President Obama and legislators are considering more stimulus packages, primarily for big business and executives.

Let’s look at past stimulus packages.

Trillions of dollars have been given to large banks, car manufacturers, and consumers in efforts to slow down the declining economy.

Moreover, what has happened to those trillions of dollars?

Well, CEOs and other head honchos received their bonuses and raises. The stimulus money we consumers received was not very stimulating — at least not in our household.

My better-half and I spent our $1,200 on property taxes and income taxes. Sure, it saved us from spending our own money but it didn’t really “stimulate” the economy. I doubt if too many other people spent their money on large-ticket items. I would be willing to bet most spent it on necessities like house payments or groceries or tucked it away to be spent on rainy days.

If Mr. Obama and legislators really want to make a change in the economy, they need to promote a stimulus package that would directly improve our lives for more than five minutes. How about figuring out a way to keep tax payments coming to state coffers and the states keep revenues coming to county coffers and counties keep revenues coming to city coffers.

Then, maybe just maybe, cities and counties will not be forced to raise mill levies to make their budgets balance.

A long-term plan to lower my property taxes, lower my income taxes, and lower my utilities is a better idea than putting a few bucks in my pocket or trillions of dollars in the bank accounts of large corporations.

And talking about giving a much-needed boost to small businesses, this would have the same affect on them. Take a look at our local business owners. Couldn’t they/we use a break on the same taxes and responsibilities?

We’ve elected these capable people to make these tough decisions. Let’s encourage them to make decisions with more long-term effects instead of throwing good money at bad ideas and then WE end up paying for those bad ideas.

— susan berg