Yes. It seems to be a concerted attack on that social safety net that has made us such a great civilization, which is that we take care of each other. It's an attack on that. It's in accordance with a philosophy of laissez-faire economics.

We have to stimulate, as government does, economic vitality. We can do that. It has been done repeatedly throughout the history of this country. A great example is the recent $787 billion stimulus that was passed back in, I think, 2007.

We definitely do. I think we've spent about 1\1/2\ percent per year of the Federal budget on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1958 up until a few years ago. Can you imagine if the United States Government had left it…

It's not profitable at this time for private industry to invest in such a new way of producing energy. There's no profit in it, so they won't do it. Government has the leadership and the vision to understand where we need to go, how we…

Yes. A Republican, by the way, 1958, I believe it was, decided that this country needed an interstate highway system. Where would we be if we had not committed the dollars to get that done? When we did that, it was an investment in the…

That's what it's all about. Government is the entity which primes the economic pump through which prosperity then flows. So we're now at a point, though, where: Are we going to turn everything over to the big businesses, and are we going…

Yes, with the big checks. And they were actually clamoring for that Federal money, and it made an important difference. It allowed States and local governments to retain teachers and firefighters, police officers, construction workers. You…

Actually, since 1979, the income, or the after-tax income, of the top 2 percent has increased by about 372 percent, if I recall the correct number, 372 to 378, while, as you say, regular working people, the middle class, their incomes have…

No, that's enough said. Let me say how much I enjoyed our colloquy today, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that America remains the great Nation that it has always been.

Yes, it sure did. And so I readily signed on your letter that you're circulating, your ``Dear Colleague'' letter. And I'm glad to know, as well, that the President has included a modest $50 billion stimulus aspect in his proposal to strike…

Mr. Speaker, I was thinking to myself earlier today, what happens when you put in a cage fight a giant with a midget? Well, the midget will not win the fight. I'm going to tell you that. Why? He just doesn't carry enough weight to do so…