Talking to a Topeka crowd last week, Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, sought to gauge the public attitude about the idea of the federal government borrowing money to send Americans tax rebate checks, the premise of Congress’ pending economic-stimulus package. “If you think this should be the policy, if you think this would make a significant difference, let’s see a show of hands,†he said, to no hands.
Then a man called out, “I want it!”
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Afterwards they all went home and discussed with their spouses what they’d do with the rebate.
Where’s my check?
As I said before they look at the economy like a College freshman looks at his first credit card.
“BEER PARTY!”
Did he say “I wan” or “I ran”?
I don’t get it Rhonda.
I think Americans should send the government a message by saving their tax rebates and not spending them. Sadly that would probably backfire in our faces as well devauling the dollar so the rebates would be worth less spending power, or you can just hold on to it, and ride out the wave until the dollar regains its vaule. Either way, I bet most people will spend it.
I’m suprised there not giving out the rebates in the form of a corporate gift/debit card that has to spent by a specified date or the money will go back to Washington.
What’s wrong with just lowing our tax rates, make them retroactive or just include the year of 2007. Too me it’s not like free money. We would be just be getting our money back. It’s not their money it’s ours.
George, get with the program.
Lowering tax rates would only help those who are earning enough income to actually have to pay taxes.
What is truly wanted here, as evidenced by the one honest guy in the article who said “I want it!”, is a free handout for those who don’t pay taxes.
George, your approach would not be a social welfare plan, and thus would not be supported by the Socialists who dominate this blog.
They could just send us gas debit cards! The oil company will end up with the money either way.
Our corporate tax rates are higher than socialist Europe’s corporate rates.
Corporate profits are a good thing, not a bad thing.
We would have MORE corporate tax revenue if we cut the corporate tax rate.
Right Econ,
Corporate profits are a good thing. That’s what brings us higher investment returns on our savings.
The Libs however, want high investment returns AND low corporate profits.
Watch me pull that rabbit out of my money-tree hat!
Who can afford investments?
Bush will have doubled the Natl. debt. after this yrs. 3.1 tril. budget. If that’s not a money tree hat, I don’t know what is!
The Stimulus Package isn’t about what reasonable people want. In fact, it’s not even about the economy. It’s about federal politicians handing out that FREE MONEY so they can get reelected.
If Conservatives had their way, the budget would have been balanced, with tax cuts. The tax cuts increased Federal revenue, yet our wunnerful Gov’t increased spending even more.
Cutting Taxes and Cutting Spending would have balanced the budget, even with the Iraq war.
But that’s not how the Libs want it. They want Federal Spending to keep increasing, and they want taxes to go up through the roof!
If you are in the bottom 50% you pay little or no tax anyway, yet get most of the Federal benefits. So of course the Libs cry for more spending and more taxes.
And Obama and Clinton are promising BOTH!
Screw freedom. You think you have a right to keep most of your own hard earned money? Not under Clinton and Obama you won’t.
Which is exactly what the Libs want – Redistribution of Wealth!
Yipppeeee! Liberal Socialist Democrats will rename our land to:
The United Socialist States of America
Democrats,
Y’all ever talk about Freedom?
Naw, not important to ya.
Why scrap the income tax and replace it with nothing?
why not scrap the income tax.
Max, the funny thing is the “war” isnt even in the budget.
“If Conservatives had their way, the budget would have been balanced, with tax cuts. The tax cuts increased Federal revenue, yet our wunnerful Gov’t increased spending even more.”
Heheh. So.. paulie says deficits dont matter. Are you saying paulie is NOT a conservative.
he. heh. hehehehhe. HEEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHHEEHE!
Damn, THAT’s a good one. Paulie? Cant wait for your answer.
Oh, and maxie?
Werent the REPUBLICANS in charge of congress when the deficits were run up? When earmarks took their place in American history?
And you wanna talk about freedom? Ok.
Let’s start with spying on innocent Americans, gutting habeus corpus, secrecy in government, silencing demonstrators….
The hits could go on. I think we are LESS free after 8 years of bush rule.
Sure. Let’s TALK about freedom. And then not do anything but curtail privacy and freedom. That is the republican way, no?
I won’t stop your roll Farmgirl, but the deficit
went up over 1 trillion dollars under the leadership of your hero: Bill Clinton.
And yes, the republicans had record earmarks during 2007. That’s why we voted to throw them out.
