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See the original image at money.cnn.com —

Rebates might be too little, too late

money.cnn.com — NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Tax rebates are starting to arrive in bank accounts. But many economists doubt that they will keep the economy from recession.

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  • TrevorBelmont, on 04/29/2008, -5/+88This is in no way shocking to me. I'm no economist but this plan seemed insane from the start.
    • TRScheel, on 04/29/2008, -3/+24It was a feel good policy from the get go
      • mirunit, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Not really feel-good but pragmatic. If you jam 110b of liquidity into the economy it is going to boost the prospects of alot of struggling businesses. Likely a portion will go to banking/retail sectors which will be hit hardest by a ressesion. What is happening is the government is pushing cash into the overall economy by proxy.
        • h3lx, on 04/29/2008, -0/+16That's wishful thinking. $600 is going to gas and grocery. 5 tanks of gas and two trips to Brookshires.

          / What I ought to do is spend it on ammunition.
          • ngmcs8203, on 04/29/2008, -0/+45 tanks... AND food??? Wow, lucky bastard. At what I pay weekly in gas, $600 is going to get me roughly 6 weeks of gas.
          • MWeather, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1No, it's going to GTA4 and a 360 or PS3.
      • brad3378, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1An election year stunt?

        We care! Vote for the incumbents!
    • thcobbs, on 04/29/2008, -18/+6Insane? Insane to give money BACK to the people who made it(and in some cases.... just give it)?
      • kh99, on 04/29/2008, -1/+10No, I think "insane" refers to the idea that it will help the economy.
      • MrErr, on 04/29/2008, -1/+6It is insane because it really is not going to make a dent on personal finances. Itt is also insane because it is only going to add to the budget deficit.
      • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+9Insane as in crazy to believe that a meager $600-1200 rebate would solve the nation's financial woes.

        Insane as in crazy to believe that a small check that is less than a single mortgage payment would offset the financial burdens caused by the subprime lending scandal.

        Insane as in crazy to believe that a check in the amount of three months worth of gasoline for the average family at today's prices would be beneficial in any significant way. (Using 13 gallons/week times two vehicles.)
      • PhilliesBlunt, on 04/29/2008, -5/+4All it is is an advance on next years tax refund, and the plan is predicated on everyone going "Durrrrr Free Money!" and blowing it on consumer crap. Which meens it might have some effect. Still, band-aid on a bullet wound.
        • ArachnidDude, on 04/29/2008, -2/+5This is incorrect. You need to do more homework. You are spreading misinformation.
          • DangerMouse9, on 04/29/2008, -3/+2You're not doing any better by correcting it or telling him why he's wrong.
        • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3That's exactly what most people spend their money on... crap
        • ashfish, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2It is not an advance on next year's tax refund, in fact, it's not taxable at all. It's simply free money to buy stuff so that employers can pay their employees and continue to pay their vendors etc.
          • PhilliesBlunt, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2From what I originally heard, it was an advance on next years refund. I did a search just now, and the results were mixed. I'd really like to be wrong about this.
          • ashfish, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I work for a CPA, we've been answering this question all year.
          • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1I got something in the mail a week or two ago with FAQs about the rebate that clearly stated with was not an advance and it is not taxable income. Here's more:

            There is some misconception about the stimulus package; it is not a loan on your 2009 taxes. You do not pay it back. The IRS eliminated the 10% bracket for the first $6000 of taxable income (AGI). The rebate will not in any way be figured into next year’s return.

            If you did not qualify for the rebate based on the taxes you filed in 2008, but your situation changes when you file your taxes in 2009, you may be eligible for the difference if it is in your favor. If the change is not in your favor, you will not have to pay the difference.

            http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/21/economic-stimu ...
      • twiztedambience, on 04/29/2008, -3/+3Not everyone even gets 600 dollars. That's only the maximum amount some qualified people will get. Some of you will probably be surprised to see smaller checks in the 100 range.
      • boristubak, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2i pay taxes like you do, yet i didn't get a rebate because my income exceeds their standards. how's that for insane? the rebate idea sucks.
        • ngmcs8203, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3You make more than $85k as a single person? What are you complaining about then? Phaseout starts at excess of $75k. At $80k you get a rebate of $350 and at $85k it's all but non-existent.
        • MWeather, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Just imagine how Donald Trump feels. Poor guy, it's so unfair.
      • Gustav, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1They're not really giving your money back, they're basically just tacking all the tax rebates onto the debt.
    • corneliusJones, on 04/29/2008, -2/+28These checks will do nothing but hasten inflation and put our country more in debt. Also, most of the money will probably go to buying imports, so it will probably do more to stimulate China's economy than America's.
      • enclaved, on 04/29/2008, -1/+5I know the guitar I buy won't be made in America, not for 600 bucks anyway.
        • dericko, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Go schecter! (custom shop)
        • DangerMouse9, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1You can get a Guitar Hero guitar for less than that. :)
        • TheKingInYellow, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2how about instead of you spending your money on a guitar you buy a lobotomy from me.
          • enclaved, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2How about I sponsor yours?
          • MWeather, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I'm not paying $600 for an icepick in the brain. If I want to kill brain cells, I'll buy beer.

            How much Natural Ice will $600 buy?
          • Antwan718, on 04/29/2008, -0/+149 24 pack cases at 12.50 a case after tax =D thats also roughly 840 ounces of pure alcohol =D
    • skipdog172, on 04/29/2008, -8/+5I did not have a problem getting some of MY hard earned money back. The money will be spent on things I could otherwise not purchase, so yeah...recession still likely, but I sure know some businesses will have an increase in sales just from my own purchases. Might be small, but it is better than nothing.
      • clclark33, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1I agree. The problem is that even people who paid NO federal taxes STILL got money while the highest income earners take it on the chin again. Simple income redistribution is all it is.
      • MWeather, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Same here. I'll be spending it on things I otherwise couldn't afford, like my mortgage, and food.
    • fkr3, on 04/29/2008, -1/+17No. What would be insane would be using your $300 rebate to buy 300 cups of coffee in one day.
      • DangerMouse9, on 04/29/2008, -0/+9But after the 300th cup you'd reach a state of Zen.
      • chuckDontSurf, on 04/29/2008, -0/+13Why is my coffee shaking?? I don't want my coffee shaking!!
    • ArachnidDude, on 04/29/2008, -4/+3Oh, how quickly we draw conclusions, as if the numbers are even in.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4The money will just get eaten by a credit card that will overcome the value of the check over the next whatever years it takes to try to pay it off.
    • PaisleyTeal, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1mine is going to england to stimulate the british economy.
    • ryan850, on 04/29/2008, -5/+0Just think of it as getting your 2008 tax refund early. That's all this is. If you would normally get $800 next year you are going to just get is $200 if you received $600 back now. The only people that come out ahead are those that would have received less than $600 in '09.

