The read

From my Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald ...

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act effectively split its funding into two large chunks. One portion was devoted to a surge in direct federal spending, while another was devoted to tax cuts for individuals and families. Both were well-intentioned - and both were useful in alleviating the crippling crisis earlier this spring - but they also were constructed in a way that minimized their effectiveness.

Red tape and poor coordination has hindered the implementation of transportation investments and energy grid upgrades. Likewise, the tax cuts were inserted directly into paychecks, which immediately raised take-home pay, but did so in an incremental fashion that had minimal effect on individual purchasing power.

A new round of economic stimulus could not only maintain the positive developments with regard to GDP growth, but also help turn the corner on job creation. With unemployment projected to remain at 10 percent or greater through next year, it's imperative that appropriate policy measures are put in place to counter that trend.