Woo-hoo!!!! Got me a government check!!!

[GrantDawg]

Just got my check in the mail. Hurray!! Wasn't looking or expecting it. Imagine if they knew I had a second child!

[CamEdwards]

jumpin jehosephat! that was quick.

[Anrhydeddu]

So we are getting a tiny bit of our money back that they took from us? Imagine that.

[cuervo72]

Now you can afford both versions of Madden

[SplitPersonality1]

How are they releasing them this time; by SS# or by region or how? Anyone know?

[Cuckoo]

I think it's ss#.

[markprior22]

i heard by ss#. last digits of 00-33 should be out now. Next group (which is mine) is supposed to go out first of Aug. Not sure after that.

[rjolley]

Last group is August 8.

http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/fast_facts/articles/jga/adv_ctc.html

[SplitPersonality1]

Thanks for the link. Excellent news for me. I go on vacation on the 6th. Hopefully the check shows up before then.

[Swaggs]

what is the return this time? $300 per person again?

[SunDancer]

Just cuirous, is the country going to run another debt again with the budget?

[Fritz]

Originally posted by SunDancer
Just cuirous, is the country going to run another debt again with the budget?

yea. all these social programs are costing a fortune.

[SunDancer]

How much debt can we get into before we starting hitting "tough times". Reminds me of Donald Thrump running his USFL team.

[The Afoci]

In related news, the richest man in the world is now Revrew.

[heybrad]

I thought these were just put in the mail today?

[sabotai]

hey brad...they might have gone out really early this morning. If Grant is near one of the places that prints out the checks, that might explain how he got it.

"what is the return this time? $300 per person again?"

No, it's a certan amount ($400?) per child that you have.

So I'm getting nothing.

"So we are getting a tiny bit of our money back that they took from us? Imagine that."

Well, some people are.

"How much debt can we get into before we starting hitting "tough times". "

I don't know, but if it's $6.73 trillion, we're in trouble (as of yesterday, the national debt is $6.727 trillion. The debt has increased over a trillion dollars since Bush took office 2 1/2 years ago.)

(Note, before one of you right-wing nutcases jumps on me, I'm not passing blame onto Bush, just simply stating a fact.)

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
So we are getting a tiny bit of our money back that they took from us? Imagine that.

Actually, I haven't paid a dime of federal taxes in about 3 years. They have exactly 0 amount of dollars from me this year, and I just got a $400 dollar check from them. I guess I'm officially on the dole now.

[WillyWTE]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Actually, I haven't paid a dime of federal taxes in about 3 years. They have exactly 0 amount of dollars from me this year...

GD, isn't that illegal?

Willy

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by WillyWTE
GD, isn't that illegal?

Willy

Nope. I filed returns, but haven't owed a dime. It has something to do with my income, but a whole lot more to do with a huge tax break I get as a minister.

[JeeberD]

I wonder if I have any kiddies wandering around out there...

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Fritz
yea. all these social programs are costing a fortune.

Hmm. Didn't know they called dropping bombs on Iraq a social program.

[DolphinFan1]

Originally posted by The Afoci
In related news, the richest man in the world is now Revrew.

Actually the richest man in the world is the new GM of the El Paso Busters, JeeberD. Thanks to the generous signing bonus he got playing for the Milwaukee Muscle Men.

[JeeberD]

Well, yes, thanks to you the Busters are now a dream realized. And thanks to the huge signing bonus I didn't have to worry about doing anything stupid like playing hard. I might have got injured doing something like that. I much prefer being in the luxury box watching my creation on the field, rather than being on the field myself...

[DolphinFan1]

Originally posted by JeeberD
Well, yes, thanks to you the Busters are now a dream realized. And thanks to the huge signing bonus I didn't have to worry about doing anything stupid like playing hard. I might have got injured doing something like that. I much prefer being in the luxury box watching my creation on the field, rather than being on the field myself...

That's why I have "He's not JeeberD" now playing CB. I needed a CB who would give 100%. I know I can't go back, but if I could do it all over again I would have.....probably screwed up and done the same thing.

[JPhillips]

So do bastards qualify for the credit?

[Dutch]

Damn, those Democrats sure did take a lot of money from us in the past! And for what???? Clinton didn't do anything with it. Thank God Bush got in just in time to save the vaults and give the people their hard earned money back.

