Even though it feels like March 170th, believe it or not, it has been about 4 months since we’ve received our $1,200 stimulus money. Though unemployment in Oklahoma has hit a record high and the moratorium on evictions has ended, our esteemed Governor Kevin Stitt stated earlier this month quote, “I don’t think we need another stimulus package.” While some may find Stitt’s opinion on financial relief to be at best out-of-touch with the average Oklahoman and at worst callous and cruel, I think he might be on to something. In fact, here are 7 reasons why Oklahomans don’t need another stimulus package!
Dr. Birx says Oklahoma is handling the pandemic just fine
Late last week, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx made a visit to Oklahoma to discuss the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes just a few weeks after claims were made by US officials that Stitt had failed to implement the White House Coronavirus Task Force’s recommendations for decreasing the spread of the illness. But even though the media was not allowed to attend the discussion between Kevin Stitt and Dr. Birx, nor ask the official any questions about the meeting afterward, our esteemed governor made sure to fill us all in by claiming Dr. Birx was complimentary of the state and made no recommendations for Oklahoma to better handle the pandemic. So good job, Oklahoma!
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The Oklahoma County Jail is well-funded
In April, Oklahoma County received approximately $47 million in aid from the federal government to use to combat COVID-19 related difficulties. Being that the Oklahoma County Budget Board voted to give $36 million of that funding to the Oklahoma County Jail Trust last week, it must mean that Oklahoma County residents have very little need for housing, work, or food assistance, right?.
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$1,200 was more than a month of Oklahoma minimum wage
With a minimum wage set at $7.25 per hour, Oklahomans working 40 hours per week at minimum wage should be expected to bring home about $1,160 every month. If the CARES Act’s $1,200 wasn’t enough to get them through, maybe Oklahomans should get a second or third job. Especially since a single, childless adult needs to make about $10.94 per hour to make ends meet in this state.
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It disincentivizes Oklahomans to work
If the government is going to shell out $1,200 of free money, it is going to disincentivize Oklahomans to work. Everyone knows that hundreds of jobless people waiting in an unemployment line is a sign of a motivated workforce.
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Life insurance policies should start paying out soon
By our state leaders’ response to the pandemic so far, it seems more likely that Oklahomans are going to receive a life insurance policy payout than any kind of support from our government anytime soon.
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Oklahomans are just going to blow it
If we give Oklahomans another stimulus check, they’re only going to blow it on Joe Exotic-inspired tattoos, take-out Thai food, virtual concerts, and other frivolous expenditures that fund Oklahoma small businesses and stimulate the local economy.
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Stitt has made it through the pandemic just fine
After surviving COVID-19 himself, Governor Stitt has showed us that anyone can survive this pandemic, as long as you have a job that allows you to work from home for at least two weeks, full healthcare, and government-funded housing.
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Hayley has stuff to do today. Follow her on twitter @squirrellygeek
