# I Pit the Tax "Rebate" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 27, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146 "2008-01-27T01:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/21 "2008-01-27T03:19:16Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] Where is the money for those annual checks supposed to come from? [/QUOTE] They could take it out of Haliburton’s welfare check. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/22 "2008-01-27T03:21:45Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] Where is the money for those annual checks supposed to come from? [/QUOTE] The same place as the $100 billion a year we squander in Iraq. Never again will I accept that lame excuse, “We can’t afford it!” Free health insurance for all! And a free minature American flag too! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/23 "2008-01-27T03:23:05Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Are you going to pay for your own war then? If you support the war then you already believe in confiscation of wealth. You just disagree with how it should be spent. You think it should be used to kill people (and you want to use _more_ of it). Some of us think it should be used to help people. Jesus agrees with our side, not yours. Why did you single out the Speaker for this, by the way. Bush is the one driving this train. [/QUOTE] The speaker is the one who wants to turn a rebate into a handout. You don’t believe in Jesus, so why do you care whose side He is on? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/24 "2008-01-27T03:27:22Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] The speaker is the one who wants to turn a rebate into a handout. You don’t believe in Jesus, so why do you care whose side He is on? [/QUOTE] Not believing Jesus is the immortal son of god does not exclude thinking Jesus had some chill thoughts. As for your first sentence, you’ll need to back that up. The precedent for this nonsense was set in 2001 under a Republican triple threat. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/25 "2008-01-27T03:31:05Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] The speaker is the one who wants to turn a rebate into a handout. [/quote] it’s not a hand out it’s a hand _up_ :p. The amount which will go to low income people is a pittance compared to what gets spent in Iraq and I don’t see you complaining about that. Why not? I’ll tell yu waht, if you’re really that upset about it, I will personally refund to you whatever amount of money will come out of your taxes for this rebate. How much do you think that will be. 3 cents? 4? If you can’t live knowing that some minimum wage slaves will a check for three hundred dollars, I will personally send you 5 whole cents via Paypal. Then you will have nothing to bitch about. What do you say? > [@](#): > > You don’t believe in Jesus, so why do you care whose side He is on? What difference does it make whether I believe it? If the Bible is right, then Jesus wants you to give your money to the poor. I’m just givimng you some food for thought. If _you_ believe in Jesus, you should know you’re going against His will. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/26 "2008-01-27T03:39:56Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] A rip-off, since it’s your money they’re giving away. [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t mind that much if the money was instead used to benefit people directly. Such as helping with healthcare and prescription drugs for low-income folks, or expanded job placement and job skills assistance. More grants for college for low-income folks. I call it “investing in people who need it most.” But if the government is going to engage in just passing out money so _some_ people can be sort-of helped, and the rest can buy X-Boxes or yet another HDTV for their kid’s bedroom - in effect, a transfer payment to foreign electronics manufacturers - then fuck it, I want my check as well. I reckon that among the “die yuppie scum” crowd that that sentiment isn’t going to play very well, but tough. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/27 "2008-01-27T03:43:16Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] I wouldn’t mind that much if the money was instead used to benefit people directly. Such as helping with healthcare and prescription drugs for low-income folks, or expanded job placement and job skills assistance. More grants for college for low-income folks. I call it “investing in people who need it most.” But if the government is going to engage in just passing out money so _some_ people can be sort-of helped, and the rest can buy X-Boxes or yet another HDTV for their kid’s bedroom - in effect, a transfer payment to foreign electronics manufacturers - then fuck it, I want my check as well. I reckon that among the “die yuppie scum” crowd that that sentiment isn’t going to play very well, but tough. [/QUOTE] Unless you make more than 150 grand a year, you _are_ going to get a check. The vast majority of this money is going to people who do pay income tax. ETA, I suspect you’re right that a lot of X-Boxes and MP3 players are going to get sold. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/28 "2008-01-27T03:53:42Z")
I’ve already decided to thwart our government’s fiendish plan to “jumpstart the economy”. I’m putting the whole thing in a savings account. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/29 "2008-01-27T03:57:10Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Not believing Jesus is the immortal son of god does not exclude thinking Jesus had some chill thoughts. As for your first sentence, you’ll need to back that up. The precedent for this nonsense was set in 2001 under a Republican triple threat. Daniel [/QUOTE] Did the 2001 rebate include non-taxpayers? If so, I would like a cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/30 "2008-01-27T04:01:11Z")
