no.42 - Stimulus Shmimulus

The government has begun sending out its "rebate" checks in a plan to stimulate the economy that is about as well conceived as the Iraq war.

You will get a check for $600 or $1200 and, I am assuming, a note from George W. Bush begging you to please spend it on something - anything - but for God's sake don't you squirrel it away and save it.

And really I have to agree because a year from now the value of the dollar will probably be half of what it is today — especially if you like eggs or other food, or anything that is delivered by truck, train or mule.

In total, the Government is "giving" the American public $152 billion dollars to spend on crap* so that companies selling crap* will be $152 billion richer. The companies, in turn, will be able to continue to report record earnings for another half hour.

Of course, there is a small chance that some unpatriotic Americans will choose to pay off a crumb of the unbearable debt load they have been tricked into, but I think it's more likely people will spend the entire check on gas for their strangely obese SUV's. This may not solve the problem with the economy (or the environment) but which certainly make the oil companies happy. Is it possible that is what George really wants?
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*Speed Racer toys from China, Blue-Ray players from Japan, or a sweater from God-know's-where, like the one my wife recently bought at Target that she was able to wear once before it unraveled into a pile of cheap frayed yarn in our dryer.