Obama’s Stimulus for Sign-Makers
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Obama Administration means more work for sign-makers:
“On the road leading to Dulles Airport outside Washington, DC there’s a 10′ x 11′ road sign touting a runway improvement project funded by the federal stimulus. The project cost nearly $15 million and has created 17 jobs, according to recovery.gov.
However, there’s another number that caught the eye of ABC News: $10,000. That’s how much money the Washington Airports Authority tells ABC News it spent to make and install the sign – a single sign – announcing that the project is “Funded by The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act” and is “Putting America Back to Work.” The money for the sign was taken out of the budget for the runway improvement project.”
The Stimulus reportedly includes sign requirements that require “Funded By: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Barack Obama, President” or the Recovery Act logo that resembles the Obama 2008 campaign logo and purports to be “a symbol of President Obama’s commitment to the American people to invest their tax dollars wisely and put Americans back to work.”
Obama’s name or logo appear to be on these signs. I wonder if someday he may regret that, much like President Bush came to regret his “Mission Accomplished” moment.
— DRJ
So are they going to report this as a 700 billion dollar contribution to Obama’s perpetual campaign?
I remember seeing NRA signs on depression projects but did FDR put his name on the works projects?
I thought the Clintons were low class but…
Machinist (497786) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:24 pm“Funded By: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…”
I see these things in a lot of places.
Blacque Jacques Shellacque (cf2f34) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:34 pmBut do the signs have their “Union Made” stamps? If not, I renounce them.
Christian (f10530) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:37 pmNeed to make my “Buck Ofama” stencil.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:43 pmNow that would be something the DOJ would pursue vigorously.
Machinist (497786) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:45 pmAs someone who has a degree of knowledge about the sign industry, the 10′ x 11′ sign could have been designed, fabricated, and erected for under $500. Unless, of course, it is made of solid gold with diamond-studded lettering.
Perhaps just the part that says: “Barack Obama, President”.
navyvet (206534) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:47 pmHow about just a OTP stencil – One Term President.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 7/14/2010 @ 9:47 pmnavyvet,
Machinist (497786) — 7/14/2010 @ 10:05 pmNot with so many beaks to wet.
6.As someone who has a degree of knowledge about the sign industry, the 10′ x 11′ sign could have been designed, fabricated, and erected for under $500.
Comment by navyvet
That’s assuming the contract was given to somebody who knew what they were doing.
The other possibility is parallel to the line in “Independence Day” where the President asks, “Where did you get the money for all of this!?” and gets the answer, “You didn’t really think we would spend $500 a piece on toilets, did you?”
In all fairness, it does look like Illinois is doing relatively well on the cost per sign figure, and the way the highways are often torn up around Chicago they can always use more signs.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 7/14/2010 @ 10:14 pmMmmph. Every government construction project I’ve ever encountered has a sign proudly naming all city orcounty commissioners (if it’s local) or the state cabinet (if it’s state level) so posterity will know whom to thank for the never ending traffic jams.
Plus often enough the amount spent on the project, and bronze plaques to be positioned in close proximity to immortalize for future generations, who is responsible for what ruin.
In fact, come to think of it, this was common practice in the ancient world, except they were engraved in stone and named Roman emperors as well as ordinary Roman politicos. The oldest I know of was found in Jerusalem, marking the completion of tunnelling for the water supply by King Hezekiah.
Only difference here is that the bigger arena, matched by the bigger ego (Obama’s, of course) involved.
kishnevi (1afea2) — 7/14/2010 @ 10:19 pmI just wrote about this too.
It blows my mind.
http://americanglob.com/2010/07/15/economy-booming-for-sign-makers/
Aleister (1a3972) — 7/14/2010 @ 10:46 pmOf course we need to be reminded that our Beloved Leader is thinking of us and looking out for us with his ever-benevolent and all-powerful hand. The short message for a highway sign is perfect because signage should never become an obstruction or distraction to traffic. However, in the cities, super-sized murals of Comrade Obama on the sides of buildings would be particularly inspiring – especially when we are struggling over the need to denounce a close friend or family member for BadThink.
