I came across a popular story and comment thread on Tip’d, concerning whether or not Americans thought they would be getting a second stimulous check in 2009. My curiousity having been piqued, I searched teh Googles to see what other people thought.
Obviously it’s all speculation at this point, considering how both political-economic discourse seem to be getting further “out there” with each passing day. But I thought it’d be interesting to collect some bloggers’ opinions and predictions.
“I’m lying about the Magic 8 Ball, but it seems that the underlying message is on point. As of right now, there’s no evidence to suggest that a second stimulus check is on the way.”
“At this point, it’s merely political fodder and we shouldn’t expect another stimulus check, just that there have been discussions of one. As anyone who has watched Congress work can attest to, there are plenty of discussions in Washington that lead nowhere.”
Perhaps a second stimulus payment would spur economic spending, but I’d rather “the invisible hand” allow this to happen naturally, and without the artificial inflation of disposable income from yet another economic stimulus check.
By handing out these checks, I think our government is just trying to keep us happy; instead of doing the right thing… You may not see it immediately, but handing out money now could mean getting less somewhere else later (e.g., infrastructure, social programs, education, environment, etc.), or it could mean higher taxes down the road, or it could result in inflation.
“Now I’m not one to turn down a check if they’re going to be sending it my way anyway, but where exactly is this money coming from? Could it be that in addition to a second stimulus rebate check we’ll also be receiving higher taxes?”
The last quote in particular makes me chuckle a bit, cycnically. As someone whose income level will ensure I never get this type of handout from Uncle Sam, I can’t help but be a little happy that the above bloggers aren’t predicting the second stimulus check. There’s no such thing as “free money”, unless you print it, legislate it away from other people, or out-and-out steal it. Let’s stop looking to others to solve our problems, and get back to self-reliant basics: start an emergency fund; establish a budget; spend less than you earn! A lifetime of bad habits got us into this mess, and only the establishment of good habits–as a country, and as individuals–will get us out of it.
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{ 4 comments }
Thanks for posting the article, was certainly a great read!
I agree with that last paragraph 100%. It is on each individual in this economy to stimulate themselves! Everyone needs to better prepare themselves and adjust their lifestyle to survive in this recession. Too many people are looking for gifts, handouts, and help to just “get by” and that will not work. It starts with knowledge sharing of ideas on personal finance and budgeting. The PF blogosphere is a great place to start!
Yes, getting “free” money from Uncle Sam is nice.. but it has to come from somewhere.
me and my husband both work really hard and see where our tax dollars go. the drunks get checks because alcoholism is classed as a disease. then the drunks stab and shoot each other and the local ambulance picks them up and tax payers foot the bill. then they are transported to a hospital and the taxpayers pay for that. then they go home,sobber up and buy groceries with taxpayer dollars.they have no jobs,because why should they work? we give them money, they don’t worry about gas prices because they have no cars,they don’t worry about groceries going up because they eat for free,utilities go up…..so what….they live in projects we pay for…….everyone who breathes should have a job……we have elderly people working just for their medicine so there is no reason for the younger ones not to work….make them pay for all those babies instead of living off the tax payers….
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