The government is paying me to write this

I don’t plan on making a lot of political posts but I can’t help myself. Especially where free money is concerned. There is a lot of talk right now about stimulating the economy by giving people rebates. I know how annoyed I am about having to cut a UPC from a cardboard box, so I'm glad they're not that type of rebate.

As much as I like free money, which I don't get nearly often enough, it’s not really free since us taxpayers are footing the bill. It makes more sense to me, or so my economic-illiterate mind thinks, to lower taxes -- though the tax booklets are already in the mail. There certainly wouldn’t be the cost of printing and mailing checks. But we know that when it comes to free money and shopping, people are not patient.

I am reminded of a plan Jimmy Buffett (not to be confused with Warren Buffett) suggested years ago to improve the U.S. economy while also ending the Cold War: take the money that could buy a B-1 bomber and drop it on the Soviet Union. A week later, drop copies of the Victoria's Secret catalog. The U.S. will have full employment. The Russian government won't know what's going on. And the Russian people will have crotchless underwear until the 21st century.

If I get a rebate and put it in savings, I’m told that I’m not helping the economy. Although saving is good and the money would probably be spent, eventually. No wonder no one saves any money these days. It’s bad for the economy.

If I get a rebate and go out and pay a bill, like my credit card bill, that’s not helping the economy either. At least that’s what the man on the news said. Even though a bill means I owe someone, like VISA, money. So do I help the economy or settle a debt I will have to pay eventually? Isn't paying someone for something I got weeks ago, like gasoline, good for the economy?

If I get a rebate and spend it on something, like a big screen tv, then that's good. Yippee! I’m helping the economy. I’m helping Target or wherever I buy it. I’m also helping the company that makes it -- which is probably not even in this country. But I don't want to get political here.

If I get the rebate and use it to pay something like my insurance premium (nearly $200 a month), isn’t that like a federal subsidy of Kaiser healthcare? Sure, I get the coverage but, unless I actually go to the doctor (chances are that I won't) , it seems like a rebate is helping Kaiser’s bottom line rather than mine.

Which makes me wonder:

• Which country’s economy is being helped by these rebates? Or in a so-called global economy, does it even matter.
• If the only people in this country that I am helping are retailers, wouldn’t it make more sense for the government to just send smaller rebate checks directly to retailers? Wouldn't we be sending less tax money overseas?

I know nothing pleases people more than free money.
And in an election year, it’s important to please more people than the other guy.

I'll probably use my rebate to pay my ISP bill so I can keep posting this blog. Is it so wrong to use my rebate to continue inflicting pain upon others?