So, let me get this straight - sending out a check for 600-1200.00 is going to solve all

[NRaleighLiberal]

of the problems of people who are undergoing foreclosure, or being strangled by high gas prices....and for it to do any good at all for the economy, we all need to get that check (when/if it comes?) and run to our nearest Sams or Walmsrt and buy stuff we may not really need, rather than saving it for future growth or paying off debt?

Sounds just like the GOP strategy of the tax cut - send out piddling sums that do no real good, but bust the earning power of a large surplus to do real good for real people in real need.

am I dumb, or are we seeing a government acting for the sake of acting, but clueless in terms of how to do anything good for any of us at all????

[Philosoraptor]

1. We are all dumb children who must be given treats to calm us.

[Catshrink]

9. It's like giving a starving child a TootsiePop.

Sure, it tastes good but it's just empty calories. It does nothing to solve the problem of hunger and the child will feel hungry again in a minute.

[physioex]

2. Yep....

This is nothing more than a hoax. Notice we only see this "bipartisanship" come election time. What were they doing the other four years?

[acmavm]

3. What's wrong with you? Would Grandma Nancy and Uncle Harry and

blivet lie to you? You KNOW they have your best interests at heart. Only they know what is good for you. Don't believe me? Just ask 'em.

:sarcams:

On a more serious note, how mad are you that they think we're this stupid?

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. How mad? You got to be kidding?

I can't describe my disgust at our so called Dem "Leadership". It is one thing to be digusted with someone for whom my expectations are so low that they can't be charted (the chimp and his henchfolk). It is another to realize that we have been hoodwinked by politics as usual - that Nancy and Harry are just complicit parts of a machine that no longer does anything for any of us.

Beyond Anger, Beyond Disbelief, Beyond Disgust. No word for the current state, sadly.

[RC]

5. Don't forget the tax cuts for all those that don't need it.

Too bad we don't have a two party system any longer.

[shaniqua6392]

7. Like if my hubby and I made $150,000. a year

we would need a tax rebate check. Shit. I wish we had that kind of money. We sure as hell would not need a rebate. I would like to be able to "try" to live on three times more than we now earn!!

[MadHound]

6. This stimulus package is another Bush disaster in the making

Most people aren't going to blow that rebate money on consumer goods, they're going to pay down debt, credit card debt, car loan debt, mortgage, etc. etc. So much for stimulating the economy.

However that extra $150 billion dollars will add that much more to the US debt load, weighing us down, pumping up inflation and becoming part of that huge drag on our economy.

This administration is making all the wrong moves to try and avert this crisis, and is moving much too slow. We could very well be seeing the rise of another Hoover.

[Uben]

11. Our dem congress passed it

It's better than them doing nothing at all, and if the timing is right, it may be just what is needed. Give it a chance. At least that money isn't being spent on building embassies in Iraq!

[Uben]

8. No

It's not going to help those in foreclosure....wasn't meant to. They got themselves into that mess and they are going to have to suffer the consequences of their actions. That's life! It's not going to bring down the price of gas, wasn't meant to do that either. It is supposed to give the economy just enough of a boost to quicken the recovery, at least that is the theory behind it.
Those caught up in the mortgage crisis took a risk...a big one! They lost.

I'm not unsympathetic to those who are suffering financial crises, I've been there. It is up to those individuals to make a plan on how they intend to climb out of it, just like I did. It takes sacrifice and planning, but it is entirely possible to do so.

[liberal N proud]

10. Now I am thinking...

Here are all these people staring foreclosure in the face and along comes $1200 (assuming they get the max).
Where do you suppose you would put that $1200? Would you run out and buy a new Flat Screen TV? Or are you going send it straight to the mortgage company so they have to wait another month to throw you out on the street.

How much of the "stimulus" package will go straight to the mortgage companies? How is that going to help the economy?

[DrDan]

12. they are absolutely buying votes

all of 'em - R's and D's

These checks will not be mailed until this summer - in the midst of the campaign.

I remember 4 years ago in Florida - in the summer right after all the hurricanes. Just show up and you were given a generator. My son-in-law got 2 - one for him and one for his Father. What a debacle. But. . . . it kept junior in the White House.

[Telegram Sam]

13. And let's not forget...

...they want us to spend that money on American goods - not imports.


I look at it more as a "stimulate good feelings about the Republicans during an election year package".

But they can't fool me.

[yy4me]

14. Like many Americans, we need this refund but we would

rather not have it than be part of this useless band-aid for economic stimulus. If it is going to be, well yes, we'll use the money for an oil tank fill-up. We would rather see a real plan that will do some good. This rebate is just a trillion dollar PR stunt on the part of *** and company.

January 2009 can not come soon enough.

Go Edwards!

[Sir Jeffrey]

15. To me, the "stimulus package" looks like a backdoor bailout...

of the creditors. In that sense, it is not clueless at all.

Give a whole bunch of taxpayers (not the poor who pay no taxes but need help the most) an insignificant amount of money that they use to "stimulate" the economy? What will most actually do with their money? Pay bills with it. When you have mortgage lenders staring down financial insolvency and banks taking on a ridiculous amount of foreclosures in the next 6 months, the checks used to pay these sharks will help keep them solvent. I wouldn't be surprised if some asshat sneaks in a provision to the bill that allows creditors to attach these funds and just take them outright.

The business tax cuts are just yet another punch in the face from these clowns in Congress. Bidness as usual.

[AndyA]

16. Yes, that money is going to solve all our problems.

Why do you question it?

Why do you hate America?

:sarcasm:

[Orsino]

17. It's Congress' admission that they don't know how to grow an economy...

...or are too hopelessly corrupt to do so. Crisis looms, and they offer us lollipops.

[KharmaTrain]

18. The Corporate Media Pulls The Strings Again

Yep...both parties bribed us to like 'em. Make us think they're actually doing something to help make things right. It's more like CYA time. Look at the calendar, folks...it's primary season.

I can hear the political ads now..."Congresscritter Spongebath just sent YOU at $600 check". Damn...the most my Aunt Irene would sent was $25. Where do I vote? :sarcasm:

Ya'd think this financial mess just popped up two weeks ago. For many it's been going on for years...only now the corporate media sees it's a story. A year ago, the economy didn't show up on their polling, Iraq did...so that's what we heard a lot about. Then they created the illegal immigrant non-story but that fell flat at the polls...now it's the economy that has their attention. The media's ADD will now move along as the markets kinda settle...onto the next "hot issue".

In the meantime, the money does little to address the real problems with this economy or will prevent the collapse...just slow it a little. $600 per person only works out to about $15 a week...all devoured by rising prices for the basics. Maybe some people will be able to pay off debts, but it sure isn't going to have much of an effect other than window dressing.

[Lint Head]

19. It is a lame attempt to make the cowards in Washington look good.

people will say, "Hey great $1,200!" The idiot politicians think it will make them look good in the eyes of the constituents. :dem:

[ChazII]

20. I am dumb.

With medical bills piling up -- I will take the money. Six hundred helps pay for my portion of a MRI.

[progressive_realist]

21. Don't forget it's actually a loan

We have to pay it back at tax time next year.