      I also wonder if people would be bitching about how dumb this is if they would have just cut all of our taxes by $600 in '07 instead of making it a "rebate".
  • killbert24, on 04/29/2008, -2/+93Rebates will most likely be spent on mortgages, gas, and food.
    • V3n0M, on 04/29/2008, -2/+47...paying off previously accumulated debt, or buying something made in China.
    • Eivo, on 04/29/2008, -1/+15Student Loans. Hell, why even waste the damn stamp.
    • coit, on 04/29/2008, -1/+7I'll be using mine to offset my increased gas budget for the next 6 months. Will I get another check then?
      • fkr3, on 04/29/2008, -3/+9Maybe you should use it to buy a bicycle instead.
        • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+12Biking everywhere isn't possible for the majority of America that lies in non-metropolitan areas. The nearest grocery store to my home is eleven miles away (I live in a city BTW, not a rural home) and with no public transportation I have to waste one gallon of gas to get there and back.
        • falkonv7l, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I live 18 miles from work. My city is very suburban, with all of the residential and business/industry well separated from either one.
        • coit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+7So, are they making bicycles that can carry a family of 4 now? On roads that weren't designed for bicycle traffic?

          • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4Amongst 70mph interstate traffic? Wait, they do make those, only they're quadcycles and I already have one, so I guess I'm still screwed. Maybe I should use my $600 to move to NYC and pay 1 week of rent.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/29/2008, -0/+18My girlfriend will spend hers and mine on sushi for lunch with her friends, while I eat oatmeal here at work. :(
      • midbc, on 04/29/2008, -0/+16sounds like she is high maintenance
      • texpundit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+16Dude...I'd rethink that part of the relationship if I were you. Let her use HERS for sushi...then you can order in gourmet pizza with your work friends. :)
      • Okari, on 04/29/2008, -4/+14This is why you don't let the bitch out of the house.
      • DangerMouse9, on 04/29/2008, -2/+6Sounds like you need to get out of that internet relationship. :)
      • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/29/2008, -0/+8Keep that pimp hand strong bro.
      • orlyfactor, on 04/29/2008, -1/+8Wow dude, way to be owned. Grow a pair and stand up for yourself, Sally.
      • ryan850, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3She better be hot.
    • archer75, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3I haven't noticed the price of food increasing, though i'm sure it has. I fill up my tank once a month, in my Nissan Titan. I just don't drive much. And we have no trouble paying our mortgage. So straight to Visa it goes.
      • coit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4Price of food is up a minimum of 20% in the past year, more over two years.
        • archer75, on 04/29/2008, -5/+1So they say. But my bottom line hasn't changed so i'm not worried. Milk and eggs here are the same they've always been.
          • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3You don't buy much milk, do you? "Milk prices, for example, increased 26 percent over the year."
            http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/art ...

            "...including a 14.7 percent rise in the price of bread and a 13.3 percent increase in milk prices over the past year"
            http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/sticker-s ...
          • DiddyWolf, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2At least milk is cheaper then gas... for now anyway.
          • diggduggDOOM, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Yeah, but it makes your engine choke and your exhaust smell funny. Even the nonfat blue water stuff...
          • archer75, on 04/29/2008, -3/+1maybe you should read my post again. HERE, the prices haven't changed. Perhaps they have in boston. But HERE we haven't really seen this increase.
          • ngmcs8203, on 04/30/2008, -0/+3Uhh... a gallon of milk in our town is $4.59 for the store brand. Gas is $4.03 per gallon.
    • shredswithpiks, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2Playstation 3?
  • IphtashuFitz, on 04/29/2008, -3/+54Hell, the rebate I'm expecting to get would fill my car with gas and my fridge with groceries only two or three times given the rapidly rising costs of the aforementioned. How can the government expect that to help the economy?
    • themarq, on 04/29/2008, -6/+24The gov't doesn't expect it to help the economy, it expects that people will go "Hey free money! I'm gonna buy me an Xbox USA USA!"
      • Nougat, on 04/29/2008, -9/+5Not a whole lot of info readily available, but it looks like the XBox is manufactured in China. So a fat lot of good that'll do.
        • mister23, on 04/29/2008, -1/+14that's not his point. his point is that it's a distraction.
      • obliviousfool, on 04/29/2008, -3/+2Xbox? That's the best idea I've read so far.
      • iruber1337, on 04/29/2008, -2/+10Especially with GTA4 just being released...coincidence? I think not!
    • tierpinho, on 04/29/2008, -6/+6they are trying to crash the economy so they can tighten control and swoop up your ***** for pennies on the dollar. wake up people
      • petebot, on 04/29/2008, -2/+10Your comment would have been more effective if you used "sheeple" instead.

