The Stimulus Plan

"Well, we've got to do something."

I agree. How about being patient and reasonable, carefully considering the problem and coming up with the best solution, as opposed to just doing "something"?

Let's say you're standing in front of your car on the side of the highway, hood open. You don't know much about cars, but you know enough by the clunking sounds, dripping oil, smoke, and strewn parts on the ground that an expert mechanic really needs to check this out, take the time to give it a diagnostic and break out the expensive tools.

But you're going to be late for dinner. You just called your wife and she has steak on the table. Steak! You can't just warm up steak, it's meant to be eaten right now. And she planned this special for you. So instead of waiting for AAA to show up, you start playing around with the timing belt. Before you know it, the car isn't making any sounds now. Why? Because you figured you "had to do something."

"Well, we've got to do something." Never have so many sounded so ridiculous.