Netlets for Sunday, Feb. 1

Is Obama's stimulus package his Iraq war? Just as many people deep in their hearts knew that George W. Bush's war in Iraq was wrong, deeply flawed, there are just as many people who deeply know that Barack Obama's stimulus package is equally wrong and flawed.

The difference is we can exit the Iraq war, but once the proposed stimulus package takes hold, there is no exiting. Maybe that is the desired outcome?

Critics on both sides are saying the stimulus package is flawed. Few believe that the package will turn the deepening recession around fast enough, and everyone, proponents and critics alike agree that the package will create bigger government.

Time will tell, but I know deep in my heart that four years from now the results will tell us that Obama's stimulus package was a big mistake, and unfortunately a mistake that is too big for the new president to admit. Sound familiar?

CAL ELMORE, APPLE VALLEY

Instead of stale strategies, GOP should join with Democrats Both state and national Republicans have only two ideas for economic stimulus: (1) Give money to and/or cut taxes of the already rich; (2) never regulate them. The last decade has shown both ideas to be disasters.

Consequently, Republicans, instead of relentless hawking their failed ideas, ought to either come up with something plausible, join cause with the Democrats on their promising ideas, or just go away.

Bachmann's economics sound like revisionist history Not content with saving us from an array of "disloyal" congressmen who have "anti-American views," Rep. Michele Bachmann has now assumed the role of economist to save us with tax reform (cuts) "The perils of spending like it's 1929" (Opinion Exchange, Jan. 30).

Real economists concur with Nobel economist Paul Krugman when he says that, " when it comes to economic stimulus, public spending provides much more bang for the buck than tax cuts."

Bachmann states that the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) and the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB), implemented by President Herbert Hoover, were "dismal failures." Actually, the RFC gave substantial aid to state and local governments and made loans to banks, railroads, farm mortgage associations and other businesses. It was enhanced by the New Deal and helped ease the pain of the depression. The RFC was continued in World War II, and it played an important part in making the United States the "arsenal of democracy."

The FHLB increased the supply of money available to local institutions that made home loans, served them as a reserve credit resource and reduced the foreclosure rate.

As to the $11 trillion national debt that Bachmann laments, 90 percent of the $10 trillion increase since President Reagan took office, occurred while Reagan, Bush I and Bush II were in office. And the two big tax cuts implemented by Bush II served only to increase that debt. To learn from "the mistakes of history," one must first know the history.

Change they voted for A Jan. 30 letter writer is obviously being disingenuous when he claims that he does not wish failure upon President Obama, because he goes on to insist that the path to our country's success is through adherence to the divisive and harmful politics of George W. Bush.

Some people still haven't gotten the message that after eight years of the government that has brought this country to where it is today, the American people desperately need and desire the new and effective leadership that Barak Obama is striving to provide.

JERILYN JACKSON, STILLWATER

Grandpa knew; why didn't the County Board? Regarding your Jan. 30 article "Minneapolis trash and baseball: A stinky situation": I couldn't help but think that Hennepin County could have saved a lot of money on the garbage burner study and ballpark site selection if its planners had heard these words of advice from my late grandfather, "Never build the main house downwind from the outhouse."