Sellers might get the money now that they would have received later, but the fact is they're still getting the money.

That was the argument for Cash for Clunkers and for the Home Buyers Tax Credit. Both are considered failures.

All I can say is that's not the way it's happening in my locality. The sexy projects continue to get financed from dwindling state coffers because the local politicians can use them as props for their re-election campaigns. The stimulus funds are going to the boring but necessary projects that keep getting put off for "later".

Then you're one of the lucky ones.