Something has always been wrong when someone can pay a thousand dollars in tax (have that much withheld) and get back 5-6 thousand dollars as a 'refund'?????? Earned income my a**, buy your vote with my money is more likely.

Posted by Scrapiron at January 30, 2007 11:17 AM

Speaking as someone who grew up in a family living well below the poverty line, the EIC was an incredible blessing for our family. No, we never got five or six thousand dollars... usually it was just several hundred, if I remember correctly. But back when I was a kid, that was enough money to make a huge difference in the quality of our lives. People who are really critical of social programs usually have little or no first-hand experience with poverty.

Posted by e. nonee moose at January 30, 2007 12:27 PM

Moose, EIC can be a BIG boon to some, there is no doubt about it, but it is still a transfer of payments from some to others. From a social benefit point of view, I cannot argue with the benefit for a number, but not maybe "most" of those who receive the benefit. In my practice, I've seen just way too much fraud. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have it, it means we should make sure that it only reaches those who need it.

The same with food stamps, a great benefit, but no program anywhere to my knowledge has taught people how to use it to the best benefit for their family, shopping and comparing prices for one thing, not buying the "best" brand of soup, if a cheaper brand will provide the same nutrition. I've never had to use food stamps but I do that kind of comparison EVERY time I go shopping.

Perhaps the problem is, like shoplifters who say the stores have insurance and they rip off the customer anyway, that too many people look at it as "other peoples money, my entitlement because I live here, so who cares?"

Posted by GM Roper at January 30, 2007 01:10 PM

So the poor have 'few skills, poor work habits, and low ambition'? That must be why they're poor. If those dirty, lazy people would just get off thier duffs and go to college, something like Heaven might dawn and we'd all be happy. Thanks, GM lazy laborers like my father thank you for your compassion. Perhaps the Republicans should take a page out of the Democrat playbook and just keep quiet. It should be easy with the silver spoon firmly lodged there.

Posted by Bishopdic at January 30, 2007 05:11 PM

I can endorse the way Democrats do taxes and not endorse the side comments contained. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT ASSUME that these are my thoughts, I'm only posting what was sent.

I do endorse however that the Democratic Party sees taxes as a massive wealth re-distribution ploy to cater to "the little guy" whom they really don't give a damn about.

Posted by GM at January 30, 2007 09:53 PM

Because there are a bunch of overly sensitive hyperPC liberals out there, I've colored RED the sections that I do not agree with nor do I nor have I ever endorsed.

Funny. I thought about quibbling over the 'Affirmative Action' line earlier but didn't feel like it was worth the effort.

Posted by e. nonee moose at January 31, 2007 07:58 AM

As to your last line; I like how Hillary wants to "chat". I wonder if she'd mind if I used sign language. I have a message I'd like to deliver :-)

As a one time recipient of EIC I understand why some might get perturbed at being labeled as "lazy" or possessing "poor work habits". If you are in either category, you probably SHOULD be offended. If you're not in either category you shouldn't be offended and then you can't argue that many do indeed fall into these categories. To be offended for other people is not your job. You are responsible for your own actions, not those you have no connection with. Let them formulate their own arguments.

EIC is meant to be a hand-up, not a hand-out. I treated it as a hand-up, took advantage of the cash I got and used it to further my education. Subsequently, I got a better paying job and got no more EIC. I felt better about myself as a single parent with two kids and had no government help from that point on. None. Now I am supporting another family of four with my taxes because as GM said, there is far too much abuse of the system because some people make poor choices in their lives and know the gov't will bail them out.

There's nothing wrong with getting a break. But when you need that break over and over, week after year, you're doing something wrong.

Posted by Oyster at January 31, 2007 11:06 AM

Yes its too bad the the land of the free wants the rest of the world to be just like it. Gee where would be if we didn't change the worlds different cultures. The american Indian, the Hawian Iaslands just a few. If we really cared about the world we might have stoped the War Lords and Dictators around the world. It seems to be we only help those who have something to offer us or something like Oil. Oh yea! Lets blame the Union people and Democrats too. These are the same people who gave us the middle class. You remember them. The ones who paid the majority of our nations taxes. Who gave birth to other supporting jobs. Only the wealthy could afford automobiles untill the union came along. Remember H. Ford was only paying a worker $1 a day. When the employees at Flint Mich. had a sit down strike this wasn't to get a coffee break. It changed the world that you and I live in. Above all don't forget that social security check or that un-employment check too.

Posted by Markus at February 1, 2007 01:21 PM

I've now had to delete 3 comments before I hit the 'post' button because I deemed them too snarky.

Darn it...and that was some pretty good snark too.

I think I received the EIC a couple of times before I finished college. It was nice; I'm not gonna lie. But I much prefer having a degree and a better paying job than a once a year 'bonus' from Uncle Sam. I would hope that more people would do the same.

Posted by Jennifer at February 1, 2007 08:27 PM