        /sarc
      • seanpetrash, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1this is the most truth i've heard in a comment in a long while...a long while
    • skipdog172, on 04/29/2008, -4/+6So...you would have not filled your gas up or purchased food without the tax rebate? haha ok! But seriously, your staple consumables will not be affected by this, so ANY way you look at it, you have an extra $600 to spend, and some business will get increased sales because of it. You can't just say "bah it just goes to groceries and gas anyways". Those are things you are buying regardless of the economies current situation. That $600 will go somewhere.
      • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -1/+5Yes, it will go somewhere -- to cover the increase in gas and food costs due to the inflation caused by our government writing checks (rebates, war funding, or otherwise) backed solely with promises.
      • IphtashuFitz, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3I may have an extra $600 to spend, but thanks to the rapidly rising costs of gas, groceries, etc. and the fact that my salary isn't increasing at the same rate I'm much more inclined to hold onto that $600 and spend it on necessities like gas & food than to go out and spend it on something like an XBox or iPhone. That's not helping the economy one bit. I'm still spending less overall and more of my spending is on necessities. That won't help the economy one bit, and if prices continue to rise then I'll continue to have less and less money to spend on non-essentials.
        • gmlongo, on 04/29/2008, -3/+0Since when does buying food not help the economy? Doesn't matter what you spend it on.
          • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3We're not buying more food, and the increased costs of food isn't going into the farmer's pockets, but rather to purchase the fuel needed to plant, harvest, and transport the foods we buy. So unless you believe that putting money into Exxon's pockets will help America your statement is false.
      • srondizzle, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3"and some business will get increased sales because of it."
        ???????????????????????
        Maybe if by "businesses" you mean "banks". And by "increased sales" you mean "semi-repayment of existing loans, mortgages, and credit card bills". Even that won't be worth *****. The average American is around $2500 in dept.
        • dizzoknows, on 04/29/2008, -1/+0I work in the Marketing Department, myself.
    • dcollins, on 04/29/2008, -5/+3Well if you don't want it, give it back. I'm sure somebody would love to have $600 for free.
    • EarlOfLade, on 04/29/2008, -1/+10They don't!

      They only know that people are so stupid that they think getting these few dollars is a good thing. USA should have taken the amount returned and paid off on the national debt.

      But what can you expect from right wing morons?
      • DangerMouse9, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2A deeper ass-*****, while they continue to get rich off it. It's their greed that is destroying the economy.
      • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2They can't use it to pay down the national debt because the funds being drawn are increasing the national debt. To do what you say it would be like opening a new credit card to pay off a different one (which sadly enough, many Americans have resorted to doing on a regular basis).
      • XFDRaven, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1I expect about the same as from left wing morons.

        Easier to say someone else did it than it is to fix something.
      • flip2trip, on 04/29/2008, -3/+3OK moron your dems are saying that we need to do ANOTHER stimulus rebate even bigger than the first--so don't just blame the morons on the right.
  • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -20/+6It can't hurt
    • killbert24, on 04/29/2008, -10/+4What if the money is sent to family in Mexico?
      • Arcueid01, on 04/29/2008, -2/+8Oh yes it can hurt. We need to pay off debt, not give back money to the people. We need to spend our tax dollars to pay off our enormous debt and then eventually phase out the tax, as well as the policies that created this mess.
        • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -2/+1Attention everyone! Attention everyone! Investment is bad. Tell anyone you know who is in college to drop out and immediately get a job as quick as they possibly can to pay down their debt. Never mind the fact that the job they get after they finish college will pay off their debt much, much faster.
    • XxtraLarGe, on 04/29/2008, -2/+7If it devalues the currency it can...
    • SkaheadVa, on 04/29/2008, -3/+8Sure it can.... taking out a loan of a few billion to give your populous money that isn't really backed with anything. Most people I know are spending it on Debt. The money most likely would have been better spent on better policy ... however can we really trust the bush administration to come up with the correct policy?
      • ArachnidDude, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1It's not a loan. It is funded by a tax cut that will be enacted next year. The gov will simply have less tax revenue next year. That is 'if' it has no positive effects on gross incomes. That is not a loan.
    • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -4/+2The anti-bush crowd is so full of themselves, they can't over the fact that something like this would probably help. Economists are always talking about how big of a boost Christmas is, how much do you think people spend on that? These same people will minimize and marginalize any positive impact this will have, and then try to attribute it to something else .. ie some dumb thing that Congress has done, or super magic OBama.
  • TheUngod, on 04/29/2008, -11/+2Wait wait...if its 600 dollars for 130 million Americans, doesn't that mean it should cost the government closer to 78 Billion? Why the extra 30 Billion they are spending? Maybe I'm confused as to how these payouts work...
    • chanop, on 04/29/2008, -2/+4It costs money to mail checks out, a lot of money
      • petebot, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4a lot of these "checks" are being direct deposited.
        • mister23, on 04/29/2008, -7/+2no they aren't. that's tax refunds, this is the tax rebate. different thing.
        • kalikkalik, on 04/29/2008, -0/+5uh. yes they are.

          From: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179211,0 ...

          "How will you receive the payment? Be sure to choose direct deposit when you file your tax return, even if you aren't due a regular tax refund on your tax return. That way, the stimulus payment will go right to your bank account. Otherwise, we'll mail you a check."
          • mister23, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1that's weird because turbotax told me it would come as a check even though i was getting a direct deposit on my return. but i suppose the irs knows better.
        • mirunit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2You would be surprised how many people are to ignorant to use direct deposit of refunds etc or who trust the mail service over electronic xfer.
          • Schda, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Or some people manage their taxes so they have to pay in at the end of the year. They take that extra bit of taxes they'd usually be paying each week and invest it in an interest bearing savings account so when they pay in each year (at the deadline) they can make interest on that money throughout the year. Also if you are doing that it is best to pay with a check on the last day so you get the extra benefit of that float for a few more days. Those people will receive checks in the mail.
          • Doriath, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1"Those people will receive checks in the mail."
            No they won't. Those people were smart enough to provide the direct deposit info on their last return even though they were paying.
    • Ryan2845, on 04/29/2008, -0/+8I imagine they mean that 130 million checks will be sent out. Some worth 1200, some worth 600, depending on if you are a single or a married couple.
      • sugarbob, on 04/29/2008, -0/+5and if you have children it's an extra 300 each, or something to that effect
      • mdcarso, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1I have 4 kids so we get $2,400 -- oh yeah!
    • jhuebel, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Well, consider that some people are getting more than $600. I'm getting a little over $2K, because I have a wife and three kids.
      • insanebrain, on 04/29/2008, -3/+1. .. and you still think it helps.
  • delrin500, on 04/29/2008, -3/+20They are just another way for the oil companies to get more money... So they give us 600 bucks, gas prices just keep going up so that money is more than likely going to go right into your tank and their pocket.
    • reaper527, on 04/29/2008, -1/+5and since the government makes trillions of dollars in oil/gas taxes...
      • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3Businesses win; government wins; we, as usual, lose.
      • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3Yes, but why make trillions when we can make....billions?
    • twiztedambience, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Most people won't see 600. Not everyone just automatically gets all that 600 bucks. Many people will just receive a portion of it.

