The Oakland Post's Nov. 9 Special Debate Section

SPECIAL SECTION November 9, 2011

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he “Your Money, Your Vote” debate being hosted by CNBC and the Michigan Republican Party on Nov. 9, marks the first time an event of its magnitude has been held on the grounds of Oakland University. The debate will center around jobs and the economy, a likely focus of next year’s presidential race.

The oakland post presents this special report on the republican presidential debate held on the campus of oakland university.

photos by Oakland Post staffers section designed by Jason Willis

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Special Section // Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University

by Cayce Karpinski // Staff Intern

Information about the candidates coupled with numbers on the economy

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Behind the Scenes

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Your Voice Heard Live

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Getting the Word Out

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The Occupy Movement

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Spotlight on the Economy

Notable numbers and ways to get in on the action of the debate

Oakland University Student Congress showcases student talent

Writing and rhetoric students, College Republicans seek to educate students

How’s it affecting OU and an FYI about the ‘free speech zone’

Two sisters working to make ends meet and the effect of saving on the economy

Follow The Oakland Post’s debate coverage online throughout the week @theoaklandpost www.oaklandpostonline.com

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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Candidate guide, continued

A quick guide to what you need to know before watching the debate

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

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Getting to Know the Candidates

Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Table of contents

YOUR 2012 REPUBLICAN

MICHELLE

HERMAN

NEWT

About the Candidate Prior to politics, Bachmann was an attorney for the IRS. She is a supporter of the Tea Party movement and founder of the Tea Party Caucus.

About the Candidate Cain resides in Sandy Spring, Ga. He is attributed with the success of major companies: Burger King, Pillsbury and Godfather Pizza. He was the CEO of the National Restaurant Association for three years.

About the Candidate Newt Gingrich grew up in a military family. He co-authored the 1994 Contact with America helping Republicans gain house majority for the first time since 1954.

BACHMAN

Presedential Platform Bachmann plans to restore the economy, repeal Obamacare, limit government spending and defend marriage.

Notable Experience U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota’s 6th District since 2007; Minnesota Senate from the 56th district (2001-2003) and the 52nd District (20032007)

CAIN

Presedential Platform Cain is a strong proponent of a fairer tax system through implementation of his 9-9-9 Plan.

Notable Experience Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1992-1994) and Chairman (1995-1996)

GINGRICH

Presedential Platform Gingrich plans to create jobs, transform the executive branch and increase citizen involvement.

Notable Experience Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (19951999); House Minority Whip (1989-1995) U.S. Representative from Georgia’s 6th district (19791999)

Debate Dictionary

Medicare

21st Century Contract with America

Deficit

Provides health insurance to people 65 and older, or people under 65 who meet special criteria.

Debt

Medicaid

Newt Gingrich’s plan for presidency to solve the jobs crisis and meet 21st century challenges.

999 Herman Cain’s plan to replace the tax code with a 9 percent tax for business transactions, personal income and federal sales.

When spending exceeds revenue.

The amount of deficits accrued.

Labor Force

Number of employed + Number of unemployed

Unemployment Rate Number of unemployed/ labor force x 100

A health program for U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents with low income or certain disabilities.

“Obamacare”

Refers to a U.S. federal statute, signed into law by President Obama, to reform healthcare.

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@theoaklandpost

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VOTING GUIDE Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Win McNamee/Getty Images

JON

RON

RICK

MITT

RICK

About the Candidate Jon Huntsman grew up in a large family, the son of billionaire businessman Jon Huntsman, Sr. Prior to politics, Huntsman served as a business executive and CEO for some of the Huntsman family organizations.

About the Candidate After serving the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon, Ron Paul and his wife moved to Texas where he practiced obstetrics and gynecology.

About the Candidate Rick Perry grew up on his family’s farm in Texas. After graduating college, Perry served in the United States Air Force where he earned the rank of Captain.

