COVID19 Free Money USA

[GuyG]

Originally Posted by jsmmonaco

first, if you get $2400, put away $600 to pay in taxes next year.......it will be taxable................

It will NOT be taxable. Our local TV news folks asked both of our U. S. Senators on camera. They both agreed. Not taxable.

[TonyMac]

Originally Posted by McRod

Can we talk about the free money without it becoming political?

Ok, ok. Free money was click bait. Someone has to pay - nothing's free right? I guess it will be you guys that are "essential", as the rest of the non essentials won't have a job.

Anyhow, other than propping up the stock market, I'd like opinions/questions on how the money is being dispersed.

Here are my points:

1. Individual $1,200-$2,400 checks. ~$300Billion total.
What is this purpose? If your laid off you get unemployment $$, right? My only guess is some sort of payback from the last stimulus that only focused on corporate America. With the hopes people are just going to go out and give it back to Walmart and Amazon anyhow...I am going to call it "Trickle Up" economics. . Who among you is not going to take this money, assuming you qualify to receive it? Anyone??

2. Small businesses receive $500 Billion. I kinda get this, if you had to shutter your doors, but what about the 1000s of small businesses still doing business? Do they get a piece of the pie? The other issue is that a small business is defined (by the SBA) as having fewer than 500 (hundred) employees. So we are not talking necessarily about moms bakery.

3. Big corporations. Here we go again. $500 Billion in "subsidized" loans. Really? Big corps have been raking us over the coals for the past decade raking in Trillions posting unheard of "profits"!.. They couldn't save enough to weather a few months? Sorry, I am still not in favor of propping these guys up. In a year from now prices will still be exhorbitant. They need to "flatten" their curve!

4. Medical industry. Something like $200Billion. This one I definitely don't understand. I am going to get some hate because people are going to shout about how many lives were saved, etc etc...We have the most unaffordable healthcare system in the world. They alone make Trillions. They are not giving FREE coronavirus care. Sure you can get tested free, but if your positive, be prepared to make a huge insurance claim, or file bankruptcy if uninsured. They are going to get their money. People are GREAT for business in the healthcare industry. It's a Gold mine! Extra money means you can buy extra gloves, extra ventilators, extra test kits, extra beds, extra employees!
Why are we giving them money again?

5 The rest is going to government agencies like FEMA. Without digging too far, I get it.

But maybe someone else can shed some light on my opinions/questions.

Please...no politics. I want answers, not deleted posts.

"Please...no politics?? What are you saying? You're whole rant stunk of politics. But since it was not removed, I'd like to comment.

None of us will pay for this stimulus, or the one before it. None of us will live long enough. Our great grandchildren will. What is wrong with propping up the stock market? Most anyone with a retirement account is invested in the stock market. And if you do not have a retirement account, you are wrong; so why should we prop up people who won't prop up themselves?

1. I am not taking the money, because, like a lot of people here, I don't qualify. I made the mistake of using the opportunities afforded every American to get an income, get a skill, and get a job that pays too much.

2. A lot of businesses are open only to provide for their employees. They are doing busy work; cleaning, reorganizing inventory, going thru records and planning new work. Why exclude them.


3. Thank all that is Holy that the big corporations have been raking in the money, because big corporations are owned by investors, and I want them to make big profits. That is how I will retire. I have been investing since graduating from flight school in 1980. If you really feel big corporations make so much money, invest in them and get a piece of the action.

4. Why is our healthcare so "unaffordable"? Two reasons. Fix these and the cost will come down:

First, it's just that good. In a matter of months, we have a test that can tell you that you are COV19 positive or negative in less than 10 minutes. You know why? Because someone is gonna get rich for saving your life. Heart surgery thru the femoral artery and walk out of the hospital in days as opposed to weeks. Even the lowly cataract surgery and ubiquitous laser eye surgery are amazing when you think about it.

