Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Stimulus - What industries should be saved?

OK, we all know the Federal Government is sending out stimulus money to keep people afloat (food and necessities) and to businesses (to keep them from going under. I think we all agree (well, most of us) that keeping people from starving and under-a-roof, etc., is a good thing - at least to avoid violence and mayhem.

There are limits to any nation’s largess and ability to sustain crushing debt. Do we need to be selective in saving certain critical industries and companies at eh expense of less vital ones?

What about businesses? Which businesses and industry sectors should be saved? Certainly, we know that the aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, machine tool and, steel industries are vital (both for defense and trade), but should we give (or loan) money to local small businesses, such as restaurants, craft shops, bike shops, etc.

Certain industries are difficult to enter due to the cost of entry and research required (e.g., aerospace), while other are easy to enter (restaurants being one example). Do we prioritize some industries at the expense of others?

On a related front, as a taxpayer, I am very willing to keep the vital industries afloat, but I want a return on my “investment”. Perhaps as a condition of a loan, the taxpayer receives interest (at a low rate), or receives stock in the company. This latter situation has a precedent in the 2008 financial meltdown – the government invested money into GM and received stock that they later sold, mitigating the loss of taxpayer funds.

“Through the Troubled Asset Relief Program the US Treasury invested a total $51 billion into the GM bankruptcy. Until December 10, 2013, the U. S. Treasury recovered $39 billion from selling its GM stake. The final direct cost to the Treasury of the GM bailout was $11-12 billion ($10.5 billion for General Motors and $1.5 billion for former GM financing GMAC, now known as Ally). Local tax incentives amounted to $1.7 billion, most of them in Michigan. A study by the Center for Automotive Research found that the GM bailout saved 1.2 million jobs and preserved $34.9 billion in tax revenue.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Chapter_11_reorganization#Bailouts

What are your thoughts?

Meh....burn it all down..

Safer that way.

You're an idiot.

Why thank you deflave, off the wagon again? To minimize the future debt load with the National Debt, we DO need to consider whether some industries/companies are more vital than others.

A liberal telling people what we need to figure out for the future of America.

LMFAO.

America needs, defense, mining, timber, energy, ag, food processing, and distribution to retail stores.

All else is superfluous.

Let's start off with some simple things like farmers, ranchers, growers, dairymen, food processing... Ya know, simple stuff like FOOD !

What about bird feeders?

It really is the only answer, At least if one's being honest anyways.

Here here

All food and food processing, except tropical fruits, nuts, coffee, and tea.

All medical equipment.

All drugs and vaccines.

All military equipment including clothing, boots, etc.

At least 50% of clothing and shoes.

If we trade with anyone, it should be fair trade, not free trade, and it should only be an ally or friendly democratic republic government, not a dictatorship or one party ruled country.

The Airline industry needs to be at the top of the list. Air travel is key to world wide business. The US system is based on Air Travel more than most countries. The Airlines and Boeing are in big trouble now. I don't know how leveraged they are, but I would bet they are dependent on each other.

Start with the critical supplies and industries you won't trust to ANY other nation. Medicine, nuclear, defense, food and fuel.

Work outwards from there. Clothing, and food not readily produced here. Coffee, chocolate, and spices come to mind. Maybe some wool products.

Finally, disposable goods and trinkets like cheap ceramics, and knick-knacks can come from the lowest producers.

China can rot on the vine as far as I'm concerned.

Food - YES, but small farmers or the large farming operations that supply the bulk of the production? Can we afford to support small farms?

Granted, the largest number of farms are small farms, but larger farms provide over 75% of our food production. (source: Dept of Agriculture)

Strip clubs!

hanco,

You're a good dude.

GFY.

No, that's a renewable resource. You can't kill something that bleeds for seven days and doesn't die.

Ever heard of the term FASCISM?!?.. cuz that is exactly what you are supporting.

Meat packing industry. Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls has a massive corvid outbreak and closed the plant 'indefinitely." Everyone knows that bacon is a strategic asset - we need a reliable supply of the stuff!

Seriously the shut down will hurt a lot of people, I suspect "indefinitely" is a negotiating posture but I have no special insight.