03-22-2020, 09:34 PM
Regardless of which plan they choose, I hope they have the good sense to not use physical checks this time. We don't need a lot of people lining up at ATMs to deposit the checks touching the same buttons.
(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
(03-22-2020, 09:40 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote: You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
The pie is smaller. Sending checks to everybody sends a false message that nobody has to sacrifice. The better message is that everybody has to sacrifice. The society has underfunded its safety net for years and this further exposes the shortfall.
(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
From the Tax Foundation website:
Economists and policymakers are considering direct cash payments to individuals to support vulnerable populations and ensure economic stability for Americans. An alternative option that may be better targeted at individuals most affected by the economic downturn is enhanced unemployment insurance (UI).
Enhancements to unemployment insurance may include increasing the benefit replacement rate, reducing or eliminating work history or work search requirements, increasing work-sharing provisions that lowers the chance that workers are laid off, and increasing federal support of state UI programs.
(03-22-2020, 09:40 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote: You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
The pie is smaller. Sending checks to everybody sends a false message that nobody has to sacrifice. The better message is that everybody has to sacrifice. The society has underfunded its safety net for years and this further exposes the shortfall.
(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
From the Tax Foundation website:
Economists and policymakers are considering direct cash payments to individuals to support vulnerable populations and ensure economic stability for Americans. An alternative option that may be better targeted at individuals most affected by the economic downturn is enhanced unemployment insurance (UI).
Enhancements to unemployment insurance may include increasing the benefit replacement rate, reducing or eliminating work history or work search requirements, increasing work-sharing provisions that lowers the chance that workers are laid off, and increasing federal support of state UI programs.
(03-23-2020, 07:01 AM)JustAnotherFan Wrote: If they can get the money out quickly, and if it goes to everyone who doesn't make [whatever the cutoff is] then I'm fine with it. I just don't know that you can do both at the same time.
(03-23-2020, 07:01 AM)JustAnotherFan Wrote: If they can get the money out quickly, and if it goes to everyone who doesn't make [whatever the cutoff is] then I'm fine with it. I just don't know that you can do both at the same time.
Quote:The measure would also provide $1,200 direct payments to taxpayers, substantially increase jobless benefits and send money to states struggling to weather a brobdingnagian public health and economic disaster. Mr. Schumer said Republicans had agreed to extend unemployment insurance for an additional month at Democrats’ insistence, for a total of four months. The two sides had previously agreed to expand the program considerably, to include self-employed and part-time workers who traditionally have not been eligible, and to cover 100 percent of wages to the average worker.
Under the newly negotiated terms, those already on unemployment before the crisis would also see their benefits extended 13 weeks beyond when they are currently set to run out, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the talks.
Quote:The measure would also provide $1,200 direct payments to taxpayers, substantially increase jobless benefits and send money to states struggling to weather a brobdingnagian public health and economic disaster. Mr. Schumer said Republicans had agreed to extend unemployment insurance for an additional month at Democrats’ insistence, for a total of four months. The two sides had previously agreed to expand the program considerably, to include self-employed and part-time workers who traditionally have not been eligible, and to cover 100 percent of wages to the average worker.
Under the newly negotiated terms, those already on unemployment before the crisis would also see their benefits extended 13 weeks beyond when they are currently set to run out, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the talks.
(03-24-2020, 08:10 PM)BostonCard Wrote: We'll be paying this one back for a while.One way or the other, yes. It probably will be in a devalued currency and inflation, as opposed to actual payback. The only mitigating factor will be that other nations will be in the same situation. As the world proved in the 1930s, that can keep inflation down by depressing economic activity. It can even lead to deflation in the USA. Hard to get out of that cycle. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
BC
(03-24-2020, 08:10 PM)BostonCard Wrote: We'll be paying this one back for a while.One way or the other, yes. It probably will be in a devalued currency and inflation, as opposed to actual payback. The only mitigating factor will be that other nations will be in the same situation. As the world proved in the 1930s, that can keep inflation down by depressing economic activity. It can even lead to deflation in the USA. Hard to get out of that cycle. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
BC
Quote:The bill will give a one-time check of $1,200 to Americans who make up to $75,000. Individuals with no or little tax liability would receive the same amount, unlike the initial GOP proposal that would have given them a minimum of $600.
Quote:Senate Republicans on Tuesday were characterizing the direct assistance as “snap loans” instead of grants, to avoid the stigma of the proposal being called a bailout, but it has yet to be determined how the government would be compensated.