      http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.htm ...
    • 55mph, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2First thing i'm going to do is fill the tank. I'm tired of putting in $10 at a time.
  • provost, on 04/29/2008, -2/+58too little too late? how about.. rebates might be a ***** thing to make people think that the government is on top of things so they can spend money on chinese products and help the chinese economy while we sink further into debt.

    Seriously.. if there are people out there that are thinking 'damn this economy is terrible.. I cant wait to get my 600 dollar rebate check. Then everything will be fixed'.. I dont want to meet that person.
    • twiztedambience, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Not everyone gets $600. I'll be lucky if I even get 100, as will a lot of other people.
      • sodade, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1I don't get anything. I don't mind paying taxes at all - I am just sick of the way they ***** spend over 1/2 of it pissing off the world with their useless military.
  • liquisoft, on 04/29/2008, -2/+27$600 per person (of those eligible) is not enough to convince people to go out and buy things. Studies have suggested that most people plan to use their rebates to pay off debt, and others plan to toss it in savings.

    What's also stupid is that the people eligible for the rebate are the same people least likely to spend it. The people who tend to make more money also tend to spend more money, and giving them $600 would likely inspire them to go ahead and buy that new TV they want (or whatever). But it's these people who ended up not receiving the rebate at all.
    • wertach, on 04/29/2008, -1/+5Got mine Saturday, transferred it straight in to my savings. I did buy extra beer since mine is on sale this week, but I always do that.
      • Maxjan, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2All I can think of when I read that is the voice from Family Guy who teaches the CPR class.
    • krellor, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4Because people with money need yet more attention from this administration? o_O I understand your point, but at least this way the government is giving money to people who are potentially facing hard times, as opposed to people who are considering a large TV.
    • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2what studies?
  • designer, on 04/29/2008, -2/+49These rebates were ***** from the start. The only thing they will stimulate is votes.
    • Shots, on 04/29/2008, -2/+5"passed with overwhelming bipartisan support earlier this year"
      Govt works fast huh.
      • 5urr3al5am, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1if this is the case the democrats want any of the glory they can get from it, but then if it fails, guess what they're going to say?
  • chrissku, on 04/29/2008, -14/+16It's better than nothing.
    • arcticsoft, on 04/29/2008, -1/+14Actually nothing is better than this. Where are they getting the billions of dollars to fund this? Borrow from China? Print more money to create it from thin air? Either way they are giving us $600 to make our future money worth less. So yeah, nothing is better.
    • Prosequi, on 04/29/2008, -0/+5Its worst than nothing - this rebate is a naked wealth redistribution - its not even in the form of services - which ends up adding all kinds of inefficiencies (collecting the money, printing the checks and feel good letter signed by W, mailing the checks). This rebate vaporized millions of dollars in administration costs.
    • DigitAl56K, on 04/29/2008, -0/+5Yes, it is worse than nothing, it devalues every other US dollar that you hold.
  • saikyan, on 04/29/2008, -1/+33It's naive to think they would in the first place. The rebates were more of a political move than an economic one.
  • brianbb98, on 04/29/2008, -3/+25$600 isnt gonna do *****. Its gonna do just as much as mccains summer gas tax break. What is it.. a whole 19 cents a gallon or something? $2.85 each time I fill up. Thanks for the $25 mccain. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'm not saying we should be given more, just saying that neither of these will do jack to fix the economy.
    • Number23, on 04/29/2008, -6/+9Just and FYI Digg-tard, when Pelosie took power she said the dem congress would lower gas prices and gas prices have go up more than 70% since then.
      • petebot, on 04/29/2008, -2/+9I didn't realize congress had power over OPEC and China and India's growing usage of oil.
        • musicpyrite, on 04/29/2008, -3/+6So then Pelosie is a liar.
          • h3lx, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3That reads as if you believe there to be some doubt...
        • Number23, on 04/29/2008, -2/+6That’s the ***** point dope; there’s little the government can do. Of course that does stop libs like you from falling for horse ***** like hers or blaming McCain, Bush or anyone else with an R next to their name.

          The one thing government could do is open more the US for drilling, but of course you lib-tards block EVERY effort to expand domestic energy supply.

      • CobaltBlue, on 04/29/2008, -4/+6Can you show me where she said that the democratic congress would lower gas prices?
        • Number23, on 04/29/2008, -2/+7Here you go:
          http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-chal ...
          "In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” The letter cited policies put in place during the GOP control of Congress that the Speaker claimed had raised prices on American consumers to benefit oil companies. "

