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So, Tax Rebates are OK?

February 20, 2009, 11:07 am

I remember Democrats scoffing at GWB's on-time tax refund checks last year.  I agreed with them at the time, thought potentially for different reasons, saying that one-time rebates are far less attractive than permanent rate changes, and a rebate that just increased the national debt was robbing Peter to pay his dad.

So I am not sure how the Democrat's explain this any differently (from an email I got from the SSA)

Dear Colleague:

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This new legislation provides a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.


Over 60 million beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment. We expect all payments to be delivered by late May 2009. To assist us in issuing these payments as quickly as possible, beneficiaries should not contact Social Security unless they do not receive their payment by June 4th. As we move to implement the new legislation, we will continue to provide updates to keep you informed of our efforts in this area.


You can learn more about these one-time payments at www.socialsecurity.gov.

We ask that you share information about these efforts with members, colleagues and any parties who would find them of interest.


I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this important legislation with you.


Sincerely,

Cheri Arnott

Associate Commissioner

for External Affairs

The only difference I see is 1) the rebate is going to a lot of people who do not even pay taxes and 2) by giving it to social security beneficiaries, the generational wealth transfer is all the more stark.  Now we are robbing Peter to pay his grand-dad.

Tags: , , ,
Category: Taxes

5 Comments

  1. Allen:

    I'm with you, this one-off stuff is baffeling. More so this time around because we just did it last year and we know it didn't resolve the core issue. I figured it would take awhile before I had some examples for discussion with friends challenging that marketing fluff about change. The nice with Obama's been I haven't had to wait at all. Change? He's literally turned around and just did the same thing as W43. That's change?

    February 20, 2009, 12:00 pm

  2. Anon:

    This is spam, no?

    February 20, 2009, 1:06 pm

  3. ArtD0dger:

    Heh. I like it:

    "A government which robs Peter to pay his dad can always count on the AARP's support."

    February 20, 2009, 1:07 pm

  4. Mesa Econoguy:

    This was a distribution mistake by SSA.

    The actual release said:

    Dear Colleague:

    On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This new legislation provides a one-time graft of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.

    Over 60 million beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment. Paid for by Obama 2012. We hope we can count on you again.

    Sincerely,
    Cheri Arnott
    Associate Commissioner
    for External Affairs

    February 20, 2009, 7:33 pm

  5. YT:

    To use some vogue vocabulary: I'm capitulating on the US. What do I have to do to get my exit ready? Can anyone suggest how to get money out of the country and where I can move it and myself where it will be less threatened?

    February 21, 2009, 12:28 am