About the Candidate Rick Santorum is a lawyer who also holds an M.B.A. He became the thenyoungest Senator when he joined the U.S. Senate in 1995.

Presedential Platform He is a strong advocate of limited government, low taxes and a return to commodity-backed currency.

Presedential Platform Perry’s plan for presidency is to “Make what Americans buy. Buy what Americans make. And sell it to the world,” according to rickperry.org

About the Candidate Mitt Romney resides in Belmont, Mass. He is a successful businessman, known for his ability to revive a company, as he did with Bain & Company and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games.

HUNTSMAN

PAUL

Presedential Platform His presidential priorities rely on tax reform, regulatory reform, energy independence and free trade.

PERRY

Notable Experience U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’s 14th district since 1997; U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’s 22nd district (19761977), (1979-1985)

Notable Experience United States Ambassador to China 2009-2011; Governor of Utah 20052009; United States Ambassador to Singapore 1992-1993.

ROMNEY

2010 Spending

by Category 19.8%

9%

40%

5.7%

6.5% 8.9%

$2,162,724

3.1%

million

billion 41.5%

9%

9.1%

9.1%

9.1%

9.2%

9.1%

9%

8.8%

8.9%

9%

9.4%

9.8%

9.7%

55.5%

2010 Taxes & Revenue 19%

$3,066.8

7% Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Notable Experience U.S. representative from Pennsylvania (1991-1994); U.S. senator (1995-2007)

Notable Experience 70th Governor of Mass.

(2003-2007)

10%

8%

Presedential Platform He is a proponent of ending legal abortion and supports hetereosexual marriage and aggressive enforcement of immigration laws.

Presedential Platform His goal for presidency is to restore economic growth necessary to create jobs, according to Believe in America, a 156-page booklet describing his plans for presidency.

Notable Experience Governor of Texas since 2000; Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1999-2000)

2010-11 United States Unemployment Rate

SANTORUM

Mandatory Spending (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare) National Defense

Non-defensediscretionary

Individual income tax

Net Interest

Payroll tax

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Other Corporate income tax Excise tax

SPECIAL

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Special Section // Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University

Watching the

debate 7 p.m. Tonight

Debate coverage begins on CNBC

8 p.m. Tonight

Republican Presedential debate begins in the O’rena on CNBC

Debate Moderators

CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo and CNBC Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood

Debate Panelists

• Jim Cramer, host of “Mad Money” • CNBC Senior Economics Reporter Steve Liesman • CNBC On-Air Editor Rick Santelli • CNBC Senior Commodities & Personal Finance Correspondent Sharon Epperson

Twitter Hashtags & People to Follow • #debateOU • #cnbcdebate • @cnbc • @cnbc2012 • @theoaklandpost • @oaklandu

Notable

numbers

600 students applied for the ticket lottery

60

tickets given to students

180

student volunteers

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SIERRA SOLEMANI/The Oakland Post

Your Voice Heard Live!

Although the first portion of the event was dedicated to all OU students, the second half was devoted to 12 different acts that seized the opportunity to have their voices heard. These are three of their stories.

Started by four students in the Fall of 2009, Gold Vibrations is an a cappella singing organization at OU. Now a group of 18, the members of Gold Vibrations consider themselves a family of sorts.

The organization enjoys performing, so auditioning for Your Voice Heard Live! seemed natural, said founder of the

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[FAR LEFT] The a cappella group The Gold Vibrations performs the song ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers.

[LEFT] Lauren Podell, an Oakland University alumna and local TV personality at WDIV, emceed the event.

by Sarah Hunton // Staff Reporter

n Nov. 8, the Oakland University Student Congress hosted ‘Your Voice Heard Live!’ The event began with a letter writing campaign in which several student organizations wrote to members of OU administration and local, state and national leaders to have their voices and opinions heard. Over 200 people attended.

