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The stimulus package that's meant to stimulate masochists.
2008-Feb-08, Friday 11:51 amhttp://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheDetailsOnTaxRebates.aspx
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/08/economic.stimulus/index.html
Ok, so the CNN article got edited after being posted, to remove the pesky details. Like the fact that all this money is an advance against next year's return. From what I understand though, it probably wasn't as clearly phrased as the first article I cite, so read that one as the primary. Love this whole notion of advancing you your own money, just so you can pay interest on the loans (or rather your kids and your kids' kids) that allow this $142 billion abomination to occur.
But, enough of that. The CNN article is by far one of the FUNNIEST things I've read in a while. And here's why.
1> "Paulson said the process of sending the checks would be completed by the end of summer." This after saying the first of the checks will be going out in May. Hm. So, it's going to take until mid September for an AUTOMATED process to cut checks, and mail them AUTOMATICALLY out to consumers. Huh. I'm sure nothing horrible will happen to the economy in the ensuing 7 months from now.
2> "There were no winners or losers in this except the American people, who saw us rise above any differences we might have had and work to agreement on what is the No. 1 issue, and that is our slowing economy." Huh. Imagine that. All that compromise and good natured debate.... in an election year. When the sitting Administration is the second lowest popularity in the history of the country. When we've got two wars going on that are sapping so much from us on a daily basis that small countries could be founded instead of this need. Governmental prestadigitation? In an election year? Mortgaging the future even harder, just to be seen doing something good? In an election year? Say it isn't so!
3> "After Democrats were unable to break a Republican filibuster threat..." Am I the only one that recalls a few years ago when the Republicans were essentially bullying the Democrats with the 'Nuclear Option' (pronounced new-cue-lar for you Bush supporters so you don't get confused) of permanently banning filibuster from one of the committees, just so they could force the general vote on one of Bush's appointees? I said it then, that if/when the Dems got back in Congress, they should do just that everywhere: vote out filibusters. Then, when the Republicans started crying like the ultra-spoiled rich-bitch 4 year olds they've shown themselves to be, simply have a VCR handy in every room, including the main one, and replay those threats as the only response necessary.
4> "The Democrats dropped demands for an extension of unemployment benefits, energy assistance for low-income households and tax breaks for energy providers." It amuses me, having recently heard on NPR the woes of the heating oil customers on the East Coast. I was reminded, by one of the legal advocates on the show, of a promise Bush made to enlarge the federal subsidy/assistance to those low-income households since heating oil prices were rising far more than could be called reasonable. And since he's been in office? He's slashed that assistance twice. Now, the Democrats are trying to help him with his original campaign promise, and the 'Pubs in the Senate shitcan it. And Bush is happy they did! Wow. Please, oh please, keep supporting the NeoCons. The recession where you have to sell your children into indentured servitude will be wonderful. I'll sell everything I own to buy one of them. Promise.
5> "Including loans other than mortgages and home equity lines of credit, Americans are shouldering a record $2.5 trillion in debt." MMmmmm, tasty. Yes, Americans. Keep supporting the money industries (banking, credit, insurance). Believe their lies, just like you believed Big Tobacco when it assured you, left, right, up and down that there was no credible link between smoking and lung diseases and cancer. After all, those that have a vested interest in lying to you will always tell the truth when it might mean a loss of revenue to them. Why don't you and the rest of the sheep just blithely enter the fields, and keep your head down and continue pretending that money is both necessary and a positive thing.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/08/economic.stimulus/index.html
Ok, so the CNN article got edited after being posted, to remove the pesky details. Like the fact that all this money is an advance against next year's return. From what I understand though, it probably wasn't as clearly phrased as the first article I cite, so read that one as the primary. Love this whole notion of advancing you your own money, just so you can pay interest on the loans (or rather your kids and your kids' kids) that allow this $142 billion abomination to occur.
But, enough of that. The CNN article is by far one of the FUNNIEST things I've read in a while. And here's why.
1> "Paulson said the process of sending the checks would be completed by the end of summer." This after saying the first of the checks will be going out in May. Hm. So, it's going to take until mid September for an AUTOMATED process to cut checks, and mail them AUTOMATICALLY out to consumers. Huh. I'm sure nothing horrible will happen to the economy in the ensuing 7 months from now.
2> "There were no winners or losers in this except the American people, who saw us rise above any differences we might have had and work to agreement on what is the No. 1 issue, and that is our slowing economy." Huh. Imagine that. All that compromise and good natured debate.... in an election year. When the sitting Administration is the second lowest popularity in the history of the country. When we've got two wars going on that are sapping so much from us on a daily basis that small countries could be founded instead of this need. Governmental prestadigitation? In an election year? Mortgaging the future even harder, just to be seen doing something good? In an election year? Say it isn't so!
3> "After Democrats were unable to break a Republican filibuster threat..." Am I the only one that recalls a few years ago when the Republicans were essentially bullying the Democrats with the 'Nuclear Option' (pronounced new-cue-lar for you Bush supporters so you don't get confused) of permanently banning filibuster from one of the committees, just so they could force the general vote on one of Bush's appointees? I said it then, that if/when the Dems got back in Congress, they should do just that everywhere: vote out filibusters. Then, when the Republicans started crying like the ultra-spoiled rich-bitch 4 year olds they've shown themselves to be, simply have a VCR handy in every room, including the main one, and replay those threats as the only response necessary.
4> "The Democrats dropped demands for an extension of unemployment benefits, energy assistance for low-income households and tax breaks for energy providers." It amuses me, having recently heard on NPR the woes of the heating oil customers on the East Coast. I was reminded, by one of the legal advocates on the show, of a promise Bush made to enlarge the federal subsidy/assistance to those low-income households since heating oil prices were rising far more than could be called reasonable. And since he's been in office? He's slashed that assistance twice. Now, the Democrats are trying to help him with his original campaign promise, and the 'Pubs in the Senate shitcan it. And Bush is happy they did! Wow. Please, oh please, keep supporting the NeoCons. The recession where you have to sell your children into indentured servitude will be wonderful. I'll sell everything I own to buy one of them. Promise.
5> "Including loans other than mortgages and home equity lines of credit, Americans are shouldering a record $2.5 trillion in debt." MMmmmm, tasty. Yes, Americans. Keep supporting the money industries (banking, credit, insurance). Believe their lies, just like you believed Big Tobacco when it assured you, left, right, up and down that there was no credible link between smoking and lung diseases and cancer. After all, those that have a vested interest in lying to you will always tell the truth when it might mean a loss of revenue to them. Why don't you and the rest of the sheep just blithely enter the fields, and keep your head down and continue pretending that money is both necessary and a positive thing.