Stimulus checks

[03Lightningrocks]

No check for this household. And I am finding it disturbing that "There is no minimum income threshold. Even if you make $0 you qualify for the $1,200 payment."

I don't know if anyone remembers this but Bush did a "stimulus" style check many years ago. It started out as a 500 dollar "refund". The leftists started crying about how it was "unfair" to people who did not earn an income. So they changed it to a straight up 500 dollars no matter how little you earned. I think this method was a left over from that experience.

A funny part of this is that if a person is in college and being claimed by their parents, they don't qualify for anything. Their parents can get a 500 dollar check for a dependent but the dependent gets nothing. Some folks are crying about this policy saying how "unfair" it is. Of coarse nobody said it was unfair that the parents may have saved several thousand dollars by claiming the dependent.

[madwildcat]

No check for this household. And I am finding it disturbing that "There is no minimum income threshold. Even if you make $0 you qualify for the $1,200 payment."

I don't know if anyone remembers this but Bush did a "stimulus" style check many years ago. It started out as a 500 dollar "refund". The leftists started crying about how it was "unfair" to people who did not earn an income. So they changed it to a straight up 500 dollars no matter how little you earned. I think this method was a left over from that experience.

A funny part of this is that if a person is in college and being claimed by their parents, they don't qualify for anything. Their parents can get a 500 dollar check for a dependent but the dependent gets nothing. Some folks are crying about this policy saying how "unfair" it is. Of coarse nobody said it was unfair that the parents may have saved several thousand dollars by claiming the dependent.

Yeah, I am still having problems with the idea of a "stimulus check" if you have reported zero income. I understand that due to some crazy tax rules maybe there are some people in that group we won't generally think of, but if the idea is to help those that have been affected by COVID19 and have been contributing to the system and supporting it, how do you justify it for a zero income? Maybe this includes retirees that don't have "income" but are being affected? That I could be onboard with.

[longtooth]

Longtooth- Depending on how your loader attaches, there is usually a perfect space for a scabbard to attach to the side of the hood in front of your left knee. This may be the first time it's been an advantage to be a lefty. For handgun, you might look at shifting your holster position back a little to the 4-5 O'clock position as that gets the width of the gun off the point of your hip and [for me anyway] keeps you from banging it on stuff. Also [again for me] it's actually very comfortable that far back... but I mostly carry single stacks.

Did not know that & will check that out for sure. As far as moving it back I can't do that. The worse my arthritis gets the more I need it at 3:30. any farther back and I cant get it out w/o a very canted holster.

I will go look at that spot as soon as I get through here.
Thank you flechero

[srothstein]

A funny part of this is that if a person is in college and being claimed by their parents, they don't qualify for anything. Their parents can get a 500 dollar check for a dependent but the dependent gets nothing. Some folks are crying about this policy saying how "unfair" it is. Of coarse nobody said it was unfair that the parents may have saved several thousand dollars by claiming the dependent.

This is not quite true this year. If the dependent is over 17, no one gets the stimulus for them. It is 1200 for each adult that files taxes and 500 for each child, defined as they will be under 17 on Jan. 1, 2021. I have two college age dependents and get just the basic amount for me and my wife.

And for all those who do not understand why someone with zero income gets a check, I have two points to remember. The first is that this is supposed to be a stimulus to the economy, not a benefit to any specific individual. Using that logic, it makes sense to give it to anyone who will spend it inside the US. More importantly though, my second point to remember is that our tax system was turned into a welfare system many years ago. We created a bunch of tax credits, the most famous of which is the misnamed Earned Income Credit, which were "refundable" credits, meaning you could get back more than you paid in through withheld taxes. The additional child credit and some of the educations credits are more examples of this. The stimulus check is actually an advance payment on your tax refund for 2020 because the credit was added to the tax law as a refundable credit for the year. People who do not get it now will be able to get it next year when they file this year's taxes (if they file).

I do not think taxes should be part of the welfare system, and no credit should ever be allowed to exceed the amount paid in. Having said that I have to admit that I took advantage of it and accepted the money when I had all of the kids at home and got their credits in.

[03Lightningrocks]

This is not quite true this year. If the dependent is over 17, no one gets the stimulus for them. It is 1200 for each adult that files taxes and 500 for each child, defined as they will be under 17 on Jan. 1, 2021. I have two college age dependents and get just the basic amount for me and my wife.

Well I can understand the displeasure with that policy. I had understood the parents get the 500. So nobody gets the 500 dollars?

[chamberc]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

[03Lightningrocks]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Many of the folks getting a check paid taxes themselves. Me, for instance. So in my case, they are not sending me your money, they are giving me some of mine back. Somehow it does not feel like a windfall. The 100K income cut off seems a bit arbitrary. Considering the tax rate is the same at 95K as 100K and quite frankly, a 5K a year increase in salary at an 95K level does not make one wealthy.

I decided o look it up and found this

United States residents who have Social Security numbers with income of up to $75,000 will receive payments of $1,200. For every $100 you earn above that threshold your payment shrinks by $5. Someone making $85,000, for example, will take home $700. The payments phase out entirely at an income of $99,000. You can use the Washington Post’s online calculator to see how large your payment will be.

So I guess it is not completely arbitrary as it phases down above 75K. Still seems odd. If zero income can receive it, there should not be an upper limit to receive it.A person making 200K a year could just as easily be out of work from this as a person making 70. Truthfully, the lowest income jobs are less likely to be unemployed right now and could be making double their normal hourly rate so they show up at work.

[longtooth]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

[chamberc]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

[03Lightningrocks]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

You sound bitter. If you make more, you should pay more. That is how it works. I don't know what you make but I do know that by coincidence, those who are in higher income categories are also the ones who can work from home and not take any hit at all on income. The stimulus money is actually meant to help all those who are sitting at home with no income. Sitting at home while you earn money working from your computer is not called roughing it.