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Student talent showcased at event

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Gold Vibrations

@theoaklandpost

Wish” and the ensemble hopes to take donations for the MakeA-Wish Foundation.

Rob Jozefiak

Pianist, vocalist and physics major Rob Jozefiak has been making music since he started

group, Elyse Foster.

Gold Vibrations is also hoping increase their presence at OU. Many larger colleges have a cappella groups and the ensemble hopes to become a large part of OU. “We’d really like (Gold Vibrations) to be a thing that everybody knows about around campus, and everybody’s excited about, so that we’re a source of pride for the university,” Foster said.

The group performed the song “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers.

On Nov. 11, Gold Vibrations will be performing a free concert in the Varner recital hall at 7 p.m. The theme is “Make-A-

CNBC banners hung around campus

media personnel expected at OU

“I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE DON’T EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN AN ARTFUL WAY. I WANT PEOPLE OF OUR GENERATION TO REVIVE THE ARTS AND FIND A WAY TO BRING SOMETHING NEW TO IT.” ROB JOZEFIAK, PHYSICS MAJOR piano lessons at age five.

Due to his involvement with OUSC’s “Rock for Rights” earlier this semester, Jozefiak was

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temporary parking spots created due to event

asked to audition for Your Voice Heard Live!

Jozefiak performed Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” at Tuesday’s event.

Although there is no overt political meaning to the song, Jozefiak said that if he had to tie one to it, the message would be to start thinking about what’s best for the country instead of dwelling on partisan politics.

Jozefiak has also started an open-mic night event called Word of Mouth, which takes place Thursdays at 10 p.m. in the Vandenberg Lounge.

He said he enjoys having this opportunity to hear people express themselves.

“I feel like people don’t express themselves in an artful way,” Jozefiak said. “I want people of our generation to revive the arts and find a way to bring something new to it.”

Robbie Williford

Poet and English major Robbie Williford has been perform-

400 students expected at the debate watch party

ing poetry since his junior year in high school when he was the runner-up in a poetry slam competition.

Williford decided to audition for Your Voice Heard Live! because the title of the event and the opportunity it brought for him was appealing.

“I was like ‘oh well here’s a chance to let people hear what I have to say, to let people feel how I’m feeling or let people relate to me,’” Williford said.

Williford chose his piece “A Penny For Your Thoughts” because it allowed him to express his thoughts on respect and human rights.

He enjoys poetry because it is an outlet to express himself.

Before performing poetry, Williford considered himself a shy person.

In addition to writing, Williford enjoys attending sporting events, spending time with his family and becoming involved with organizations that make a difference in the community.

1400 attendees expected at the debate in the O’Rena

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Special Section // Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University

OU Republicans gear up for the GOP debate

Student group educates peers

by Haley Jonna // Staff Reporter

by Jordan Gonzalez // Staff Intern

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Creating the debate

HALEY JONNA/The Oakland Post

he College Republicans at Oakland University are gearing up for the upcoming Republican debate at OU and have been active promoting the group.

On Nov. 9, from 3 to 5 in the Oakland Room in the Oakland Center, the group will host a reception dinner.

Free and open to all students, the dinner will feature a message from former U.S. representative Pete Hoekstra and possibly presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

“It’s a great chance to meet elected officials,” said Joshua Cline, president of College Republicans at OU. The dinner will also be a chance to discuss topics related to the GOP debate and meet other republican officials who were invited.

Cline noted the enormity of the GOP debate at OU and its significance to Oakland.

“It’s enormous in the fact that we are going to get national coverage and for the schools economy,” Cline said. “For students, it is a chance to get involved and maybe express their opinions to journalists and candidates.”

Adam Manngold, a member of College Republicans at OU, said it is a privilege it that OU is hosting the event.

“It’s the magnitude of the event,” he said. “OU got it, not Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan or Ohio State — we got it.”

College Republicans at OU do not endorse any one candidate, but instead are advocates for conservative principles and the Republican Party. They encourage their members to volunteer in campaigns with candidates.

