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I really don't understand how all of the "great economic minds" haven't figured out that stimulus checks do not work to "stimulate the economy". Apparently economics are rocket science and I just didn't realize it...

I claim Single and 0 on my taxes and they take out about 15% of my check for taxes. If they would cut my tax rate by about 2-3% and put an extra $50 in my pocket every pay period -- I would spend every dime of it. However, in this economy if you send me a check for $600-1200, I'm more likely to put it in a savings account for the happen chance that I will lose my job or need it for a major purpose like tires or if an appliance dies or something...I'm not going to go blow that money on a big screen TV or a Wii...
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See? And that is ridiculous. I pay my taxes and try to be a fine upstanding citizen and they milk me dry. I work 2 jobs to pay my bills. Yet, I did taxes for a girl the other night that has 2 kids by different men -- she has no job except for the few days here and there that she worked at Jacks, AWBC, and a couple of other places -- just to show she was trying to work...because of her income and the kids she got back about $4000 from her tax refund. I was stunned. I figured she'd get about $2000 but because she was able to get Earned Income Credit -- she got double basically. Here is the government teaching us that it is better to NOT WORK than it is to work and support your family.

When I asked about her rent, food, etc -- she lives in Section 8 housing, get food stamps, they also help pay her utility bill, and the kids are on Medicaid.

It is absolute crazy. She was able bodied and intelligent. She had every expense documented so she could get every red cent out of her tax refund.

yet, the government thinks you can throw money at something and fix the problem. THat's like throwing one bucket of water on a wildfire burning out of control -- you can say you did something but you really did nothing at all to save anyone. It takes a continual effort to fix a problem. It takes getting to the root of it and stomping it out...Government fails us every day and I feel so helpless to do anything for my own future let alone future generations.

Obama was supposed to bring change, but from what I'm hearing his "stimulus package" does nothing to actually put more money in my pocket to help me pay my bills -- it does nothing to fix the problem -- it is a band aid packaged a different way.
Yes it is crazy . Hubby even has them take out 15.00 extra a week on top of what should come out but if we filed together we owe 900.00 more and if we file seperate , I owe almost 4000.00 grrrrr . bull chit , I dont have 4000.00 more to give them ,so Ill be paying for the next 3 years on that . Hows that helping the average man ? Tax on top of tax , thats why Robin Hood did what he did .lol
Dixie, I agree with you on everything you said. I heard someone say "why should I work when I can stay home and draw my welfare? I can buy my kids more for Christmas that way than I can when I work." In my opinion, unless you or your child have a disability or are one of our elderly that can't work, then you should have to get off your lazy butt and get a job. Maybe it isn't the high paying job that you would like to have, but a little is better than nothing. Stop handing that money and foodstamps out so freely. Perhaps it should be handled like unemployment funds, give them a set amount of time to find a job and if they don't cut those funds off. I realize that there are single moms out there that would have a hard time taking care of their children on some of the salaries that jobs in this area pay, then there should be a program in place to HELP them but NOT support them totally. I have been a single mom and can tell you that it does get rough. I had never worked until my divorce (at age 35) and had to start at the bottom but was also determined that I wasn't going to stay there. It took me a few years but I finally got to the point where I was making very decent money and my girls could have a few of the extras. Sometime when you are standing in the grocery line just notice the ones that are using food stamps or WIC (not all but a very high percentage) they have their nails done, their hair done, have a cell phone, an expensive designer purse, all kinds of jewelry and the latest designer jeans and shoes. This just ticks me off! If they don't have any skills, then let them get student loans like many of the kids are having to do now. I don't even pretend to have the answers to all of this mess, wouldn't even know where to begin, but get these lazy people off their butts and let them EARN their way through life! Red Face Man, do I feel better now.
I have no problem with the programs that are out there to help families that are in need, but who is there to help me? I don't qualify for any of the programs and all of my expenses are cut as low as it can get. I drive a used car and my house is paid for. The only thing I have is the money I borrowed for student loans to get a better education to help me get a better job -- which is a crock of bull because there are people I work with that have only a high school diploma but they make 4x what I make. We don't have the same jobs but they don't have to have the education I have to do what they do, but they make money -- go figure they are men. I'm not even going to get on that soapbox. I don't even spend money on major things unless I save up for them -- so on the rough months when I have to buy tires for my car or replace something on the central unit -- who is there to help me? No one. There is nothing for a person that tries to do right in the world -- we have to figure it out for ourselves -- get the extra job and then pay more taxes so that people that don't want to work -- can get all the benefits. It's not fair that the only thing I can write off is me -- I've paid more than my fair share and am trying to be the sensible adult and not bring a child in the world that I can't support -- that's why they make birth control -- if you can't afford it DON'T DO IT!

