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Further Stimulation

Friday, July 18, 2008

With the first rollout of tax rebates not quite finished, Democrats are pushing further economic stimulus ideas. Vincent Reinhart, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and Economic Policy Institute's John Irons join us to give their perspectives on the matter.

Guests:

John Irons and Vincent Reinhart

Comments [29]

David! from NYC

27--I did, and I wish a LOT of others would, too.

Jul. 18 2008 11:39 AM
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the truth from Atlanta/New York

Heating Oil is going to be a disaster this winter. I shudder to think.

Jul. 18 2008 11:38 AM
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jawbone from Parsippany, NJ

Re: Democratic pols--maybe it's time for an organized campaign of sending copies of our party registration changes to the DNC. With some kind verbiage that when the party leaders grow a backbone and return to Democratic principles, we'll consider returning to the party.

Jul. 18 2008 11:37 AM
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jawbone from Parsippany, NJ

Health insurance, up 25% this year. Now up to $1500/month--and I can't drop it due to illness and I can't move to a cheaper region or I won't be covered for the "preexisting condition."

Gas? Well, who knows the percentage increase-it keeps changing.

Heating oil??? I dread to think of it.

I'm looking at how I can shut off the oil burner, and just use space heaters to keep the all important water pipes from freezing. In olden times, people lived in the "warm room," albeit not as warm as our rooms have been, and slept in extremely cold rooms under many layers.

I think we need an Energy Stamps program which can be used for energy purchases and for transportation costs. Until we achieve some alternative energy sources, we will need to help the poorer among us to deal with this sudden increase in energy costs. Remember that most electric rates haven't even been increased as of yet.

There needs to be assistance to get solar collectors on every appropriate rooftop, with requirements for the electric companies accept excess electricity into their grid system and for the owners to get a modest rental on their roof space, but not just "free" electricity. That would place apartment dwellers at a huge disadvantage when, actually, they're already contribution to lowering the carbon output.

Now, do we have politicians who can lead us in these programs? Who will answer Gore's call?

Jul. 18 2008 11:34 AM
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Maxine Gold from manhattan

as absurd as it may be, as per a previous caller, still, if others are getting rebate checks, i want one too! i haven't even received the FIRST one! what's a person like to me to? i sure could use it. out of work since last september.

Jul. 18 2008 11:33 AM
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paul peacock nyc from new york city

michael - i don't know whether you are being serious or joking because i cannot see your face while i read your words.

were you joking? i think you were. do you care what i think? if not, no worries.

--

it was a challenge to comment on this story because the organizations' mentioned in the summary were not hyperlinked and so i had to copy them into my browser search box and i have just now switched to opera and it's all a bit confusing.

sorry.

Jul. 18 2008 11:33 AM
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David! from NYC

18--hjs, just give it time.

Jul. 18 2008 11:31 AM
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David! from NYC

hjs--it's such a long answer, but it's not just resistance to bho. It really is a feeling of betrayal to priciples.

I didn't come back on these boards to debate the primary results.

Annnnnnnnd, if you reflect, there was a day I mentioned how much fun I thought it would be for some of us to meet somewhere someday, have a refreshing beverage or two, and solve the world's probs. IF that ever comes to fruition, that would be the better forum to discuss my party change.

Hope you've been well, btw.

Jul. 18 2008 11:30 AM
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Brandon from Brooklyn

It doesn't matter how far the government goes into debt, as debt is necessary for the stability our economy. We have a debt-based system, and without debt, we would have no money. This essentially makes most of our money 'fake".
Bailing out the banks helps to get more debt into the system through the offering of credit, and therefore more 'money'. This is because the banks "create" money of loans. The vast majority of that money is not secured in any real way.
It is a depressing state of affairs, but these are the facts.

Jul. 18 2008 11:30 AM
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the truth from Atlanta/New York

Do we need more stimulus? Well lemme see, is anyone else holding onto their gas receipts.

China or New Zealand, I don't care!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

Jul. 18 2008 11:29 AM
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hjs from 11211

woman
they also direct deposit them. so maybe u got it and missed it (go balance your checkbook, do people still do that?)

Jul. 18 2008 11:29 AM
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hjs from 11211

the wpa was needed when unemployment was high. not needed yet.

Jul. 18 2008 11:26 AM
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Jon P. from Hewitt, NJ

a woman,

did you file your taxes by April 15th? No taxes on time, no rebate check...

Call the IRS and wait on hold for a couple of hours, you'll get an answer....

Jul. 18 2008 11:24 AM
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michael winslow from INWOOD

Stimulate me baby!

Love it love it love it.

Give me more barrowed money from China. :)

I have bills to pay!

Jul. 18 2008 11:24 AM
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hjs from 11211

David!
i don't get the resistance to BHO?
but it was funny when he showed the purists he's just like the rest of them...

Jul. 18 2008 11:24 AM
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the truth from Atlanta/New York

woman,

www.irs.gov

Jul. 18 2008 11:23 AM
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Zak from Brooklyn, NY

Man, I hate the stimulus packages. I don't think they do much of anything on a macro leve, but I could personally use a check in my mailbox about now.

Jul. 18 2008 11:21 AM
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a woman from manhattan

FURTHER stimulation? I never even got the first stimulation check yet. Has everyone gotten theirs but me? Actually, I know a few people upstate who never got theirs either, just a note being told to expect one.

So my question is, where's my check? And who do I ask?

Jul. 18 2008 11:21 AM
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Jon P. from Hewitt, NJ

Oh yes, please give me that government money!!! Who cares if I have to pay it pack 10 fold down the road….. This is America, spend now, worry about it later…. Give me, give me, give me!!!!

Jul. 18 2008 11:20 AM
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O from Forest Hills

Bring more money! People always want money!

Jul. 18 2008 11:20 AM
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robert from park slope

I agree with using gov't funds to repair and improving infrastructure. This represents an investment w/positive economic return. Tax money rebated directly to people generally ends up at Walmart or the gas station, in other words it ends up in China or Saudi Arabia.

Jul. 18 2008 11:20 AM
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Richard Williams from Larchmont, NY

Mine went towards my co-op maintainance. If this government wants to stimulate, bring back the WPA and the CCC. Repair the infrastructure.

Jul. 18 2008 11:17 AM
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David! from NYC

6 lol--you are soooooooooo right about that inevitable tax increase!

Jul. 18 2008 11:14 AM
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the truth from Atlanta/New York

The first round will prove to be ineffective, thanks to the higher costs of gasoline, which led to the higher costs of food etc...two, three more rounds might catch us up. Then they will hit us with a tax increase.

Jul. 18 2008 11:13 AM
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David! from NYC

3--yes, but my comment goes beyond that. As an update, I did switch my registration to the Green Party.

Jul. 18 2008 11:11 AM
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the truth from Atlanta/New York

Another round for the people!

Jul. 18 2008 11:09 AM
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hjs from 11211

David!
still upset about HRC?

Jul. 18 2008 11:08 AM
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David! from NYC

Dem leadership is too busy selling out to be true leaders.
Feel those tremors? That's FDR spinning in his grave.

Jul. 18 2008 10:40 AM
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hjs from 11211

maybe the dems could do something smart like..
more money for education
healthcare
mass transit
clean energy
or.....

Jul. 18 2008 10:28 AM
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