College Republicans at OU meet on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Their meetings discuss the status of the Republican Party and political issues and if there are any volunteering opportunities with campaigns.

Writing and rhetoric students worked to provide students with resources on political issues.

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epublican presidential candidates will set base on campus to discuss the current economy and lack of jobs on Nov. 9, and Cathy Rorai hopes it will encourage students to embrace politics.

Rorai, a professor in the department of writing and rhetoric, said she found that most of her students do

hold interest in political affairs. She also observed that many students are uninformed about the issues during a class discussion.

“When I talked to my students about the upcoming debates, the one thing that became clear is that they care, but they aren’t quite certain of what to do,” Rorai said.

Max Elliot, a freshman, facilitated a survey gauging student reaction to political questions and the debate coming to campus.

“The most surprising thing I found in my survey is that students actually can recognize political figures,” Elliot said. “Also, most of the students were Democrats.”

Ashley Makebonsky, a freshman, sees this as a unique opportunity to educate herself about politics.

“I am not educated myself, but now that I am of age to vote, it is my responsibility to get educated,” she said.

The survey determined three political topics that students at Oakland University believe should be priorities.

The economy, unemployment and tuition deferment for college students rated most important.

“We are going to create links identifying the three issues, and we will publish these links to those that answered the survey,” Rorai said. “By creating our own community, we are sure that students will have access to this information.”

Working with CNBC: Students volunteer for debate

by Nichole Seguin // Managing Content Editor When senior Daniel Poole decided to come to Oakland University, volunteering for a GOP presidential debate was the last thing he ever expected.

However, when David Dulio, director of the political science department, sent out an email informing majors of the opportunity, Poole was quick to respond.

“I knew at the time that the debate was coming up in just over a month, but I didn’t know about volunteer opportunities,” he said.

According to Garry Gilbert, director of the journalism department, the

volunteering opportunity arose after Piskulich, senior vice president for academic affairs, asked the political science and communication and journalism department directors to get involved.

Gilbert said that around 180 students have been selected to be involved with myriad opportunities, including directing traffic, working on the main floor during the debate, personally helping candidates and even working as technical interns for CNBC. “The university has become pretty well-known for sports, but this op-

Spring 2011

May 5

Talks begin regarding planning for the debate

First Republican debate of this presidential election cycle is held at the Peace Center in Greenville, SC

portunity reaches an entirely different audience,” Gilbert said. “It also fits perfectly into our branding goal, at the exactly the time we’re trying to show the opportunities OU has … this has opportunity written all over it.”

Dually majoring in political science and history, Poole said he hopes to use this experience, along with his interest in politics, as a starting off point for his future.

“I’m hoping that by being a volunteer on the day of the debate, I will be able to rub elbows with like-minded people who are famous,” he said.

August 1 OU President Gary Russi announces news of OU’s involvement in the debate via a campus-wide email

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Students making a statement

Free speech area gives way to opinions

by Ray Andre // Senior Reporter

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by Misha Mayhand // Staff Intern

GUSTAVO PESSUTTI/The Oakland Post

n Oct. 10 Mike created a Facebook group, Occupy Oakland University, and a Twitter account, OccupyOaklandU, to more effectively communicate information. Mike contacted other Michigan Occupations through Facebook and OccupyTogether.org, an unofficial hub of the movement, to bolster support for Oakland demonstrations.

A walk out was planned and publicized on Facebook days before an organized effort at Oakland came about.

Because it was only planned a day in advance, only six people committed to the walk out.

Mike, a freshman, said the Oakland walk out was not successful in part because of the speed of the movement and lack of promotion. Mike spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing university retaliation for protesting.

He said that future demonstrations would be planned earlier and with better-dispersed information.

“The next walk out and protest will be huge and very much promoted,” he said.

