Quote Originally Posted by dragonrider
My feeling about the rebate check is that it is just another example of Bush's fiscal irresponsibility. It would have been more honest of him to say, "We want you to spend more to prop up the economy --- each one of you get out your credit cards and spend 600 dollars you don't have." Since everyone would have thought that was stupid or crazy, he did it for you. Bush is going to borrow 600 dollars for you to spend, and it will come back to you in the form of future taxes. At some time in the future you or your children will pay back that $600 plus interest in the form of higher taxes, maybe $1200, or $1800, or $2400 depending on how long it takes to pay it off. Bush and the congress are just trying to buy votes with this one by taking a cash advance on your credit card.
Brother, I'm far less worried about incentive checks like this one collecting interest, and much more worried about the toll that the actual Iraq war is costing us. At least with the checks, there's the chance that it'll do precisely what it's supposed to to... which is stimulate the economy a bit. The billions being spent on the war is an entirely different concern, and I'd hate to see that money wasted just because a liberal administration decides to cut & run. I don't favor the Iraq debacle, but I'm certainly not against the global war on terror. We're living in turbulent times, and there's no definitive end in sight. Plus, Bushs' incentive package may help alleviate other pertinent concerns; like a late mortgage payment, or having the money to put fuel in your vehicle to get you to work, or even the money to blow on a CO2 system, or new lights, or something! :jointsmile:

It's kind of hard to put too much of a negative spin on the topic. Most Americans are grateful.