Remember those rebate checks W was so proud of sending us?

[Tennessee Gal]

Rachel, in her brilliant way, pointed out last night that the Obama administration also gave us a rebate. However, they did it in a smarter way, of course. They gave it in smaller increments through our pay checks, which meant that instead of receiving a check of a few hundred dollars that many just saved for a rainy day, Americans are getting a small amount weekly or monthly and are more likely to spend it and stimulate the economy.

The problem Rachel pointed out is that the Obama administration has done a poor job of telling the American people about it! W announced his rebate with great fanfare just like his "Mission Accomplished" moment.

How many Americans think of the small amount more they are receiving in their pay checks as a rebate and give Obama credit for it? Very few.

[madokie]

1. Rachel is the best we have

And yes it sucked the way the previous administration did their rebate. It was intended to get votes where with Obama its intended to put more money in our pockets day to day, week to week, month to month and in a more dignified way.
Our press is in the pockets of the rich and powerful retilicons, err I mean republics, dang it republicons, hell I give up

[Tennessee Gal]

2. Rachel is the best. She gets to the point.

The Obama administration needs to promote this stimulus in a more effective way.

[JohnnyRingo]

14. I agree, she gets to the point

But I love how she arrives there.

She begins by talking about something that gives little clue about where she's heading. Only when she pulls all the strings together ten minutes in, do we realize the point. This kind of writing every day must be amazingly taxing for her and the show's producers, but she never disappoints.

If I have to miss every political show of the night, I always record Rachel Maddow.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. But we are going to get one, she also pointed out...

...only this time from our HEALTH CARE PROVIDER when they don't follow through with their 80/20 requirement!

[Tennessee Gal]

4. Yes, I posted about that in another thread.

However, that is not a tax cut or rebate.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. No, but it is a check, and it will reference health care reform in the letter.

Awesome!

[geminifemini]

6. It wasn't even a rebate.

They deducted the amount issued from income tax refunds the next year.

[Tennessee Gal]

9. Yes, I remember that.

It was just an advance and wasn't really a rebate at all.

[Mc Mike]

11. +1, Thanks, gf. NT

[DFW]

7. But I had SUCH a great idea with my Bush check

I endorsed it on the back: "pay to the order of the Democratic National Committee," signed it,
and really DID send it as a donation to the DNC. I made photos at the time and posted them
on a few Democratic sites as well. I'm sure some right-wingers saw it.

[Tennessee Gal]

8. Great! Very creative!

[gadjitfreek]

10. I don't want this rebate.

It will only have the effect of bringing Social Security to insolvency faster. If they are going to do this then they need to eliminate the cap to pay for it.

[Tennessee Gal]

12. Perhaps you need to read this:

Social security is not going broke

http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/05/04/social-security-is-not-going-broke/

[RC]

15. Without our Living Wage Jobs, it most certainly will.

Obama tied Social Security to the General Fund. That was only step one.
With inflation, and the average pay and benefits going down, Social Security will be in trouble, unless the economy gets fixed fairly soon.
When was the last time Social Security recipients received a COLA?

[bvar22]

18. I would have prefered a check from the General Fund.

Decreasing FICA Contributions WILL bite us on the ASS!

The people who designed Social Security insisted on funding mechanism that was completely separate from the General Fund.
They did that For A Reason.

The "Temporary Payroll Tax Holiday" is a SCAM of the first magnitude cleverly masquerading as a Progressive Stimulus for the Working Class. Even the wording is NLP worthy of Frank Luntz.
WE didn't Cut the "Payroll Tax".
We "reduced FICA Contributions" which funds Social Security and Medicare.
"Payroll Tax" is Republican framing of FICA Deductions,
like the Republican Framing of the Inheritance Tax as the "Death Tax".

Honestly, do you really foresee a time when the Party Leadership will step up and say,
"OK. The "Temporary Payroll Tax Holiday" is over.
Time to Raise Taxes on the Working Class."
These reductions in the funding of Social Security are permanent.


Social Security is NOW directly linked to The Deficit.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1538388

We just sold the cow for a handful of beans.
FDR & LBJ would NOT have approved.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their clever framing.
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[polichick]

13. The administration needs to hire a first-rate Madison Avenue team...

...to get their messages out.

[lastlib]

16. You mean the $300 I donated to the Democratic Party?

[DefenseLawyer]

17. It wasn't really even a rebate, it was a payday loan

The Bush tax rebate was actually an advance that was paid back out of your rebate the next year.

[lonestarnot]

19. I never received one of doz. Fuckwad had me deleted.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. good post. Hoping Obama's team will get the word out before november