Push and Pull

Every bit of good news seems to be countered during these times. Yes, the IRS has started sending out economic impact payments, but there are still many people wondering where their money is. Yes, there was a big chunk of money set aside for the Paycheck Protection Program, but that was rapidly used up and now Congress is working to potentially put some more money into the program (which does thankfully look like it will be passed by the end of the week).

As for the first part, if you want to hear about some of the issues with rolling out the individual payouts, this article on USA Today gives a pretty full overview of the situation. As fair warning, there’s not much good news in it, though. If you are someone who wants to know when to expect your payment, you can use the IRS’s get my payment tool here to possibly get information. If that doesn’t help you much, though, the agency also has a pretty good FAQ page that could help you better understand your situation.

Then there was the rollout for the PPP that felt difficult from the start as guidance came from the federal government late the night before loan applications were supposed to begin. That meant not every financial institution was immediately ready for those applications, which looms large now that the $349 billion pot sounded big to start but did not last long. And then one can start to question if the money was given in accordance with what felt like the spirit of the program, as highlighted in this CNN article.  Again, that link comes with the warning that that news doesn’t feel all too good, either.

With all that being said, it’s time for some good news. In fact, it’s time to give lots of good news, because we need that large of a dose. This then is me letting everyone know about the website goodnewsnetwork.org. And granted, a lot of the news still circulates around COVID-19 (but not all if you do need a complete break – and take that break if it is necessary), but it does show the good we can do as human beings when faced with some of the most trying of circumstances.

So here is to hoping you feel the pull of some of that good in this time that can feel like a tug of war.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
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