Fresh idea for a COVID Relief Package

[MrWonka]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

 

[Bodi]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

Government can not be told how to spend our money... they are Gods.

 

[AmNat]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

If Congress insists on burying the country deeper in debt, they should at least distribute the loot equally to every American. Screw all these special interests.

 

[MrWonka]

If Congress insists on burying the country deeper in debt, they should at least distribute the loot equally to every American. Screw all these special interests.

If you can't learn how to stay on topic please go start your own threads.

 

[The Mark]

Government can not be told how to spend our money... they are Gods.

If so, it's only because we allow them to be.

 

[AmNat]

If you can't learn how to stay on topic please go start your own threads.

That was a response to the OP. Incompetent city/state governments being the special interest in question.

 

[Bullseye]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

Sounds like a sure way to chase productive people out of town.

 

[Bodi]

If so, it's only because we allow them to be.

To a degree... but since special interest groups are far more powerful than the people, voting them out really does nothing because the new batch just comes in and plays the game of screw over Americans. Until lobbying is illegal Americans are but pawns of corporations and industries...

 

[The Mark]

To a degree... but since special interest groups are far more powerful than the people, voting them out really does nothing because the new batch just comes in and plays the game of screw over Americans. Until lobbying is illegal Americans are but pawns of corporations and industries...

There are more of us, they're just better organized and have bigger chunks of funding.
But we outnumber them and can outfund them if we are organized enough.

In a way, it's a matter of organizing our own interest group, just not a special one.

 

[MrWonka]

Sounds like a sure way to chase productive people out of town.

Why? The money has already been taken away in tax. In my situation, the money is at least staying within their community. This way it's more likely to help their neighbors, pay for local infrastructure, local schools and they're more likely be able to talk to the local mayor in person the help them decide how the money should be spent.
I mean, why wouldn't you prefer to have your tax dollars spent locally?

 

[MrWonka]

That was a response to the OP. Incompetent city/state governments being the special interest in question.

A government, whether it is federal, state, or city cannot by definition be a special interest. Its interests are the interests of the people who live there.

 

[AmNat]

A government, whether it is federal, state, or city cannot by definition be a special interest. Its interests are the interests of the people who live there.

I see. Would you be interested in purchasing some land in Florida?

 

[Bullseye]

Why? The money has already been taken away in tax. In my situation, the money is at least staying within their community. This way it's more likely to help their neighbors, pay for local infrastructure, local schools and they're more likely be able to talk to the local mayor in person the help them decide how the money should be spent.
I mean, why wouldn't you prefer to have your tax dollars spent locally?

If I can keep more of what I earn rather than giving to mayors and city counsels, I’m doing it. Oh, and the upline governments still need money for their purposes as well.

 

[Bodi]

There are more of us, they're just better organized and have bigger chunks of funding.
But we outnumber them and can outfund them if we are organized enough.

In a way, it's a matter of organizing our own interest group, just not a special one.

I agree... but when you have 30% of high school students not knowing where the Pacific Ocean is on a map and probably 80% knowing about the Kardashians's daily lives I will not be holding out for that organized majority anytime soon.

 

[Bullseye]

A government, whether it is federal, state, or city cannot by definition be a special interest. Its interests are the interests of the people who live there.

Sure, no such thing as corrupt city governments.

 

[The Mark]

I agree... but when you have 30% of high school students not knowing where the Pacific Ocean is on a map and probably 80% knowing about the Kardashians's daily lives I will not be holding out for that organized majority anytime soon.

Are these real stats? Because apart from the occasional lapse where I stare at an ass or two, I don't care about Kardashians.

Then again, it's been about 20 years since I was high school age.

 

[Bodi]

Are these real stats? Because apart from the occasional lapse where I stare at an ass or two, I don't care about Kardashians.

Then again, it's been about 20 years since I was high school age.

The 30% one was accurate but that was about 10 years ago... no idea about the Kardashians other than average people seem to know more about them than they do about Supreme Court Justices and history on pretty much every side-walk Late Night Skit that I have seen.... but no, it is not accurate I am sure. I still don't trust the average person... being a teacher I find that the average common student is not that bright. I do current event quizzes and **** if the kids have no idea about what has happened in government or with Covid or where Israel is with regards to the Middle East, etc... hell... many don't know that Wellington is our capital... but they sure as hell know everything about JayZ, Kanye West, Rugby teams. etc.

 

[Mycroft]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

1. Congress NEVER has a problem deciding how to spend all this "federal money"...and then some.
2. When do cities and states ever pay income tax? If you want to "temporarily return all federal tax dollars" to someone, return it to the people who actually PAID the money.
3. There are plenty of mayors and city councils who keep making terrible decisions on how to spend their own tax dollars. What makes you think they'll make good decisions with this federal money?

My response to your poll: No way.

It's better for Congress to be responsible for spending the federal tax dollars they take from people. It would also be nice if the people actually held Congress responsible for their spending...and applied consequences where appropriate.

 

[MrWonka]

Sure, no such thing as corrupt city governments.

Corruption and special interests are not the same things.

Regardless, a plan like I propose would put a much bigger microscope on the local decision-makers.

 

[MrWonka]

When do cities and states ever pay income tax? If you want to "temporarily return all federal tax dollars" to someone, return it to the people who actually PAID the money.

But then it would not go to anyone who needed it. If you're capable of paying income tax then you clearly have an income and are not in need of temporary assistance because of COVID.

There are plenty of mayors and city councils who keep making terrible decisions on how to spend their own tax dollars. What makes you think they'll make good decisions with this federal money?

There are plenty of mayors and city councils who use their money wisely as well. That's better than only having realistic input from Pelosi, Schumer, and McConnell on all $900 Billion. Since they can never seem to agree which delays the funding just take the decision out of their hands and give it to the locals.
At least this way those of us with competent local officials will be more likely to have better choices made and more rapid responses.

 

[Bullseye]

Corruption and special interests are not the same things.

Regardless, a plan like I propose would put a much bigger microscope on the local decision-makers.

Corruption is often caused by special interests, however. I think your plan would increase corruption because there’d be more money to dispense and more “special interests” fighting for it.

 

[MrWonka]

Corruption is often caused by special interests, however. I think your plan would increase corruption because there’d be more money to dispense and more “special interests” fighting for it.

It would be the same amount of money. How to use it would simply be decided by more local officials. If your local officials are trustworthy it would benefit you. If your local officials are not your odds of doing something about it would be significantly higher.

 

[Bullseye]

It would be the same amount of money. How to use it would simply be decided by more local officials. If your local officials are trustworthy it would benefit you. If your local officials are not your odds of doing something about it would be significantly higher.

Just giving crooks more money isn’t going to solve anything. What’s the federal government going to do for money?

 

[jamesrage]

I have an idea. Since Congress can't decide how to spend all this federal money here's what they should do instead. They should temporarily return all federal tax dollars to the cities and states that paid them.
Allow local mayors and city councils to decide how to spend the federal dollars raised from within their respective city limits.

Please vote for one of the first two options, and one of the second two.

I voted no. If they are going to return money to anyone then it should be the people who paid the taxes, not the city governments.

 

[MrWonka]

I voted no. If they are going to return money to anyone then it should be the people who paid the taxes, not the city governments.

People who paid taxes have a job. They're not struggling due to covid and don't need financial assistance due to covid. Taxes are paid by people who can easily afford them.