I don't have the answers either, but I know that giving money to the banks didn't fix the problem. Giving money to the car companies didn't fix the problem. Raising my taxes hasn't helped any and government spending is out of control. When I don't have money to spend -- I DON'T SPEND IT! No one is going to give me a hand out to survive and I'm tired of everyone else getting the benefits while I can't seem to get out of student loan hell.
The ones on welfare should have a time limit to be on help from the State ,and not long term way to make a living Mad PLUS , they should all have to pass a drug test monthly, show where they have tried to find work , and Lord some of the responsibility of the kids on medicare should be placed on the dead beat dads to keep health ins on their kids. They got out there and had the babies not us , I dont want to pay for their fun nights . lol

Welfare should not be a way of life ,it has to have some major rule changes on it . Young girls with babies need to be in school , let the state pay for the education , then get them off welfare , put them to work .
quote:
Originally posted by DixieChik:
I have no problem with the programs that are out there to help families that are in need, but who is there to help me? I don't qualify for any of the programs and all of my expenses are cut as low as it can get. I drive a used car and my house is paid for. The only thing I have is the money I borrowed for student loans to get a better education to help me get a better job -- which is a crock of bull because there are people I work with that have only a high school diploma but they make 4x what I make. We don't have the same jobs but they don't have to have the education I have to do what they do, but they make money -- go figure they are men. I'm not even going to get on that soapbox. I don't even spend money on major things unless I save up for them -- so on the rough months when I have to buy tires for my car or replace something on the central unit -- who is there to help me? No one. There is nothing for a person that tries to do right in the world -- we have to figure it out for ourselves -- get the extra job and then pay more taxes so that people that don't want to work -- can get all the benefits. It's not fair that the only thing I can write off is me -- I've paid more than my fair share and am trying to be the sensible adult and not bring a child in the world that I can't support -- that's why they make birth control -- if you can't afford it DON'T DO IT!

I don't have the answers either, but I know that giving money to the banks didn't fix the problem. Giving money to the car companies didn't fix the problem. Raising my taxes hasn't helped any and government spending is out of control. When I don't have money to spend -- I DON'T SPEND IT! No one is going to give me a hand out to survive and I'm tired of everyone else getting the benefits while I can't seem to get out of student loan hell.


EXACTLY!!!!!!! If some of these lazy folks would get off their sorry butts and try as hard to find a job as they do a way to "work the system" they wouldn't need any help!! Also, they know that the more kids they have the more money they get. Some (not saying all) just dump the kids off on their parents or whoever will take them most of the time anyway. I get really steamed when I start thinking about how those of us that try so hard to be honest, hard working citizens have to hand over our hard earned money to these lazy butts that wouldn't take a job if someone knocked on their door and offered it to them. They darn sure aren't going out to try and find a job.
That's the most asked question -- "When do the rebate checks come out?" Well, they haven't passed anything yet so we don't know when or if they will go out.

But here is the next thing I have to repeat several times a day. Someone will call and say they didn't get their rebate check yet. My first question is Did you file your taxes in 2007? Hello? If you didn't file your taxes then you don't get a stimulus check. So then they say, "I didn't make enough to file" Well if you didn't make enough to file -- you didn't make enough to get a stimulus check -- you have to file a tax return to qualify. How many times did they say that on the news? Free money is all most people ever hear.

But then again, I have had several that said they were taking their tax refund and buying a car/truck...then when they have no money in a few months to feed their kids they will go pawn the title to their car for grocery money...It's a never ending cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul and asking Mary for help...

If there were limits on some of the "helps" and restrictions -- that would mean they would need employees to monitor those things -- which would create jobs. If they monitored those programs more closely they would be able to help more people because the ones that truly need help would be able to meet those restrictions. That would mean that more people would be in teh work force (even if it is at McDonald's) would be paying their taxes out of their paycheck -- so that would be more money in the federal system to pay for the programs that we need...the economy would be stimulated because people would be making money and spending money and still paying their taxes...Maybe I live in a fairy tale world, but the one we live in is screwed up...
Last edited by DixieChik
Don't get me wrong Lion I don't mind getting a check, but it doesn't fix our crisis -- I understand your need for a lump sum but it will still be June before they will issue those checks to the American Citizens...the "stimulus package" will put more money in the banks and other entities first...then it will get to us if there is any money left...I wish you luck in finding something else in the mean time...
In June Dixie ? They let half the year go by and call that help. lol
Winter time is when most people need it , my hubby is in the concrete business and winter hits us hardest . June , the weather will be better and maybe the work . Wink But his company says it will be mid summer of 2010 before we see anything get better .
quote:
Originally posted by Cupid:
The ones on welfare should have a time limit to be on help from the State ,and not long term way to make a living Mad PLUS , they should all have to pass a drug test monthly, show where they have tried to find work , and Lord some of the responsibility of the kids on medicare should be placed on the dead beat dads to keep health ins on their kids. They got out there and had the babies not us , I dont want to pay for their fun nights . lol

Welfare should not be a way of life ,it has to have some major rule changes on it . Young girls with babies need to be in school , let the state pay for the education , then get them off welfare , put them to work .



