the government wants me to buy things

[rivendellrose]

I got my "2008 Economic Stimulus Payment" from the IRS yesterday.

My government: the active, living, breathing definition of "Throw money at the problem and maybe it will go away." Quick, if we give them all a few hundred bucks, maybe they'll forget that we've fucked over foreign policy, blown the deficit to gargantuan proportions, and completely destroyed any hope the current generation has of actually getting anything out of the Social Security Administration that we're still forced to pay into every year. Oh, and don't forget the travesty of a war.

I wonder if there's anything I can do with this money that won't benefit the government... I'll probably just throw it into my usual kinds of things, with a good part going into savings (feeding my bank... ugh. I hate everything when I start thinking from an economic point of view...), but it's damned tempting to do something spiteful, sometimes.

For the record: Spending money is NOT the answer to every problem. Not everything can be solved by market capitalism. Dear America, please take this lesson to heart....

Comments

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

You said it all perfectly!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Nothing better for a guilt complex than getting free money from a government we hate. ;)

[maho-kiwi.livejournal.com]

I know pinstripesuit was looking into donating hers to womens shelters and the like...so that's a possibility?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

That's a really good thought. I'll probably end up being selfish and keeping some of it for myself, but putting some into charity would be a really good way to deal with all the messy morals. XD

[tonsai.livejournal.com]

like a lot of things the government does, i disagree with it in principle but for selfish reasons, am happy with the result. if i weren't unemployed, i would've been more outspoken about my objection to the "stimulus," but really, it allowed me to survive another month without asking my mom for money.

(i feel similarly about indoor smoking bans: not so cool from a "boo nanny government" position, but ultimately? i like not having to worry about being enveloped by nasty cigarette smoke when i go out. plus they have actually found that business went UP after bans went into effect in most cities.)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I have to admit, the smoking ban pushed me over into a bit into the "yay for nanny government!" camp. I'm a big fan of not having to feel like I'm being prepared for barbecue if I actually get out to a club for a night. ;)

The thing with the stimulus money is that I start thinking "oo, I could buy myself ___" with it... and then feel angry and guilty because I disagree with where the money is coming from. They're causing me a moral crisis, damn them, and I didn't ask for it! It's like... it's like if you've got a nasty, horrible relative who you completely hate and they give you a present. You feel sort of icky. And yet happy because, hey, cool present... and then you start feeling like you've been bought, and it just cycles around again. Bleh.

Damned government. I wish my free money was coming from a good government so I could feel happy about it without guilt!

[amberdiceless.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there's anything I can do with this money that won't benefit the government

Put it in a coffee can and bury it under the porch? XD

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Hehehehe. A little tough in an apartment, but I'm sure I could find a way!

[pauldf.livejournal.com]

Put it in a bond fund or mutual fund that invests abroad?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Good thought. I think I'm going to go with charity for half, and putting half toward a little splurge/vacation for myself. Now I just have to pick the charities...

[diea.livejournal.com]

It's not really the government's money though. It's your money that they took out of your pay checks in taxes, processed, and sent back to you. What I think is ridiculous about it is that they put all that effort (and spent all that extra money) into giving back to us what was ours in the first place.

I want to know what is stimulating for the economy about the government keeping my boyfriend's check to pay off his student loans.

I have to say I am happy about getting the money back though. Billy and I need to buy a lot of stuff for our new place.