The more I think about it, the more I realize that the stimulus checks were a disaster. They went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The unemployment bonuses went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
In the last five years, we have finally risen to the top end of the working poor class. But we were floating in cas…
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the stimulus checks were a disaster. They went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The unemployment bonuses went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
In the last five years, we have finally risen to the top end of the working poor class. But we were floating in cash in 2020. I had an "essential" job, so I was working (at higher wages, as a result of the risk). My husband was only unemployed for three months before his factory got back to work, but during his stint on unemployment, he was making MORE (due to the bonus) than he was when he was working.
If we were doing so much better financially during the pandemic, I can only imagine how things must have been for those making more than we do.
And now we are all paying the price with the resulting inflation. You can't print money without causing inflation. The stimulus checks raised a niggling worry in the back of my head, because I know this. The people in charge ought to have known this.
They shouldn't have existed at all. The reality of the government's imposed lockdowns should have been felt right as they happened so that people could judge them accordingly.
Instead, we'll have problems that peak a decade later, creating more than enough cover for media to blame anything but the root cause.
Not that I begrudge fast food workers a decent wage but I thought it was inevitable that the push for $15 wage increase would raise prices. That was even before the stimulus checks. When wages go up prices go up and soon it’s all a wash.
They did know it. It’s been crystal clear since the COVID lockdowns that the goal is to destroy the middle class- those most likely to resist the ruling elite. Destroy small business, paint successful whites as evil racists, vilify the police. Encourage lawlessness, then claim that local police cannot keep order. The goal is to get the middle class to accept a national police force.
Destroy the public schools that middle class people rely on. Kill the energy sector, and reduce the mobility of the middle class. We are being big herded into a corner from which they hope we cannot escape.
They can't even account for a significant portion of the stimulus money. Massive fraud, waste and abuse. Our government is a joke. But, cruelly, the joke's on us.
I know two very well off people who received big checks for their business. Which they didn’t need. One had decided to retire and used the money to buy a million dollar plus home.
The other did try to return the money, but they were so disorganized and unprepared they told him to keep it. He absolutely does not need the money.
This infuriates me. My husband and I worked hard our entire lives and saved for our retirement as best we could. It sucks to be us (and so many like us).
We got the stimulus checks, didn't need them. Socked them away and used them to pay our taxes to the federal gubmint. (I always underpay cuz I ain't wanting the gubmint to have a free loan of my money throughout the year)
Yes. We got too. So did everybody. I’m talking about the ‘business rescue money’ or whatever they called it. Thousands of dollars. Not 1200.00.
Government passed out thousands willy- nilly. Much fraud and scamming. And cases like the two I referenced. No way of tracking. OUR money. Taxpayer’s money. Not ‘the Government’s’. Makes me so mad.
One-a the things they did was give money to businesses so they could keep their employees paid during the pandemic. Even if they didn't lay anyone off.
Except that people would have been better off if they were on unemployment, thanks to the unemployment bonuses. I have a friend who is a waitress, and she was in that position. No tips because of no sit-down customers.
Again, I forget. I think we're looking at hundreds of millions of unemployment bonus dollars going to people that were ineligible. But that doesn't count the bazillion people, who got it legally, that made more off-a that than if they worked. Like You "said."
"The more I think about it, the more I realize that the stimulus checks were a disaster. They went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The unemployment bonuses went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances."
This is true. I read but forgot: I can't recall if we're talkin hundreds of millions or many billions. Probably latter.
Also, the Central Bank, The Fed, went crazy on overkill. They didn't open the siphon. They dropped the ocean on the problem. Stock market didn't stay down for long, IIRC.
From what little I know, The Fed serves a useful function. A buffer when financial disaster strikes. What they did with QE1 (Quantitative Easing) at the start of the Great Recession was great. When they went on to QE2 and QE3, they started pushing us, I believe, step-by-step on the road to the disaster we're lookin at now.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the stimulus checks were a disaster. They went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The unemployment bonuses went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
In the last five years, we have finally risen to the top end of the working poor class. But we were floating in cash in 2020. I had an "essential" job, so I was working (at higher wages, as a result of the risk). My husband was only unemployed for three months before his factory got back to work, but during his stint on unemployment, he was making MORE (due to the bonus) than he was when he was working.
If we were doing so much better financially during the pandemic, I can only imagine how things must have been for those making more than we do.
