February 11, 200817 yr UncleRando: Devil's advocate question: Why should we be trying to keep up with a Chinese economy based on knock-offs and shoes? Radical, but I think it is part of the misconception. It seems to me that the US has (nearly as much as possible) moved away from a manufacturing/production economy into a knowledge/service based economy and we should just embrace this. You're young, right? Planning on that job in the handbag factory? Didn't think so. Why should we try to compete with China for unsophisticated manufacturing jobs. Concentrate on medical technology, cars, machining and emerging sectors. Then again, I could be wrong. Sorry for hijacking the thread. My point was that we shouldn't be trying to compete with China...primarily because it is a losing battle trying to compete with someone for the lowest prices who pegs their currency to always be lower than yours. I understand the trickle-down economics, but I just don't really see those working as effectively in this new global economy that exists. We should take a similar approach as Europe and look to improve the quality of our products and the quality of pay/benefits for our workers. Hopefully then good will win over evil in terms of worker benefits and pay. I for one don't appreciate toys being made by children who should be the ones playing with them...not making them. I think that eventually this will all catch up to China (as it is somewhat already with the whole lead shenanigans). Eventually people will abandon them and go with quality over the instant gratification of their products being slightly cheaper.
February 11, 200817 yr I guess I am guilty here in propogating the "tax cut" thing. It is a "prebate" against 2007 earnings as I understand it.
February 12, 200817 yr Actually, businesses are getting a tax break. It's convoluted, in that they can expense up to $250,000 in new equipment purchases during 2008, and get a 50% depreciation of the amount not expensed in the first year.
February 12, 200817 yr It would help my business grow faster In theory, supply-side tax cuts are good for the economy. In practice, they work about as well as Communism, especially in this day and age of the ever-widening income gap. Which brings me to my other point...what's good for the economy as a whole sometimes is NOT good for the people. As an extreme example, slavery was good for the economy. Raising the per capita GDP a dollar does most of the people no good if the top 1% go from controlling 20% of the wealth to 80% of the wealth. Yes, I realize these are extreme examples...my point is simply to show to those who always scream "it's better for the economy" that it's not always better for a majority of the people. Sometimes good for the economy is good, but sometimes it's just a wealthy Republican ploy trying to get you to buy into their selfish "Get Myself Richer" plan.
February 13, 200817 yr It would help my business grow faster As an extreme example, slavery was good for the economy. In what ways?
February 13, 200817 yr Free labor or at least cheap labor is always good for an economy as a whole. Not necessarily a society as a whole. If you bring that up to an economist he'll tell you're turning it into a moral issue. Unfortunately there's a hidden injury in capitalism and that injury is called SOCIOLOGY. LOL!
February 13, 200817 yr I'm using it to help pay someone to paint my house (with Sherwin Williams paint, of course).
February 13, 200817 yr I've changed my mind.. instead, I'm gonna use it for my Scientology initiation fee.
February 13, 200817 yr I've changed my mind.. instead, I'm gonna use it for my Scientology initiation fee. Lord!
February 13, 200817 yr What will YOU do with your fiscal stimulus check? Cool! free money? I guess I'll have extra spending $ for my trip while I'm in China.
February 14, 200817 yr Free labor or at least cheap labor is always good for an economy as a whole. Not necessarily a society as a whole. If you bring that up to an economist he'll tell you're turning it into a moral issue. Unfortunately there's a hidden injury in capitalism and that injury is called SOCIOLOGY. LOL! Exactly...my point was that what could make the country as a whole make more money is not always moral or good for the whole of society. Anyways...back on topic... I will be paying off my engagement ring and for my wedding (getting married this summer). Unfortunately, I'll need more help than the stimulus check. :)
February 14, 200817 yr Plane Ticket or Local Cleveland businesses and/or restaurants! My new motivation to file my 2007 taxes on time this year...
