The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the worst of big government and big spending. There is no tragedy the money-grabbers in Washington will not exploit. The so-called $2.2 trillion CARES Act delivers a miniscule $1200 check to households. This represents only 13.6% of the $2.2 trillion. So where is the rest of the money going?

Politicians call it the CARES Act – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.  This $2.2 trillion boondoggle of a bill demonstrates once again how bipartisan Congress can be when it comes to wrongheaded spending.  $2.2 trillion is a ton of money – actually it’s a lot more than a ton.  If all in $100 bills, $2.2 trillion weighs 24,207 tons!  Now that is a ton of money! 

The CARES Act is 247 pages of definitions, legalese, purposeful loopholes, and liberal bureaucratic drift.  Less than one-third, a miniscule 30%, or $603.7 billion goes to individuals.  Of that, less than half, or $300 billion will be divided up into direct cash payments to individuals.  This translates to 13.6% of the $2.2 trillion trickling into some households across the nation.  This is truly shameful and the politicians know it.  What your senators and congressional representative are counting on though is what they always count on – your ignorance.  

Millions and millions of Americans have been out of work for 1 month or longer now.  Because of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders issued in 42 states, many businesses classified as non-essential have been forced to shut their doors.  State governors, during a state of emergency, have the unfettered discretion to decide what is essential and non-essential.  In some states, protests are occurring as a result of the governors going too far with restrictions.  Once we are out of this pandemic, expect to see voters demand that state lawmakers pass legislation that clearly defines and regulates what powers the governor has and does not have during a declared state of emergency. 

With all of these people out of work, The CARES Act delivers direct one-time payments of $1200 per adult, $2400 per couple, and $500 per child to individuals earning less than $75,000 per year – $150,000 per couple.  As mentioned, this is a mere 13.6% of the stimulus.  In addition, people collecting unemployment benefits get an extra $600 on top of their unemployment benefit.  The added $600 per week ends in July 2020.   $43.7 billion will help individuals with government backed student loans.  Payments can be deferred with no penalty up to September 30, 2020.  The rest of the $2.2 trillion is divided up accordingly – $500 billion goes to large corporations, $377 billion goes to small businesses, $339.8 billion goes to state & local governments, and finally $179.5 billion goes to public services. 

Other than the 13.6% direct payments made to individuals, every other penny must be applied for in some fashion.  Any application made to the government means office space, equipment, and government employees.  Unfortunately, it also means incompetence, bad customer service skills, and waste.  But the thing that it means most is control.  There is nothing more importance to government, any government, than to maintain control.  And to career politicians, control does translate to votes.  If enough voters are reliant on the government teat, and they believe they see their senators and congressional representative delivering the milk and honey, their vote is almost always guaranteed.  It really is a travesty.  The more Americans clamor for the government teat, the weaker our nation becomes.  It is diabolical and deliberate, and the democrats are mostly to blame.  Liberalism is socialism – none dare call it communism – but it all destroys lives because it crushes dreams by flattening ambition. 

However, if you haven’t had any income for 30 days or more, you do need help.  You don’t want to rely on the government for help, but you have no other choice.  After all, it is the government that forced your employer to close the doors during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Bills are due and you have to eat.  The politicians will explain how the money to big and small businesses ultimately will help you because when this COVID-19 pandemic subsides, you need a place to return to work.  If your employer is forced to close his or her doors for good, this is bad news for you, your employer, and our economy.  This is particularly true for small businesses.  But what if this $2.2 trillion had went directly to the people?  What would that look like and how would it have impacted your family and local community? 

The population of the United States today is estimated at 330,568,224 people.  If the $2.2 trillion had simply been divided by the current population, each person in the United States, regardless of age, gender, race, or net worth, would get a check for $6,655.21.  You want to jump start the economy – do that and see what happens.  It’s still debt, but at least it’s in the right hands. 

The Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which is already out of funds, wouldn’t be necessary because a family of four would have just received $26,620.84 instead of $3400!  Can you imagine what our economy would look like right now if every person in this country had just received $6655.31?  This is our money, not the government’s.  Our government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, correct?  That $2.2 trillion could have been divided in any fashion our representatives collectively agreed to divide it. 

With election day fast approaching, it fascinating how our elected representatives have no difficulty reaching out to us for campaign donations, but not one of them asked their constituents how this $2.2 trillion should be divided up and disbursed.  It’s all funny money, fiat money printed out of thin air with nothing backing it.  Trillions of new debt notes with no gold or silver, or anything else of value behind it.   The only value these dollars have is your blind faith in their purchasing power.  Remember this when you hear the Capitol Hill talking about a second relief package.