Same-Sex Marriage Blame Game Aims at Paterson, Addabbo
Wife Tries To Abort And Poison Husband's Lovechild
Man Injured By Tree Limb Files Suit Against City
Charles Barron Will Run For Council Speaker
New Jersey State Senate To Vote On Gay Marriage
Mayor Bloomberg let his feelings about H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which was signed into legislation by President Bush on Wednesday, be known. Mayor Bloomberg said the government "is spending money it doesn't have," and "I suppose it won't hurt the economy, but it's in many senses like giving a drink to an alcoholic."
But don't worry, Americans - singles with incomes of under $75,000 and couples with combined incomes of under $150,000, all of whom are eligible for rebates - you are not the boozers Bloomberg speaks of. Mayor Bloomberg really meant, per a spokesperson who spoke to the NY Times, "Washington can’t stop itself from spending, and [the mayor] was not insinuating that Americans who receive checks are part of the problem."
Another part of the Bloomberg's intended point was that rebates were too simple a fix for a much more complicated economic problem, "This country has a balance sheet that's starting to look more and more like a Third World country. And we are trying to protect jobs, rather than enhancing the skill sets of our workers so that they can take the jobs of the future." One Brooklyn resident told the Daily News she trusts the Mayor, who happens to give homeowners rebate checks: "Bloomberg does things based on a smart business sense. I don't believe Bush would do anything that could possibly help the middle class."
And the Mayor made his remarks yesterday, which was his birthday. The third graders at PS 180 in Harlem gave Mayor Bloomberg quite the 66th birthday treat by singing Happy Birthday, presenting a Happy Valentine's & Happy Birthday card, and working him over with a barrage of questions, like "are you rich?", "do you have a million dollars?", and "do you live in the White House?". Also, they guessed his age at 107.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I wonder if Bloomberg chose the alcoholism analogy because of Bush's alcoholic past.
That would be a very sly double entendre. He makes a good point though. The rebate plan is a big waste of money that fails to address the root of the problem.
Really? He didn't mean that the people who are going to spend those checks on the same cheap crap they spent their other money on are the alcoholics in that analogy? Because I think it works fine that way, and he just backed away from it for fear of offending people.
I'm still amazed that bush has managed to so directly steal money from the next president's budget..
This is after all a 2009 tax credit that we're being paid for now..
"like giving a drink to an alcoholic" zing! that's gotta sting a little...
It seems Bloomberg believes that people generally cant handle their own finances but the government can. Soros, Buffett and other uber-rich Dems trust the hoi polloi with same conviction. I'm glad to know they think we are all too stupid to handle our lives in the way we think is best.
"This is after all a 2009 tax credit that we're being paid for now.."
Technically it is a 2008 tax credit (you settle 2008 taxes in 2009). I'm not so sure you are correct that it is stealing from the next president.. I'll have to do some digging as to how tax revenues are allocated to the fiscal year accounting (i.e. are they allocated based on when they are collected, or based on the year the tax is for).
Either way, whoever the next president is, they support the move, so again I'm not sure stealing is the proper term.
"It seems Bloomberg believes that people generally cant handle their own finances but the government can. "
It does seem that way.. if you've already made up your mind and don't bother to read what he actually said. Bloomberg's main point is that the government is already running a deficit, and increasing that deficit isn't going to help, nor is the one-time small cash infusion going to fix systemic problems.
Amen Bloomberg. Too bad preaching fiscal responsibility is going to fall on deaf ears.
Also, regarding fotoaddict's comment that "bush has managed to ... steal money from the next president's budget" don't forget that a President CAN'T do this (or most anything) without the Congress and Senate.
A lot of people greatly exaggerate the power of the President. Most of what happens in Washington can't be done by the President alone. It takes a village.
I think a billionaire should not really comment on whether or not people need a bigger tax rebate. Will it keep mortgages from defaulting? No. Will it keep the lights on for another month or two? Yes.
So...shut it rich uncle pennybags.
Fair enough on both points Politburo & eyekantspel.. I shouldn't comment before having my coffee..
And while bush couldn't do this by himself, he can make it very difficult for anyone to do anything else in this current congress.
So he tried to buy us off on his way into office, and now he's trying to buy us off again on his way out.. in all his decisions, he's mortgaged our country's future more substantially than any president ever.
History surely will be his judge, as the present is pretty pissed off..
"I think a billionaire should not really comment on whether or not people need a bigger tax rebate."
I think the executive of a city that has ~2.5% of the country's population should be commenting on national policy, regardless of his personal finances.
Again, his point is that keeping the lights on for another month or two does nothing to solve the problems we're facing. Oh wait, I forgot little Ricky's lesson. There are no problems in America today, except the existence of Democrats.
I understand what you mean Matty, but the purpose of this rebate isn't to help people pay their electric bill (though hopefully they do). It's supposed to stimulate the economy by giving people free money to go out and buy an ipod or a new pair of high heels; basically subsidizing the very behavior that has gotten us into this mess in the first place. On the flip side, it isn't a huge amount when compared to the billions being poured down the drain in Iraq. But the party is over, and our government NEEDS to start being responsible with how it's spent, because at the end of the day, we are all paying for it.
Printing money with nothing to back it is just going to hurt us in the long run. It's just gong to make the dollar even weaker, and as for pumping money back into the economy, from what I read, only something like 19% of the people receiving checks will actually spend it on goods. Somewhere around 50% said they would save it, and 30% said they would pay back debt.
Maybe rather then spend billions of dollars to give us $600 each, our government should work themselves out of debt. What will $600 buy you? A CHEAP vacation? A months rent(if you have a handful of roommates)?
Seriously, what the fuck is going on. It's going to be like Nazi Germany without the Nazis. Wheelbarrows full of worthless green paper.
Didn't see 11:29 when I posted that...
Since when is it Bloomberg's business what people spend their money on? No doubt some people will buy new shoes, an ipod maybe even ball-gag and a choker, but its not the mayor's business frankly.
If the Mayor really cared, he would cut some of the exorbitant overspending of his administration but then again he's more of 'Do as a say, not as I do' kinda guy.
I personally hope the funds get used to pay off some of that credit card debt that overhangs our society.
Patnugent, I think what you're referring to with the image of "wheelbarrows full of ... money" is actually more of a reference the Weimar Republic period of German history, immediately preceding the Nazi period. The problem there, and the source of the image, was extremely rapid inflation that kept wives waiting at the factory gates so that when their husbands got paid they could make it to the market to purchase necessities while the money was still worth something. But why was there so much inflation? Because of the massive debt Germany was having to pay at that time.
That's right, folks, massive debt. Sort of like the massive debt this country is continuing to amass. But really, let's spend more.
with the invention of the internet I suspect there's more useless spending by the masses.
funny thing is when I go on these useless materialistic boards many posters say they are poor.
They don't know what poor is. Better start your seedlings for the season.
"But why was there so much inflation? Because of the massive debt Germany was having to pay at that time."
Important detail that must be mentioned.. the Weimar government literally printed more money to pay the debt. While the US treasury does the same, it is theoretically backed by T-Bills, notes, bonds, etc.
And while bush couldn't do this by himself, he can make it very difficult for anyone to do anything else in this current congress.
He can certainly block things from happening but I find it hard to believe he can force Congress to pass anything he wants. The two parties were arguing over the size of the stimulus package so to think that this is all Bush's idea is a little naive. It is an election year after all.
Alcoholic? Is that like saying alcoholism is triggered by simply living your glory days at the frat house, to which you cannot escape?!