February 14, 200817 yr Local Cleveland businesses and/or restaurants! True, I say pay off bills, but most of it'll probably end up at Johnny Mango and Hecks.
February 14, 200817 yr Honestly? I'm buying a new TV. My Credit Cards from College have all been consolidated and will be paid off soon, student Loans don't start for a while longer.. That, And I want one really bad and I've been very, very patient. :-)
February 14, 200817 yr Honestly? I'm buying a new TV. My Credit Cards from College have all been consolidated and will be paid off soon, student Loans don't start for a while longer.. That, And I want one really bad and I've been very, very patient. :-) You can also get 2 40$ coupons on a HDTV.
February 14, 200817 yr Man I feel like I should be in debt too considering all these comments so far. No college loans, car is paid off, and credit card is paid in full every month. I'm a model citizen.
February 14, 200817 yr Man I feel like I should be in debt too considering all these comments so far. No college loans, car is paid off, and credit card is paid in full every month. I'm a model citizen. buy a house!
February 14, 200817 yr You're not a model citizen, you're not in debt! That helps businesses thrive off of us! :) :-)
February 14, 200817 yr Man I feel like I should be in debt too considering all these comments so far. No college loans, car is paid off, and credit card is paid in full every month. I'm a model citizen. buy a house! Sure thing...when I can afford it. I'm in no rush to buy a home.
February 14, 200817 yr Honestly? I'm buying a new TV. My Credit Cards from College have all been consolidated and will be paid off soon, student Loans don't start for a while longer.. That, And I want one really bad and I've been very, very patient. :-) You can also get 2 40$ coupons on a HDTV. The $40 coupons are for converter boxes that allow analog televisions to receive digital broadcast signals, not the actual HD sets themselves.
February 14, 200817 yr Man I feel like I should be in debt too considering all these comments so far. No college loans, car is paid off, and credit card is paid in full every month. I'm a model citizen. buy a house! Sure thing...when I can afford it. I'm in no rush to buy a home. Im just giving you sh!t, i do the same thing. All bills are paid off at the end of the month. Car is paid off, condo paid off. Outside of the NY mortgage, I pretty much only have shopping bills. Dang it, if only I had a kid!
February 14, 200817 yr I want one of those! (a converter box). Why have I not heard about these until now? I was starting to think this was going to be like Y2K was supposed to be, only for TVs. We just do not have the $ for a new TV.
February 14, 200817 yr I want one of those! me too! Thank God, I don't have to worry about ruining my figure to get one! :wink:
February 14, 200817 yr LOL. I want one of those too, but it's probably not going to happen. Anyway, my figure is already ruined. Major abdominal surgery will do that to you. :)
February 14, 200817 yr I want one of those! (a converter box). Why have I not heard about these until now? I was starting to think this was going to be like Y2K was supposed to be, only for TVs. We just do not have the $ for a new TV. If you have cable or satellite, you won't be affected. But if you get over-the-air broadcasts and don't have one of those boxes (which look a little like dvd players), you'll get only that popcorn fuzz next February. With the coupons, those things are supposed to cost $10-$30 each. Bad thing is that they might make your picture a little clearer, but won't give you high definition.
February 14, 200817 yr I want one of those! (a converter box). Why have I not heard about these until now? I was starting to think this was going to be like Y2K was supposed to be, only for TVs. We just do not have the $ for a new TV. If you have cable or satellite, you won't be affected. But if you get over-the-air broadcasts and don't have one of those boxes (which look a little like dvd players), you'll get only that popcorn fuzz next February. With the coupons, those things are supposed to cost $10-$30 each. Bad thing is that they might make your picture a little clearer, but won't give you high definition. Thanks for the info.
February 15, 200817 yr Actually, I believe you will also be affected if you have cable, but no cable box (old school straight to the TV tuner style). ^^^^^x5: I used to pay off everything, too, until I bought a house. :) It would be nice to get back to that point.