I’m going to use mine to pay for gifts for friends and family. Unfortunately, it is stuff I bought them for Christmas, but haven’t paid off my credit card yet. Yay, free Christmas shopping! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/31 "2008-01-27T04:02:37Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] If _you_ believe in Jesus, you should know you’re going against His will. [/QUOTE] My relationship with the Lord is none of your business, and you are wrong to question it. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/32 "2008-01-27T04:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Unless you make more than 150 grand a year, you _are_ going to get a check. The vast majority of this money is going to people who do pay income tax. [/QUOTE] Everything I’ve read is that it’s $75,000 per **individual** /$150,000 for a **married couple**. Do you have better info than that? [http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/24/news/economy/stimulus\_package/index.htm?postversion=2008012421](http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/24/news/economy/stimulus_package/index.htm?postversion=2008012421) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/33 "2008-01-27T04:05:52Z")
Read carefully. Over those figures still get a check, just for a reduced amount. There isn’t any info on the cap amount yet (above which you get nothing). ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/34 "2008-01-27T04:07:29Z")
Good Lord. The government is going to give you some extra money back and you complain about it? Sheesh. If you don’t want it, then donate it to charity or something. Please don’t begrudge those of us who need it. I imagine I’ll be buying groceries with mine. Is that OK? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/35 "2008-01-27T04:11:37Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Read carefully. Over those figures still get a check, just for a reduced amount. There isn’t any info on the cap amount yet (above which you get nothing). [/QUOTE] I read, but cannot find the source, that the cap was $125,000 per individual. I’ll eagerly await the Straight Dope on the cap. However, while a reduced amount is better than nothing, it’s still not cool. And since I think the whole “shotgun money out to the masses and hope for something good to happen” approach is ugly, unsound, and hurtful to the folks who need assistance the most, then I guess it’s arguing for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/36 "2008-01-27T04:11:42Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] My relationship with the Lord is none of your business, and you are wrong to question it. [/QUOTE] Looks like I hit a nerve. Since when do I need permission to call hypocrisy in others? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/37 "2008-01-27T04:14:22Z")
> [@](#): > > None of which has to do with the “rebate”. Try again. Okay. The rebate is a sop. Plently of money is being wasted, e.g., on war. I asked a question that hasn’t been answered. How much money is spent on the war in a day? The answer might provide some context for why we’re in a recession. It might also provide a comparison to the amount the rebate is going to cost. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/38 "2008-01-27T04:15:46Z")
Goddamn Democrats! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/39 "2008-01-27T04:32:22Z")
[QUOTE=susan] How much money is spent on the war in a day? [/QUOTE] In August 2007 Iraq cost us about [2.3 billion a week](http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/bucks_never_stop/). As usual, Bush is playing games with the funding, so it’s hard to tell, but I’ve seen several reports that Iraq spending currently up to 3 billion a week. That’s $430 million a day; about $1.40 a day per American. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146/40 "2008-01-27T04:34:01Z")
[QUOTE=Carol Stream] Giving $300/$600 to people who don’t pay income taxes to start with is NOT A REBATE. [/QUOTE] Huh. [The White House is calling it a rebate](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080124-4.html): > [@](#): > > Taxpayers could receive rebates of up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples. A minimum of $300 per person and $600 per couple would be available to those with at least $3,000 of earned income. If it was Pelosi’s idea, your President caved pretty easily. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-tax-rebate/435146.md?page=3)