Did you know that 1 in 8 Americans are at risk for hunger? Times are tough and I don't think anyone would disagree with that statement. However will a second economic stimulus package help or hinder the already weak economy? Feeding America formally known as America's Second Harvest are telling Americans that it is imperative that we let Congress know that they MUST pass an economic stimulus package that includes anti-hunger programs to help the growing number of Americans seeking food assistance.
They are asking that we send a letter to the members of Congress to tell them they need to act now. I know that Americans desperately need food. I ran a county wide food bank for years. I saw first hand what poverty is like in our community. My question is whether it is the Governments place to hand out money to help or will that just make the economy weaker?
I am on the fence on this issue. I must admit that we could use the money that a second stimulus check could give us but at the risk of putting the government in the red even more may not be the answer. I do not claim to know how to handle this problem. In fact I think it has gotten too far along to get it under control for a long time. So I am asking you in the Gather community "What is your opinion?"
Please keep in mind these are just opinions. Opinions are NEVER incorrect. They may not be the way we think but they are important none the less. Please do not insult another person for their opinions in this post. Thanks so much for sharing with me.
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Comments: 54
I have to be honest and say that I want that second check. I truly need the dough. We already have to move out of our home, we can no longer afford it.
They should have paid the American people first, so they can pay off their debts, which could be the banks, and it would have solved more problems in the first place.
I think the next bailout (if any) should go to the working middle class/poor, not fat cat corporate types.
Thanks for letting us know.
I agree up above with the higher class not getting it. They need to concentrate on the middle/poor classes.
Freeing up some much needed cash to pay mortages, utilities or rent would help middle income families. The procedures are in place for verification and with the new debit card system instead of actual paper coupons the risk of mass fraud by selling or trading off benefits is minimal. You use it just like your bank debit card with a PIN number.
Tax holidays for workers just strips much needed tax revenue from the Tax coffers and cash stimulous checks just pay old bills or go to more junk from China (Walmart)
Wouldn't cutting off 20-60 dollars a week from your grocery budget help you get thru tough times?
Have to see what goes on with GM this week. They claim they will fold if don't get 4 billion in Dec.
Have you contacted the IRS to see what has to be done to get the money from your first check? What did they say?
That is the same situation in our community. I ran a food pantry for years in our area and we were forced to shut the doors in July due to lack of money coming in. The need was greater but we could not pay the power bill even.
When we had the year with all the Hurricane's the State issued Temporary Food Stamp cards ON the spot so it is faster and much less expensive than the Gov't sending 3 different mailings out to everybody before you even qualified for the stimulous check.
Even though the unemployment rate does not show it, our community is in bad shape. The problem with the unemployment rate is that it does not count those who have already drawn their unemployment out and do not get anything as a result
Walmart is putting so many Mom & Pop companies out of business. Pretty soon they will be able to charge anything they want on merchandise because there will be NO competition and the sad thing is that we are letting them do it!
I mean, I know personally my family needs whatever help it can get these days.
Yes that statistic is from the Feeding America program.
We're not in great shape right now either....and we're a one income household right now....but we try to help out where we can.
Where did you hear that?
Wow, Dee. It certainly couldn't be that a couple used to be in a higher tax bracket til one lost her job and can't work now for health reasons? The bank doesn't care that the amount of income used to qualify for their initial mortgage isn't what is still coming in to that household.
How about cutting off those that make under 25K that keep on having babies they can't afford? I like that idea better.
This amount should be given regardless of income. Those who are less in need than others will invest the money -- wall street. Some can use it to catch up on bills, easing the strain on banks. Others will just use the money to buy necessities or even treat themselves -- in either case helping main street.
It's time to feed the plant at the roots rather than the flowers, don't you think?