Save Or Spend?

What will you do with stimulus money?

Now that President Biden has signed the third-round coronavirus relief package, millions of Americans are looking for to their direct payments of $1,400 each.

But what will they do with that money?

The idea of direct payments was partly so the money could be spent and stimulate the overall economy. But surveys have show many recipients save the money or use it to pay down debt.

What will you do? Do you intend to spend the money for needs or wants? Or will you save or pay down debt?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to opinion@texarkanagazette.com by Wednesday, March 17. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St, Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday’s paper.

Last Week: Too Soon?

Last week’s question was about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reversing the state’s COVID-19 mandate on face masks and allowing businesses to operate at full customer capacity. Was Abbott right to reverse COVID19 restrictions now? Or is it too soon?

Abbott the puppet once again makes a bad decision. Everyone knows the reason for this decision is to divert the Ergot grid disaster that left millions without heat and electricity. Also, remember spring break, Easter holiday, in which churches want to fill their pews, restaurants want to fill to capacity, with no regard to humanity. I could go along openings, but what is the harm in mandating the mask, it works. Heed my words by the end of March or April Covid cases will rise, again. — R.K., Texarkana, Texas

From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette

■ Yes, it’s too soon to open back up. I will be wearing my mask still until the CDC gives the all clear.

■ He gave us a choice. He didn’t mandate that you couldn’t continue to wear a mask and that you have to go out. He just made it an option if you choose to.

■ He did it under political pressure. Now let’s stand back and watch.

■ Easy peasy, If you think you’re at risk, stay at home, let’s shut the country down over “non” contagious diseases like cancer that killed 600k last year, no body is running from that. I know, let’s have a 5k run and raise awareness,

■ Everyone should know by now if they should or shouldn’t need to wear a mask and or social distance. This is long over due.

■ Open the whole country back up already. 100% if people want to wear masks still that’s up to them. But open everything back up. The election is over.

■ I’ll continue to wear my mask, physically distance, and avoid crowds, as will my family, friends, and colleagues. Others will choose to NOT do those very things, as is their right, however ill-advised. I am concerned that full-on reopening and too many folks dropping precautions could expose vulnerable folks and overload an already weary medical system.

■ He gave everyone a choice. If you don’t feel comfortable not wearing a mask then wear one

■ He didn’t order everyone to stop wearing the masks … he left it up to us to do so if we wanted to. If you want to wear one then do so. Simple as that.

■ He should have never imposed the restrictions in the first place.

■ Why shut Texas down when thousands are crossing the border with no kind of prevented measures. Sorta defeated the purpose. He had no choice. There not taking temps or anything.

■ Texas being open will let folks use their own digression ... many have been doing so for months already. I don’t go out much, I wear a mask if others are uncomfortable … too easy to make people/things doable.

■ The whole country should follow suit. If you are at risk, you should continue to stay home. Wear a mask and social distance if you must go out. But let the rest of us get on with our lives.

■ Yep shouldn’t have been imposed to begin with . It’s called liberty for a reason. I will continue to wear masks when I deem it necessary, but it’s my choice. I’ve had Covid I know it’s a real danger. So I don’t need anyone to tell me I HAVE to do something. Nope. I have a brain . I know what is necessary. As for other people, that’s for them to figure out on their own.

■ He is right! Businesses need to open 100% to be able to survive

■ It is past time to open up. Those who feel safer with a mask may still wear a mask. Those who feel unsafe in a crowd may stay home.

■ It’s a suggestion! Giving people an option! Something we’ve not had in over a year! If you are fearful, continue as in the past! We all have a brain, use it please!

■ Open the whole country back up and let whoever wants to continue to wear their mask do so but also allow others to have the same rights who doesn’t want to who feels that the mask is as much harm then the virus is!

■ Need to use common sense in all situations. Businesses must open in order to survive. Continue to follow the Covid 19 updates and go from there.

■ Everything should be open and going about their business. If a person feels it is too soon , he or she should wear their mask.

■ I think the governor is right to open our state up. I’m ready, but I will continue to wear a mask in most settings.

■ The point is, it should be a CHOICE. If you feel protected wearing a mask, fine, wear one. If you don’t want to leave the house, fine, don’t. But do not force other people to do things they don’t wish to do. We don’t do this over the seasonal flu, or any of the other thousands of illnesses that can cause major problems if you already have issues, or are immune compromised.

■ I think maybe he should have opened things up first and see if the cases of covid increase and if not then lift the mask. But really hasn’t made a huge impact a lot of people don’t wear them anyway because they feel they were told to. I don’t like them either but it’s a small part that I can do when I go out to help just may help a little from spreading or getting the virus.

■ Everything should be open and going about their business. If a person feels it is too soon , he or she should wear their mask.

■ Why not ask the other 15 states that have been open for months without state wide mask mandates? Are those states doing worse? Are the people begging for more regulation? Are their hospitals overflowing? Answer these questions and you will know.

■ Most of us are praising governor! Let people that don’t wanna wear a mask don’t wear a mask, and if you need need to or think you need to wear a mask and wear your mask that simple. Bottom line I’m not gonna live in fear the rest of my life. And yes God gives us common sense also I’m not gonna go there either to some people don’t even believe in God. My wisdom for myself is if I have to I’ll stay 6 feet apart if u have to, just to make the other person happy, but don’t judge me because I don’t wear a mask! thank you and have a blessed day!

■ Let everyone decide on their own. Be responsible for their own life.

■ Its a hoax to win a presidential election never should have been a lockdown. Why no flu at all in last year? Majority of so called positive cases have little to no symptoms. Supposed deaths were from pre-existing conditions. Mask mandate was a tool to spread the fear mongering masks did nothing. Dont believe the Hype

■ Should’ve never happened in the first place!

■ It shouldn’t have taken this long. This whole pandemic was nothing but a numbers game I later and worded to scare people. Think about it. Did you hear any flu numbers this past flu season? Everyone seemed to have past away from COVID complications and nothing else.

■ I’m in total support of his decision. Those of us who feel like we can’t breathe in a mask, have a very hard time going anywhere that masks are required. Those that feel safe with masks, have the liberty to wear one. I do think that we should avoid large gatherings where the crowds are thick and use discretion in certain places while keeping sanitizer close for hands.

■ They have already let in at least 108 illegal aliens with Covid. So, Biden isn’t too worried about stopping Covid or he wouldn’t be letting them in. I’m so tired of wearing masks. I’m glad Abbott has given us that option!

■ I think it’s weird that people are asking if it’s too soon or the right time or whatever other term you’d like to use to refer to the time period that liberties that never should have been infringed upon in the first place are being “given” back to us in some psychotic ceremonial benevolence.

■ It’s too soon. Even my mom said that it’s better to be safe than sorry. But this will get the government off the hook and they will put the cost and burden of enforcement on the businesses, which can’t afford it. It also lets people make the choice, and there are lots of people who feel that their own “rights” take precedence over your safety.

■ I will follow the CDC, not Abbott. Look at how the winter storm was handled.