| Author | Message | ||
     John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 78 Registered: 2-2003 |
Wow, I'm so pleased that our President, chief bozo of the United States, decided to send me $800 of our children's and grandchildren's future tax dollars, which they will have to spend to pay off our ballooning national debt. Nothing I like better that ripping off future generations! Who the hell cares if our government is $450 billion plus in the red this year (that is, with the extra money they skim off the social security receipts!). I know, I know -- it dwarfs even the deficits Reagan was willing to run to give the wealthy and upper middle class extra leisure cash. But so what? We're all egoists after all, aren't we? So I say send me the money now, and apres moi, le deluge. Hmmm, maybe this is why a famous Scotsman wrote that democracy is doomed once the people discover that they can vote themselves money from the public chest. And maybe it's also why Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." While our servicemen and women are living out this ideal of civic duty, our President is stealing money from children. But since he began office as an electoral thief, why should we be surprised? John Davenport | ||
| #9Dream Citizen Username: 9dream Post Number: 509 Registered: 12-2002  |
Yeah, my "stimulus" check is going right to Maplewood Town Hall to cover the property tax increase we're going to get hit with to make up the lost federal dollars. Whoopie. | ||
| Mr. Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 293 Registered: 1-2003  |
If the shift were that simple, i.e. from federal tax dollars to local tax dollars, would that be an entirely bad thing? Of course, that's not what's happening in reality, but if it were, should we object? I really don't know. Tom Reingold | ||
| thegoodsgt Citizen Username: Thegoodsgt Post Number: 264 Registered: 2-2002 |
Do what many Americans believe to be the right thing...tear up the check! | ||
| gozerbrown Citizen Username: Gozerbrown Post Number: 171 Registered: 3-2002 |
Or send it back. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10135 Registered: 10-2001  |
Dearest John Davenport, The interesting thing about a check is that you don't have to cash it. So why don't you put your money where your mouth is and simply frame it, rip it up or send it back to the United States Treasury? Like many others, I am eagerly awaiting your decision. (although I think I already know what you're going to do) ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <---- | ||
| Nlanzieri Citizen Username: Nlanzieri Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2003 |
O yeah, right. Ill rip it up and send it back. That will really send a message to the clerk in the mail room that opens it...boy will that teach him... If no one wants theirs just sign it over to me... | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2003 |
John D - some have speculated that you will be a candidate for the Bd of Education, this spring. Since you are so concerned about our children and their grandchidren, what are your thoughts about our school budget and its impact on us taxpayers. Of course, John D you may wish to put this speculation to rest, with a response. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10136 Registered: 10-2001 |
I've got a feeling that that clerk isn't going to be holding his breath. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <---- | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2003 |
We seem to have a pretty clear choice: The Tax and Spend Democrats, OR The Borrow and Spend Republicans. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1864 Registered: 5-2001  |
The Bloomberg news report this evening says it all: Basically, we're borrowing that money to give it to ourselves, and stick our children with the bill. The "tear up the check" nonsense, the ad hominem attacks, and the attempted misdirection into other topics, is irrelevant to the larger issue of plain and simple fiscal fraud - a "something for nothing" attitude on the part of the current custodians of the Federal government. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10138 Registered: 10-2001 |
With all due respect Nohero, I do not agree with you. If the man doesn't like the checks, he SHOULD return them. There is no attempt to misdirect. And what is with the italics? ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <---- | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 1069 Registered: 5-2001 |
So the federal government is borrowing money, and then cutting checks against it and sending them to us. Interesting. How would we all feel if the TC issued a bond and send all the households in town money? Would that be OK too? Would it make you want to vote to re-elect them? | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1865 Registered: 5-2001 |
With all due respect, Sbenois, if the man doesn't like the checks, he has a right to say so. The "tear up the check" nonsense is just the domestic policy equivalent of "Well, then move to France if you don't like it." One person not spending the money does nothing to improve government; people joining together to decide that the selfish opportunists now running things should be tossed out, does improve government. That check would make a nice campaign contribution, IMHO. And, FYI, I like using italics. That is, I like using italics, dammit! | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 477 Registered: 10-2001 |
The federal government borrowing money from peter to pay paul is nothing new. Both parties are guilty of it. It just seems that our local liberals forget that the Clinton administration did the same thing. According to these two articles the practice of taking money from "trust funds" set up for other purposes has been going on for quite some time. One article actually calls into question whether there really was any surplus at all during the Clinton years, despite the fact that there were record levels of tax revenues. But I guess GWB makes an easy target for some of you. I'm all for cutting taxes - mine are way too high. I get no $800 check in the mail to tear up (which I wouldn't do anyway). I do, however, question the timing and scope of these most recent cuts. http://concordcoalition.org/news/releases/980202_presbud_react.html http://home.att.net/~mwhodges/deficit-trusts.htm JD like others have said if you don't want the money send it to me, I'll find a good use for it. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4927 Registered: 5-2001  |
The Concord Coalition also just gave the administration a big fat F for fiscal responsibility: Deficits, Deception and Denial (July 14, 2003). And seems to focus on Nohero's worries a bit more: Future Generations Should Come Before Tax Cuts. Talk about the ant and the grasshopper. | ||
| thegoodsgt Citizen Username: Thegoodsgt Post Number: 268 Registered: 2-2002 |
Let's be honest. Tearing up your tax refund check or mailing it back does little more than prove you're a person who sticks by his principles. To be fair, those who support tax cuts see them as an investment, much like your house -- you assume a massive amount of debt with the expectation that your investment will increase in value over time. Bush and his advisors believe that people will spend the money they have, consequently stimulating business investments and creating jobs, which in turn generate tax revenue. This is a gamble, and there are certainly other approaches to stimulating the economy, but this approach is a legitimate strategy. This is what we should be discussing, but it's too difficult and there are no easy (nor inherently correct) answers. http://www.taxfoundation.org | ||
| notehead Citizen Username: Notehead Post Number: 631 Registered: 5-2001  |
I sure don't understand why Bush thinks these refund checks will stimulate the economy. The last time he did this it was totally puerile. Makes we wonder if he really does think it will help - perhaps he just wants to give the richest a bonus that they can then donate to his re-election campaign. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 268 Registered: 9-2002  |
Notehead... send your check to any democrat running aginst him. Wouldn't it be funny if someone started to gather these checks for an Anti-Bush campaign? Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him | ||
| Mr. Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 305 Registered: 1-2003 |
I believe Bush believes he is doing the right thing. The trouble is, it pretty much does amount to money that will be recycled to his re-election campaign. Bush's rationale is logically consistent: the cash will recirculate into the economy. The problem is, consumer spending won't help if the money doesn't take us out of debt. And I believe that consumer spending alone won't fix the economy. Tom Reingold |
