Why the Stimulus flopped

Stimulus [stim-yuh-luhs] noun, plural: something that incites to action or exertion or quickens action, feeling, thought, etc.: "The approval of others is a potent stimulus."

Via Hot Air:

Theoretically, for the stimulus to have worked, the government would have had to target idle resources. Instead, the government funneled money into already-existing government contracts. Similarly, for the stimulus to have worked, state leaders would have had to spend stimulus money on top of what they were already spending. All too often, they used stimulus dollars to cover general expenses rather than to increase overall spending. And on and on …