February 15, 200817 yr Actually, I believe you will also be affected if you have cable, but no cable box (old school straight to the TV tuner style). ^^^^^x5: I used to pay off everything, too, until I bought a house. :) It would be nice to get back to that point. Thanks. We sometimes get rid of the box-cable and go to basic to save money but this will be a factor in us keeping it.
April 28, 200817 yr For those of you getting a check! :roll: 800,000 tax rebates planned in three days Posted by rroguski April 28, 2008 15:23PM The government today began depositing tax rebate payments in thousands of bank accounts as the stimulus program aimed at giving the ailing economy a jump-start got under way early. The Internal Revenue Service started making the direct deposits with the goal of completing 800,000 payments each day over the first three days of this week. No deposits will be made Thursday while the IRS prepares a big batch of 5 million direct deposits scheduled Friday. The IRS had expected to begin the program in May but was able to start a few days earlier by utilizing a computer system that can process payments on a daily basis. The government's paper checks will start going out May 9, a week earlier than previously announced. The rebates, which are expected to reach 130 million households, range up to $600 for an individual and $1,200 for married couples plus $300 for eligible children younger than 17. The rebates were the centerpiece of the government's $168 billion economic stimulus package enacted in February and are designed to bolster consumer spending and lift the economy out of the doldrums. The first wave of payments are going to people who opted for direct deposit on their 2007 income tax returns. Both the direct deposit payments and the paper checks are being processed by the last two digits of a taxpayers' Social Security number. For people receiving direct deposits, those with a Social Security number ending in 00 to 20 will have their economic stimulus payment deposited to their bank account by this Friday. Those with Social Security numbers ending in 21 to 75 will get their direct deposits by May 9 and those with Social Security numbers ending in 76 to 99 will get their deposits by May 16. For those receiving paper checks, the last paper checks, covering people with Social Security final digits from 88 to 99 will be in the mail by July 11 under the current schedule. The IRS estimates that about two-thirds of the payments will be paper checks and one-third will be direct deposits. The payment schedule covers people who filed early enough to have their tax returns processed by April 15. The IRS is continuing to urge people who did not file returns because they did not owe taxes to file in order to receive an economic stimulus check. People who do not have to file a tax return but have at least $3,000 in qualifying income may be eligible for an economic stimulus payment of $300 for an individual and $600 for a couple plus $300 per qualifying child. "We know there are many people who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment who have not filed a tax return," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said today. "If you think you may be eligible, even if you don't normally file a tax return, please check it out." [Yeah, sure. Let me file this year, so you can do a Wesley Snipes on me for previous years :police: ] People who have not yet filed returns have until Oct. 15 of this year to do so in order to receive a stimulus payment. The simple Form 1040A along with directions on what lines must be completed for the stimulus payments can obtained by going to the agency's official Web site, www.IRS.gov. Many economists believe the country has fallen into a recession, but President Bush last week disputed that view, saying he believed it was a period of slower growth that would be helped by the stimulus checks. Democrats, however, pointing to rising layoffs as the economy weakens, contend that more needs to be done. They are pushing for a second stimulus package that would include extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, boosting food stamp benefits and adding billions of dollars for construction projects such as roads and bridges. [ahhh, hello bring us a subway already] Presidential press secretary Dana Perino told reporters today that the administration was projecting that the first stimulus measure will create around 500,000 jobs this year and should be given time to work before a second package is considered. http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/04/800000_tax_rebates_planned_in.html
April 28, 200817 yr If I was eligible to receive one, I'd send it back to the Federal Government since it obviously knows how to best spend taxpayers' money!!! :speech:
April 28, 200817 yr If I was eligible to receive one, I'd send it back to the Federal Government since it obviously knows how to best spend taxpayers' money!!! :speech: Honestly, I think it's ridiculous. I'm not belittling anyone. Teach people how to save and make their money work for them instead of giving a "fake" bump in the economy. Most people have said they will use this to pay down debt.
