Gringo’s Travels
Puerto Rico viewed from a gringo’s perspective
Puerto Rico’s Stimulus Plan aka Recovery Rebates gets Approved
Author: The Gringo17 Apr
The US Treasury approved the stimulus plan for Puerto Rico yesterday. It won’t be called stimulus payments; they are going to call the payments “Recovery Rebates”.
I didn’t really pay that much federal tax this year anyway as most Puerto Ricans don’t pay the IRS. So when they say free money, they mean it! I would be interested to hear from people in the States who just paid a lot of cash to the IRS on what you think about PR getting this free money.
Can someone also explain to me how the government plans to help the economy by temporarily flooding the consumer market with a little cash…
- Tags: federal tax, irs, Puerto Rico, recovery rebates, stimulus plan
15 Responses for "Puerto Rico’s Stimulus Plan aka Recovery Rebates gets Approved"
I am grateful of that money because I really need it, the more money I can get my hands on before moving, the better, BUT, I don’t think we deserve it. In fact, I would be very pissed off if I payed taxes and the government gave it away to another country, we are not another country but most people there, and here, think we are.
I like the idea of getting a few hundred $$$ extra in my pocket, but not at the expense of plunging our recession even deeper.
Dubya’s heart was in the right place on this one, but his brain is still gone.
Dark Soul,
I can’t believe you actually said Puertoricans don’t deserve that money. We do fight in the wars you know. We deserve it just as much as any of the states.
But the U.S. government is very flawed and has been for decades now, since we got off the gold standard in 1933. The U.S. government has to stop taking out loans. Everything the U.S. does, from social security checks, to Medicare, etc., is with borrowed money. It is insane. The current budget has a $400 billion deficit.
We need to abolish this artificial economy we have, or it will do it to us.
While I don’t think anyone should be getting the money… The only way to make it fair is if you are paying Federal Taxes then you can get the money.
If a Puerto Rican is fighting a war. They work for the government and are obligated to pay Federal taxes (at least the for the time they spent in PR). So they should get the money.
But for the average John (or Juan :P) living down the street shouldn’t.
Just my 2 cents…
@Nelson
I agree 100% with The Gringo, we don’t pay federal taxes, well, most of us don’t, so we shouldn’t get that money. This is not an issue of who fights in a war and who doesn’t.
Dark Soul,
This money, whether you are in the states or not is corp. welfare. That’s all it is. From your pockets to theirs, and it will reach them, for all the good that will do for the economy.
I am sorry, but Puerto Rico should not be excluded. I can come up with a list of why we shouldn’t be excluded. The lack of respect in so many different ways is just appalling.
The argument put forth by you is that we don’t deserve it. I mentioned the fighting of wars as just one reason why we deserve to be treated as equals in this regard.
And this money is just peanuts compared to the economic packages the U.S. gives foreign countries around the world on a yearly basis. Now that’s insane.
I am not picking on you, but it always comes down to this, doesn’t it? We gripe over a little thing like this, when the wasteful spending in other areas is just mind boggling.
This reminds me of those who complain about welfare recipients. They don’t have have a clue that it doesn’t even come close to the level of corp. welfare.
Corp. welfare is so bad that even oil companies and the pharmaceutical companies have their hands in it.
@Nelson
Thats cool and all, but I can dismiss your point with a single “we don’t pay federal taxes”. And no matter how much of a victim you claim to be, we don’t deserve that money, period. Either way I am not going to reject it :)
Wait, I am not claiming to be a victim of anything.
This is a stimulus package, the word stimulus should give you a clue that this isn’t a tax break or a refund. So I guess what we need to do is remove taxes from the equation.
Last time I checked Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. economy. We may not all pay federal taxes, but we do provide to the economy in many other ways. And as I mentioned paid for the privilege in many other ways, too.
When this nutty idea was first introduced everyone under the U.S. empire was about to get some, LOL!
So why not us?
I would rather the U.S. stop borrowing money and getting the house in order. And stop messing with the economy. People should live or die by their mistakes. If you got into a McMansion, and can’t afford it now, don’t expect uncle Sam to bail you out. But bail you out uncle Sam will. LOL!
Okay, so people are seriously defending their right to the $600 the U.S. government is giving them, even though they don’t pay taxes? All I have to say about that is, shut up, be grateful and take your charity. I’ve paid a ridiculous amount in taxes and, guess what, since I’ve paid $XX,XXX in taxes, I DON’T QUALIFY FOR THE $600 CHARITY DRIVE (otherwise known as the “Economic Stimulus Act”). I work very hard for every cent that I make, then I have to give half of that to the government. I create jobs and pay people salaries (talk about economic stimulus…), but do I get a $600 gift from the government? Nope. I don’t “qualify” for that. You pay $0 in taxes and get a check for $600 (of my money) from the government and are arguing that you “deserve” it? Come on now. I at least want to hear something along the lines of what darksoul said: “I am grateful of that money because I really need it…BUT, I don’t think we deserve it.”
ViciousSummer,
This is a stimulus package, if you feel you were screwed take it up with your congress(wo)man. But, I bet you won’t. You seem like the typical American, bitch and moan and then do nothing.
I made so many points of other wasteful spendings that you could be bitching about, real waste, that will continue because you bitch on a forum but not at your elected officials, or vote their asses out. Which is why we see the same faces year after year.
Hell, Bush screwed us in his first term and then he was elected again. There you go. The man can’t even put two syllables together. I feel like vomiting every time I see a post like yours, naive until the day you die. (And don’t give me this I run a business so therefore I have a brain argument, I’ve had monkeys for bosses before).
No wonder the U.S. (my country, as well, by the way) is so screwed up.
Me, be grateful? Ha! The only thing I have to be grateful for is being a U.S. citizen by birth and have a brain. I paid my share of taxes and owned a house in Philadelphia, where I was born.
This stimulus package is another government loan, your taxes have already been spent, the only ones who are going to be paying for this loan are your great grandkids. This stimulus package will allow others to buy your products as well. Why don’t you go to Israel and the other forum governments that receive our free money and loans (which when the U.S. needs a favor they forgive) to give it back to you. The majority of foreigners aren’t going to buy your products.
It only makes sense that if the government is going to put out a stimulus package it should include not only Puerto Rico, but the other U.S. markets like the U.S. Virgin Islands.
But if I had my say, there would be no stimulus package.
Yes, as you read, I have an issue with you asking me to shut up.
That’s fine, Nelson ;). I love people like you. Very entertaining. Although you know nothing about me, you will speculate all day long about how much smarter you are. My comment wasn’t direct squarely at you, but if you want to take it to heart, be my guest.
Wow… Good times!
Just for future reference (I am not directing this towards anyone)….
I don’t mind a good debate on the comments, in fact I encourage it! Because of that, I am not one to moderate my articles by deleting or editing them. I am all about the freedom of speech.
I do want this to be a friendly place to visit though.
So please everyone tranquillo! Did I spell that right :) ?
Your right,
It was a bit rough. I apologize for my comment. I never apologize, but in this case I have to admit I should not have posted some of the stuff I did.
@The Gringo
It’s spelled tranquilo, with a single L :)
BTW, the more “boricuas” (I loathe that term) that notice your blog the more drama you are going to have because we LOVE drama! :p
@Nelson
No problem!
@Dark
haha… you should see the drama where I work!
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