No joke! In fact when "googled", more than 25 articles were referenced on Page 1
two such caught my attention; they seemed to 'cut to the chase'
Though they are credited here in this post; neither one is lauded, nor discredited by me.
that is for you to do on your own; just 2 items in a plethora of such.
the "Economist" article by David Leonhardt of 17 Nov. 2009 addresses the :
"...meeting of President Obama's board of outside economist advisers two weeks ago, the venture
capitalist, John Doerr..."
which puts the meeting around 3 Nov. 2009 or there about. A meeting that was 'news to me' in fact the whole reality of a "board of outside economic advisers" is fascinating. Just "who" is running our Government?
Mr Leonhardt quotes Mr Doerr as: "...[cash for clunkers...caused change very rapidly]. Well, the equivalent of that for home retrofits would be. "Cash for Caulkers".....we would...engage private enterprise, the likes of a Lowe's or a Home Depot....and use that private capital to incentivize consumers to then work with our out-of-work trades--remodelers, production builders--to do this kind of work."
The board of economic advisers stated that the official name of the program would be "Homestar". Yes, you guessed it, just like the government program "Energystar" that promotes energy-efficient appliances.
the second article is from: TheStreet.com 'Mad Money Recap: Cash for Caulkers" by Scott Rutt.
the article deals with Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" TV show where he [Jim] referenced a stimulus plan proposed by former President Bill Clinton for home weatherization incentives, aptly named " Cash for Caulkers". Cramer apparently stated on this show "...the plan, if passed, could be a huge windfall, if you know which companies will be the beneficiaries."
What, you may be asking right now, is Jim talking about? Well, this show is an investment show with advice on what makes a good portfolio, etc.
He made the point, discover just what companies will be utilized by those 'Caulking" and buy that stock.
Knowledge plus funds make good bedfellows [ my opinion, not Jim's ]
Another google listing on 'Cash for Caulkers' mentioned the impact of walking into a Sears, Lowe's, or Home Depot, seeing the "Homestar" logo with a Homestar representative standing next to it ready to help Joe Homeowner or Helen Handy person. Boggles the mind with LOL options.
The " Official cost" would be $23 B. over two years: involving 10 significant weatherizing projects where the homeowner could choose a project and be REWARDED ACCORDINGLY.
This is all spelled out in David Leonhardt's article.
There is a built-in proviso, where SOME portion of weatherizing projects would be AUDITED to ensure they had done what they were supposed to. [CAPS are mine; WORDING is theirs]
Well, doesn't that just make this all hunky Dory; it will be audited / Monitored?. So Breathe easy--this will be $23 B. well spent.
For this we needed an actual board of advisers--just give the tax money to those already in the related businesses to bolster their ability to perform the needed remodels--what the hey,
Now, I want to know:
....if we, the Homeowner, have already stocked up on various tubes of caulk
....if we, the Homeowner, have many gizmos to apply said caulk stocked up beside the tubes
....if we, the Homeowner, know that it may help to re-caulk some windows [especially 2nd story ones]
....if we, the Homeowner, hire a qualified tradesman to repair said broken or missing caulk, and
....if he or she, the 'caulker' has his / her own stock of tubes of caulk, and
....if he or she, the 'caulker' has his / her own supply of gizmos to apply their own caulk,
....can we, the Homeowner, claim a loss [ of funds] against the stock of tubes, & gizmos
therefore receiving another credit for participating.? 
Think we're getting_______? ?
Yes, we probably are.!
Any takers: bet on which Bill this will appear.
Hey, if this doesn't do IT for you, stay tuned--coming soon--early December--The JOBS SUMMIT.
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor
I heard the term on NPR yesterday. Not sure exactly what you're against - to me it sounds like it will be an increase in the programs and funding for tax credits for insulation, etc that already exist. Though I'm completely against replacement windows - they're one of the travesties / tragedies of the 1990s+ and I hope storm windows qualify if the program goes forward - I certainly am in favor of increasing credits for insulating and similar jobs.
Liz
Nov 21, 2009 08:11 AM
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan
Liz...I am against another stimulus,even one that is couched as making jobs for out-of-work persons [ tradesmen]. I see / saw the lines in Detroit, West Side -Novi & other "jobs" sites where many from our State stood / stand for long hours sometimes just for the opportunity to place a resume' into the hands of workers, groups set up to aid the unemployed. IF for one second it [proposed bill]would actually create job openings for those laid off, then I would get out in front and campaign for it. However, as with most governmental entities, these attempts to move things forward get bogged down by committees, politics, & partisanship. Our state of MI. has 15.1 or 2% unemployment, we need actual jobs now that real people will contract & pay for. What we don't need are more promises for the future once the particulars are ironed out, the oversight group formed & the bill sent through congress or tacked upon some other bill.
Unless the homeowner hires a company who is trained in 'vacuum testing for leaks..' and can afford to do so and then see if their required job will be one of the 10 approved projects, I think this will be another costly [to tax payers & homeowners] promise.
Tax credits, for anything other than income tax refunds for actual taxes paid, can mess up the financial future for us & for those of us who have children or grandchildren.
One item not addressed is how much heated air goes up the chimney if and when one uses the fireplace without a built-in heatilator; and exactly how much cold air comes down that same chimney
Sorry to go on, but I obviously did not explain clearly. So, thanks for pointing that out.
Nov 21, 2009 11:05 AM
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