April 28, 200817 yr I think that right along with reading, writing and arithmetic, we should be teaching our children banking/finance at a very early age. even the basics, saving and interest rates, how to balance your checkbook, budgeting, would do wonders towards paving a road towards lifelong financial responsibility.
April 28, 200817 yr I think that right along with reading, writing and arithmetic, we should be teaching our children banking/finance at a very early age. even the basics, saving and interest rates, how to balance your checkbook, budgeting, would do wonders towards paving a road towards lifelong financial responsibility. Amen! My father took my brother and I to Society to open up a passbook savings account when I was seven. I still have that account 35 years later.
April 28, 200817 yr National City's online banking was knocked out for most of the day, no doubt a result of tens of thousands of people rushing over to see if Santa left anything, which is how I found out National City's online banking was knocked out for most of the day.
April 28, 200817 yr I think that right along with reading, writing and arithmetic, we should be teaching our children banking/finance at a very early age. even the basics, saving and interest rates, how to balance your checkbook, budgeting, would do wonders towards paving a road towards lifelong financial responsibility. I couldn't agree more with this.
April 28, 200817 yr My pittance will help with: *tuition *rent *gasoline; to drive to the Buckeye state of course
April 29, 200817 yr If I was eligible to receive one, I'd send it back to the Federal Government since it obviously knows how to best spend taxpayers' money!!! :speech: Honestly, I think it's ridiculous. I'm not belittling anyone. Teach people how to save and make their money work for them instead of giving a "fake" bump in the economy. Most people have said they will use this to pay down debt. ^Amen brother! I think that right along with reading, writing and arithmetic, we should be teaching our children banking/finance at a very early age. even the basics, saving and interest rates, how to balance your checkbook, budgeting, would do wonders towards paving a road towards lifelong financial responsibility. ^ yes, yes, and yes! that's a key/oft-overlooked point to ending vicious cycles.
April 29, 200817 yr In order to get my $1,800 2008 stimulus check, I had to mail in a check for $437 owed for 2007, which crossed paths with the IRS's $46M "Your stimulus check will be in the mail shortly!" mailing. Madness, I tell you, madness!
April 29, 200817 yr Well let's see... Credit Card debt, consolidated and being paid off- Student Loans, consolidated and defferred until after the CC's are paid off... Recieved an offer at work for a 32' Phillips LCD HDTV for $350 (I work at an electronics store)... ...hmm, can you guess where part of my stimulus check is going?
April 29, 200817 yr i just had to buy brand new shoes/pads/rotors all the way around my car...final bill came to almost $700!....
April 29, 200817 yr I hope its a 1080p LCD HDTV! If only...:-( But you have to admit, $350 is not bad!
April 29, 200817 yr I hope its a 1080p LCD HDTV! If only...:-( But you have to admit, $350 is not bad! have you shopped around? I thought I saw some decent TV at Best Buy (or walmart) that were 1080p
April 29, 200817 yr I hope its a 1080p LCD HDTV! If only...:-( But you have to admit, $350 is not bad! have you shopped around? I thought I saw some decent TV at Best Buy (or walmart) that were 1080p Yeah I have...but the thing is, I was originally budgeting 800 on a new TV. Which, unless you do some serious hustling, doesn't get you very far-and I'm not willing to wait until Turkey Day. I'm not a serious gamer or a big sports fiend (unlike the rest of Greater Pittsburgh, although I do watch Stillers and Pens Games) so with all that in consideration, this was a pretty attractive option. But you'd best believe I bought a Protection agreement. i just had to buy brand new shoes/pads/rotors all the way around my car...final bill came to almost $700!.... I feel your pain...been there, ala November/December!
April 29, 200817 yr They should've just issued the stimulus check in the form of a flat-screen TV voucher. Seriously, people. Do this economy a REAL favor: spend your check on LOCAL goods and services. The last thing China needs is more of our government's money.
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