Forget the "Prebate", Do Something that would really help the U.S. economy!

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
January 28, 2008 2:16am CST
Once again we are witnessing what happens when we get a "bipartisan" answer to a national problem. We get what my dad would call, "a pig in a poke". Instead of spending all the money it will take to process $300 dollar checks for people who didn't pay that much in taxes anyway. They should do something that might really make a difference. Cut out the federal gas tax! That would free up money in every house hold, take some of the pressure off of business, and not come with all the "administrative" costs that come with creating and sending all those checks.
3 people like this
6 responses
• United States
28 Jan 08
You are making too much sense. That is not what most voters want to hear about anymore. If only they did, but they don't. Anyone with a basic understanding of economics can reason out that giving away 'free money' is really really stupid in the long run. So, why aren't more of our politicians speaking out against this? One wonders if our national leaders truely want to destroy the USA?
3 people like this
• United States
28 Jan 08
What the government can do is get out of the way. Quit interfering. Protect and ecourage freedom and competition. I'll tell you a true story from my trucking days. I was at a major farm picking up a load and having a discussion with the farmer. He was complaining about banks and the government as to how they hindered his business. I suggested he cut the banks and the government out of his business to a larger degree by doing the following. 1) Send his children to college to learn about South America, their ag-business, and their language. 2) Send his children as representatives of his farm to South America to negotiate with farmers like himself down there. 3) Work out deals between himself and those farmers where they swapped each others products with each other and sold them in their respective countries, thus cutting out some of the banks action and some of the government control. The farmer laughed at this. He said others had already thought of this. They found it would be illegal. Trade laws and import laws do not allow this! Anyway, the point being is that government when it limits freedom prevents hard working, exceptionally intelligent people like the farmer I was talking to from solving economic problems. He could have cut out a lot of overhead and waste, thus reducing prices he would have to charge, but it would be against the law! The government can stimulate the economy by increasing freedom. Anything else is probably counter productive.
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
28 Jan 08
Government "help" has made the farmer little more than a government employee.
@mizrae (587)
• United States
31 Jan 08
This economic stimulus makes me wonder who the government really is helping especially when they tell the American public to go out and "spend" this money. Until we become a productive society again, no economic stimulus will help! With so many now on the brink of financial disaster, how will "spending" help these people? Furthermore, where is this money coming from? We, as a nation, are now in debt to the tune of trillions of dollars a year. Borrowing more money will not help our economy, and in fact will further devalue the dollar, which in turn will further price increases in every area. Again I ask, who does this economic stimulus really help?
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Jan 08
Well, whether we spend money, invest it, or put it in the bank, we are keeping it in circulation. Spending the money helps the local economy (and local economies translate to state and national economies). So yeah, putting money back in our pockets does help... But there's always a "but" isn't there. ;~D As you point out, the government is borrowing the money they are "rebating" to us. If it was actually a rebate, that might not be so bad... but as you know, it isn't. What would help is if the federal government didn't take part of our paychecks out of the local economy in the first place.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Jan 08
Do you have a job? If so, you only have a job because someone else is spending money. It helps everyone who uses it to better their situation. It helps the people who work at and own the businesses at which it is spent. In the short term, it helps a lot of people. In the long term, you are right, it's borrowed money. It's a gamble that the downturn is a short term situation and a few bridges are all that is needed. It doesn't hurt the politicians who are pushing for it either. ;~D
1 person likes this
@mizrae (587)
• United States
31 Jan 08
When you say we are putting the money back in circulation... who gains? or should I say, who profits? Not us. Spending further stimulates other countries' economies, not ours. When you buy anything, who gains? Not us, we are not manufacturing or producing much of anything anymore. What exactly do you suggest I "buy" with my windfall? Products from China?
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
13 Feb 08
Honestly, considering Bush only thinks about himself, and him and Cheney don't really care about the Economy, and Taxes per sey, there is no way they would ever consider something like this. And in a way, I feel that they should only be giving out these Checks to people who deserve them like people who work, and pay out for everyone, as we as Taxpayers already get hit hard enough. But this is something no one will ever agree with, so all can hope for is the Elections to finally get here, and a New President win and truly help make a difference for everyone instead of destroying everyone but themselves.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Feb 08
Yawn. Sorry, I read this thinking you had something of value to say.
