TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Know what the secret is to telling a good joke? Timing.
Remember when the $787 billion stimulus bill was passed? We were told that there were many important municipal, state, and federal projects that were "shovel-ready", lacking only financing to upgrade our infrastructure and to create jobs. We were told that the money would go out the door quickly, providing a jump-start to our economy. Really?
Now, it turns out, only a small percentage of the money has been spent. The money will be spent on a schedule that is in sync, strangely enough, with the federal election cycle. More money will be spent as the mid-term elections approach, but most of it will be released in advance of the 2012 presidential election. Timing is everything.
Same is true with the health care reform bill(s) that the democrats are advancing. The taxes on businesses and individuals to pay for the expansion of health care coverage will begin immediately. However, the implementation of most of the "reforms" will be delayed until 2016! How come? Two reasons. First, this allows the "first ten years" of the program to appear inexpensive, because the money being spent in four years (2016-2020) will be spread out over ten (2010-2020). That's government accounting for you. Secondly, President Obama will be able to point to future "benefits" of his health care reforms during his campaign since there will be no evidence at that time - pro or con - that real reform has been achieved. There will be evidence of its expense of the program, but none that the expense has been worth it.
Timing is the secret of telling a good joke. But I don't see any humor in this.