It all began with the Canadian anticommercial-propaganda magazine, Ad-busters, challenge for Internet users in their July 13 issue, asking the question: “Are you ready for a Tahrir movement?”

The cry was for a mass demonstration and occupation of an institution synonymous with corporate greed: Wall Street.

Protests began Sept. 17, expanding across the nation and world.

U.S colleges became involved in early October, when students from a collective group of 150 universities, fed up with student debt and a stagnant job market, walked out of classes and organized demonstrations online via OccupyColleges.org, which is in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.

Occupy OU’s next event is a protest outside of the Nov. 9 Republican

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University officials have all said that the purpose of the free speech zone is not to stifle it, but to allow for minimal disruption of everyday campus activities.

presidential debate at OU, set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

For Mike, the GOP debate is the next logical step in assuring that the Occupy movement is represented positively to the media and to the American public. This is why he created the Facebook event “Occupy the Debate.”

“I want people to know that this isn’t a pro-Obama rally, it’s not an anti-republican kind of a thing. It’s more of an anti-corruption, anti-money in politics kind of a thing,” he said.

The OU debate hosting committee established a free-speech for demonstrations like the one Mike has promoted (see sidebar for more info).

Demonstrations are to take place in an area directly across from the O’rena where eight Republican presidential hopefuls will exchange talking points.

Mike’s main grievance is campaignfinancing legislation.

August

September 28

The date of the debate is finalized

Opportunities for students to volunteer for the debate are fielded through the opening of an application

“Mostly, I just want to see money out of politics,” he said.

Mike does not want to be a leader or a spokesperson.

“There are not leaders. We are a group of leaders,” he said, echoing the groups philosophy.

He is comfortable, he said, helping spread information regarding social inequality to OU students.

Mike was motivated to join the protest because of growing indifference to the plight of a diminishing middle class, he said.

“Governments haven’t been acting for us, or what the Occupy movement calls the 99 percent,” Mike said.

This is evident in business-biased policies such as the auto-industry bailouts and the Trouble Asset Relief Program, he continued. Individuals should come to the protest and draw their own conclusions, with critical thinking, of the issues and their meanings, he added.

November 2 CNBC announces which candidates have confirmed their appearance in the debate

Oakland University administrators ask that all assemblies stay in a designated area, located east of Kresge Library and west of Pioneer Drive, with hopes of classes and campus business not being disturbed.

All other areas on campus are off limits.

The OU Police Department will be enforcing rules that limit the amount of activity taking place on campus.

Currently, two groups have been confirmed for attendance.

A Ron Paul rally, which will be held in front of the Kresge Library, facing traffic between 5 and 6 p.m., will be the only group that was approved for that area. All others must stay inside of the designated FOS area.

The second group that has been confirmed, called ‘What Ever It Takes For Progress,’ is part of the UAW local 174 and will protest against the Free Trade Agreement.

They will protest from 6 to 8 p.m.

November 3

November 9

CNBC crews arrive on campus for a weeklong stint

The day of the debate

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Special Section // Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University

U.S. bond rating, unemployment rates decrease

by Chris Lauritsen // Staff Intern

O KAY NGUYEN/The Oakland Post

Sisters Chelsey and Ronnie Booth both work multiple jobs and go to school full time. They use each other for support.

Sisters work to make ends meet

by Isabella Shaya // Staff Intern

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he current economy has forced many students to undergo a different type of college experience, one with more work and less play. Sisters Chelsey and Ronnie Booth both work multiple jobs, attend Oakland as full-time students, and still manage to find time for themselves in their busy schedules.

During the school year, Chelsey, a junior psychology major, works two jobs, totaling around 40 hours per week — which is nothing compared to her busy summer.

Taking classes and maintaining multiple jobs, Chelsey was working around 60 hours per week. Ronnie, an undecided freshman, also spends 20-30 hours per week at two jobs during the school year.

“I didn’t even realize how much I work. I wish I had the money to show it,” Chelsey said.