Second reason healthcare is so expensive: Most people get it for free. Maybe write that down, because it's important. When some drug deal goes bag and some drug dealer gets shot, he pays nothing for his emergency surgery and recovery. Baby momma on her third delivery by some unknown deadbeat baby daddy and nobody pays anything. Used to be churches paid for this all thru offerings and religious hospitals who treated everyone regardless of anything, now taxpayers have displaced them.

The reason we are giving the healthcare industry money is a lot of people will be getting treatment and not paying a cent. Why are we giving the Kennedy Center a penny? Green energy in a COVID19 Bill? What are they gonna do about COVID19? (silence)

[laj]

absolutely smack dab right between the eyes. no rant, just the facts[emoji850]

[RVPioneer]

#1^^^

If you don’t qualify for the money, can you honestly say that you won’t be taking it?

It won’t be offered to you. You have no choice.

Regarding health care, which is really sick care, while there are some remarkable tests, medicines and procedures, when evaluated form a position of expenditures and outcomes, US healthcare performs quite poorly on the global scale. We are, as the documentary title states, Fat, Sick and nearly Dead. It’s easy to be that way because we can just take a pill or have a procedure to make it all better.

[docj]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

Most people get it for free. Maybe write that down, because it's important. When some drug deal goes bag and some drug dealer gets shot, he pays nothing for his emergency surgery and recovery. Baby momma on her third delivery by some unknown deadbeat baby daddy and nobody pays anything. Used to be churches paid for this all thru offerings and religious hospitals who treated everyone regardless of anything, now taxpayers have displaced them.

With all respect, you appear to have absolutely no understanding of what happens if you are treated in a hospital and don't have insurance. During normal times, my wife and both volunteer at a free medical clinic for uninsured individuals in the Corpus Christi areas. Some of our patients are those who have been treated by local hospitals and who then have been "dumped out."

You appear to think that treatment is free if you go to a hospital without insurance. Let me assure you that isn't the case. Many hospitals will treat you if you appear with a life threatening condition. But they have no obligation to treat you once the immediate emergent condition has been stabilized. So if you're having a heart attack you'll get medication to get you past the crisis but you won't be able to get a stent, a valve replacement, etc. Nor will you be able to get a cardiologist to prescribe your needed meds.

Furthermore, if you have something like breast cancer you may not get any treatment at all unless you happening to be dying when you show up in the ER. The most tragic patients we have are those with chronic conditions, many of which are treatable, but who can't get treated by a hospital because their lives are not in immediate danger.

Lastly, even if you do get treated at a hospital without insurance, let me assure you that it isn't free. You will be billed for the services rendered that bill will be at the highest rate, unadjusted for negotiated insurance rates. Furthermore, if you don't pay you will be hounded by bill collectors. Millions of Americans go bankrupt each year because of medical bills they can't afford to pay. Sure, some accounts will eventually be written off but not without trying to collect.

Sure, treating the uninsured is a portion of the costs that a hospital has to cover each year. But don't for once think that millions of people are getting away with things by getting their care for free.

[TonyMac]

Originally Posted by docj

With all respect, you appear to have absolutely no understanding of what happens if you are treated in a hospital and don't have insurance.

Actually, I demonstrated a high degree of understanding. Remember the drug dealer who got shot? He gets treated and he has no insurance. Remember baby momma? She gets treated and she has no insurance. Yeah, I know other stuff is not covered. Do not hold me accountable for things I did not say. Do not read into my words. [mod edit] Baby moma used up $35,000 of hospital billing and the Mister Drug Dealer used up another $125,000. And those patients paid nothing, and the doctors got rich, and that's the way they set it up and that's the way it runs.

Meanwhile, I pay $600 for an ambulance ride for 2.35 miles. Because Mr Drug Dealer paid nothing. My only child's delivery cost me $2500 out of pocket, which I gladly paid, but baby momma got about the same treatment for nothing, nada, zero for all three of hers.