[Anrhydeddu]

Our check came yesterday and it shocked the hell out of my wife since she had no idea. I think we may be getting a 36" flat screen HDTV.

[sabotai]

"Thank God Bush got in just in time to save the vaults and give the people their hard earned money back."

Yup, and thank you Bush for ensuring that the government will take this money back and much much more in the future. And he didn't save the vault, he emptied it.

[MizzouRah]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
Our check came yesterday and it shocked the hell out of my wife since she had no idea. I think we may be getting a 36" flat screen HDTV.

Wow, aren't you lucky!

I'm trying to convince my wife why a Plasma costs so much, but needed for entertainment, ps2, and pc!

Can't wait to get our $800, a nice boost to the bank account.


Todd

[bbor]

Money back???From the government???

I gotta move to the states

[JPhillips]

sabotai: Can we agree now? The current gov took tax and spend and made it better, borrow and spend plus interest.

[Raiders Army]

I got back $1,200 on Saturday.

[BishopMVP]

Originally posted by Dutch
Damn, those Democrats sure did take a lot of money from us in the past! And for what???? Clinton didn't do anything with it. Thank God Bush got in just in time to save the vaults and give the people their hard earned money back.

I like Bush a lot, and think the Democrats tax too much, but I don't think Fiscal Conservatism is something Bush or the Republicans can/should be bragging about.

[Anrhydeddu]

Originally posted by BishopMVP
I like Bush a lot, and think the Democrats tax too much, but I don't think Fiscal Conservatism is something Bush or the Republicans can/should be bragging about.

I agree without a doubt. But I do view one being more socialistic than the other.

If you want to see why any type of national health care system will be an expensive disaster, just look at the way the VA has run their national program for all of the vets. The bottom line in my mind is that there is no better incentive for acheiving excellence than private enterprise.

[SunDancer]

I think we better see Bush to tighten the beltstraps.

[Blackadar]

Woo-hoo!!! Got me some government cheese!

Oh, wrong decade.

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Blackadar
Woo-hoo!!! Got me some government cheese!

Oh, wrong decade.

That's na-cho' cheese, man!

[Tekneek]

We're using the proceeds from our check, which should arrive in a couple of weeks, to finance leaving early for our vacation and spending a couple of days at the Universal parks before going to Disney for a week.

Already got the HDTV, a year and a half ago.

I'm sure you guys know this, but there is nothing wrong with getting money back that has been taken from you.

[Subby]

I'll take the $1,600, but I still have a sinking feeling about this rebate in the long term...

[Ksyrup]

I got the....notice that I'll be receiving a check. Bastards!

[QuikSand]

Apparently, I haven't done enough for my country to merit a tax refund check this year. I failed to add to our population. *sigh*

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
The bottom line in my mind is that there is no better incentive for acheiving excellence than private enterprise.

I am hard-wired to agree with this statement, in general.

However, most would agree that health care (the context you raised yourself for your criticism of "socialistic" Democrats) is different. One of the consequences of a purely free market is that you have clear rationing of goods and services based on ability (or willingnes) to pay. If you're talking about who's willing or able to pay for immunizations, cancer screenings, or even treatment for a serious condition - most would say that it's simply not right to leave some people out because they lack the resources to do this. Then, even the most staunch economist would generally argue that you need some sort of market intrusion to take care of this kind of "public good." While the measure and means of doing so is worthy of serious debate - I don't think the health care issue is one that we can just declare "let the market sort it out" and walk away from. Most would agree.

[Tekneek]

Originally posted by QuikSand
If you're talking about who's willing or able to pay for immunizations, cancer screenings, or even treatment for a serious condition - most would say that it's simply not right to leave some people out because they lack the resources to do this.

Show me someone who can't afford these services who is saving every penny they can get to give it a shot, and I would agree they probably deserve a little help getting over the top. Show me somebody with cable TV, CD players, new car, cigarette habit, etc, and I don't think they deserve any extra help getting access to these services.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Tekneek
Show me someone who can't afford these services who is saving every penny they can get to give it a shot, and I would agree they probably deserve a little help getting over the top. Show me somebody with cable TV, CD players, new car, cigarette habit, etc, and I don't think they deserve any extra help getting access to these services.

Dude, those are inalienable rights and part of your guaranteed happiness!

