Following are some current representative media comments.

• Once again, investors are losing confidence in the nation’s beleaguered banks — and, this time, experts say, in Washington’s ever-changing plans to rescue the banks as well.
• Critique of Housing Plan Draws Quick White House Offensive
• WASHINGTON — The White House signaled its concern on Friday about a populist backlash against President Obama’s housing plan.
• The economic crisis is the most important current event, but when you see Alan Greenspan on TV announcing that he can’t quite get his head around collateralized debt obligations, there’s a definite temptation to throw in the towel and change the subject.

The media continues to bombard us with quotes and talking heads quick to Monday-morning quarter back and criticize.

The overarching goal of the stimulus plan has to be: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! A recent media diversion has been: Which is more important, jobs or credit? Any student of economics 101, or any person with common sense knows that discussion is a waste of time and energy. Without jobs, people don’t apply or qualify for mortgages. Without jobs, people spend less money. Without jobs, there are fewer reasons for businesses to need credit. Without jobs, there are less people to develop new products, technology, and create medical advancements. Without jobs, the federal, state, and local governments cannot achieve fiscal responsibility. 70% of our gross domestic product (GDP) is based on consumer spending.

That said, all jobs are not the same. There are two basic types: government and civilian (private). Government jobs are broken into two categories. People who work directly for the government, and those who work for a contractor or agency that is funded by the government. The private sector is made up of people who work for companies that provide goods and services to the private sector, and are funded by their profits.

Government and government related jobs are important for the overall management of the country. Its purpose is to provide security, and national judicial, educational, medical, environmental, and quality of life guidelines. Without a successful private sector, there is no purpose for an elected government to represent the people.

Consequently, the qualifier to the overarching goal of the stimulus bill should be the development and expansion of jobs for the private sector. Accordingly, the quality of the stimulus plan is not nearly as important as the quality of the management and accountability of the bill to develop jobs for the private sector.

Presently, there are governors, mayors, and all sundry types of people lining up for stimulus bill funds. This is the point where the disbursed funds can go to waste and the stimulus can fail. To avoid this catastrophe, NetGain strongly recommends that prior to approval and distribution of funds, every applicant is asked the following questions.

• How many private sector jobs will be created?
• What is the plan?
• What are the benchmarks for distributions?
• What is the procedure for accountability?

Applicants who fail to answer these four questions should be told to go to the end of the line, and not come back until they are ready to satisfactorily answer them.

Why is NetGain concerned about the stimulus bill? Because not only are jobs crucial to the financial success of our country, they are also crucial to the financial success of income properties. NetGain has written extensively describing the role of jobs. The importance of jobs was highlighted by NetGain making it the centerpiece of its industry leading due diligence system (EVS™).