a

[Mkgaapril]

Thanks to all who replied to this thread....I am leaving here with this for the dinner.....

While there are many of us that will be getting the rebate the question is should we?

America is in such a spiral that we have waited to long to put out a safety net to catch the working class.

When we speak of working class many have a different opinion of that that means. For some it is the parent that works 16 hours a day to maintain life and the ability to provide for one's self and, others it is working the minimum required to get what you can for free. Let us not forget the wealthy who can hide money and are able to also cheat the system.

When you look you see the "MIDDLE CLASS" stuck in a spiral heading for the ground. No assistance, thousands paid into taxes , losing jobs they have gone to school to obtain degrees for and having little to show for it.

Every class of people has it's problem's. The poor face the challenge of working because of lack of transportation or childcare of the finances to do it with. They have children that need to be provided for.

The middle class are facing the same problems as the poor only they can't get the assistance they need. They can only provide it.

The wealthy ... well in my opinion only have the problem of who to trust to hide their stolen money...

Every year we dish out EIC...in theory it is good.. but also bad. That money could go to reduce the debts America has and could lower taxes etc. It could go to provide health insurance and job training for those that need the education., thus lifting the load on working middle class.

We as americans also sit and watch millions in aid go out to another country with problems that are also happening here. Charity starts at home. We take care of our own and then worry about others.

I personally do not feel that this rebate is going to make the difference that the govt. hopes for it to. It is just putting a bandaid on something that will soon have to be taken off slowly and that causes pain also.....

Thanks for all the opinions....its been an eye opener...

 

[Mkgaapril]

EVERYONE should read A Letter to America by David Boren. Seriously. AND everyone should hold their representatives to the Congress accountable. Only when the constituency and NOT the special interest groups hold their feet to the fire will we see positive change.

That said, I agree with Boren's approach to saving the dwindling middle class (with a few caveats) Also, please note that I've been a conservative Republican all my life, so although my responses skew liberal democrat, I find myself more centrist these days.

Anyway, Boren's suggestions include a more progressive tax structure (I vote for the flat tax, he thinks the wealthier should pay more/fewer breaks), federal scholarships extended to middle class children (not loans, but he's also a uni president, so that plays into it some), and universal health care. Yes, I know some out there (particularly the uber-conservatives) will balk at that last one, but, if you stop and think about it, you're paying for it anyway in higher medical costs, higher insurance premiums, and higher co-pays. There is no reason why the government cannot implement a 2-tier system that includes current employer-sponsored insurance plans and adds a "buy in" plan (sliding scale) for a Tricare-type coverage (military) for those who have no employer-provided plans (like those of us who are self-employed).

Those are the 3 areas that seem to hit the middle class harder than others and where there is the least support: taxes, education, health care.

We, the middle class, are going to need more than campaign rhetoric. We need men and women representing US, We the People, and not just the ones with the fullest pockets who want to fill them even more. We the People are also going to have to come to terms with some paradigm shifts, like, the United States is in some serious trouble within a global economy and this nation's years of being "all that" are over. We are going to have to hunker down, eat some humble pie, and tighten our belts for awhile until the course we're on can shift. The wealthy are going to have to realize that they DO have a social responsibility and they are going to have to step up to the plate or there will be unpleasant responses to their "let them eat cake" attitudes. We, as Americans, seem to think we are immune from food riots or killing for a tank of gas, but we thought we were immune to terrorism, too...

There may come a day when our troops are pulled out of Iraq...to police our own streets.

I couldn't agree more........

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My biggest issue with EIC isn't that it's going to people in need - I see a lot of my clients (business owners) that structure their taxes to show no income and yet take hundreds of thousands of dollars in "draws" from their companies. Yep you probably guessed it, they manage to qualify for the EIC due to on paper business losses...

 

[DizzyKitten]

My biggest issue with EIC isn't that it's going to people in need - I see a lot of my clients (business owners) that structure their taxes to show no income and yet take hundreds of thousands of dollars in "draws" from their companies. Yep you probably guessed it, they manage to qualify for the EIC due to on paper business losses...

Well now that's just wrong.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

The whole EIC thing just frosts me. I know a few people that pay absolutely nothing in taxes and still will manage to get $1,000 to $2,000 back every year. I think that is just wrong.

If it makes you feel any better, we get EIC. DH is a disabled veteran and I work 2 jobs. Last week, I worked 84 hours total. This week, I will work 79. So I am not sitting around eating bon-bons, collecting EIC every year.

The extras we have, like DVC and Disney trips, I work my butt off for or we forego other things....we don't eat at restaurants, we don't go to movies or have expensive hobbies, I buy new clothing about once every 10 years. =oD We have one car that I saved up for.....

I do know people who take advantage, though. It can be frustrating.

 

[CPT Tripss]

EITC . . . Nixon's legacy. Conceived in his presidency, enacted in Ford's.

 

[Angelhalo]

do you really think this rebate is going to help? or is it just going to float many for just a month or two longer until the bottom is pulled out...

I work for the Fire District, if that matters at all, and this rebate is DEFINITELY going to help us. we need to pay off our honeymoon and this is going to be a BIG help

 

[Angelhalo]

The wealthy ... well in my opinion only have the problem of who to trust to hide their stolen money...

Sorry that made me laugh. Clearly you are not wealthy because you seem to harbor quite a bitterness toward them. I wouldn't consider my DH and I to be "wealthy" but his parents are and they don't hide any stolen money anywhere. Why can't wealthy people just be people who worked hard and saved hard. Not, EVERY wealthy person is a crook or gangster or whatever. Sheesh!

 

[Robinrs]

Sorry that made me laugh. Clearly you are not wealthy because you seem to harbor quite a bitterness toward them. I wouldn't consider my DH and I to be "wealthy" but his parents are and they don't hide any stolen money anywhere. Why can't wealthy people just be people who worked hard and saved hard. Not, EVERY wealthy person is a crook or gangster or whatever. Sheesh!

Just like EVERY person receive EIC is a crook, a lacky or a baby making thief.

The word EVERY and ALL never holds true. What we get our impressions from are the small percentage of get over artists and users... everyone else is pure wallpaper.

 

[Pigeon]

I think the stimulus package is idiotic and is only adding to the country's financial problems.

That said, I don't have a problem with people who are eligible for EIC getting the stimulus.

 

[Mkgaapril]

I think I need to clear something up...When I say rich hiding money I am speaking of million's. (corp. thieves buying, trading, selling stock etc..) I take responsibility for the words I posted and just thought I would clear that up...I think It is highly unlikely there are many of them on here surfing the threads...I am not speaking of upper class.

 

[Robinrs]

I think the stimulus package is idiotic and is only adding to the country's financial problems.

That said, I don't have a problem with people who are eligible for EIC getting the stimulus.

Are you going to get one or will you be sending yours back?

 

[Acklander]

I think the stimulus package is idiotic and is only adding to the country's financial problems.

That said, I don't have a problem with people who are eligible for EIC getting the stimulus.

Exactly. I think it's stupid in the first place, but if they're going to go ahead and do it - I don't think they should shut out someone because they make below a certain income level. These are the people who will most likely use it as it's intended - to stimulate the economy.