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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.


Comments

  • [1] hjs from 11211 July 18, 2008 - 10:28AM

    maybe the dems could do something smart like..

    more money for education

    healthcare

    mass transit

    clean energy

    or.....


  • [2] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 10:40AM

    Dem leadership is too busy selling out to be true leaders.

    Feel those tremors? That's FDR spinning in his grave.


  • [3] hjs from 11211 July 18, 2008 - 11:08AM

    David!

    still upset about HRC?


  • [4] the truth from Atlanta/New York July 18, 2008 - 11:09AM

    Another round for the people!


  • [5] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 11:11AM

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


  • [6] the truth from Atlanta/New York July 18, 2008 - 11:13AM

    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.


  • [7] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 11:14AM

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


  • [8] Richard Williams from Larchmont, NY July 18, 2008 - 11:17AM

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


  • [9] robert from park slope July 18, 2008 - 11:20AM

    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.


  • [10] O from Forest Hills July 18, 2008 - 11:20AM

    Bring more money! People always want money!


  • [11] Jon P. from Hewitt, NJ July 18, 2008 - 11:20AM

    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!!!!


  • [12] a woman from manhattan July 18, 2008 - 11:21AM

    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?


  • [13] Zak from Brooklyn, NY July 18, 2008 - 11:21AM

    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.


  • [14] the truth from Atlanta/New York July 18, 2008 - 11:23AM

    woman,

    www.irs.gov


  • [15] hjs from 11211 July 18, 2008 - 11:24AM

    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...


  • [16] michael winslow from INWOOD July 18, 2008 - 11:24AM

    Stimulate me baby!

    Love it love it love it.

    Give me more barrowed money from China. :)

    I have bills to pay!


  • [17] Jon P. from Hewitt, NJ July 18, 2008 - 11:24AM

    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....


  • [18] hjs from 11211 July 18, 2008 - 11:26AM

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


  • [19] hjs from 11211 July 18, 2008 - 11:29AM

    woman

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


  • [20] the truth from Atlanta/New York July 18, 2008 - 11:29AM

    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!!


  • [21] Brandon from Brooklyn July 18, 2008 - 11:30AM

    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.


  • [22] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 11:30AM

    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.


  • [23] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 11:31AM

    18--hjs, just give it time.


  • [24] paul peacock nyc from new york city July 18, 2008 - 11:33AM

    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.


  • [25] Maxine Gold from manhattan July 18, 2008 - 11:33AM

    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.


  • [26] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ July 18, 2008 - 11:34AM

    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?


  • [27] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ July 18, 2008 - 11:37AM

    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.


  • [28] the truth from Atlanta/New York July 18, 2008 - 11:38AM

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


  • [29] David! from NYC July 18, 2008 - 11:39AM

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


This thread is closed.


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