Random Stimulus Money Trivia

August 7, 2009 15:18 pm

by Erick · 19 comments

Marta Zoller is going on a tirade about this and I think she’s right. The Georgia DOT tells Martha it costs $3000.00 per project to put up the “Paid for by the Recovery Act” signs we’re all now seeing.

The recovery act requires two per project.

{ 19 comments }

Progressive Dem August 7, 2009 at 4:35 pm

That cost is a function of DOT efficiency.

Kellie August 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm

A piece of cardboard and a can of paint could do the same thing. Why does the sign need to be nice looking?

Doug Deal August 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm

It needs to be stimulating.

Daniel N. Adams August 8, 2009 at 5:42 pm

I hear $1500 buys a lot of stimulation in Macon… (I guess they really like signs there?).

There you go DD, nice slow pitch down the middle

Doug Deal August 8, 2009 at 8:37 pm

I am a well trained homerun derby pitcher.

Technocrat August 7, 2009 at 4:50 pm

Speaking of stimulus money, I ran across this recent May video of Dr. Stephen Chu, [current US Sec of Energy] explaining energy history and future and how he was going to spend the new $37 Billion and why we need to spend $100 Billion per year forever.
I first met Dr. Chu [ Nobel Prize winner] in mid 79 when he was at Bell Labs and I was a lowly Cable TV engineer which provided Cable TV to Bell Labs and his home in New Jersey. In fact half of Bell Labs were our customers and every heavy rain the cable went out.
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/683
This 1 hour lecture might be of interest to those needing a refresher course.
It is simple for liberal arts majors.

benevolus August 7, 2009 at 9:39 pm

If we didn’t have the signs, people would b!@#$ about there being no visible signs of the stimulus money being spent.
:::sigh:::

ByteMe August 8, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Not sure I care so much about the actual number of signs required, but why does a sign cost $1500, especially when they will be produced in relative bulk?

Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Hey, I actually have some contacts with importers, some of which are direct factory representatives for factories in China. I think I can get 2 signs made and installed for under $500. Of course other states would have similar signs I’m guessing. So we may be talking about a volume discount.

Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Of course there may be some barriers to entry which might add to the cost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism

Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Bill Simon August 9, 2009 at 4:23 pm

Big fan of Wikipedia, eh Game? :-)

ByteMe August 9, 2009 at 5:30 pm

And it appears he spent 16 minutes to find all those links.

Doug Deal August 9, 2009 at 8:44 pm

He had them on “speed dial” already.

Game Fan August 9, 2009 at 6:24 pm

I thrive on being abused. (thanks) :)

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