[fonkyyack]

I agree with you with the first point, giving money to companies isn't a good idea but I think it's also a bad idea to give it to "the people". I think it would be better to change. My opinion is most people are going to buy thing they don't need. Instead we could focus on better ideas for the future.... I don't know maybe I'm too utopist...

[LocalH]

In the meantime, what do you propose people do who have been displaced from their jobs? Or who are unable to work due to social distancing and stay at home orders? Sure, some billers have stated “we will not disconnect/cancel due to nonpayment” but what answer do you have for those people?

This corporate welfare is garbage, and they’re then being stingy with what they’re giving to individuals? Fuck the politicians.

[FillardMillmore]

"Bad idea" vs. "Good idea" seems too restrictive to me. I think there are pros and cons to it and the sum total of those pros and cons may be different depending on your circumstances, finances, and personal beliefs. There are some people who need economic relief now and not a moment later. Giving money to 'the people' can help with this but also carries long term consequences like inflation of the currency. Not to mention, the range of people getting money may be too broad - for example, I'll be receiving a check but I don't think I need it at all. Creating a more restrictive or specific criteria for the delivery of this relief though would likely become somewhat of a bureaucratic nightmare and would inevitably slow things down. We've had similar stimulus packages in the past and whether they were effective in their goals is up for debate.

https://taxfoundation.org/did-2001-tax-rebate-checks-stimula...

https://www.thebalance.com/bush-economic-stimulus-package-33...

[Reelin]

> My opinion is most people are going to buy thing they don't need.

That's... kind of a large part of the point as far as I understand. It doesn't matter where the money gets spent (rent, necessities, luxuries, hobbies, whatever) - the important thing is to keep the economy moving. When large portions of the economy are disrupted all at once (jobs lost, businesses failed) there's the potential for a domino effect.

[econcon]

As someone who know a lot of people, just giving us food and water and shelter would be good enough.