Whew! I was worried that the stimulus money was going to be wasted!

[Dengineer]

Polk school district to give iPods to some parents - Bay News 9

How does this do ANYTHING to stimulate the economy?

[whatsfree4me]

I agree that is a little ridiculous. I mean, I know they are taking ten minutes out of their time, but come on. I think there would be something those parents could use even more than an Ipod.

[CW&M Mom]

Although I would not exactly agree that the parents need IPODS...actually purchasing of anything like that...actually does stimulate the economy.

One of the best ways to stimulate the economy...is food stamps...cause more food is bought...the more purchases we make...the better the "economy" does.

Now for a child with a disability...a severe one an IPOD is actually one of there favorite things they can have...but again...not saying I agree with purchasing them ect..

[CW&M Mom]

Now if you had asked....is this right??? I completely agree that is not what the intent of the stimulus money was probably for (although I imagine in the paperwork ect...it's probably allowable). BUT it certainly would not of been my way of spending it.

Just saying technically that does actually stimulate the economy. Basically as long as they spend it on something...it's probably stimulating the economy somewhere.


My sister has to have some questionaire's filled out by some teachers she is working with for a federal grant...and to get them to do it...they are getting $$ from Amazon to do it. So it's probably not as unusual as it sounds.

[Dengineer]

Although I would not exactly agree that the parents need IPODS...actually purchasing of anything like that...actually does stimulate the economy.

One of the best ways to stimulate the economy...is food stamps...cause more food is bought...the more purchases we make...the better the "economy" does.

Now for a child with a disability...a severe one an IPOD is actually one of there favorite things they can have...but again...not saying I agree with purchasing them ect..

The government produces NOTHING. Any money they spend on food stamps and Ipods has been REMOVED from the economy by taxation, printed or borrowed. Government spending stimulates the national economy in the same way a credit card stimulates your personal budget--you can get nice stuff for a while but the bill always comes due.

[lestelle]

Why do they need to reward someone for telling them what their child needs.

I'm more than willing to tell my school district (or any other entity) how well they are doing for FREE! I do it all the time.

In fact, I read threads here about parents going into their child's school to "tell them how they're doing". I've yet to read any poster bragging about the iPod or gift card they got for their time.

This is just another instance of tax dollars being used as "bribes".

[drswhaley]

Take the time and fill out the survey - right now it is ~11% for the giveaway and 88% against (rounding does not add to 100%, yes). Perhaps the district will re-think this policy once the information is out.

[CW&M Mom]

The government produces NOTHING. Any money they spend on food stamps and Ipods has been REMOVED from the economy by taxation, printed or borrowed. Government spending stimulates the national economy in the same way a credit card stimulates your personal budget--you can get nice stuff for a while but the bill always comes due.

For food stamps...it stimulates the economy because the more food that is purchased the more people that can be hired within the supermarket, food maker, helps the farmer ect...

It's probably the best money spent "stimulus" wise...because it directly helps people and "stimulates" the economy at the same time.

By your theory...any stimulus money spent at all...is wasteful and wrong...because it's just wrong to spend it. If you want to have that argument okey dokey. But your actual question does that technically stimulate the economy...yes it does.

Would I of made that choice...um no...I probably would of offered a $5.00 target card and spent the rest of the stimulus money on equipment in the classroom or something along those lines. But you wouldn't be happy with that either.

In reality...none of this makes you happy. I would hate to live that unhappy all the time.

[marge123]

More food stamps to stimulate the economy--I really have heard it all. why stop there, free clothing stamps, free housing stamps, heck- new car stamps, stamps for all--after all it's free right?

[loaslaen]

The government produces NOTHING. Any money they spend on food stamps and Ipods has been REMOVED from the economy by taxation, printed or borrowed. Government spending stimulates the national economy in the same way a credit card stimulates your personal budget--you can get nice stuff for a while but the bill always comes due.

Not true. 100% of food stamp money goes directly back into the economy. None of it is "saved". Most low-income people do not save money because the majority of it goes to necessities and any money they receive is likely to be immediately spent. When low-income earners receive food stamps, not only are they spending more money on food, but they also use the funds that they previously used on food for other things; whether bills, consumables, or other things.

In a failing economy where people are starting to serious think about their money and start trying to spend less, who else is going to keep the shrimp/lobster/steak farmers in business?