I got a "Stimulus" check today from the United States Treasury for $631.70. This is, I think, the third check that I've received during the 7 years that Bush has been in office. Getting checks from the government feels like political bribery to me; if there is too much money in government coffers, change tax policy for next year, and be good stewards of the funds you have, don't waste our tax money with a stunt like sending me this check.
Maybe if all the citizens get a few hundred bucks each, we won't be outraged about the private contractors in Iraq (all with personal connections with the Bush administration) getting billions of unaccountable contract dollars from the same Treasury.
Bush is throwing chump change on the floor to distract us as his buddies leave the back door with the real money.
I really do have mixed feelings about receiving this check. I don't want it, but of course I appreciate extra cash from nowhere. How much did it cost to print these checks? Postage? Communication to us about the purpose?
At the end of 2007, this country is 9 trillion dollars in debt. That same year, the US population is somewhere around 301 million people. By my calculations, I should owe the government nearly $30,000 to pay off my portion of the total debt.
How is it that I am getting a check from the government? Where is it coming from? It is not coming from a budget surplus. It is not coming from a rainy day account. It must be coming from the already large debt pool that we have been accumulating.
There have been lots of "what will you do with the money" type articles over the past few weeks, as if suddenly we have all won the lottery. I think this check is really a sad testament to the shape of our country and its priorities and economy.
This check really does not feel like it's mine. It's taken from the public treasury. It makes me angry. It convinces me that I haven't been enough of an activist over the last 7 depressing years.
My instinct is to take this check and use every last cent to ensure that everything Bush has done will not just be undone, but will never, ever happen again.