Unemployment rose because many companies laid off workers and many also quit because they were tired of poor work environments, using the stimulus checks as a financial cushion while they looked to find better opportunities. And it worked; many places (at least where I live) have significantly better starting wages and benefits. I can say from first-hand experience it was an aid; we were able to actually pay for loans and shit while still being able to put food on the table, and now we no longer use food stamps. It wasn't horrible for everybody. Sure, we'll have to pay it back, at least on paper. Let's be realistic here: the US as a nation is trillions if dollars in debt, but are we ever really gonna pay that? Doubt so. Even if we do, with the amount of people that will be living in the US by the time the government asks us to pay it back will be able to collectively assume all the debt. $800 Billion, ok, we currently have around 330 million people. We'll have more by the time we start paying this debt back; for the sake of the argument let's say that number stays at 330 million. If every individual was accounted for and each household paid by person, each person would be about $2,500. Seems like a lot, but over several payments per month it would work out. Don't want to pay the debt? Well then, I assume you never spent your stimulus money then. Send it back to the government now then, since it's so useless.