          Geez, it's a shame there isn't a site on the web where can search the contents of other web sites. I'd call it a "search engine".
          • CobaltBlue, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Let me clue you in. There's a place called Digg where you can get people to do your searches for you. It's much easier that way.
    • sgglynn, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3You're paying 3.04 for gas??
  • TwistyMcFister, on 04/29/2008, -1/+12Who cares what economists call it. We are facing outrageous gas prices and inflation is not helping either. Just to get to work and back at $4.00/gallon sucks!
    http://www.inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_R ...
    • neodorian, on 04/29/2008, -1/+9Hence my moving close to work and taking a shuttle for free or a bus for cheap. I can't control the cost of fuel but I can control where I live and how I get to work.
    • mirunit, on 04/29/2008, -3/+1Canda pays ~5 and Europe pays ~9. The per-capita GDP of the US is inline with those two nations, so calm down.
      • mentalone, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Which still doesn't make it right. It just means more countries than just America are paying too much for gas.
        • mirunit, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2While it is true it is fairly cheap to mine the oil (at least in alot of places), demand is growing. India and China have massive populations which as they develop a middle class will demand luxury goods such as vehicles - be glad that most people in America even have cars. I do not like paying alot for gas, but I realize the inevitability and do not try to paint it as being unfair. Owning a car I realize that it will cost money to maintain, a sacrifice I was prepared to make. Oil cost me 7$/quart * 8 every 3000 miles and I consume aprox. 25 gallons every 2 weeks which @ 4.00 is around 100 USD. There was a reason I estimated 4.00 when I bought it is that seems a reasonable price for gasoline (considering demand and speculation). The world is changing and just because something was a certain way yesterday does not mean that reality persist into the future.
      • fotbr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1A) Canada, not Canda
        B) Europe isn't a single nation.
        • mirunit, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1Europe is not a single nation? That is news. From what I have seen it is essentially a unified economic bloc. The spelling of Canada also does not invalidate the merits of the argument. Economically it is becoming more and more ignorant to segregate western Europe into individual nations.
    • chuckDontSurf, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1The higher gas prices go, the more incentive for people to look at alternative energy sources. I'm fine with that.
  • jgambleii, on 04/29/2008, -4/+19Of course we all know that the closer we get to the November elections, the lower the food, gas, and energy prices will get. Hurray free market economy!
    • jgambleii, on 04/29/2008, -0/+11By the way, I'm spending my rebate on hookers and blow.
      • wrathbone, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2well at least one of your products is domestic.
      • brad3378, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Finally somebody that won't be wasting their rebate check!
    • PhillyMJS, on 04/29/2008, -0/+5Yup, and the terror alerts status will go up again due to nonspecific "chatter," to try to scare the moron voters into going Repub again. Hopefully it won't work this time.
    • freetolio, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1If you really believe the US has a free market economy, then I'd like to sell you some market price sugar, foreign automobiles, and corn. Oh wait, the government artificially adjust prices on all of those things. Cane sugar has import quotas, foreign autos have tariffs, and the government offers incentives for farmers who do not grow corn.
  • bonds, on 04/29/2008, -2/+32The money we spend daily in the middle east sure could do a lot for our economy back over here. But yea, this is....nice.
    • ryan850, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2If they gave us the money back that we've spent from Iraq that would be a refund of about $2300 for every man woman and child. And probably another $7600 each before it's all over. Imagine if we all got $10,000 back.. plus $10,000 for each child that you have. I'm sure I'm being simplistic here but still pisses me off.
  • XxtraLarGe, on 04/29/2008, -2/+11My rebate is already spent on paying my city taxes.
    • neodorian, on 04/29/2008, -6/+2Good thing you didn't have to pay for fire, police, roads, schools, infrastructure, etc from private contractors. Then you would *really* be up ***** creek.
      • fotbr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I don't have any use for public schools, since I don't have kids, so not paying for them sounds good to me. Well, that is in addition to the fact that the local schools are absolutely lousy and full of horrible administrators and a good-old-boy-club for the school board.
  • spacecheese, on 04/29/2008, -1/+28It's like applying bandaids to a hemophiliac
    • echovein, on 04/29/2008, -1/+0You get your word bonus for the day. Two points to you!
  • SmartfulDodger, on 04/29/2008, -3/+4Ya think?
  • AsusMobo, on 04/29/2008, -1/+15Well yah anyone with 2 brain cells knows to either drop it in savings, tough times are ahead, or pay down bills. You know your a redneck if you blow this cash on nascar tickets.
    • reaper527, on 04/29/2008, -0/+12at least that goes into OUR economy rather than china's
  • gen2ux, on 04/29/2008, -0/+8I sold a TV to a friend...he's paying me with his stimulus refund...I'm going to put it right into my savings.
    • twiztedambience, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2Your friend probably thinks he'll get 600, and will find out his rebate is far less -- about 100 or 150. He will probably end up owing you money.
    • matthewf01, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Wooo double stimulus.

      Wait...
  • FenianNProud, on 04/29/2008, -3/+10The only thing this was really aimed to help was the current administration's already dwindling approval ratings. The entire affair, being little more then an exercise in making people feel that something was being done to assist them, couldn't have been considered a viable solution to where the economy has been heading for the past 2-4 years.

    The last several years of economic 'growth' was built upon credit that most couldn't afford to begin with - how the hell is $600-$1200 supposed to be a viable solution to foreclosures, bankruptcy, etc.?

    Its not - but it sure makes Joe Average think the government is looking to help him.
    • regeya, on 04/29/2008, -1/+7"The last several years of economic 'growth' was built upon credit that most couldn't afford to begin with - how the hell is $600-$1200 supposed to be a viable solution to foreclosures, bankruptcy, etc.?"
      It's not, but the lot of you seem to be willfully ignoring the solutions being debated right now, as well as early signs of recovery. The next few years will probably be less comfortable than we're all used to, but hell, grow a pair already.
  • Arcueid01, on 04/29/2008, -7/+29The rebates were yet another stupid move by a stupid administration. Want to fix the economy? Stop the unconstitutional wars, for starters. Stop playing policeman of the of the world would be a close second. Worry about our problems here. Oh yeah and we also need to get all of the politicians that are worried about their own financial gain out of office as well. The government is filled with morons with no backbones.

