I feel alot better know this...

[rebel]

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said tax rebates will start going out Monday, earlier than previously announced, and should help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.

Sort of like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.

[Rick]

I really have some mixed feelings on this. On the one hand it will be a boost to some folks and it will put some money back in the economy. On the other hand, it's money out of the Treasury and further adds to the deficit. If you have credit card bills this will be a really good way to help get your debt down. Think of it as the gov't. making the payment for you. That's gotta feel good.

[BraggSurvivor]

The problem being, the money was borrowed from China.

President Bush also said "we are not in a recession". That's hopeful coming from him.

[Rick]

The money was borrowed from anyone that buys savings bonds. The old definition was any two consecutive quarters of decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has begun using a much broader definition, which I think is a lot more accurate. They look at a lot more factors than just GDP.

[BraggSurvivor]

Unpaid utility bills soar as economy sags.

Hundreds of thousands of utility customers are at risk of disconnections as the sagging economy drives up the number of past-due home heating bills and the amounts owed, utility companies in cold-weather states say.
Xcel Energy says 17%-19% of its 1.1 million Minnesota customers and its 280,000 Wisconsin customers are in arrears.

Northern Utilities, which supplies natural gas to 26,000 residential and business customers in Maine, says the amount owed by customers whose bills are 30-60 days past due is up 45% from the first quarter of 2007.

I bet most of these folks will spend their windfall on basic utilities......

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...-shutoff_N.htm

[Rick]

I knew that even as I wrote it but folks that are looking at 18+% on credit card rates had better make that debt their number one priority. If they don't get that behind them, they will be in the hole forever.

If they can get the credit card debt behind them, they'll have the money for the other bills.

[BraggSurvivor]

I knew that even as I wrote it but folks that are looking at 18+% on credit card rates had better make that debt their number one priority. If they don't get that behind them, they will be in the hole forever.

If they can get the credit card debt behind them, they'll have the money for the other bills.

I agree 100% Rick but from what I have been reading lately is that people are now living off the CC just to put food on the table and gas in their cars. They have missed previous payments and their interest rates on those cards have skyrocketed in the 25-30% range. There is no way they are going to pay those cards when their utility are being shutoff at the same time.

Check out the debt forums to see what they are saying......

I wonder how many people are gonna die this summer when they cannot pay for bills to cool their homes?

[Rick]

Bragg, most states have passed laws about disconnecting utility services during periods of heat and cold. Many utilities also offer an option to donate money to a "needy" fund when you pay your bill. I would think there are similar options in Canada.

It's not a fix all but it will help. We saw a couple of dozen die a few years ago in Chicago because of the heat and the city took steps to prevent that from recurring. You just hope those steps work.

I do get the CC payments for food and other necessities. I'm sure for many that appears to be the only viable option. But it's walking further down a slippery slope to the edge of the cliff.

[Alpine_Sapper]

I agree 100% Rick but from what I have been reading lately is that people are now living off the CC just to put food on the table and gas in their cars. They have missed previous payments and their interest rates on those cards have skyrocketed in the 25-30% range. There is no way they are going to pay those cards when their utility are being shutoff at the same time.

Check out the debt forums to see what they are saying......

I wonder how many people are gonna die this summer when they cannot pay for bills to cool their homes?

For kids and younger adults it won't really be an issue if they have some common sense and drink plenty of fluids. It's illegal for them to shutoff the electricity to the elderly's homes during the summer in most places where it gets really hot. They also have assistance programs to help pay off those bills. Not saying it's not going to happen, since it does every year, but I don't see an upward surge in that type of fatality. Now, the crime rate? Sure. Violent crime and theft go up every summer anyway, but with the added frustration of being po and broke, and more people feeling that way, should be a fun one down here.

[Sourdough]

Bragg, You see what that CEO of UBS the Swiss Bank said about the very near destruction of the whole financial system, the weekend of the Bear Sterns / J P Morgan salvage operation by the FED.....?

[BraggSurvivor]

I'm on top of it buddy. What is even more interesting in the last two weeks is the manipulation of precious metals. Keep your eye on that.

[dilligaf2u2]

I think you should spend all that extra money on Bacon and TP. Who needs to pay down CC debt when you don't have Bacon or TP in the house. (I say as sarcastically as possible).

If The Tax Rebate is used to pay down CC how will this help the economy? Go out and get a big screen TV. Go to Disney Land for a few days. Go shopping and help the economic numbers slid down a bit.

Lets all do what we can to make our chosen leaders look better on paper.

Don

[hermitman]

I think anyone that is worried should look more at history.

[BraggSurvivor]

Buy a TV? The money was borrowed from China, the TV manufacturers are Japanese and Chinese and all the TV's are made in Mexico. No wonder the east is kickin our ***.

[BraggSurvivor]

I think anyone that is worried should look more at history.

What, that we never learn from past mistakes?

[hermitman]

That there are departments that specifically slow down the economy in times of growth in order to prevent a depression

[BraggSurvivor]

That there are departments that specifically slow down the economy in times of growth in order to prevent a depression

Well, I think they need a raise, as "they" are doing one a heck of a job.

[Rick]

And just what or who are these departments? How does slowing down growth prevent a depression?

[BraggSurvivor]

And just what or who are these departments? How does slowing down growth prevent a depression?

There is no "they" Rick.

[hoosierarcher]

The biggest reasons gasoline is so high in price are as follows, World wide demand is up and China (in their continued economic war against the US) is buying all they can no matter how much it costs them . They are going into massive debt to do so. The dollar is weakening because of the economic warfare of China and other of our enemies and our own economic policies. Also because environmentalist fanatics will not allow new refineries to be built or our on untapped oil areas to be used. China is paying and equiping Cuba to exploit caribbean oil(which is the America GULF OF MEXICO OIL FIELD) The environmentists groups of America and Canada were where all the failed Communist parties of the western world ran to change their tactics when they saw that the Labor Unions were not going any further Left than liberal Democrat. They work to bring about economic equality in the world by making all the world a third world country. The saddest part of all this is that people just blame the oik companies or our government and never bother to learn the truth. Furthering that sadness is they don't want to learn and they will sell their freedom for cradle to grave caregiving from Big Brother and cheap fuel and the illusion of prosperityZ(Madison Avenues vision of the Good Life).