GJ People respond to stimulus checks

Cool move, government. but is it enough?

Jacob Penick — People Editor

Boom. A full, bi-monthly paycheck may have appeared in your checking account, just like that. The federal government has allowed every independent citizen of the United States a sum of stimulus capital. $1200. But you already knew that.

This money is intended to ease the strain of a global crisis on the individual. People across the country are losing their jobs or being furloughed until it is safe for public gatherings to resume. According to the United States Department of Labor, over 10 million people filed for unemployment in the last two weeks of March, with many millions more filing so far in April. 

This leaves the working people of our country scrambling. Rent is a huge hurdle when consistent income cannot be relied upon. Food. Shelter. Hygiene stuff. These cost money that many people simply do not have right now. 

America Saves suggests keeping a $500 – $1000 emergency fund saved up. For some Americans, this is possible. For many others, living paycheck-to-paycheck is the only option. Now, we are faced with a reality in which the paychecks may have stopped coming. Even for those with $1000 emergency funds, these are hard times. $1000 can’t make up for months of unemployment.

So, in steps the government. Something of note: literally every person interviewed for this piece used the word “band-aid” to describe the stimulus checks. In other words, “too little too late” for most. 

“The fact that anything at all arrived in my bank account feels very fortunate given my perception of this government’s effectiveness,” said Eric Pipkin. Pipkin is a bike mechanic who is lucky enough to still be working — the bike repair industry was deemed “essential” by the state government as soon as the stay-at-home order started. 

“For me personally, I don’t have very many expenses, so $1200 would be enough for almost 2 months without using any income,” said Pipkin. “But I am not paying health insurance or have any debt. If that were the case, and I didn’t have a job still, $1200 would evaporate very quickly.”

Pipkin has continued working, though his hours are reduced to almost half of normal to comply with social distancing orders given to essential businesses. Even then, he doesn’t feel stressed about the reduced income. Aside from using the check for rent and food, Pipkin is toying with the idea of adopting a dog. 

Julie Stump is a Colorado Mesa University employee who has also been lucky enough to keep her job through the pandemic. She’s using her check for student loans and house projects. For her, the $1200 is enough; but Stump is frustrated by the deeper implications of the stimulus checks. 

“I think this stimulus check is a quick fix, a band-aid that is just covering up larger issues with our government,” said Stump. “If they can pay each tax paying individual $1200 in the blink of an eye, can’t we offer continual support for people who need help?” Looking outside the current world situation, Stump sees an issue with the bigger picture. 

“I am all for government aid because I think it makes people’s lives better,” said Stump. “I am okay paying more in taxes knowing that my community as a whole will benefit, so people won’t be afraid to go to the doctor when they are sick, they can put good food choices on the table for their families, and make a livable wage.” 

Geoff Williams is a 7th grade science and social studies teacher who is continuing to teach from home. Like Pipkin and Stump, Williams is personally okay with the amount of the check. But, common theme alert, he is unsatisfied with the late reaction. Williams sees our government’s response as “reactionary” instead of proactive, as it should have been. 

“It seems that Covid-19 has really shown how reactive our government often is,” said Geoff. “I understand you cannot plan for everything, but it appears as if there was not much put into place, health-wise or economically to deal with a situation like the one we are in. Because of that, we are trying to play catch-up. If issues had been addressed earlier or had been planned for in the event something like this happened, I feel that the health and economic impact on society could have been reduced.”