    Everyone criticizes Ron Paul as being out of touch with reality. Sure he may not know what will happen regarding all of his policy changes, however, not knowing isn't a good reason not to try to deviate from a course that obviously isn't and hasn't been working. We need a politician in office with a pair of huge balls and a big brain that isn't thinking for his own personal gain. Not another corporate special-interest lapdog who wants to keep the status quo.
    • regeya, on 04/29/2008, -11/+9Ron Paul would be a disaster. Not that we're not headed for disaster anyway, but sure, if you want a President that is even MORE oriented toward looking out for the rich, sure, be my guest, shill for Ron Paul.
      • AustinMandi, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2Sources?
        • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/29/2008, -2/+1No. But thank you for asking.
      • Bantec, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Yeah, your gonna have to elaborate on how RP would be a disaster. There are so many of you who bitch and moan for change. I don't understand when people admit to the impending demise of our political/monetary (warfare/welfare) state, but then they label anybody with a possible solution a quack. The world is full of people who constantly complain, but offer no solution. It's easier to complain and never place your bet. That way you're never wrong. Right?
    • Swordman554, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Too bad the media made sure no one really heard of him...along with Kucinich. The only time they ever got attention was when Kucinich dropped out, and they are still ignoring Paul, who, despite the mathematical impossibility, is still running. I swear, if the media plays it up on how we should have voted for one of those two if the next president royally screws up...
  • sagegoku666, on 04/29/2008, -1/+22I'll be spending my rebate on drugs. take that, economy!
    • trdrstv, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Actually, you could be supporting a completely domestic industry that way (if it's produced in America rather than, say Columbia), and helping the economy more than buying Chinese goods at Walmart.

      Hookers and Domestic beer are also good stimulants for our economy.
  • Number23, on 04/29/2008, -2/+11If you don't want yours, give it to me.
  • oneredeye, on 04/29/2008, -1/+4"might be" ??!!
  • tierpinho, on 04/29/2008, -2/+5they go to all the BS rising costs of things but it sure was a great way for the govt to loot the treasury more and increase inflation by printing more worthless money! yyyyaaaaayyyyy we are all going to be poor!
  • normalkid0615, on 04/29/2008, -2/+26hey im going to buy a ps3 - Money goes to Japan + China
    hey im going to pay off my mortgage - China bought our bad debt - again China
    hey im going to buy some gas for my Ford Excursion - Middle East says thanks
    Screw all that, im going to put it towards an american made car - Mexico says graciias
    HOW CAN THIS BENEFIT AMERICA? PLEASE TELL ME!!!
    • regeya, on 04/29/2008, -2/+12"hey im going to buy a ps3 - Money goes to Japan + China" = helps keep American clerks in work
      "hey im going to pay off my mortgage - China bought our bad debt - again China" = goes toward Americans getting out of debt
      "hey im going to buy some gas for my Ford Excursion - Middle East says thanks" = Helps Americans drive to work, and we get, what, an eighth of our oil from the Middle East?
      "Screw all that, im going to put it towards an american made car - Mexico says graciias" = money goes to a country with whom we DON'T have an astronomical trade deficit
      Hey, it's not perfect, but there's no good way out of this one.
    • kenplaysviola, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I'm actually going on a vacation to Japan for 2+weeks. My $600 will literally be spent in Japan on sushi and lodging. In other words, my $600 is not being pumped back in the U.S. at all.

      Domo arigato!
      • sgtpppr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I think you'll be able to get one night at a hotel and a fast food lunch in Tokyo for $600. I just had to buy a bunch of Euros for a trip and 600 Euros was like $960.
      • FecalHurler, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Mr. Roboto
        • sagegoku666, on 04/29/2008, -2/+0i would have made this comment, but you beat me to it. +digg
    • BitKid, on 04/29/2008, -0/+4Clearly the most American thing to do then, would be to spend the rebate money at the titty bar. That's a lotta lap dances.
    • mister23, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2buy something produced locally. doesn't really matter what it is, even small stuff or food helps.
  • SilverBlade2k, on 04/29/2008, -1/+22This was a ***** idea right from the start.

    Guess who is going to pay for the stimulas package?..Not the government. But the taxpayers. So pretty much..you are paying for your own stimulas package.

    Also, this will do nothing to stimulate the economy. The money will go towards the ever increasing price of gas, or go towards the ever increasing cost of food.

    You can forget about buying a T.V, stereo, Ipod, computer, etc.

    This was a political move because Bush knows he the worst rated President in history, and wants some brownie points before he leaves office.
    • salinemist, on 04/29/2008, -2/+1Most of the people who got a "rebate" paid no taxes at all.
      • nbcaffeine, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1You had to have paid taxes to get a rebate, and had to had at least paid what you're getting back.
        • fotbr, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1No, you had to have filed. There's a big difference between filing and paying.
    • Rub3s, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1We are definitely paying for our own rebates. Even worse we are borrowing with interest. It's a loan, we get $600 now and have to pay off well over the $600 with our future taxes.
  • Aleman360, on 04/29/2008, -1/+34Why didn't they just give us all $1 million while they were printing money out of thin air?
    • xenuxenuts, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Hey, I thought "Debt doesn't matter", right?
  • davidkeithjones, on 04/29/2008, -1/+9Most checks will just go on things like credit card bills, mortgages and student loan debts. No stimulus will be created. Whoever came up with the idea that $600 would mean something clearly doesn't live in reality.
    • iruber1337, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2shhh...I totally need this to pay the next few months of my student loan. Don't tip them about how ridiculously pointless this is!
  • caif, on 04/29/2008, -3/+31Support the Second Amendment AND the Economy. Use your rebate to procure a U.S. Manufactured Firearm from your local Gun Shop. Make the headlines read, "Gun Sales Soar After Rebates!"
    • GravitySpec, on 04/29/2008, -0/+12You know what? That is the first sensible option I have seen yet and I'm going to do just that.
    • airforceteacher, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Dude, I so love this idea. I was thinking about a Taurus 92 anyway.
      • AnarkeIncarnate, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3Taurus is a Brazilian company. How about Ruger's new SR9 ?
        • airforceteacher, on 05/07/2008, -0/+0Good point, but since I shoot the Beretta 92 for work, I wanted somethign similar.
    • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Pew pew pew!
    • XFDRaven, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3I'm actually doing this with my tax return. I doubt I will see a penny of this gimmick, but my $900 return will buy my completed AR15 upper and a 45 acp pistol.
  • coldman, on 04/29/2008, -5/+3i love all the "economists" on digg, they think they know everything about it. my suggestion, if you're complaining it won't do anything, stick to your conviction and don't deposit the money. i'm willing to bet any of the eligible people complaining on this thread will deposit.
    • FecalHurler, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2Well it's still free money... You'd have to be retarded not to cash it. But that doesn't mean that I won't be spending every penny of that money on gas, which will rise to one dollar a gallon more than it was the previous year. So it's going to stimulate me driving to work.
      Hey, I'm not gonna complain. For me it's free money. Is it going to get us out of the cellar? Absolutely not.
    • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3That's right, if you don't agree, shut up! Complaining accomplishes nothing. This isn't a democracy where you can speak your mind, disagree with the administration or promote intelligent discourse! This is the USA! Love it or GTFO!

