How I Spent My Stimulus

Comments

• Posted by: verbal Yesterday, 18:08
  
  While the economic system continues to destroy our survival capacity on this planet, by growing populations, industries and cities in a finite space like Earth, all americans should read "Wealth and Democracy" from Kevin Philips. It is astonishing to see that after tax income of top 1% grew 76%, while the rest fell between 1977-1994... And that 500 large US corporations emplolyed 15,9 million workers in 1980 and in 1993 just 11,5 million, while US population expanded 33,3 million.... Updating these numbers the situation onlu worsened I think.
  
  So, we destroy the planet to enrich the rich, just for that... What a lose-lose situation...
  
  Gee, that is too bad for the future...
  
  Hugo
  hugopenteado@uol.com.br
  

  Posted by: Hugo Penteado Jun 3rd, 09:01

• Have you ever thought of all the illegals paying taxes and not claiming the benefits? Oh... I thought so...
  
  BTW, if your insurance 'was bogus' as you claim, either you didn't read the contract properly, or you were conned like so many million Americans by the private health-care industry.
  
  The old "illegals make my country worse" song and dance is simply stupid. If you can't realize the illegality problem has been there for longer than 8 years, and still we were the "greatest country on earth" 10 years ago. I don't defend the illegals, just point out the error of not seeing the Amazon behind the small twig.

  Posted by: David Jun 3rd, 11:19

• Oh, Ann. Where do I start?
  
  You may have not received the full $600 because you owed taxes.
  
  Your insurance isn’t “bogus”, I am certain, just crappy like most are. Sorry, that you found out the hard way.
  
  You were not denied state or federal assistance because of illegal, sweetie. You were denied because you did not qualify. That isn’t their fault or anyone else’s. People don’t “steal” government help.
  
  Why would you want to rely on the government, anyway? That is your problem. Take responsibility for yourself!
  

  Posted by: Lourdes Isabel Jun 5th, 10:13

• Here is a quote from Bill O'Reilly. Hopefully, it will enlighten you.
  
  "Earlier this week I debated Newt Gingrich about my thesis that self-reliance, not reliance on government, is the key to self-protection. If you're poor, you're powerless. That's why the poor got smashed in the hurricane zone. Columnist Liz Smith wrote that I failed to 'give the poor any advice on how one finds a proper education or a job.' Liz Smith is extremely fair and accurate, so I am pleased to respond to her. The USA has mandatory education, but nobody can force you to learn. If you refuse to do the work, you're going to be ill-equipped, and all the government programs in the world are not going to change that. Every American kid should be required to watch video of the poor in New Orleans and how they suffered because they couldn't get out of town. And every teacher should tell the students that if you refuse to learn, you will be poor and powerless. One does not 'find' an education. Public education is free, libraries are free, and scholarships are everywhere. For centuries charlatans have been telling Americans that government will provide, and you deserve to be provided for. Bull! Depend on yourself - get educated, get smart, and get personal resources. That is the lesson of Katrina.”
  
  -Bill O’Reilly
  
  

  Posted by: Lourdes Isabel Jun 5th, 10:23

• seems like we have some pretty well to do people who don't have to worry about paying their bills. People don't want the government to support them, but it is the governments responsability to support its people by making sure they don't take care of the rich and their interests only. Bill O'Reilly speaks of a free education offered, lets see any of you send your children to some of these schools where it seems like they are in a third world country.
  
  And as far as illegals, i bet the revenue produced by make them legal and to pay taxes would surely start to bring this economy around again along with responsible government spending.
  

  Posted by: luisa Jun 5th, 11:10

• I don't entirely disagree with Bill O'Reilly, but...
  
  "Public education is free, libraries are free, and scholarships are everywhere."
  
  Is Bill deluded? First of all, there is no such thing as a public education and certainly not a free one when we're talking about college. Where on earth would we have access to free college? High school may not have tuition fees, but that's not going to help you land a good job. A college education does that, and no where in the land it THAT free. College costs. So what the grunt is he speaking of?
  
  He says libraries are free. Yes, Bill, they are. But who comes out with an education that will empower them to land a great job, simply from having spent time in a library? What employer would recognize that sort of "pseudo-education"? Get real. And Bill, we largely don't use libraries anymore (unless you're referring to the computers that are sometimes found there). We use the internet to gather our info. You might want to step into the 21st century at some point.
  
  And finally, he says scholarships are everywhere. Oh, really? Wow. What amazing delusion. Tell ya what, Bill... if you think it's so easy to find tens of thousands of dollars in free money, tell me exactly where to go and I'll do it immediately. Scholarships are notoriously difficult to come by, because it's free money. If you're not a 4.0 student coming out of high school, or someone who meets very specific criteria based on ethnicity, choice of major, and a hundred other difficult to meet requirements, then you will not get the money. And it's not available for everyone. There's only so much to go around. Where does that leave everyone else?
  
  And you can forget about loans because those have also become very difficult to get. I know someone who makes a measly $14/hr. who was denied a low-interest college loan. How is someone making that little, supposed to pay their bills, eat, pay rent, and pay for an education out of pocket? Stupid! Makes no sense to me why the government won't make loans to everyone who wants to go to school - it would help the economy overall because the resulting educated people would be contributing their new found knowledge to a job and in essence, to their communities and the nation; it's a loan, not a grant or scholarship; and even if you claimed bankruptcy, you still have to pay the loan back, so the government always gets their money, anyway, so what would be the big deal in investing in the future and educations of the people of this nation? Why should anyone be denied an educational loan? They should make loans to everyone who wishes to better themselves and contribute in that way, especially considering that those loans are always inevitably paid back with interest.
  
  I don't have a problem with Bill and all that he says, and I understand his point, but sometimes it's caucasian suburbanites who've had their degrees and jobs for so long, who can be the most naive. Life is hard out there, and you don't just "go build a skyscraper" without someone opening up doors for you. It's not just about your willingness. You have to have money to do what you want. If that isn't there, then you're stuck. And so many people don't understand that the practical issues behind bettering yourself is not just a matter of wishful thinking. They're deluded, naive, and unhelpful. What did God say? "Faith without works is dead."
  
  Many people have virtually no options. In those cases, if the government isn't going to help their own people better themselves with educational financial support, then who will? You don't just waltz into a bank or college and get money. Everyone who wants to go to college should have the opportunity to, but so many simply do not because the money isn't there. This is the real world, not some utopia, Bill. Sometimes people just don't have what they need and no one will help. And that's a sad state of affairs.

  Posted by: Z Jun 6th, 22:04

• Libraries have a lot of books that are really helpful, not just with education, but for bettering your life. The problem is exactly what you said: libraries are now a place to use a computer, and that's it. Not many people think of going to their library when they want to research something; probably because it takes too long to search through the catalog, find the book on the shelf, go through the index, then OH MY GOD after everything you've already done, you're now actually expected to read about the info you want. Google's easier, right? *rolls eyes* It's extremely sad that a place that used to be considered the mecca of truth and knowledge is now a place where people can use a computer and get free movies and music.
  
  Sorry I took one line out of your long reply and went off on a tangent; 'tis my lot in life...

  Posted by: Crystal Jun 8th, 13:57

• My mom only got $300 too. She is a widow and has a 16 year old daughter still living at home, as well as another 18 year old in college. Think she would have gotten a little more. She is a legal sec, and isn't pulling in tons, so a little extra would have been helpful.
  
  At least it is less to pay back next year. All these people getting these realize that you have to pay this back right? It will be on your taxes next year.
  

  Posted by: maybe better to get less, you'll be paying back less Jun 15th, 12:59

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