Debit cards from the government?

[canoeist52]

Yesterday morning on C-span Washington Journal I heard Economic Committee member, Carolyn Maloney D., 14th dist. N.Y., say that she had proposed to have the package issued in the form of a debit card to force the American workers to spend it quickly. She proposed having a short expiration date. It was discarded temporarily because it would take too long to implement.
How 'bout letting the people decide how to best spend their own money? I bought cell phones through AT&T that had rebates. Those rebates were in the form of debit cards which was not disclosed in the terms. I thought I was getting a check. Also the cards were confusing to use.
This may be something our government would consider for our future tax returns. This doesn't bode well for our financial freedom. What bugs me is that this came from a Democrat! Sen. Maloney , what about the lower and middle class's ability to save for it's future. Maybe I'll pay my taxes with a Walmart gift certificate to stimulate the economy!
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(oops was supposed to go to economic)

[shaniqua6392]

1. They just want to force us to go out and spend it right away.

Everyone in my family will be putting ours in the bank. We will spend NONE of it. Bush screwed the economy up and I am not going to help fix it. We will spend ours as soon as a Dem gets into the White House. Yipppeeee.

[thepurpose]

2. A friend of mine told me her sister in law got a debit card when she filed her taxes

It wasn't from the IRS but from one of those rip off rapid refund places. I'm with you though I don't like the idea of the card. Not everyone circumstances are the same. If they want to spend it right away fine. But some people may want to do something else with it.

[gateley]

3. The thought of a debit card issued by the federal government..... NOOOOOO!

You might consider moving this thread to General Discussion, by the way. :hi:

[canoeist52]

4. put it in the wron area dont know how to move it

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. I filed Unemployment for several weeks this last month... It comes on a USBank Debit card.

I can withdraw it as cash if I want, and put it in my own account, which I do because I don't want a bank that I don't have an account with getting my purchase info.

[canoeist52]

6. just another privateization of our US governmet

[TreasonousBastard]

7. What's the big deal? Food stamps have been on debit...

cards for years.

The point of a stimulus package is to stimulate the economy, which means spend the money. Whether that's a good idea or not could be argued all night, but if the point is to get money into circulation, then putting a check in the bank kinda screws things up, dontch think?

They're GIVING YOU MONEY and you're gonna bitch about how you get it?

Sheesh!