Working The Economic Voodoo: Bush's Magic "Shot In The Arm"

If you listen to W, today, you would think we are all but one shopping spree away from fixing what ails our economy.

Secondly, the growth package will provide tax rebates to more than 130 million American households. These rebates will begin reaching American families in May. And when the money reaches the American people, we expect they will use it to boost consumer spending, and that will spur job creation, as well.

Well, we all wish that were true. Unfortunately, it's our reckless spending on wars and mortgages we can not afford that his killed George Bush's economic plan.

When a person suggest that all we need do is go out and spend our way out of recession, she or he misses the whole point. It's not spending that we have trouble with; it's spending without the means to cover the costs. All Bush is doing is feeding our habitual spending beyond our means by encouraging "retail therapy." That's like giving crack free to the local crack head. Before you know it the blow is gone and you are back to the debt ridden operation you had before the check arrived. Sounds like more of that twisted brand of GOP fiscal conservatism that put us where we are now; in a very large hole with no ladder big enough to reach the rim out.

Well, shoot, if I get one extra Starbucks Latte out of my rebate check I'll be happy, but I doubt it will create a new job. In fact, if I were responsible, I will simply have to sign over the rebate check back to the government to pay my tax bill in April.

Just out of curiosity, what do you plan to do with your check to accomplish the President's aims?