Exactly right.As I've stated beforeat a previous job I had to work "security"(setting up tables and chairs and watching FPD do their jobs well)at a section 8 signup.There ware lazy bastages that got there 24 hours early and camped out(drinking beer and smoking pot)so they could be first through the doors.When they were leaving they called their babies daddy/momma ON THEIR CELL PHONE on their way out to their LINCOLN OR ESCALADE.
I agree with everything on this post except the problem that we have here in TN.... there just isnt any jobs......

My 18 year old next door neighbor has been looking for months to get any kind of job to help his parents pay for his College..... as of now,,,, he learned McDonalds,,, BK,,, Wendys and none of the fast foods are even hiring......

It is an Employers Market and until that changes it is hard to tell someone to get off their butts when they have spent hundreds of dollars just in gas trying to get anything going on.....

Of course... this young man might be an exception..... but it dont matter he is still unemployed and searches at least twice a week.....
TTT tell him to go and buy a gallon of parking lot paint , 4 inch roller and do some parking lot striping , my ex and I did that on weekends in Nashville to supplement our income , made $100.00 in less than 2 hours every Saturday ,weather permitting , theres always something to do to bring in money ,collect cans and sell them . lol Wink
quote:
Originally posted by Cupid:
TTT tell him to go and buy a gallon of parking lot paint , 4 inch roller and do some parking lot striping , my ex and I did that on weekends in Nashville to supplement our income , made $100.00 in less than 2 hours every Saturday ,weather permitting , theres always something to do to bring in money ,collect cans and sell them . lol Wink


That is a cool idea Cupid,,, but the stores or business have to agree to a price first... right?..... I will tell him.... he would do anything right now to help his parents with his college expenses.......
quote:
Originally posted by TheTotalTruth:
quote:
Originally posted by Cupid:
TTT tell him to go and buy a gallon of parking lot paint , 4 inch roller and do some parking lot striping , my ex and I did that on weekends in Nashville to supplement our income , made $100.00 in less than 2 hours every Saturday ,weather permitting , theres always something to do to bring in money ,collect cans and sell them . lol Wink


That is a cool idea Cupid,,, but the stores or business have to agree to a price first... right?..... I will tell him.... he would do anything right now to help his parents with his college expenses.......


Yes they have to agree to a price first , tell him 15 years ago it was $4 per line . He could still do it at $5 per line and make money . His best bet is to hit small stores and bars , with bad looking parking lots or faded lines . He also can make his own handi-cap sign out of poster paper and charge for them , we did , and arrows for in and out . Wink
Tell him to keep in mind to read all the directions on the paint can , because the temp and humidity has to be right or the paint will not stay and he will want to do good work . The paint can has all that info on it . Wink
We had a 2 x 4 and I would stand on it and hubby would roll on paint , if the lines were already faded to bad to see , we used a chalk pop line and made new ones to go by , each space is 9 ft apart , I think . lol been a while , but it is easy money . Big Grin
I base that time frame for the checks based on last years checks. They started processing them in March but they didn't go out until April, May and June...It is sent to you the same way you had your federal tax refund sent -- so mine was direct deposited and it took a few weeks after there "approximate release time" for it to hit my bank...so yes, June -- IF IT GETS PASSED -- and I'm still not sure that Obama is actually planning on sending a stimulus check to American Citizen -- from the looks of what I've seen it is all going to programs and other places...nothing yet on what we would get if there is anything left...so I wouldn't hold my breath for one YET...I'm hoping they will get their act together and put a plan in place that will help ALL OF US and not just a select few...
FYI : If you have recently joined the unemployed and you are under the age of 50, in reasonably good health and can pass a drug screening, you can get a good paying job as a truck driver. You will need a good driving record and a CDL. If you are a young couple without children or your children have left the nest, you can both drive as a team...
quote:
Originally posted by Liongrl:
Backwoods, do you have any idea when they will be accepting applications for section 8 again ? Thanks..


Courtview Towers on Pine Street is "income based housing". Also, you can apply for Section 8 anytime if I'm not mistaken -- you just get put on a waiting list. You might also check with some of the bigger churches around. I know Highland used to have a house that they rented at a decent price -- and if you kept it up and other things for the church -- they would cut you a deal. Not sure if they still have one available or if they've gotten rid of them now, but it might be an option.

Also, check with some of the tax places -- I know HR Block has hired a couple of people to be "wavers" outside their offices to attract customers -- you might check and see if they need any of those -- I would check Liberty TAx and TaxMart too -- this is their peak season so you might make a quick buck to stand out in the cold...

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