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Virus Confirms the Importance of Fiscal Responsiblity

Demand for the essentials - things that are still going on now - should remain about the same. People still need to eat, they still need to pay rent, and they still use energy. That kind of demand shouldn't go up just because some of us will have more disposable cash. You won't eat at a restaurant, but you'll still consume food. I'll be using the money I save to pay down debt, and I'll bet I'm not alone in that.

The money being created by the government is, hopefully, going to go to people to replace their lost income, so they can continue to pay for rent, food, and utilities. This isn't like other rounds of stimulus, where people were given checks in hopes that they would just buy whatever, like the Dubya rebates. There isn't much fun stuff to buy right now anyway, with stores closing.

With the huge loss of demand that comes with high unemployment and recessions, inflation just isn't a worry. We still produce plenty of the essentials, and production of the things we are short of right now will ramp up soon.

That (bolded above) does not seem to be the case, at least for the personal "checks" (allegedly coming soon) being sent to every household (taxpayer/retiree) when only about 25% (at most) were forced to stop working. Obviously, many (in fact, most) of those receiving "emergency help" have been working and/or being paid during the "social distancing" period.
 
That (bolded above) is simply not true. Many, like grocery stores, are now in need of temporary help, but rest assured that when things return to normal those recent hires will be the first to be let go.

You contradict yourself.
 
That (bolded above) does not seem to be the case, at least for the personal "checks" (allegedly coming soon) being sent to every household (taxpayer/retiree) when only about 25% (at most) were forced to stop working. Obviously, many (in fact, most) of those receiving "emergency help" have been working and/or being paid during the "social distancing" period.

Most of the plans mention some sort of means testing, even if that means just taxing people on the money they receive. But still, even some people who haven't lost their jobs are going to lose some income because of the recession. The money received by people who don't need it isn't going to push us over some cliff.
 
We would adapt. Lets start by planning for more likely things though.

"We would adapt" is a pretty terrible answer in response to a pandemic that shuts down large sections of the world's economies for an unknown amount of time.

You aren't planning anything. Your big plan is for everybody to run down their savings, THEN we make a plan.
 
Not at all, needing temporary help is not the same. Why give up UI or paid leave benefits to take a temporary job?

You said it "wasnt true" that many businesses were hiring, then listed a business that was hiring. You contradict yourself.
 
"We would adapt" is a pretty terrible answer in response to a pandemic that shuts down large sections of the world's economies for an unknown amount of time.

You aren't planning anything. Your big plan is for everybody to run down their savings, THEN we make a plan.

And yet, adapting is our strength. We plan for likely scenarios (or should, thats my point), and then adapt as circumstances change.
 
Most of the plans mention some sort of means testing, even if that means just taxing people on the money they receive. But still, even some people who haven't lost their jobs are going to lose some income because of the recession. The money received by people who don't need it isn't going to push us over some cliff.

Perhaps not, but why be in such a rush that it "simply can't be avoided"? Especially since most of it will go to folks who did not lose their jobs. Even if it was taxable, that would only result in about 1/4 of the "wasted" payments being returned (later as an increased FIT burden).
 
You said it "wasnt true" that many businesses were hiring, then listed a business that was hiring. You contradict yourself.

A business (industry?) is not the same as many businesses (industries?).
 
Perhaps not, but why be in such a rush that it "simply can't be avoided"? Especially since most of it will go to folks who did not lose their jobs. Even if it was taxable, that would only result in about 1/4 of the "wasted" payments being returned (later as an increased FIT burden).

Because people that need help, need help NOW. People have to eat, and they have to pay rent/mortgages. Congress can dither about the perfect way to do this for months, and they still won't come up with a perfect solution.
 
And yet, adapting is our strength. We plan for likely scenarios (or should, thats my point), and then adapt as circumstances change.

So I guess that's why you need everybody to have 6 months worth of savings to burn through - to give you 6 months to formulate a plan.
 
Because people that need help, need help NOW. People have to eat, and they have to pay rent/mortgages. Congress can dither about the perfect way to do this for months, and they still won't come up with a perfect solution.

It would seem rather simple to see which workers have had no more FICA "contributions" being sent in since the "social distancing" period had started. That would likely reveal most of those (both employees and employers) affected (as well as how much the loss of income actually was).

Obviously, some better system can (and will) be used to later dole out emergency aid to specific businesses - all businesses are not simply going to get a federal "shotgun" payment (loan?) and congress won't bother to worry about (Trump?) giving "extra" to businesses which did not suffer COVID-19 related losses.
 
So I guess that's why you need everybody to have 6 months worth of savings to burn through - to give you 6 months to formulate a plan.

Most people do not have a grand saved, six months is a pipe dream at these wages.
 
And yet, adapting is our strength. We plan for likely scenarios (or should, thats my point), and then adapt as circumstances change.

Are you arguing that the only thing keeping any of us from getting laid off is a cut in FIT? Does anyone think a business will make a go/no go decision to close up makes it about FIT when there are no customers?
 
I work in the convention industry. We are ALL laid off. Us AV guys, the guys who build the booths, the banquet staff, the housekeeping staff. All the venues. Plus all the lost business at the hotels and restaurants that serve the convention attendees.

Since the first weeks of march. Billions of dollars just, evaporated.

Hope things get better. I'm in a big organization, nationwide we need to cut the workforce by about 30%. Waiting to see if that includes me.
 
Splitting hairs now.

Not at all. I can think of two sectors off the top of my head that are probably doing better than normal right now - grocery stores, and Netflix-type services. But I can think of dozens of sectors that are either shut down completely or are suffering from significantly reduced demand.
 
Splitting hairs now.

Nope, you are grasping at a lone straw to show us those "many" businesses which you allege are currently hiring. How many (of those many) businesses are hiring those with restaurant/bar experience?
 
Hope things get better. I'm in a big organization, nationwide we need to cut the workforce by about 30%. Waiting to see if that includes me.

Its gonna be tight but my debt load isn't too high. Unemployment should pay most of my nut and savings should carry me for a couple of months without adding more debt.

Hopefully you make the cut. Good luck. Be safe.
 
I think most leftists who can see the end coming realize there will be massive unrest in the streets when it happens, just like has happened in other nations where the totalitarian government has failed to feed the people.

When a 'government' creates 'programs' and promises things to those people, then forces the people all to sign up for the programs, those programs sure as hell better not fail !

WHY are there still fools around who want socialism ???????

It fails every single time ! It does not, CAN not work.
 
When a 'government' creates 'programs' and promises things to those people, then forces the people all to sign up for the programs, those programs sure as hell better not fail !

WHY are there still fools around who want socialism ???????

It fails every single time ! It does not, CAN not work.

How's unfettered capitalism working out for us?
 
How's unfettered capitalism working out for us?

Might be a good question were it "unfettered capitalism" here in America.

It isn't, hasn't been for a long time.

We've had creeping socialism creeping up and creeping up... now we have out & proud open socialist/communists running for president !

This is not what we want or need.
 
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