      Our nation's forefathers and civil rights leaders are rolling in their graves.
  • mrzack, on 04/29/2008, -2/+7Why don't this ***** government just call it what it is: Foodstamps for the nation. Rebate my ass. STimulus package my ass. With wheat and rice going through the roof, I'm using it to buy food.
  • stutimandal, on 04/29/2008, -2/+6Recession is not due to over-taxation. Therefore, tax rebate will not solve or soothe the recession.
    • sgtpppr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3Depends on how you look at it. They are taking 25-40% of your income. Then every time you buy something with what's left, they take another chunk. If the gov't was run like even a moderately sane company, they wouldn't have to stick their hands in your pockets on pay day to pay even the interest on the loans it has with China (or pay to rebuild an entire nation that has been the center of conflict since before the Bronze Age).
      • coreman, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1'cept they were taking the same percentage out when things were "good".

        I'm actually glad that government isn't run more like any "sane" company. Not too many companies allow all of their employees a good look at the company's books. Not too many companies allow their employees some say in executive compensation, perks, etc. Most companies are at minimum a two-tier mini-society (like communism... either a party member or not, and lifestyle reflects this. Same as management vs employee in most companies. Throw in shareholders, er, 3rd-party groups out to use the company or government to better their members at everyone else's expense...).

        OH, you mean like same companies I've worked for that spend $50K/yr on enterprise software licenses for development tools and then end up not using them? Same companies that have purchasing depts go over well-spec'd and tightly defined purchase orders, and substitute stuff in your order as they see fit? Companies that have charitable arms that are used to give $$$ to political organizations? Companies that reward employees nearing retirement with pink slips, while at the same time bending over with largesse to upper management over-compensation?

        Great stuff!
        • sgtpppr, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Well, I'm sure you think all companies are bad and they all want to rape your mom, but they are the ones making all the crap you buy and the ones who employ the vast majority of America. The point of the post was the gov't is run very poorly and bleeding money. You can make it into a typical 'i hate all corporations because they eat babies and work directly with Satan' rant, but it doesn't change the fact that their is a recession because the gov't has no accountability, cannot manage money worth a *****, and treats it's own people like suspects in some international terrorist plot imagined by a politician to collect more votes.
    • archer75, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1But it is due to lower consumer spending. More spending = more sales = more jobs, which in turn = more spending
  • Kenzan, on 04/29/2008, -2/+5For some people who cannot afford houses to use as tax write off, and neither can afford to put thousands of dollars in an IRA, and have children above 17 years of age,
    This rebate check should just about cover what they laid out to PAY taxes this year.

    FAIL.
    • 11oops, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2My taxes this year property taxes this year exceed my refund check by $4,000. Add in federal & state income, medicare, SS, sales, gasoline, tolls, vehicle registration, and beer/alcohol taxes and I'm WAYYYY above $600.
  • VideoHost1, on 04/29/2008, -1/+4Biggest scam in history.
    Yes we will give you money to aid our ailing economy.
    BTW Gas and food will cost so much in the coming months your not going to use it on anything else.
    But its going to help . . . . . . .UhHuh
  • regeya, on 04/29/2008, -3/+4Oh, good, it's the daily Digg post about the damn rebate checks.
    What do they mean "avoid recession"? How do you avoid something that's been going on for a while?
  • AmericansRevolt, on 04/29/2008, -2/+3$600 does not even cover most people's mortage/rent for one month. thats only 4 weeks big brother- you want to actually help us try giving everyone 6 GRAND.
    • dave122, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1yeah that's about 6 months worth of income taxes!

      god i hate taxes.
      • AmericansRevolt, on 05/01/2008, -0/+0exactly my point. and i dont mean to print money and give everyone 6 grand. i mean give the power back to the states and have the government go back to doing what its intended for: not much!, both literally and figuratively in the money sense hargh ***** hargh
  • slapded, on 04/29/2008, -0/+37you know what im doing with mine? 3 chicks at once. thats what im gunna do.
    • imrcly, on 04/29/2008, -0/+10Make sure they are American chicks so the money stays in the country
    • BitKid, on 04/29/2008, -1/+0Giggidy giggidy, gig-guh-dee!
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1for 300-600 bucks? They will be FOUL!
    • shaka999, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1That should help to "pump" the economy.
  • jcastillo81, on 04/29/2008, -6/+6Why don't they sell off all of their assets: land, buildings, vehicles, tanks, planes, computers, prisons, etc to all the citizens and businesses. Then, pay off the national debt, take care of our veterans, fix some ***** pot holes, and before packing it all in, send some nice apology gift baskets to everyone in the world for being a bunch of psycho hosebeasts. There's your goddam economic stimulus package.
    • wrathbone, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2Yes, sell planes, tanks, etc. to citizens and businesses.
      Then fix the potholes on the city streets, since clearly thats a federal program.
      And the apology gift baskets would be a great use of federal funds.

      I agree with every one of your brilliant points.
  • thedogfatherx, on 04/29/2008, -1/+5I'm not an economist nor do I consider myself very educated in knowing how the economy works to a T but this plan sounded stupid. Of course it will "stimulate the economy" somewhat but will it fix it? Hell no. I'm not going to complain though. I'll be $600 dollars less in debt. I'm not going to go out and buy a flat screen television.
  • TecK415, on 04/29/2008, -2/+3How do they decide who gets them? I just got ***** laid off because of "the economy, and slow business. It's not your fault blah blah-insert *****- blah." Now I have to find another job, right when everyone is coming back from school looking for a job too. while I pay for gas and school end parking and everything else that costs me money. AH! I'd like some more money in the bank, even if it's just 300$.

