Off The Cuff

Tax Checks Miss Ones That Need It Most

Posted by: From Arkansas in It Ain't Sorted, So What, It's A Rant on Jan 25 2008

Welcome back!

We can argue who might need the government money the most but the one group of people that this tax rebate thing really misses are those who are on some type of government check like Social Security for the retirees and Social Security Disability for those who have worked for years but now are unable to do so because of some health problems. Then there are those who get government assistance in the form of checks.

The problem that I see is that any form of government assistance, whether it’s a disability check, a retirement check or a check to help a family, they are the ones that are being completely missed with this new government tax give out. Yes, I understand that it’s supposed to be for those who have worked and paid taxes. But so often, these wonderful extra little dividends that come in the mail simply miss people that really need it badly.

Now, I am not saying that you don’t need it badly too. Frankly, there are few families or individuals who do not need it right now what with higher prices for everything, MUCH higher prices for gasoline, propane and home heating oil. This country is dealing with a cold snap that is taking out our propane as fast as it can. We just put in a tank of propane for about $350 this month but it’s likely that we will do it again in the near future. That propane cost $2.29 a gallon.

Okay, I realize that might seem cheap to some but it isn’t when you are on a fixed income with precious little more. So, it was with a heavy heart that we heard about the tax rebate because, once again, it will miss us as it did the last time. It will miss my Mom who is retired. It will miss those who live on food stamps and a tiny little check for a family.

Many people will say that people getting money from the government are living it up. Right. When you can’t pay your bills and you have to decide who gets paid this month while the rest of the bills sit, the phone gets busy when the creditors call and you wonder if you will have the money to pay the house payment or the car payment next month, it becomes a problem.

I do realize that this tax rebate thing is not going to fix everyone’s problems. It is very likely to be more of a bandaid than anything but maybe some families will be able to pay all their bills this month. Frankly, I do not appreciate it that people will get this money and their only problem is credit card debt. Those people put themselves into that situation. They should dig themselves out of it. But how could the government determine who is worthy and who is not? No way I know. So, we will watch as the checks go out in the mail and many families and single people will be happier for a short time.

I do not have a solution to the problem. Better minds than mine seem to have the same difficulty. Some day, perhaps we will not have to worry about this anymore. I hope it’s soon.

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