What the Stimulus Means for You
Whatever its impact on the overall economy, the plan will give your finances a jolt.
By Anne Kates Smith, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, April 2009
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You'd definitely want something to show for spending nearly $800 billion, and lawmakers hope a wide-ranging stimulus package will breathe life into our economy. Mark Zandi, of Moody's Economy.com, figures that the package will give some two million people jobs they wouldn't otherwise have had by the end of 2010 -- and as many as three million by late 2011. It could add one percentage point to economic growth in 2009, and just under two points in 2010.
That's the big picture. There's plenty to boost your bottom line, too, including:
A bigger paycheck. Starting in the second half of this year, you'll see a little extra in your envelope from a reduction in the amount withheld to cover income taxes-up to $400 for individuals and $800 for couples, both this year and next. The credit will be phased out for high-income taxpayers, starting at adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples.
A bonus for retirees. If you collect Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or veterans' disability or retirement benefits, look for a $250 check this summer.
Relief from the AMT. Critics grumble that a temporary fix aimed at keeping middle-class families from paying the alternative minimum tax would have been enacted anyway -- as it has been for the past several years -- so the measure doesn't belong in a stimulus bill. Nonetheless, expect a $500 increase in the AMT exemption for individuals, to $46,700, and a $1,000 increase for couples, up to $70,950. The move would free 26 million families from the AMT in 2009.
A tax break on new wheels. If you buy a new car, light truck, motorcycle or motor home this year and spend up to $49,500, you can deduct state and local sales taxes (most states levy about 6%). Individuals who make less than $125,000 and families making less than $250,000 qualify. You get the deduction whether or not you itemize on your return. A family that makes $150,000 a year and buys, say, a Dodge minivan could save about $420. Buy a plug-in hybrid and you could get a credit of up to $7,500.
An incentive for home buyers. A tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers has been extended through November. Those who buy in 2009 won't have to pay the credit back, as must those claiming the credit for 2008 purchases. For all homeowners, the cap on credits for energy-efficient improvements, such as new windows or insulation, has been raised from $500 to $1,500.
A break on college tuition. A beefed-up Hope (now American Opportunity) credit will max out at $2,500, up from $1,800. Qualifying income limits rise to $80,000 for singles and $160,000 for couples. Does your college student need a PC? You can use money in your 529 account to buy one -- or Internet access -- this year or next.
Lifeboats for the laid-off. Those who remain on their former employer's health-insurance plan will get a 65% subsidy for up to nine months. The first $2,400 in unemployment-insurance benefits this year will be tax-exempt.
Reader Comments (53)
Posted by: Jim at 02/16/2009 10:24:21 AM
What about aid for those of us who sold houses at a loss last year due to the market change? Not only do we miss out on the "first time" buyer credit, but we also miss out on the deduction of the loss. Thanks a lot, Congress and President Pbsma.
Posted by: beckie at 02/17/2009 09:04:06 AM
The items like the removal of Welfare reform and other buried bills are what no one is writing about. Now, anyone filing for welfare or on it, will no longer have to work at all. More taxpayer money to be spent on free and long lasting welfare riders. Enjoy the temporary band aides from this stimulus. It is the hidden stuff that is going to kill us when it is exposed but it will be too late then! Our poor kids and grandkids will suffer this terrible mistake that was born and hastily put into action. A ship of fools and we are going down in it. Better hope you own some gold.
Posted by: Tom at 02/20/2009 10:59:40 AM
On one of our local TV affiliates this morning, they reported that only 8 percent of homeowners are making their mortgage payments and the other 92 percent are not. So the 92 percent will be getting financial help from the Stimulus package for NOT making their payments and the other 8 percent basically get punished for doing what's expected of them as responsible homeowners?
Posted by: grace at 02/20/2009 12:42:21 PM
Please people stop whining. At least the goverment is doing something intead of sucking there thumb like the previous adminstration. What do you propose to do? Bring solutions, no more problems, lets work together so our gradchildren have something good to say about us....
