Do You Feel Stimulated?

President Obama signed his historic 'spendulus' package into law yesterday in an effort to jump start an ailing economy. I had the unique opportunity to meet with one of our Senators - Jon Tester in Kalispell on the same day - ironically just a few hours before the signing ceremony took place in Denver.

It was not a private meeting by any means - I doubt he will remember my name, but I hope he will remember my few words in our brief conversation.

He had scheduled an invitation only meeting in Kalispell with select business and community leaders. News of the meeting had leaked to the Daily Interlake the day before - once it was plastered on the front page, it had to become a semi-public meeting. Only 30-40 people could squeeze into the Chamber meeting room, and about 20 or so had been invited. I was not on the invite list and crashed the party. My takeaway was our Senator coming home to the local market to display the spoils of his efforts in DC - and for local supporters to line up for handouts.

My few words with the Senator after the meeting were just a polite request to do all he could to make sure this unprecedented spending was as stimulative as possible and not just a politically driven 'money-grab' for those who are lined up at the trough.

The only silver lining I can hope for is that the continued negative impact these developments have on the stock market will drive more investors to choose real estate as a secure, long-term investment that they can enjoy over the years.