So if you’ve been following the news lately, or just overhearing office chatter, you know that Bush is trying to push through his economic “stimulus plan.” I like how he calls it a “stimulus” plan. What is it supposed to stimulate? I hope he isn’t talking about your gonads!

We can immediately deduce 2 things from this plan:

1) Bush plans on giving us (taxpayers and maybe people receiving social security) money that was already ours to begin with.

2) Bush does not want you to save this “free” money. In fact, he wants you to use it ASAP. According to economic theory, the increased consumer spending will help pump new money into a slow moving economy with little new money being put in.

Okay, so I’m all good with a hefty tax rebate. The government is aiming to give tax payers rebates of between $600-$1200. Now, I don’t know about you, but when someone cuts me a check for $600, no matter what the money is for, the first thing that goes through my mind is how I would spend it. I don’t get $600 from someone and then look forward to putting it in the bank. In a sense, what the government wants to see is Americans spending more; MUCH more. If you think about it, if 10 million tax paying Americans receive a check for $600 from the Fed, and all 10 million people spend their $600, that’s $6 billion being pumped back into the economy almost at once. Now obviously that’s probably not the actual figure, but that’s the basic idea. We, the people of the United States, must save our country… by spending money.

I’m not complaining about the tax rebate (if it actually goes through, which it should). I just think it sucks that the only reason why we’re getting some of our hard earned money back is because we’re expected to throw it back in the pile. It’s like playing Monopoly and you keep passing GO and getting your $200 but you keep landing on someone’s house and that $200 is instantly negated. I can’t even begin to explain how many times i wanted to flip the board over in frustration whenever that happens.

The idea is that the rebates will encourage consumer spending, which will give the economy the jump start it needs to speed up and take us out of a possible recession. A healthy economy is good for everyone right? Well, a healthy economy is good, but it’s especially desirable for a politician looking for re-election. Don’t want to lose your job? Make sure your company is making money and you won’t. Same thing goes for government.

I’m actually looking forward to a rebate (if I get one at all). $600 that the Fed is giving me to spend is better than $0 the Fed is giving me to spend. So if and when this economic stimulus plan goes through, let me know how you’re gonna spend your new found wealth because, u know, you have a responsibility to save the economy.

I know I might not be accurate on some things I said. I don’t claim to be an expert, these are just my thoughts and opinions. If you disagree, good for you. Next time I’ll give you a cookie. =D