Word out on the street is that Bush is pushing a $145 billion economic stimulus package designed to prevent us from entering a recession. (N.B. Can we stop pretending we're not in a recession already?)
This package includes up to $800 in tax relief for income tax payers, which will be accomplished without repealing Bush's tax cuts for the rich.
Explain me this: Given our current deficit, how is this a good plan? I will remind you that the US National Debt clock currently reads:
.But where will this money come from? Will we just tack it onto our deficit? We're certainly not getting it from the wealthy--those very people who have benefited from Bush's presidency and who, in truth, bear partial responsibility for the state of the economy at the moment. Had they said, "You know? We should do our part and be taxed fairly," I don't think we'd be in as dire a situation as we are right now. (Given Bush's stupidity, no doubt we'd still be SOL but not to the tune of nearly $9.2 trillion.)
And what about the people who don't pay income tax? There's something like 50 million Americans who don't pay income tax because they do not make enough money to have to pay! They could certainly use $800 more than I could. In fact, mark my words, if I receive an $800 check from the U.S. Treasury, I will find a family who doesn't pay income tax, and I will GIVE them my check. I mean it. I know it's not going to solve the world's problems, but I'll do it for the principle. Don't these people deserve some relief, seeing as they're the people with the *real* problems: the ones who can't afford to put a tank of gas in their cars (if they even own one), the ones who can't afford the rising cost of food staples, the ones who don't have job security because they work in construction and will be the first to be laid off, the ones who have to choose between buying their children a winter coat and paying for the gas bills that heat their homes. Why should a family of four making between $25K and $40K not receive tax relief while I would?
If you have a chance to call up your Senators or Representatives about this, please do. Tell them that you support a stimulus package that looks after non-income-tax-paying individuals. These are the people being hit hardest by the recession that we are currently in. These are the individuals who have the most to lose when money is cut from social programs to pay for my $800. And if you are fortunate enough to receive a relief check, give it to someone who really needs it. While stimulating the economy, you will also be helping out someone who really needs it. Because, face it, you probably don't.
2 comments:
Ok, so big tax cuts and corporate welfare for the rich got us into this "recession" (read: depression) so let's do some more of the same.
Doesn't make a lick of difference. All of this pales in comparison to the cost of entitlements as part of the budget -- never mind the escalating costs caused by the tidal wave of retiring boomers.
No one -- demopublican or republicrat -- has called for the tough measures that would be needed to rein in that runaway gravy train. Third rail of American politics? I lay the blame for that squarely at the feet of the American voters -- either they're too stupid to understand basic budgetary math or they don't give a damn as long as they get theirs.
An article I read recently says that over the past half-century at least, the American public by and large is reasonable, balanced, and not too extreme in its thinking, either about the problems or the solutions. The culture of partisanship has been driven by the political parties, this piece claims.
Rock. Meet Hard Place.
Nuts.
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