Posted by: JD at 02/20/2009 12:44:44 PM
What do I get for this? Absolutely zilch, since I had the audacity to get promoted just above the income threshold recently. I'm an obvious case of backwards incentive coming from this law. I guess I shouldn't have done my job so well - given that I was going to buy a house this year. Either way my raise is truly worthless - I would have gotten just as much money in my pocket by not getting promoted. I can't wait to see what other penalties Obama wants me to pay for being good at my job. Obviously I'll be the guy whose taxes get jacked up to cover the debt some day.
Posted by: Randy at 02/20/2009 02:24:28 PM
Wow, a little more in the paycheck. I notice the author didn't say how much, that's because it is $13 from June - Dec and then 8$ starting in 2010. I'm sure most people won't even notice it.
Posted by: Jim in MA at 02/21/2009 07:06:33 AM
Unfortunately due to the income discrimination, I won't benefit from any of the provisions of the spending plan at all. I've spent the last 25 years as the first one to the office and the last one to leave. I can't understand why the people with the ability to help stimulate the economy are being excluded? We're all in this together yet these plans are targeted to help only part of the population. I may not worry about where I'm going to get my next meal but it took me 16 years to save for my son's college education and a significant portion of that savings has evaporated. My 401K and other savings are down 40% and I will be cutting back on many things which helped employ many people. I like many in my situation feel completely disenfranchised.
Posted by: Marc T at 02/21/2009 11:53:31 AM
What tax break or stimulus plan? There's nothing in there for me and my family. I work hard, pay more than my share of taxes, pay my mortgage and credit cards and I get zilch while those who lived beyond their means get a tax break and financial relief! I am living in a socialist country for sure!
Posted by: EJ at 02/21/2009 02:23:03 PM
So let me get this correct; According to Mark Zandi, of Moody's Economy.com, this stimulus breath will create 2 million jobs by the end of 2010. Let's do a little simple math. Between now and the end of 2010 is 22 months, 2 million jobs in 22 months means 90,909 jobs a month. Pardon my skepticism, but I'll believe it when I see it. I would love to be proven wrong, I just don't see the government being able to follow through is such optimistic projections. These projections sound more like inflated promises that are meant to get the public to buy in to this massive pork barrel bail out. At this point we can't just put our faith in "doing something" we can't afford to throw a stimulus at the wall and see what sticks. We need to learn from our mistakes and make improvements on future efforts. For example, it is obvious that handing money out to the automakers is not helping because they are already back to the bail out tough looking for more. I believe it was Albert Einstein that said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Some how our government thinks they are the exception. I am not against a stimulus from the government, but come on, let's stop making the same mistake over and over again.
Posted by: SteveTheHawk at 02/21/2009 07:22:14 PM
Man....this is pathetic. Jim is among the thousands in the "what about me?" crowd. Well Jim... I mean, what about me? I sold a stock at an 80% loss last year. It's in a Roth account so I don't get to deduct the loss. Yeah... it was an ill-timed investment that I take responsibility for. You should try doing to same. And of course, JD is whining because he is successful, doesn't need a free ONE TIME stimulus from the government, but wants it anyway. Perhaps evaluation of your thought process is in order. I'm fed up with the "what's in it for me?" mentality. Do you have a job? A home? Decent health? Think about what that means then decide if you have reason to whine and complain. My wife and I are both employed, saving our money and will be retired in 5 years. You know what? We are very fortunate (not wealthy) people. I don't want the government's money. Oh...and "Tom".... just to clarify... if 92% of people quit making mortgage payments, ever bank in the country would have collapsed and closed their doors by now. Better re-check your news sources.
Posted by: Steve at 02/22/2009 01:04:01 PM
Will the stimulus work? I doubt it. Any job created by "artificial" stimulus has little reason to exist once the stimulus is depleted. The stock market took a beating in 1937, years after the New Deal spend millions of dollars to attempt the same effect. It took a World War which nearly bankrupt our nation to correct the results of the 1929 Crash and Great Depression. Are we pretending it is somehow different this time? This is nothing more than a great transfer of wealth, from our grandchildren to us!
Posted by: PennySeeds.com at 02/24/2009 11:36:52 AM
Just to clarify on the 'bigger paycheck point'. Your withholding will be changed to 'give you more money'. Are they giving you a "credit" to lower your overall taxes or simply changing it to give you more 'now'? If it's the later it seems stupid as you could just edit your withholding yourself!