[chamberc]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

You sound bitter. If you make more, you should pay more. That is how it works. I don't know what you make but I do know that by coincidence, those who are in higher income categories are also the ones who can work from home and not take any hit at all on income. The stimulus money is actually meant to help all those who are sitting at home with no income. Sitting at home while you earn money working from your computer is not called roughing it.

You're dang right I am bitter of paying more than my fair share. Any conservative should be. Everyone should pay the same percentage from an income perspective. Sliding scale taxes are pure discrimination against those who contribute the most to the economy.

Anyone who supports taxing some more than others are pure and simple socialists...

[03Lightningrocks]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

You sound bitter. If you make more, you should pay more. That is how it works. I don't know what you make but I do know that by coincidence, those who are in higher income categories are also the ones who can work from home and not take any hit at all on income. The stimulus money is actually meant to help all those who are sitting at home with no income. Sitting at home while you earn money working from your computer is not called roughing it.

You're dang right I am bitter of paying more than my fair share. Any conservative should be. Everyone should pay the same percentage from an income perspective. Sliding scale taxes are pure discrimination against those who contribute the most to the economy.

Anyone who supports taxing some more than others are pure and simple socialists...

You act like it is something new. Maybe because I am older now I don't let it bother me as much. I have never liked having to pay a higher percentage than someone who makes less than me. But I did it for 45 years and now it is your turn. Suck it up. No sympathy from me. I had to do it all those years, why shouldn't you?

[chamberc]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

You sound bitter. If you make more, you should pay more. That is how it works. I don't know what you make but I do know that by coincidence, those who are in higher income categories are also the ones who can work from home and not take any hit at all on income. The stimulus money is actually meant to help all those who are sitting at home with no income. Sitting at home while you earn money working from your computer is not called roughing it.

You're dang right I am bitter of paying more than my fair share. Any conservative should be. Everyone should pay the same percentage from an income perspective. Sliding scale taxes are pure discrimination against those who contribute the most to the economy.

Anyone who supports taxing some more than others are pure and simple socialists...

You act like it is something new. Maybe because I am older now I don't let it bother me as much. I have never liked having to pay a higher percentage than someone who makes less than me. But I did it for 45 years and now it is your turn. Suck it up. No sympathy from me. I had to do it all those years, why shouldn't you?

The same can be said for any "we do it the way we do it because we've always done it that way"... I'd gladly give up my social security contributions if we could finally end that Ponzi scheme. Bottom line is, having unequal tax contribution is pure and simple wealth redistribution.

Sure, it probably won't change, but it doesn't make it equal or an American value.

[03Lightningrocks]

The same can be said for any "we do it the way we do it because we've always done it that way"... I'd gladly give up my social security contributions if we could finally end that Ponzi scheme. Bottom line is, having unequal tax contribution is pure and simple wealth redistribution.

Sure, it probably won't change, but it doesn't make it equal or an American value.

Hahaha... I have made those same comments in the past. Truth is, I would rather have the lifestyle available for a person in the 25% rate area than that of a person in the 12% area. Our tax system has always been progressive. The top rate now is lower than it has been in a long time. I never liked it. But it is not likely to ever change.

As for the "stimulus money", the point of it was to help those most likely to be suffering through no fault of their own. Those in higher income ranges who aren't being hurt don't really need the money. Most in that category are still making a paycheck. If it makes you feel any better, I just found out I don't get a check either.

[03Lightningrocks]

I have been thinking about what to do with the stimulus check we are supposed to get. For sure I won't spend it til I get it in hand.
I hope everyone spends theirs local and in the small businesses of your county or the State of Texas.
First I will pay the tax on it.
After that I am buying 2 holsters. Both from Tucker Gun Leather. Both I really need.
Then I am buying a pair of shoes from a local Lufkin small business owner that I am friends with. I don't really NEED another pair right now but will have it when I need them and he will need the $$s for sure.
Then I am buying 2 Belts. One each from 2 young guys that have started leather work shop here in Angelina County.
If this goes over whatever I get I will still make up the rest.
These things will be my reminder of what our God has brought us through.
If I have some left over I will find a local place to spend it.

How bout you. Any plans on arms or gear???

Many of us won't get one, which basically means they're taking money from us and giving it to everyone who is getting one.

Agree with 03lightning above. If I get one and dont know for sure if I will but I pd in all yr + self employment tax as a Pastor. They are just giving me back only some of what they took

And giving none of what they took from many of us who contribute more.

You sound bitter. If you make more, you should pay more. That is how it works. I don't know what you make but I do know that by coincidence, those who are in higher income categories are also the ones who can work from home and not take any hit at all on income. The stimulus money is actually meant to help all those who are sitting at home with no income. Sitting at home while you earn money working from your computer is not called roughing it.

I think I would be careful assuming those at the top of the income range somehow are all able to work from home. Many doctors (yes, healthcare providing doctors) are making nothing as clinics that are "non-essential" have been shut down and most others are being hit because no one wants to go in. Some can do Telemedicine, but the guy who injects your back to make your pain go away for 6 months or the gal who checks your heart murmur can't do that over the computer. And yeah, I think we have a right to be a little bitter given many are getting stimulus checks who are making zero income, which in many cases means, they were living off the system just fine without the stimulus check. I can live with a somewhat progressive system, but perhaps you should do a little more research on how much that ends up being for some of us before judging. Some pay more than half what they make into taxes, which seems like more than many would be okay with Uncle Sam taking.

I was not judging anyone. Your post reminds me of CNN. The top tax rate is 37% so even if you used no deductions you won't pay half.