Do You Think Economic Stimulus Checks Were Really To Stimulate The U.S. Economy?

Considering the high price of gas these days I really don't feel like the $300 and $600 economic stimulus checks Americans received were really paid out to help stimulate the U.S. economy. It feels more like Bush's way of saying "I know I screwed things up so I'm going to pay for your gas for a few months". I already bought myself a bike to prepare for $6 or $7 a gallon prices. Maybe you should be doing the same thing.

 

I don't think that $300-$600 was even worth it, if it was an "I'm sorry, i will pay for your gas" attempt, if he was really sorry he should increase the check and allow everyone to receive it. I worked a little last year and it said I wasn't eligible. My father worked for the most part (he was in and out of the hospital) and claimed my brother and hasn't received his check. It says that he wasn't eligible on the IRS site when I entered what I could remember of his tax forum...which makes no sense. Its clearly ridiculous that gas has gone up so high. The really bad thing is a gallon of gas is about the same price as a gallon of milk Things are just getting so priced up that soon, more poor people are going to developed and then thats going to be even more of an issue...then what will happen?

 

Yes it did. Invested my check in a CD. I guess it helped my banker.

 

The price of milk really doesn't matter all that much. Families consume 50x the gasoline/electricity/natural gas/heating oil etc.

The issue of poor people is that people are going to have to work more and buty less. Most people on welfare have color tv's, cell phones, computers and some even have cars. In many third world countries that be considered rich.

I agree with you that the stimulus checks have caused more inflation. Even worse, the checks were borrowed money that weakens the dollar more. Which will cause the price of oil and other commodities to increase in price.

 

Its one part popularity gimmick, but I think its just part of the broader strategy of inducing inflation as a method to pay off the debt and reckless spending our politicians need to stay elected (back to the popularity gimmicks and corporate kickbacks).

Things are going to be a real mess when the budget numbers finalize and we see how much has been spent. I expect some of it will be transferred next year to shore up the Federal Reserve's balance sheet (you know, refresh the ammo cache of the guys shooting holes in the dollar), but we're looking at an easy trillion in deficit spending over the next two fiscal cycles.

And I'm pretty sure neither of these candidates have a snowball's chance of reconciling their spending promises with the cold economic reality they'll inherit.

 

Remember, the Fed already has the contradictory dual-responsibility of controlling inflation and (really or) promoting growth. Since the only growth they can create is nominal, this really is a license to promote inflation. And the inflationary monetary policy coming from the Fed perfectly matches the inflationary fiscal policy coming out of Congress.

 

Hell No. It's a classic case of misdirection, just like the child tax credit. Sending out Billions, a few hundred at a time, in a time when the deficit is astronomical, is just plain silly.

Another "down Home" solution from the 1950's by the Bush administration. What we need is real solutions and legislation to control more of our own oil , build more refineries, and legislate some help for the millions of people who are about to loose their homes, and regulate interest rates on new Mortgages and Credit cards.
The American people are getting raped by interest, and the only solution is to send out a few checks ?

If most Americans get that check on Monday, it will be gone on Tuesday, trying to bail out of the previous problems, and $600 is a drop in the bucket of the hole that most families are in right now.

Classic moronic mentality of this President. It's like throwing a Hot Dog down a hallway, and expecting it to make a difference.

 

I did not get the stimulus package because my wife did not have the SSN number.

 

Money doesnt fix laziness. Our GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT is the reason the economy is in a "slow-down". We aren't exporting or producing shit like we used to, or like the Chinese are doing now. Giving a bunch of stupid lazy people money to buy more crap from China isn't going to fix anything. Maybe pay for some people to go to fuckin college will have a better long-term effect. Just my rambling thoughts though.

 

I disagree, it hits you in areas you normally would not think of. Most all dairy, cheese, hell even supplements, protein powders, etc.

 

I agree with you Grim. It does matter because we are being hit everywhere we look. When you have to pay $3.29 for a gallon of milk that is just plain crazy and it adds up!

 

We're actually paying about $4.00 a gallon here in Florida and that's at Wal-Mart!

 

I agree it a waste and we need welfare reform next.

 

I agree 100%.

It's not the gas that's killing my wallet at all. I live 5 minutes away from work and get decent gas mileage.

It's the indirect effects of higher gas prices that's hurting.

What's really killing me right now is groceries. I used to pay about $60-$70/week in groceries for my and my boyfriend. Now, we are paying about $140-$160/week for the same amount of groceries, and that's going to Wal-Mart. If I was going to one of the big chains like Albertson's, I would probably be paying more than that! The only big purchase we make is dog food, and that's only once a month. We usually buy milk, cheese, eggs, bread, etc. and are getting raped!

And screw spending the stimulus check. If the company you work for can't pay their bills and stops paying into 401ks because the price on goods is killing them, then I'm saving that puppy because I could be next to go......

 

Well technically the gas does increase the prices because of the expense it takes the farmers now to fill their tractors, semi drivers to transport the goods as well.

Both items however are hurting most everyone.

 

Beer and porn sales went up.

 

This is truly a mystery.

 

Yes, I am fully aware they are related. I was meaning to say that gas is not affecting me directly, but indirectly it's really affecting my bottom line.

I can't imagine how my dad's bottom line is hurting. He decided to buy a house outside of town, in the middle of nowhere, very far away from work. He drives a Ford F150 with crappy gas mileage, and even worse now that he put the biggest luggage rack I've ever seen on the top of it. So he spends over $130/week just to get to work. Add the soaring price of goods on top of that, yikes! I tell my dad he's a bad American all the time!