The Check Is In The Mail?
President Bush’s 2008 Stimulus Package has passed the House of Representatives and now goes to the Senate where it will be pumped so full of earmarks and free handouts that all it will do to our economy is bury it. Now, I’m all in favor of getting some of my hard earned tax dollars refunded to me but not if those that don’t pay taxes are going to get a “rebate” check too. It’s not a rebate if you didn’t pay into the system in the first place. This package also shouldn’t serve as a vehicle to get other politician’s pet projects through.
Hoping to leave his presidency on an upbeat note, Bush’s package depends on Americans spending their tax rebate and not saving it. This spending is supposed to help keep us out of a recession, but I fear its effect will be only short term. Take our simple poll below and tell us how you will spend your check…if it ever comes.
on January 31st, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’m not going to turn down the rebate, but fear it is too little too late. I think at this point so many people are in the hole that the rebate will go directly to paying down debt. Those that don’t elect to pay down debt are probably pessimistic about our country’s economic future and therefore plan to simply save the rebate — that’s my plan for the rebate.
on January 31st, 2008 at 10:46 am
My check won’t make a dent in my mortgage or car loan, so it’s going into the summer vacation fund. If all goes as planned, I’ll be spending it on plate lunches (chicken katsu with macaroni salad and sticky rice) and snorkel rentals in Hawaii.
on January 31st, 2008 at 11:37 am
I am going to buy the biggest LCD flat screen monitor I can get with my check. I love contributing to the economic good of the nation on Uncle Sam’s dime.
And yes I know that it is already my money I am spending. If the government wants to throw me a bone, I will take it and run.
on January 31st, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Good for you. For those of us that pay taxes it is OUR money that is being returned and not a handout. If we can ever get our government to de-bloat itself (all parties are to blame) perhaps we could actually keep more of OUR money.
on February 6th, 2008 at 9:10 am
You forgot one option. Those not getting a return of their tax dollars. If I were to get one, I would have spent it on something.
on February 6th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Sorry about that. If it’s any consolation, I just did my taxes and if I ever do get a rebate check it’s going back to the Treasury to pay what I still owe for 2007. That was a short-lived celebration.
on February 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
“Democracy in America can only last until Americans discover that they can vote largess from the public treasury into their own pockets.” -Alexis deToqueville
Poor Alexis couldn’t even conceive of $9 trillion in debt keeping the ship afloat.
We need spending cuts more than we need tax cuts. All the same, I will be spending the cash when I get it. I see it like getting a discount from a vendor as apology for crappy service.
on February 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
McRat! Long time no chat. Glad to see you found the blog and took the time to comment.
I liken the check to my recent visit to Starbucks. I purchased a cup of coffee that was still brewing. As an apology for the inconvenience, they gave it to me for free. We have the same thing going on here:
“Sorry about what we did to the economy and that whole war fiasco in Iraq. Please accept this refund (which you’ll pay for later) as our apology.”
on February 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
McRat hit the nail on the head with “apology for crappy service.” If one of the fools in Washington would speak that same line into the microphone I’d give him or her my vote just for being honest.