Posted by: Trotter at 02/26/2009 06:51:02 AM
As a business owner, I am seeing a lot of "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" principle here. All the monies are going out to people that are either unemployable or do not want to work period. This stimulus package is a Pelosi package that stinks from the get go. How can a Senator from my home state all of a sudden get smart on managing the number one economy in the world. Has anyone looked at Illinois?
Posted by: CHERYL BYRD at 02/26/2009 07:33:55 AM
I am just a little upset about those who get the extra tax credits/social security,etc. How about those of us who are semi-retired,but have lost money in our mutual funds (and not just on paper)and don't have the benefit of tax credits for those losses. I am speaking in terms of someone who wants to retire in 5 years,but will probably not have any social security because it will be bankrupt in 5 years. We are the middle class and where are our benefits?
Posted by: Mike at 02/26/2009 08:55:11 AM
It's funny because when you see the numbers broken down, it doesn't seem like much of a stimulus. It's more like a little economic coupon for each of us. I truly believe that today's economic challenges have a lot to do with how people think about money. I also realize that some people will never change how they think about money. I really believe that the best stimulus plan would be to have a mandatory financial education system in this country. Good financial education goes beyond any stimulus package.
Posted by: Peggy at 03/03/2009 07:34:25 AM
This package doesn't do anything for the people in our area who live poor all the time. People are whinning about the economy, well, we live it everyday here in TN and MS. It's very bad here so welcome to our world!
Posted by: Kelita Singleton at 03/03/2009 10:47:49 AM
I am amazed at how quickly Americans have forgotten that our new stimulus package is a result of the deficit that was handed down to our new President. So I guess we want him to coin the phrase "Don't cry over spilled milk"? We need to remember that he has a mess on his hands to clean up and it does take time and patience.
Posted by: Barbara at 03/06/2009 03:56:14 AM
I have heard the crap, "he's inherited this mess"...Well, that's really not true..the Bush Administration had a Democratic congress for the most part of the last 4 yrs, so get off that "hand me down" stuff!!! I got an idea....just give each adult legal American $100,000, and we'll get the economy going....to hell with the banks and the insurance companies...give the people the money, and we'll spend it and get the train moving forward, and we won't be paying the darned CEO's bonus' either!!! What's wrong with that!!!!
Posted by: Rocky at 03/06/2009 10:02:45 AM
The stimulus plan has very little if anything for early retirees living off investment income. If they are lucky, they will at least start collecting Social Security in the not too distant future. But the way the markets have been falling and the Federal government has been borrowing, things may turn downright awful in a few years. The destruction of retirement nest eggs may be followed by the collapse of the US dollar as the national debt spirals out of control. In those immortal words of Doris Day, "What will be will be".
Posted by: knobby at 03/06/2009 03:07:55 PM
Just look at Washington DC and think (foxes in chicken coop) matters not what you got they want. And they will get while the "fiddle" plays.
Posted by: Richard at 03/08/2009 07:18:14 AM
When the American citizens insist that we return to PRIMARILY focus on the INTERNAL best interest and welfare of the American citizen and just the U.S., and unwind from being global (enconomy and political power), PLUS the individual really CARE about what ONE DOES and TO EACH OTHER; then that will restore my hope in the U.S.; but, I do not think it will happen as I see it. Thus, U.S. and its standard of living will continue go down year after year AS IT HAS BEEN from what it was; but now at a FAST rate. For you younger people the U.S. DECLINE started about 1914, per very faulty college taught business, economic, political and social theories to then have them really take hold and picked up speed about in the 1950s & or 1960s to now compounded into complex global mess and a lower standard of living in all ways.
Posted by: Liinda at 03/08/2009 01:45:40 PM
Bush and his band of thieves got us into this mess--the worst since the Great Depression---and now everybody expects Obama to pull a rabbit out of his hat and fix it all in 6 wks. I'd be first in line to sign a class action lawsuit to prosecute Bush for what he's done to the American people, destroying the middle-class, and see him behind bars. I agree that CEOs should not be handed millions in bonuses under anybody's watch. A few hundred bucks in a Christmas card.