[Tekneek]

Originally posted by Fritz
Dude, those are inalienable rights and part of your guaranteed happiness!

Hmmm. Which government agency is in charge of guaranteed happiness? Seems they've mishandled my paperwork.

[ice4277]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Actually, I haven't paid a dime of federal taxes in about 3 years. They have exactly 0 amount of dollars from me this year, and I just got a $400 dollar check from them. I guess I'm officially on the dole now.

If you don't pay any taxes to the feds during the year, I don't see why you should get money back from them.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by ice4277
If you don't pay any taxes to the feds during the year, I don't see why you should get money back from them.

That's exactly what the Republicans' point is regarding the low income families.

[Anrhydeddu]

QS, it seems the mess between lawyers-doctors-politicians-employers can be best described as Chaos Theory. That's realism and the reason for the kludge mess (and solutions). However, I speaking of more of a general mindset of not accepting status quo (which as everyone knows, is my purpose in life). The basis for market-driven belief is incentive. Not only the incentive for practicioners (or any other providers of service) to meet market demands but the incentive for those consuming such services to be able to obtain those services. I can speak from person experience of the great desire to get over being dirt poor (as I was in grad school) and get into a job that I could afford to pay rent and get needed medical services. However, not everyone will have the same opportunity or be able to acheive such goal. Perhaps govt should provide some form of temporary safety net but not only do I strongly perceive that such temporary safety net has become a crutch for many (political blackmail, imo) but also that it should be up to individuals, ecumenical services, ministries, charitable services, to make up the difference - not some bloated, bureaucratic program. We, as a society as a whole, have become to depended upon solutions from govts and accept the promise of politicians of a better life through federalism. I believe history has generally shown the opposite.

[Butter]

Originally posted by Tekneek
Show me someone who can't afford these services who is saving every penny they can get to give it a shot, and I would agree they probably deserve a little help getting over the top. Show me somebody with cable TV, CD players, new car, cigarette habit, etc, and I don't think they deserve any extra help getting access to these services.

Yes, those poor people deserve to suffer as much as they can, AND die on top of it!

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Tekneek
Show me someone who can't afford these services who is saving every penny they can get to give it a shot, and I would agree they probably deserve a little help getting over the top. Show me somebody with cable TV, CD players, new car, cigarette habit, etc, and I don't think they deserve any extra help getting access to these services.

Rather than debate the marits of the entire argument, there's sometimes something more complicated than that.

Poor parents, do dumb things like you suggest - they decide to spend their money on cable TV rather than getting their kid immunized. Their kid comes to your kid's public school, thereby exposing your children and family to some sort of disease.

At some point, isn't there something here that qualifies as being in the public interest?


And in health care, most human beings will say that we won't just let people die because they are indigent, even if it's a function of making bad decisions. If you walk into the ER with a serious illness, you get treatment - even if it ends up being "uncompensated care" (which we all end up paying for, as it's gets worked into the various costs of medical care that we do pay for).

If you agree to that - then it's pretty hard (I think) to argue against public support for things like age-appropriate cancer screening and prenatal care for expectant mothers. What you spend, in public dollars, on such services comes right back in savings - only multifold, according to pretty much all research.


Of course, the most economically prudent thing to do is just let the poor people die without receiving treatment. But unless that's the decision we'd make as a society, then we have to deal with the practical realities that health care is just different than other things.

[JPhillips]

Tekneek: Even if someone has spent all of their money on something as frivolous as Pokemon cards, do you refuse them treatment when they show up with a life threatening trauma? Medical conditions show up often without warning and need to be treated relatively quickly. This isn't to excuse their poor financial choices, but to point out that it isn't easy to just eliminate those that don't make good choices.

Ice: Of course when you say federal taxes you are only saying federal income taxes not payroll taxes which the poor and middle class pay a far larger percent of their income than the wealthy.

Even without this though its a myth that the poor recieve a huge amount of handouts while everyone else suffers. The difference between the parties is not income redistribution or not, its who gets the redistribution. We're looking at another round of farm subsidies, bipartisan lunacy btw, and just recently the House Repubs proposed 50 billion in loan guarantees to nuclear power companies so they can navigate the waters of deregulation. So now the power companies demand dereg and then demand money because of dereg. Its great work if you can get it.