Quote:The bill will give a one-time check of $1,200 to Americans who make up to $75,000. Individuals with no or little tax liability would receive the same amount, unlike the initial GOP proposal that would have given them a minimum of $600.
Quote:Senate Republicans on Tuesday were characterizing the direct assistance as “snap loans” instead of grants, to avoid the stigma of the proposal being called a bailout, but it has yet to be determined how the government would be compensated.
(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
(03-22-2020, 08:09 PM)JustAnotherFan Wrote:(03-22-2020, 07:58 PM)stupac2 Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:35 PM)chrisk Wrote:(03-22-2020, 03:17 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(03-22-2020, 01:36 PM)chrisk Wrote: How is distributing money to the unemployed less efficient than sending money to everybody? You can immediately give money to the unemployed in less time than it takes to send meaningless checks to everybody.
If 20% are unemployed, they can get closer to survival level than if $500 billion is sent to people who don't need it.
This is not rocket science.
You can do both. I’d top up the state unemployment insurance and further increase unemployment payments to 90% of wages lost (to a max). But I’d also get money into the economy as fast as I can.
BC
There is no place to do discretionary spending now. Sending money to somebody working and earning $150K will only sit in the bank. A low-wage unemployed worked would put it into the economy immediately.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation website explains why sending widespread checks is bad economic and tax policy.
It would be helpful if you linked that site, or engaged like at all with the rationale I put up above. As far as I can see there is literally no downside to having the Fed print and mail checks to literally everyone.
And just for the record, lots of people making $150k/year would spend it. Have you not even heard of the housing costs in the bay area?
Money should be sent to everyone.
First, the people who are going to get lost by having arbitrary cutoffs (even unemployment as a cutoff) are the people already on the edges of society. Means testing is a great way to keep people who need it the most out of reach.
Second, when the money is sent to everyone it takes the wind out of the sails of the people who would likely complain about spending tax money on the poor. Read less class conflict. Read less objection from either side of the aisle.
Third, agree with above, it would be much faster. The poor in this country vastly outnumber the rich, so it isn't like giving the top 10% the money is going to break the bank (when the bank is already broken).
(03-24-2020, 10:56 PM)chrisk Wrote: Are they going to send checks to everybody and claw back from the "undeserving" based on 2020 income on the 2020 tax return. As pointed out earlier, there can be a significant difference between 2018 and 2020 income.
(03-24-2020, 10:56 PM)chrisk Wrote: Are they going to send checks to everybody and claw back from the "undeserving" based on 2020 income on the 2020 tax return. As pointed out earlier, there can be a significant difference between 2018 and 2020 income.
(03-25-2020, 07:25 AM)2006alum Wrote: As soon as the agreed upon bill is released, I'll check and let y'all know.
In the mean time, I thought this was pretty interesting (and gratifying):
That prohibition will apply to all federal elected representatives - the President, Vice President, and all members of Congress.
(03-25-2020, 07:25 AM)2006alum Wrote: As soon as the agreed upon bill is released, I'll check and let y'all know.
In the mean time, I thought this was pretty interesting (and gratifying):
That prohibition will apply to all federal elected representatives - the President, Vice President, and all members of Congress.
(03-25-2020, 09:12 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Found it interesting that the lead story on Google News headlined that the bill bans Trump businesses from receiving a bailout. Odd that they forgot to mention businesses owned by any other elected federal officials won't receive a bailout, either.
(03-25-2020, 07:25 AM)2006alum Wrote: As soon as the agreed upon bill is released, I'll check and let y'all know.
In the mean time, I thought this was pretty interesting (and gratifying):
That prohibition will apply to all federal elected representatives - the President, Vice President, and all members of Congress.
(03-25-2020, 09:12 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Found it interesting that the lead story on Google News headlined that the bill bans Trump businesses from receiving a bailout. Odd that they forgot to mention businesses owned by any other elected federal officials won't receive a bailout, either.
(03-25-2020, 07:25 AM)2006alum Wrote: As soon as the agreed upon bill is released, I'll check and let y'all know.
In the mean time, I thought this was pretty interesting (and gratifying):
That prohibition will apply to all federal elected representatives - the President, Vice President, and all members of Congress.
(03-27-2020, 11:08 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Amazing how people can come together and compromise in a crisis. Think how much better things would be if this was practiced as a matter of course. You hear me, I hear you. We work to find compromises, and we actually serve the American people.
(03-27-2020, 11:08 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Amazing how people can come together and compromise in a crisis. Think how much better things would be if this was practiced as a matter of course. You hear me, I hear you. We work to find compromises, and we actually serve the American people.