Posted by: Lynn at 03/08/2009 02:19:44 PM
What a joke Kiplinger is posting this plan like it's a real stimulus. Hey, where have you been? The market knows Obama's plans are going to destroy the economy. By the way, the economy was starting to show signs of life as was the market until Obama pushed through this horrible spending bill and by the way, Obama, spending and stimulus are not the same - stimulus means direct and fast and spending does not mean that. Obama needs to stop lying to America. By the way America, wake up - this man Obama plans to turn us into a social democracy and if you think that is OK go spend some time is a real social democracy like I did. Everything you know and depend on in the USA will be gone - do not let Obama sell you a bill of goods that does not exist. Obama is going to spend more money than any other President...and for those of you who think government has its own money - well, it does not - it is your money. Also, for those who think he won't come after yours - he will, he does not have enough money just going after the top 2%. Barbara, you are right on - this mess comes from Barney Frank and his friends - they thought it was OK to put people into homes they could not afford. WAKE UP AMERICA - OBAMA IS GOING TO DESTROY AMERICA. SPEAK OUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR THE USA!!!!
Posted by: Dave at 03/08/2009 02:35:04 PM
WOW!!! $400.00 more in my paycheck over a years time. Sounds like 2 happy meals per week. That should cure the financial mess.!!
Posted by: nykaren at 03/08/2009 02:46:15 PM
For all you who don't know, we may have a Democratic Congress for once. But we need 60% to override a filibuster to just be able to vote on anything. Not everything gets passed, folks.
Posted by: The Truth at 03/08/2009 03:42:25 PM
Barbara you are DELUSIONAL! A $100,000 to each american adult by a conservative estimate would cost 15 tillion dollars. Thats $100,000 x 150 million people. There are 350 million people in this country so 150 million is a very conservative estimate....You chime in with a political opinion and solution but you can't even perform simple math.
Posted by: Lisa at 03/08/2009 04:55:36 PM
The people stimulate the economy through spending, the people have no money to spend!! How is giving billions of dollars to banks going to help anything?? I have heard that the stimulus will add like 13.00 more a week to a weekly paycheck, so that's only 52.00 a month, how far will that go? A family of 4 can use that money to go out to eat once in a month?? I don't think it's gonna help a thing! All this talk of CHANGE, well that's what were getting is the change and it don't amount to anything! Canada is sounding better everyday!
Posted by: Ed at 03/08/2009 05:01:27 PM
Re: Posting by Barbara 3/6/09. Please get your facts straight. The Republicans controlled Congress for ten years ending in 2007.
Posted by: Chado at 03/08/2009 05:06:33 PM
I have to agree with Barbara. So far I don't see this stimulus doing anything for the lower-middle class or the middle-middle class. It's main benefit is for the higher income end of the upper-middle class, those making in excess of $75000 a year, which I do not make half of. So the Obama plans attacks the job makers, those making in excess $250,000 in effect killing jobs and does nothing for us worker bees. As Barbara said, give all us worker bee's $100,000, those who've learned to live on a budget then you'll see new homes being built and purchased and the auto industry revived in addition to businesses like Home Depot, Best Buy and Kohls raking in the income.
Posted by: jpna at 03/08/2009 05:21:40 PM
I am neither Democrat or Republican, but I realize that these freddie mac and fannie mae loans that everyone is blaming for this whole economic downfall were put in place by BILL CLINTON, not George Bush. I don't think Bush is totally innocent here, but for him to get the majority of the blame for things that were put into place by Clinton is unfair. Congress is just a bunch a bullies that have let these things get created but don't wanna take responsibility for anything that they voted in.
Posted by: WayneTheSoldier at 03/08/2009 05:32:44 PM
I agree with Barbara, give us 100,000 and we the people will get it going. This plan was BS and will cost the tax payers in the end.
Posted by: brenda at 03/08/2009 06:38:02 PM
I totally agree with Barbara. Take the total tax bill and divide it up among American Citizens. Not only will we pay off our mortgages, but we will be able to buy things and get the economy moving. Some of us may even use the money to start our own businesses. Let the big boys fail, the smaller, smarter guys will expand.
Posted by: Susan at 03/08/2009 07:10:12 PM
Barbara, You hit the nail on the head! I "ditto" everything you just said and for you liberal media people, why don't you for once print what both sides say. You are so one-sided. You make me sicker each day! What is this about it started back when Jimmy was the Pres? Huh?