[sanda]

I don't know if I will get a check or not. What I have learned is the big company money will be LOANS to include interest on the amount. Much like 2009 bailouts for GM and Chrysler. Those have been repaid. Without this bailout our economy will be in the toilet and will fail. Then what do we do? If the government goes broke you can kiss our retirements away. Small business will be loans but forgiven if they keep all employees working. This will save us the cost of paying their unemployment. This money is meant to be used for mortgage payments and spending at the locally owned stores. Its a big circle economically but it actually makes some sense. Hopefully most who receive checks will use it for charity and/or locally owned purchases.
If anyone can justify their economic plan please do.

[NLOVNIT]

HEY! Watch the personal barbs, folks. They're against our Community Rules & off-topic.

Get back on to talking about the stimulus payouts, which is the subject of this thread, or move on.

Lori-

[sanda]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

I don't think many people totally realize what just happened with the 2,000,000,000 Dollar Bill

Have you read the list of millions not going to main street?

The Kennedy Center for example will take your check in addition to the 30,000,000 in the bill

A lot of good people went along with BS to get the money to main street

You are doing your fellow men and women a huge disservice if you don't make extra efforts to restore and restart the economy

Millions of people will need money in their pockets and in the tills, not more loans

By anything American made or produced

Well said!

[Charming]

I know the topic title was click bait, I tried, I tried, I really really tried not to open it.

I need to go back and find the topic on the 2017 tax give a way to see how it compares to this topic. So far a fairly balanced discussion with the usual aspersions.

Lucky me, both of my Senators tried to make one of the poorest states in the nation proud by worrying that the govment was giving too much money to po folk.

[laj]

my money is already marked, just waiting for it so i can get rid of the issue.

[redcolorado]

Originally Posted by McRod

That's what I am thinking. Feels like dirty money to me. I don't particularly "need" a payout. I haven't been impacted by it. I know there was a lot of complaining the last bailout, so I guess they figure this will silence the masses. I also don't see the need for it to be given to the medical industry or corporations. Small businesses and FEMA makes sense.

Give it to charity if you don't feel you deserve it. I look at it as more of MY tax money I am getting back. And it will buy a lot of beer.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

...

1. I am not taking the money, because, like a lot of people here, I don't qualify. I made the mistake of using the opportunities afforded every American to get an income, get a skill, and get a job that pays too much...

You make some good points. Too bad you couldn't do it without insulting every American who didn't have the opportunities you did, who were able to get a good job but were unlucky enough to have it shut down during this mess, who are young and just starting in their career, etc. etc. etc. Lots of honest, hard-working people in this country making less than the cut off point. Probably the vast majority.

It's great that you make more money than the cut off. But that doesn't make it right to demean others who haven't got to that point yet.

Originally Posted by TonyMac

Actually, I demonstrated a high degree of understanding. Remember the drug dealer who got shot? He gets treated and he has no insurance. Remember baby momma? She gets treated and she has no insurance. Yeah, I know other stuff is not covered. Do not hold me accountable for things I did not say. Do not read into my words. [mod edit] Baby moma used up $35,000 of hospital billing and the Mister Drug Dealer used up another $125,000. And those patients paid nothing, and the doctors got rich, and that's the way they set it up and that's the way it runs.

Meanwhile, I pay $600 for an ambulance ride for 2.35 miles. Because Mr Drug Dealer paid nothing. My only child's delivery cost me $2500 out of pocket, which I gladly paid, but baby momma got about the same treatment for nothing, nada, zero for all three of hers.

Lots of people get treated that can't afford it. Correct. And then they have the bill hanging over their lives that they likely will never be able to pay. Why the need to be so demeaning to people who need medical help and can't pay? Are you assuming that all people without insurance are drug dealers or are abusing the system?

[laj]

not true at all. welfare pays about 50% of total bill. hospitals, drs. have to eat/write off the rest. i have lived the med. community all my life. A good friend of mine works in auditing dept of a major hosp. so i know how this is done.
As far as the rest of your excuses, thats all they are, whining.