Friday, April 17, 2020

Stimulus--Status Quo--The Usual


The news is full of discussions about the government stimulus payments.

Sadly, the stimulus has become the usual story of the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

When the Stimulus Check in Your Bank Account Isn’t What You Expected


The internet has stories about people rushing to Walmart with their newly received stimulus to buy non-critical items as big screen TVs. How is a TV more important that food or rent?

Wait--people don't need to buy food, they can go to the food banks! And they don't need to pay for rent--they can't be evicted--so of course a new big screen is suddenly an essential item.

OK, that was sarcastic! I guess I am a bit miffed at abuses because my tax dollars are funding the stimulus payments. The federal deficit is exploding--it has become too large to ever imagine paying off. And of course, the bigger problem is that if people are shopping for non-essential items, then they are not practicing social distancing. 

On the other hand, there are also multiple reports of people giving their stimulus checks to local food banks to help those who really need the help! And that is an incredibly laudable use for the stimulus money.

Important safety tip: Receipt of the stimulus payment is NOT permission to ignore social distancing and race to Walmart to buy non-essential items!

For the rest of us? We can be content to know see our tax dollars at work.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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