Posted by: Rick at 03/08/2009 09:05:15 PM
Yeah Barbara! You can go even further than that!! Pay off every responsible persons mortgage.If you have not defaulted on any of your loans and you are now strapped for money because your being responsible with what little you have you should be rewarded!! To heck with bailing out the irresponsible and giving them a bonus!!! You can handle two things at one time by giving the responsible ones the money to pay off what they owe the irresponsible ones! They both get there money back!
Posted by: abbel2 at 03/14/2009 11:57:53 AM
i think they help most of the home oweners. we were tricked into mortgages that knew we could not pay off. nobody know(s) what it says in those refinancing forms, they would also put that you make more then you did. they should at least help.
Posted by: Sheila at 03/14/2009 05:18:39 PM
I agree with Barbra 100%. I've been saying this all along. Why is it that those in charge and suppose to be so smart don't want to see this. It seems like they want us to suffer, but pay out to the big companies that aren't responsible anyway. It sounds to me as if the government wants to keep us down and under their thumb. I lost a good job because our government lets other countries come in and buy our companies, and then shut us down. Why can't we be heard?
Posted by: Bill at 03/17/2009 09:01:40 AM
People who signed docs and didn't read them or pay a small fee to have a lawyer review them should be ashamed. No one tricked you, you just believed that RE would always go up and you were greedy. And for those who bought with zero down, refinanced and took more money out, now are underwater, you are making money, not loosing everything and you deserve no help from the taxpayer whatsoever. As for loosing a good job to foreigners, I tried for 15 years to sell American made goods and no one would pay the price difference. That is why the jobs are gone, because Americans would not support them with purchases.
Posted by: t mac at 03/17/2009 09:06:51 AM
"Why is it that those in charge and suppose to be so smart don't want to see this." Number 1 reason is they are NOT that smart! Neither are the ones who voted them in. "It seems like they want us to suffer, but pay out to the big companies that aren't responsible anyway. It sounds to me as if the government wants to keep us down and under their thumb." This IS the base platform of the democratic party. Tax the rich feed the poor until there are no rich no more...then what? got it! blame the rich for not making more you can take. keep the masses totally dependent on the government for everything. housing,health care,income,education,heat utilities,food,daycare,training. Problem is the only ones qualified for most of these services do not work! (employed folks earn too much, pay the taxes and do not qualify) while the average worker gets a total of 13 bucks a week!i guess to them the buying of one extra pizza or 2 happy meals every 7 days will fix all the ills of the world. you cannot keep the masses under thumb if they are allowed to think for themselves.hell the people signing off on this MASSIVE misuse of OUR money never even READ it before signing it. someone forgot to tell them THEY SERVE US!we the people do not serve or need them
Posted by: Anonymous at 03/17/2009 06:59:38 PM
The government is in bed with the banks -- they are all feeding at the trough. It is a great conspiracy done onto the middle class and the poor. Save! Save into your 401K .... save ...save ...save....
In the end, both conspired to rob us blind. In their eyes we are the working mules who pay the taxes and go to jail for not conforming to the laws. They are, after all, above the law (in their eyes)
I pray to God every day the President Obama will make a difference - ANY President with integrity and compassion -- would try to stop the volumionus bonusus to AIG. The People should be in charge here.
Posted by: joe at 03/31/2009 11:34:24 AM
The people have spoken and are they dumb. What did you think was going to happen when you give tax and spend liberals total power? Did you think they were going to do the right thing? The dumb middle class housewives who voted for this bunch are still in the dark. Well let me give you a hint. Your kids will never know the America you grew up in. We are entering the first socialistic period in this country's history. The government is taking over every aspect of our lives. Obama and his cronies in the Congress are making the biggest power grab since the Roman Empire. And whose fault is it? It is the fault of anyone who voted for a Lib. You sold out your future and your children’s futures...They used and will continue to use your money to enslave private industry, banks, hospitals, farms, schools, housing, energy, and anything else the can bend to the will of The Government. The sad thing is you are lapping it up like a thirsty dog laps up water...The government set the stage and the uninformed voter fell for it....One party rule is a disaster...