And now we are all paying the price with the resulting inflation. You can't print money without causing inflation. The stimulus checks raised a niggling worry in the back of my head, because I know this. The people in charge ought to have known this.
Not everyone. My husband is a physician and I am a nurse. We both worked through the pandemic and did not receive any stimulus money.
These were the income limits:
$99,000 or higher as a single filer
$136,500 or higher as a head of household filer
$198,000 or higher as a joint filer
Also, you had to be a citizen rather than a resident alien.
They shouldn't have existed at all. The reality of the government's imposed lockdowns should have been felt right as they happened so that people could judge them accordingly.
Instead, we'll have problems that peak a decade later, creating more than enough cover for media to blame anything but the root cause.
Not that I begrudge fast food workers a decent wage but I thought it was inevitable that the push for $15 wage increase would raise prices. That was even before the stimulus checks. When wages go up prices go up and soon it’s all a wash.
They did know it. It’s been crystal clear since the COVID lockdowns that the goal is to destroy the middle class- those most likely to resist the ruling elite. Destroy small business, paint successful whites as evil racists, vilify the police. Encourage lawlessness, then claim that local police cannot keep order. The goal is to get the middle class to accept a national police force.
Destroy the public schools that middle class people rely on. Kill the energy sector, and reduce the mobility of the middle class. We are being big herded into a corner from which they hope we cannot escape.
Yikes. Truth.
They can't even account for a significant portion of the stimulus money. Massive fraud, waste and abuse. Our government is a joke. But, cruelly, the joke's on us.
I wonder how much of that stimulus fraud went into the stock market.
Yup. Next door in Blue Illinois, they are now estimating that the stimulus fraud is in the millions.
MD...Penn. Gov. still has $2000.00 cks. for all under $80,000.00.
Seems, this is part of a Fed Bill. Other states might have as well. N.Y. and Calif. did receive much more than other states from the fed.
I know two very well off people who received big checks for their business. Which they didn’t need. One had decided to retire and used the money to buy a million dollar plus home.
The other did try to return the money, but they were so disorganized and unprepared they told him to keep it. He absolutely does not need the money.
This infuriates me. My husband and I worked hard our entire lives and saved for our retirement as best we could. It sucks to be us (and so many like us).
We got the stimulus checks, didn't need them. Socked them away and used them to pay our taxes to the federal gubmint. (I always underpay cuz I ain't wanting the gubmint to have a free loan of my money throughout the year)
Yes. We got too. So did everybody. I’m talking about the ‘business rescue money’ or whatever they called it. Thousands of dollars. Not 1200.00.
Government passed out thousands willy- nilly. Much fraud and scamming. And cases like the two I referenced. No way of tracking. OUR money. Taxpayer’s money. Not ‘the Government’s’. Makes me so mad.
Not the "Government's"?
Not sure the Congress critters see it that way
Everyone needs to pay their "Fair Share"
One-a the things they did was give money to businesses so they could keep their employees paid during the pandemic. Even if they didn't lay anyone off.
Except that people would have been better off if they were on unemployment, thanks to the unemployment bonuses. I have a friend who is a waitress, and she was in that position. No tips because of no sit-down customers.
Again, I forget. I think we're looking at hundreds of millions of unemployment bonus dollars going to people that were ineligible. But that doesn't count the bazillion people, who got it legally, that made more off-a that than if they worked. Like You "said."
"The more I think about it, the more I realize that the stimulus checks were a disaster. They went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The unemployment bonuses went to everyone, regardless of their circumstances."
This is true. I read but forgot: I can't recall if we're talkin hundreds of millions or many billions. Probably latter.
Also, the Central Bank, The Fed, went crazy on overkill. They didn't open the siphon. They dropped the ocean on the problem. Stock market didn't stay down for long, IIRC.
The Fed, went crazy on overkill. They didn't open the siphon. They dropped the ocean on the problem. Stock market didn't stay down for long, IIRC.
The Saying on The Street is “Don’t fight the Fed”.
Ron Paul fought the Fed his entire political career. If only people had listened.
From what little I know, The Fed serves a useful function. A buffer when financial disaster strikes. What they did with QE1 (Quantitative Easing) at the start of the Great Recession was great. When they went on to QE2 and QE3, they started pushing us, I believe, step-by-step on the road to the disaster we're lookin at now.
I believe that's the saying and I believe in it. The Fed's all-powerful. All-unelected and all-unaccountable, as well tho.
They were/are buying votes Celia, that is all they care about, staying in power.