’s good or bad. (Recommended: search the bill for “$” – there are more than 350 of them.) Pick anything – from an entire government department to the smallest program. You can even pick a non-spending provision in the bill that you think will do good or bad.
Entries are limited to 150 words, and they will be judged on clarity, persuasiveness, creativity, and originality. You don’t have to be an economist – if you are, you really must avoid being boring. If it takes a haiku or an infomercial-style pitch to make your case, do it.
We have a lot of great entries already, but here are a couple of things to keep in mind: One prize of $100 will go to a comment identifying good stimulus spending and one will go to a comment identifying bad stimulus spending. The current entries are heavily weighted to the bad side, and we need some more on the good side. (Think of it as an easier route to that $100!)
And remember, your (150-word max) comment will be judged on clarity, persuasiveness, creativity and originality. Think about what it takes to convince your fellow American of the rightness of your views. (Hint: It ain’t just venting your anger!)
Thanks again to Adam Hughes for joining in the fun. Keep those entries coming. There are hundreds of items in the economic stimulus bill for you to work with. Post your comments on this page to enter.
Chuck
Give each Tax Payer $50k ($100k per couple)…if you are 30 days or more overdue on bills…money goes to that first. If you aren’t, 25% or more needs to go to your debt (CC, house, cars, etc.stimulates banks). If you buy a car with the money you stimulate the auto industry and this way we decide which companies sink or swim based on what we buy. Money invested will help stimulate the banks, money spent on consumer goods will help stimulate the consumer based goods markets. If we are going to bury ourselves with Trillions in debt why not make it fun for everyone not just the corporate fat cats.
Jim Harper
This is a fun idea, but entries go on this page, not in the comments here.
Comments posted here will not be considered in the judging.
Go here to enter the stimulus contest.
Arnold85
You could be Dizzy sock-puppeting. ,