    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3did you make more than 3,000 dollars in 2007? Less than 100,000 (rough number, it actually starts phasing out a nickel for every dollar over 75 or 80k/yr, I don't remember exactly)? Did you file a 2007 return?

      If yes, yes, and yes, you will be getting 300 to 600 back depending on your 07 income.
  • awtripp, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3oil companies need to not be able to post 50-60% profit increases over last quarter. EVERYONE relies on that ***** whether it be for manufacturing, shipping or on the consumers end. fix the ***** that is the oil companies and you'll help out the world.
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Is there something wrong with 10% profits on revenues? If so you have a lot more than just oil companies to take down.
    • AustinMandi, on 04/29/2008, -3/+1@NonLeftistDiggr: It is a problem when the government is giving away millions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies to big oil. They have every right to profit, but not from the money strong-armed from me via taxes.
      • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Big oil provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, probably millions when employees for third party companies serving big oil are counted (albeit partially international)... and anybody can buy a share of them at any time to get in on that profit. Seems like one of ver few examples of government spending that actually has a decent return on the dollar..... and businesses are taxed to hell and back as is, so I'm not sure why some subsidies are unjust.

        I should use my 600 bucks to get a share of Exxon! Thanks for helping me reach this conclusion!
        • AustinMandi, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Not some subsidies, but all subsidies are unjust. However, you're welcome.
  • kalikkalik, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2Just to settle this stupid point (on whether or not the gov't is mailing physical checks or doing direct-deposit):

    http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179211,0 ...

    How will you receive the payment? Be sure to choose direct deposit when you file your tax return, even if you aren't due a regular tax refund on your tax return. That way, the stimulus payment will go right to your bank account. Otherwise, we'll mail you a check.
  • forcedfx, on 04/29/2008, -0/+9Taxes Owed: $3800
    Refunded: $600

    So, I'm still down $3200. Time to rob some banks.
    • archer75, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1We got $1200 back this year. We both claimed 4 on our paychecks too. And we get $1800+ back from this rebate. Not too shabby!
      • Nothlit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1But how much did you still pay in taxes, even after all of that?
    • insanebrain, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1. . and do what ? You will only be able to steal dollars. .. and face it .. the dollar is only a piece of paper. . .(piece of paper. . hmm. . what does that remind me of)
  • chesscat, on 04/29/2008, -7/+4For anyone who feels it's too little too late, feel free to sign the check over to me. Thanks
  • ArachnidDude, on 04/29/2008, -4/+1I for one, am happy to get my money back. And government, respectfully, I request you do this more often. Thank you, oh government.
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3respectfully? That sure is nice of you
  • greyrat, on 04/29/2008, -5/+5Hmm. they want me to spend money? Let's see. Just for example, I need a roof on the house - $10,000 to $15,000; the driveway is shot too (seriously, it's falling apart) - $5,000 - $8,000. Now, we're "rich" so we won't get much of a rebate, but let's say we get the full $1,200 plus $600 for our two eligible kids. That's $1,800 against a minimum of $15,000 we would like to spend. In this economy where the hell do you think I can get the other $13,000+ I need?

    And remember: We're rich - but not rich enough. We paid $20,000 in taxes this year. Hmm. wouldn't that come in handy now?
    • dave122, on 04/29/2008, -2/+4***** eh.
    • chuckDontSurf, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Should've thought of that before you bought that big-ass house. $10k-$15k for a new roof??
      • greyrat, on 04/29/2008, -2/+1It's hardly a big house when it has five kids and two adults in it. Now, we could eat some of the kids and buy a smaller house I suppose, but we're fine on the mortgage itself so I really don't see a reason to do that. As soon as I stop driving to work we'll be able to start saving for that roof. Oh wait, I shouldn't have bought a house so far from my job. Or married someone who work's so far from where I work. And I should have been better at realizing how sleazy banks and large corporations are too. Hell, I shouldn't have gotten married at all. None of us should. We should all sleep under our desks at the office and get leftover food from the executive cafeteria. That'd be the ideal life, wouldn't it? Well, really we should all just be living as nomadic groups living off the land and raiding other nearby groups for extra profit. I mean, that's what you really want for everyone.
        • chuckDontSurf, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2No, what I really want is for people to stop complaining about situations they've put themselves in. If the roof is in such dire need of repair, take out a HELOC to fix it. Better than paying for water damage to the rest of the house. And I doubt a shoddy driveway can be a considered an emergency, so just wait until you have the money to pay for it. Make sense? Good. Now stop bitching.
    • cnorris1, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Dude you need a good tax attorney to do your taxes
      • greyrat, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Sadly, we have one. The wife is a share holder in her company and the "virtual profit" we see from her stock is part of what burns us (chuckDontSurf would say "Should've thought of that before you bought into that successful company.'). We did better this year than last. That $20K includes what we have withheld as well as the extra we had to pay.
    • yomamaphat, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Should have bought all that ***** at walmart. A driveway can wait. Get a roof though if it's leaking.. otherwise save up if it's not too bad.
    • flip2trip, on 04/29/2008, -2/+2Poor baby, want your binkie?
    • WileEPeyote, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2greyrat,
      I understand your issues, have major home repairs of my own, but at a time when many folks are living off of $20,000 a year, whining about paying that in taxes seems...well...like whining.

      If you aren't getting any money back then yes, you are probably living pretty comfortably.

      A suggestion on your home woes. Do it yourself. You will pay a fraction of the costs you quoted above and you'll learn something new in the process.
  • snotrokit, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1a grand or two is really not going to make a difference. Most people will blow it. Watch PS3/GTA4 sales.
    Want to slow or stop a recession, make things cost less.
  • kenplaysviola, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3Does anyone else want to pool our $600's together and buy X lottery tickets? If two people did it, they could buy 1,200 scratchers and/or number picks and split it 50/50! Heck, even if I got 1% of a $20 million jackpot would be fine with me. Who's in with me?!?!
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