The money Ronnie and Chelsey make goes towards school, living expenses and bills.

Chelsey is on student loans, which only allows her $4,000 per year. Ronnie was awarded a $3,000 academic scholarship per year, but will soon be joining her sister on a loan plan. Luckily, their parents have helped pay the difference for the time being.

“I have realized that school isn’t

free anymore, so I really have to work and try to maintain a good GPA to keep my scholarship,” Ronnie said.

With hardly any extra paychecks for themselves, saving money is a must in their situation.

“We hardly ever eat out. We buy all generic brand groceries, and the bare minimum of what we need. We have been saving a lot of coupons lately also,” Chelsey said. “I had a bridge card at one point when I first moved out, and that helped a lot.”

Chelsey and Ronnie try to be smart when it comes to making and dealing with money in this tough economy.

Both girls have limited access to savings accounts to use if they ever find themselves without enough money.

“This was something that our parents helped us set up because they knew that there would be a time where we would feel like we don’t

have any money,” Ronnie said.

Both sisters agree that balancing school and work is a difficult task, but playing on OU’s women’s lacrosse team is their way of finding some relief.

“Lacrosse is a way to get away from everything for a couple of hours. If I didn’t play lacrosse, I would be so much more stressed out,” Ronnie said.

They’re in the process of moving into a townhouse together and the situation has forced both girls to make some sacrifices. Chelsey has found another job, and Ronnie has taken extra hours at her workplace in order to pay all the bills.

“Moving is so expensive … it is a lot of payments all at once,” Chelsey said.

They exemplify the story of many others who face struggles in this economy, but friends say their success is earned by their ability to put work first and play later.

“Chelsey and Ronnie both have tremendous work ethic. They maintain jobs while also balancing lacrosse and school, and still manage to be full time friends too,” said junior public administration major Reanna Douglas. “They work hard and have fun. They are great girls.”

n August of this year, the agency Standard & Poor downgraded the United States bond rating from AAA, to AA+.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s website, the current U.S. debt has climbed close to $15 trillion, nearly $10 trillion since the year 2000, when the U.S. debt hovered around $5.5 trillion. The $15 trillion U.S. debt is also the largest in American’s history dating back to 1791.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current unemployment rate in the U.S. is at 9 percent. Comparatively the U.S. unemployment rate in January of 2000 was at 4 percent.

Current president Barack Obama has passed legislation to try to create jobs and bolster the economy. This legislation includes the 2009 stimulus package.

“The government can do two things to try and help the economy,” said Nivedita Mukherji, an economics professor at OU. “The first is to spend money directly “THE GOVERNMENT into the econothrough the CAN DO TWO THINGS my use of a stimuTO TRY AND HELP THE lus package, for ECONOMY. THE FIRST example. The second is to cut IS TO SPEND MONEY taxes.”

DIRECTLY INTO THE When this stimulus packECONOMY THROUGH was first THE USE OF A STIMU- aged introduced, LUS PACKAGE, FOR EX- the idea was for most of the AMPLE. THE SECOND money to go IS TO CUT TAXES.” towards infrastructure.

NIVEDITA MUKHERJI According to ECONOMICS PROFESSOR The New York Times, $32.1 billion went toward infrastructure, out of the $787 billion stimulus package.

“Every dime of that money should have been spent on infrastructure,” Mukherji said.

Mukherji said that once the circulation of money begins, it starts to snowball effect that spurs growth.

During the 1982 recession the private savings rate peaked at 11.9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce: Bureau of Economic Analysis. During the 1991 economic recession the private saving rate peaked at 7.7 percent.

During this last year of this economic down time, the private saving’s rate in the U.S. peaked at 5 percent. The rate in 2000 was 2.1 percent.

If people went out right now and started to spend money again, and had faith that the economy was going to be ok, there would be a definite boost in the U.S. economy, according to Mukherji.