Comments on: Will there be another economic stimulus check?

By: Mr. GoTo

Mr. GoTo — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:27:15 +0000

Actually, there are going to be stimulus checks sent this year but you have to be receiving Social Security to get it ($250).

Also, the new tax withholding schedules have already been released so the extra $ should start showing up in your check by April.

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:53:30 +0000

I don’t think this will benefit my family at all. I’m self employed and my hubby is 1099.

By: MITBeta @ Don't Feed the Alligators

MITBeta @ Don't Feed the Alligators — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:57:36 +0000

I think a lot of people are tired of the government, especially over the last several years, being incredibly irresponsible with public money by overspending AND giving tax cuts at the same time. Now ANY new spending looks bad because we’ve been conditioned to see a lot of spending with little benefit.

This package is designed to create jobs. Somebody has to study that field mouse, somebody has to make, deliver, sell, and service that car that has a tax break on it, etc.

There’s a lot of old saying that could apply here: “Scared money never wins,” “You have to spend money to make money,” etc. You all think that your kids will have to pay for this, but not if WE all pony up and force our representatives to honor the pay as you go system. Tax us NOW rather than our kids later, or cut spending, not one or the other.

There’s also a lot of criticism for spending beyond means, yet I know at least a few people here have mortgages which bought houses for which they could not pay cash — in other words, you couldn’t afford them. So you obviously clearly understand the relationship between taking on debt and eventual wealth. The idea of this package, like any stimulus, is that the eventual value of all of the money spent will be greater the actual dollar amount. If the government spends $1, the hope is that eventually the economy will return >$1 in benefits to all of us.

By: Bekki

Bekki — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:42:22 +0000

I agree with… pretty much everyone else here. I don’t think the stimulus package will help much at all. It will offer a little bit of help to a few people, but the benefits will not reach the majority of Americans.

Personally, I’m a bit upset that there won’t be much benefit to wealthy people. I’m big fan of the “trickle down effect” that we once enjoyed when things were going well.

My husband owns a plumbing/HVAC business that works primarily building weekend homes for wealthy people from NYC. Things have slowed down since they’re watching all their money get flushed down the stock market drain. If they don’t have enough money to blow on fancy houses with fancy fixtures, we don’t have the opportunity to work and EARN money.

Give me an opportunity to work over a one-time handout any day!

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:27:32 +0000

While I like taxpayers getting to keep more of our hard earned money, I don’t like what they (the self-proclaimed “experts” in government) want us to with it– SPEND!

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:57:40 +0000

I don’t think the stimulus will do what it’s supposed to do. I think just like the other bailouts, the results will be minimal at best. I don’t think it will create the millions of jobs that it is supposed to. It’s a bad deal.

By: Bible Money Matters

Bible Money Matters — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:38:31 +0000

I don’t think the stimulus bill is going to do much good at all. In fact, i think it may do more harm than good. I did a post on my blog recently about how the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that they thought the stimulus may do more harm than good long term.

Only 20% or so of the “stimulus” spending is happening this year, with the rest of it being back loaded and not happening for years down the road. Not sure how that is supposed to stimulate things to get moving when the recession is happening now?

In my view the stimulus is really just a pork project payback for the folks who put the current administration in office, and it won’t have the desired affect.

I hope I’m wrong.

By: Liane

Liane — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:00:26 +0000

I don’t feel that I have been informed enough to decide if this stimulus bill will be helpful or not. I think there are a lot of rumors circulating out there. I think these economic times have forced more people to look at their finances honestly and become accountable as to how they spend their money. Now, I do believe that there should be more auditing of large businesses and industries that are turning to the government for help. I think that if they’re going to get $$$, then there should be a government-appointed auditor combing over everything. And I think that beginning at the local level, government needs to trim back the fat.

Thanks,
Liane

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:39:11 +0000

Hi.
I wanted to suggest that you cover up some of your personal info on the envelope you are showing on your blog. I work in the “information” arena and unfortunately, have seen many cases of ID theft. I’d hate for that to happen to you. Anyway, I’d cover up your middle initial and address so it’s not “out there.”
Thanks for your helpful and interesting blog.

By: dramon

dramon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:07:46 +0000

I think the government should reduce costs by reducing their pay and benefits like many employees are forced to do.

Much of this package is pork under a different name.