Open-mindedness in order on stimulus

I am dismayed to hear cynics like Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama call the stimulus effort put forth by President Obama and his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, a potential "financial disaster." Where was Senator Shelby and the other detractors during the last 8 years when this financial disaster was truly born? Granted, this perfect storm took many years to develop, but I didn't hear Senator Shelby speak-up before President Obama took office, at a time when we had a solid chance to avert or mitigate this economic crisis.

This stimulus package puts America's economy back on the right track by combining tax cuts with dollars for direly needed infrastructure projects. This blend will create millions of much needed new jobs for American workers and immediately start putting money back in taxpayer's pockets. Instead of the usual partisan bickering, why don't we take a new and open-minded approach that just might move this country toward better days ahead?

John Jaszka

Carol Stream