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
29 Jan 08
I'm happy to get my rebate, but the government will not be happy that I plan to put it into a savings account, and not into a store's pocket. I agree, though, that there are better ways to help the economy.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Jan 08
The bank uses that money to back their own investments, so putting it in the bank does help the economy. It's also a great choice!
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
17 Feb 08
My family will be relieved to have some extra money, the bills have been driving us to the point of desperation -- and I know many people are getting beyond desperate nowadays....what with the ghost towns cropping up all over the U.S., tent cities of homeless outside a few of the major cities.. But they say people won't get it un til summer now, and for many people that'll be too late. And while I'll concede that without the consumer, fixing the economy is worthless...they should be doing something more to fix things. Giving money to the people, while it helps the people shortterm, it will not help them in the long run. After all...where is the government getting the money? They'll either print it out, or borrow it...which equals inflation or more debt. Which equals more damage for the economy. Not a bright picture, the future of our country makes at this moment, hm?
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Feb 08
First of all, at the risk of sounding heartless, it's not the government's job to pay our bills. Niether is it the government's job to get us out of the financial fixes we get ourselves into. This is a plan to stimulate the economy, not fix our boo boos for us. That being said... You are right in a lot of points. The most important being, these checks won't even be out this quarter. They can't have any kind of effect for the next six months. If it's supposed to be a "short term fix", where is the short term gain? You are also right that the money has to be borrowed, which means it's propping up one part of the economy at the expense of another. If they would just cut the gas tax, it would bring immediate benefits to both the people and the economy. The "Prebate" will cost more to implement than it will put back in the economy. While it isn't the government's job to pay bills, yes, you and I.. and a lot of other people in America will get some relief in that department... unless all they do with their thousand is use it as a down payment for something that costs several thousand.
• Canada
2 Feb 08
Yep - in a pinch people will always use it to pay down debt, which doesn't help keep things ticking over. The real problem is that there is no problem to solve - there is no economic issue beyond a freeze in the credit markets caused by horrific failures of the regulating bodies around the world to prevent spread of these toxic 'investment' vehicles. But combine difficult in financing with skitishness over how much it will REALLY cost, and nobody wants to spend. I'm sure Bush thought about your gas tax plan - after all, it would prevent people from trying to use less (foreign) oil and encourage them to buy big cars again and more gas for the same money - leading to more profits for Big Oil - yay! But sarcasm aside, gas tax is a real pain, as it impacts on transport and business when really we only want it to impact on broader 'leisure' vehicles. It's also regressive (pensioned granny who tries to get to her church meetings twice a week in her compact pays the same overhead as wasteful SUV driving Bell Air soccer mom). Personally I would scrap the tax and place a yearly 'fee' on cars depending on their MPG and emmissions (and in fact that is how they work out the tax you pay on company cars in the UK).
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
4 Feb 08
Gas tax is a built in "yearly fee on emissions" and I reject your idea that it's regressive. If it was used right, it's actually one of the most fair taxes there is. Those who use their vehicles a lot are taxed a lot, those who use it less, are taxed less. Those who conserve fuel are taxed less those who don't, are taxed more. Each person volunteers for the amount of taxes they pay. The problem with the gas tax is, rarely is the money actually used for its intended purpose. Instead of going to the programs it was intended, it gets raided into the general fund, where legislators can use it for their own pet projects. Love the sarcasm, keep it coming! :~D
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
4 Feb 08
Don't bother with Class Warfare bullcrap with me please. Class warfare is meaningless drivel.
• Canada
4 Feb 08
It's regressive by definition - as it doesn't take into account the ability to pay. Read my example again. A struggling rural single dad having to drive his kids 15 miles a day to school pays as much as a rich guy in an SUV who can't be bothered to walk 400 yards to get the paper in the California sunshine. When I say yearly fee, I mean you pay $2000 on Jan 1 every year if you are the registered owner of a low MPG vehicle, and then going down. People may not have a choice about driving, but they do have a choice about buying fuel efficient cars.
1 person likes this