Adjoran (ec6a4b) — 7/15/2010 @ 12:31 amMmm, $10K a sign is pretty scandalous. Paying about $1M per job seems more so. Why not just give them $100K to sit on their a–es all day instead? Literally the stimulus would be far more wealthy than that.
As for MD’s theory, I will note that congress every year approves of a secret projects budget. Only a few members of congress and the president know what its for and why, the rest of congress relies on those congresspersons to tell them if it is worthy of their vote. So if there was a need to hide what the money was really for, it would have to be too sensitive even for that limited group to see it, which is stretching plausibility.
In short, yes, I really believe we spend $500 on a hammer. The government is made up of a bunch of wasteful idiots.
Aaron Worthing (A.W.) (e7d72e) — 7/15/2010 @ 5:36 amAdjoran, I’d admonish you to not give them any ideas, but knowing these folks they probably already thought of that on their own.
Sean P (6f6c60) — 7/15/2010 @ 5:36 amRichardson, Texas has several banner type signs being displayed in City Hall promoting the stimulus jobs being created along with promoting govt jobs in general. One striking thing in each of the signs is the individual depicted in the posters is a young african american (25ish year old) with a striking resemblance to obama at that young age.
Joe (a682f6) — 7/15/2010 @ 5:39 amWhat we should do is have a whole bunch of “alternative” logos printed up on corrugated plastic sign stock with high bond double stick foam tape on the back, or better yet, liquid nails construction adhesive. every time we see one of these signs we should affix a “corrected” version over the original.
I wonder how long the “corrected” version remains in place before someone notices and tries to peel it off…..
Rorschach (c5574d) — 7/15/2010 @ 6:13 amWere the signs at least manufactured in the USA?
J (2946f2) — 7/15/2010 @ 6:59 amLook upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Mike K (0ef8c3) — 7/15/2010 @ 7:23 amNothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
This signage fixation must be a lefty thing.
Drive around LA and you will see big green signs everywhere there is a building or park “Funded by Some Politician…blah, blah, blah.” All we need to add is a big picture of Dear Leader and we will fit in with the rest of the Third World.
Patricia (358f54) — 7/15/2010 @ 7:41 amComment by Aaron Worthing (A.W.)
My reference to Independence Day was more tongue in cheek than anything, and if anything the extra money went exactly where we expect, as a “sweet deal”. It is interesting, though, the information you share about secret project funding, although even in that, the description given to the Congress members might be quite vague.
Comment by kishnevi
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 7/15/2010 @ 9:43 amThat’s interesting about King Hezekiah.
md
well, its not perfect, but its the only way it can work in a democracy. because you can’t tell 400+ people a secret and expect it to remain a secret.
my guess is you and i watched the same movie on july 4. 🙂
Aaron Worthing (A.W.) (e7d72e) — 7/15/2010 @ 9:46 amI think if we all took a dump in the middle of the street, Gov.t could hire us back “en masse” to clean it up.
Low unemployment rate that way ya know …..
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 7/15/2010 @ 11:01 amOT: Any chance we can get rid of the two RINOs in Maine? Good I wish they both drop dead.
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 7/15/2010 @ 11:08 amWith construction union rules it is hard to see how they could do any kind of runway reconstruction with 17 people. Operating engineers for the heavy equipment, oilers to oil the heavy equipment every day (8 hours pay for one or two hours work) Teamsters to drive the trucks, carpenters for forming, electricians for wiring and lights, laborers for grunt work and stewards for each union to make sure their craft gets its fair share.
Hazy (4e0dda) — 7/15/2010 @ 11:13 amAnd I bet Obama will say he created or saved 23 jobs just to make that one sign!
Brett (dc3cf5) — 7/15/2010 @ 11:26 amI heard someone point out tonight that above and beyond the amount of money actually spent on the signs is the market vakue of all of that “free” campaigning. Truly the democratic city boss way.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 7/15/2010 @ 8:51 pmI’m too young to remember, but didn’t FDR have signing pointing out the gov.’s efforts toward that time’s stimulas. This just doesn’t compare to the bailing of the banks and then the exectives getting $mil bonus’s, when they should have actually lost their jobs.
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Maya Eakin (c5125f) — 12/31/2010 @ 2:11 am