But guess what? The democrats have proven themselves to be nearly as greedy at the pork with over 11,000 and 20 billion dollars worth. Not quite as bad as the 2007 republican majority -but still HUGE and a big concern.
So you should be joining me in voting them out this time?
I think the democrats need new leadership. Pelosi and Reid have to go. But if we vote out the congresscritters who are democrats, and replace them with republicans, what good will it do?
Just create a return to the mess the republicans created.
I think if democrats had leadership that wasnt beholdin’ to the same ol same ol, things might be different.
I’m generally in support of breaking the lock the two parties have now. Suggestions?
People can use their checks from the government to make up for the Bush cuts in health care and education. Others can buy products made in China so we can spend billions here to stimulate the economy in China.
Elect some libertarians to congress would be a start
Electing some green party candidates would help as well. I dont mind REAL libertarians like Rage. I do mind the ones that are just republican lite.
I’d use my stimulus check to pay my income tax bill. Unfortunately, the check will come months later than my taxes are due.
What the Bush administration is offering is to essentially lend us money (repayable by our children) to get us out of the hole we dug using money we borrowed to pay the debts of our parents, who borrowed it to pay the debt left them. If we keep this up, the only way we’ll ever get out of debt is to go extinct (assuming of course that the Celts were wrong about debts being carried over to the afterlife).
Jed, I figure it’s just a bonus to the IRS. Recycling the paper since 65% of taxes goes to operating the tax beurocracy. (ya know it’s true, I read it in Mallard Fillmore, and ya know Reps don’t lie)
“I think if democrats had leadership that wasnt beholdin’ to the same ol same ol, things might be different.”
Farmgirl what control do we have over the party leaders in Congress? I understand your fear of throwing out the democrats just to reinstate republican greed. But I don’t see how we can ever control the leadership in Congress.
It seems they are all like hogs at the trough, it doesn’t matter which pig squeals, they all squeal right back and fight to get their lot at the slop.
I like the libertarian idea. But they can’t get the media numbers or backing to get into office.
Who said Bush and the Republicans were Conservative?
“What the Bush administration is offering is to essentially lend us money (repayable by our children) to get us out of the hole we dug” Jed
Jed, even if the ENTIRE 1.5 billion dollars was spent by the recipients (majority will save/invest the money), it only amounts to a drop in the ocean of a 14 trillion dollar economy. Maybe one percent of all economic activity.
BTW, Bush may be offering, but the democrats are eating it up like candy. In fact, I’m reading where the democrats want to expand the program to waste even MORE money….
All for political reasons. Won’t do zip for our economy.
ghotiphaze, you can file for an extension! If you really don’t have the money to pay Uncle Sam by the 15th of April, you can get an auto extension. Of course interest will be do……
But who cares! Americans don’t care about interest on anything (national debt, personal credit cards).
I don’t think we need a new party, although it couldn’t hurt, I just think we need term limits on the house and senate. lifelong politicians will always do what is best for them. 2 terms and your out. also revoke the 18th amenment. allow the state house of representatives to pick our senate representatives and make them more beholden to what the states need and want.
But who cares! Americans don’t care about interest on anything
I have no stinkin’
interest in interest
Really, we assume to take a 1k hit every year. I could claim fewer deductions on my check, but we like the few extra dollars every 2 weeks. Instead of Bush making interest on my money all year, we get hamburger instead of oatmeal (wanna buy a bridge?). We don’t really float a loan for taxes, we keep it aside and collect interest on it ourselves (nothing what the gov’t would make on it). I hyperbolize to make points.
Doug
Posted February 4, 2008 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
People can use their checks from the government to make up for the Bush cuts in health care and education.
————————————–
What cuts?
Federal Spending has not been cut under Bush in 7 years.
Well Max we’re going to have to have Massive tax cuts to tax cut ourselves out of the deficit this go-around!
“Federal Spending has not been cut under Bush in 7 years.”
Max, perhaps you should re-read what I said since I was rather specified in where Bush planned on cutting spending.
Doug, maybe you could provide some facts.
When did Bush cut Education or Healthcare spending?
What was the approved budget Before, and what was the approved budget After Bush supposedly cut it?
You should actually be able to see the dollar amounts go DOWN, if what you said is true.
Doug won’t be able to find where the budget dollars actually declined, so he will just fade away on this one…..
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Mervin…
I always enjoy coming to this site because you offer great tips and advice for people like me who can always use a few good pointers. I will be getting my friends to pop around fairly soon….