Posted by: Debi at 04/01/2009 09:41:44 AM
As always, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I fear that the majority of those supporting the intervention of government, the bailing out of free enterprises that should have been left to sink or swim based on their own merits, is due to the ignorance of the supporters who hear "socialist" and don't really know what the word means. They envision the old Cold War era Russia and compare the worst image of that evironment with their own current living conditions and say to themselves "it's nothing like that". They give no thought to how Russian citizens became oppressed by a government that owns and controls all methods of making a living.
Posted by: A.J. at 04/01/2009 10:06:32 AM
WAKE UP AMERICA..........CAN YOU SPELL "TERM LIMITS". WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD OUR APATHETIC BEHAVIOR TOWARDS WASHINGTON!
Posted by: Rubi at 04/10/2009 08:19:09 AM
Sorry Joe, I AM a middle class housewife. DON'T make generalizations...Blame the lefties and their self imposed blindness for the ills of this world...President Obama is STILL campaigning - did he forget that he is elected, and now has a job to do? Oh wait - he's NOT QUALIFIED - he doesn't KNOW how to do the job that the stupid people gave him!
Posted by: Chip at 04/10/2009 11:32:48 AM
Joe...What administration put us in this situation to begin with? And talk about a one party system...Bush and his sidekick Cheney did very little "reaching across the aisle". You need to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and try to fix the mess that the Bush administration put us in.
Posted by: zenmaster at 04/10/2009 11:50:12 AM
SOCIALISTS? Same as public schools funded by all of our taxes to serve a few, public libraries funded by taxes to ONLY serve the literate?
Posted by: zenmaster at 04/10/2009 12:59:12 PM
Debi...the old Russian cold war was a COMMUNIST State, Communism is a form of GOVERNMENT...Socialism is a form of ECONOMICS practiced in horrible countries like Canada(with) free medical services paid by all, the U.K, France, etc. ALL have SOCIALIZED medicine..the USA is the ONLY developed nation without it! If you like this thank the AMA ONLY representing doctors interested in making as much personal money as possible...have you ever waited to see a doctor?? 2 hours or 3 AFTER your scheduled appointment? Thank the AMA
Posted by: SilentEyes at 04/10/2009 01:09:53 PM
It seems that Obama forgot that he is the President and is going all over the world showboating the fact that he is the first MIXED-American President. As he is a Democrat I thought he would keep his focus on the home front and cleaning up this recession that we are plummeted into by Bush...I am a disabled vet that has shed much for my country and have seen very little in return for my brothers and sisters-in-arms, both still in military and veterans and retirees. And we need to wake up our government and show them that WE run this country, not our government. The last time I checked, the Constitution was written that America's government is a Republic Democracy. Not Socialist, not Communist, or any other design. These 4 years are definitely going to be interesting. To see our government take advantage of our present President behind the scenes is worth of a middle-finger to them for entrenching our tax dollars even further towards debt. Thomas Jefferson has a neat saying: Don't spend money before you have it. And for those complaining about Obama, if you voted for him then know that you should have done more research. I don't feel sorry for you, I pity a President that is more concerned about putting on a good show than taking care of his people( WHO HE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO!)....I will sit back and continue to watch.
Posted by: Chris at 04/10/2009 02:23:50 PM
This may seem radical to some, but I say that those who vote need to be US citizens (come on!!! You don't believe that all who vote are US citizens, do you?) Also, they must be able to READ and understand WHAT they read. I also think they should be...paying taxes or have paid taxes in the past. Next - TERM LIMITS so those in power aren't always looking to get elected instead of doing the job they were sent to do. We need to get rid of the dead wood and get some new blood in there. Some say, "Well, they won't have garnered enough experience or garnered experience will be lost". That must not really be a concern because Obama got elected to the highest office in the world (maybe not the highest for long). So I say Term Limits and voters who can read, comprehend and have given something to this country should if not be the only voters, at least have their vote be a weightier one. Otherwise, the clueless gimmes will outnumber the producers if that isn't already the case. This administration is trying to make all of us gimmes so they can tell us when and how we get some meager scraps from them. God bless America!
Posted by: Dianne at 04/10/2009 02:24:13 PM
Hey Joe! You hit the nail on the head except it isn't just housewives who were stupid! I could name you a bunch of men (look at Hollywood for example) who were mesmerized by a Muslim born guy who kept promising "change"! What a joke. He put all the same people in the cabinet that were there before! What a change!!!!!! I think all these people who voted for a liberal (Idon't care what color he is!) are getting just what they asked for. Trouble is --most of them didn't know what he even was promising! Sad, sad, sad. If you are one of those reading this that was taken in by the liberals in Washington - I feel sorry for you! Saw a great bumper sticker the other day saying "SHARE THE WEALTH - HELL NO! I WILL BE GLAD TO SHARE MY WORK ETHIC AND MY KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO GET A JOB". Kind of says it ALL!!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth at 04/11/2009 11:29:14 AM
i dont undersdtand whats going on. i am 19 years old and i voted for obama on the pretense that he was gonna change the economy and bring us out of this recession. he promised everybody a stimulus check, and now our "stimulus check" is a credit to our taxes?...how is that supposed to help? what about the people who still owe money to taxes? how is that supposed to help them get out of debt?...i had to leave college...i bust my ass at my crappy ass fast-food job because i cant get a real job, all for a 3-200 dollar check every two weeks. im sorry but you giving knowledge on work ethic and how to get a job just aint gonna help. "united we stand, together we fall" in case you fellow americans have forgotten the name of this country is the United States of America. keyword there being united, it is time for the people...to join together and help each other...im all for helping poverty countries and war-torn countries, but how can we help them when we cant even help ourselves?
Posted by: totallyamaized at 04/11/2009 12:01:38 PM
Reason people claim to be democrat is so they can deny any blame for whats happening to the country. BOTH democrats and republicians are to blame and the people who keep putting crooks in office just because they are in their party...(Obama) put a tax dodger in charge of the treasury and the banks. If you think you want socialized medicine then don't bitch when you get it and have to take whatever care you get from whoever they decide your caregiver will be and when they decide to see you. You have no choices what-so-ever. I server 27 years in military unifrom for this country freedoms and what is happening to the country now makes me want to throw up. All those people that voted Nancy Pelosi and Obama into office thinking they were going to get free handouts and not have to work for it will now find that Pelosi and Obama working together will take whatever they have left away from them. Redistribution of wealth to them means they will take it from anyone that has any and then give it to whoever they damn well please. They took trillions from the taxpayers and gave a token amount to the needy to pacify the people and over 90 percent went to their financial friends as bailouts and bonuses. Wonder why people screamed about AIG bonuses and yet Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac executives got even more but with Obamas sleight of hand and the people thinking he is some kind of messiah...Pull out of Iraq and Afganistan???? Guess everyone wanting that missed the fact that Obama has ask for even more money for the war and has sent even more troops over there....It is time Americians woke up and demanded these clowns do what they were elected to do...Time to vote every incumbrent out of office no matter what party they belong to.
Posted by: Dana at 04/15/2009 03:00:19 AM
I think it's absolutely ridiculous, that some of these Companies are even asking for bailout money. They have Big Profits from shipping jobs overseas and (to) Mexico, Their CEO'S make more in Bonuses than most people make in a year. Everybody is Asking for bail out Money. How about calling in debts other countries owe us...Enough is Enough, Charity Begins at Home. Help America get back on its feet...If we had a Woman doing the Budget, You know damn well it would balance out, No hiding funds...Give a poor family a break…..
Posted by: Dale Jones at 04/19/2009 08:56:17 AM
OK OK OK!!! My God, stop all of the crying. You guys Rep or Dem, they all have some form of hidden agenda. Do any of you attend your local government meetings? Any of you guys active in going out to city hall, debates, etc etc which all are held monthly. If you guys take the time to go an listen and observe (IN OTHER WORDS BE ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT DISCUSSIONS) you might actually know what the hell you are talking about. I'm 36 years old and I have always since I was 11 went to these meetings (with my parents). How can you people just spout off nonsense... You're 19, what do you really know about politics, oh and did he really say stimilus checks or a stimilus plan. You must listen carefully and selectively. I too served in my country's military and no matter what your heart desires you must always weigh out the pros and cons...to make it as even across the board as you can. Oh and lets not forget, the President has this team called the Cabinet, and they usually make the final call on what goes on in this country.