Tax Rebate

Up until now, only my husband has been subjected to my occassional politically-charged rants, but as a former accountant, and this being tax time I get all sorts of wacky ideas brewing in my brain, I feel compelled to share my opinion on the above-titled subject. I'd also like to think of it as less of a rant, and more of a public service announcement.

By now, you have probably heard that most of us middle-to-no-income American citizens (sorry Manuel, the irrigation guy) will be receiving a lump-sum tax rebate in the mail in the very near future. Yes, the very same government who believes that we as Americans are financially savvy enough to take control of our own retirement funds and healthcare, is banking on the hopes that we will squander our unexpected, albeit small, financial windfall on plasma tv's, new car downpayments, home gyms, and stainless-steel appliances in order to stimulate our sluggish economy, and, thus, rescue our current leader from his looming future moniker, "Worst U.S. President EVER."

Although, there is not much we can do about that, we can redeem ourselves from our own personal economic crises, by not yielding to what the government expects us to do with this money. I find it hard to believe that going out and buying myself a 50" Sony Bravia will somehow rescue us all from a recession. Consequently, I do know of one country that would be extremely elated at the prospect of millions of Americans upgrading their mind-numbing, idiot boxes.

All that being said, my husband and I plan to pay down our debt with our rebate. Actually pay for the stuff we already have...a novel concept, I know. And I urge all Americans to do the same. Pay down your credit cards, or put money away for your child's education or your retirement. Create a rainy-day fund. For example, when you need to buy a new air-conditioning unit because your old one brakes under stress due to abnormally heavy use brought on by global warming. Or, I don't know....call it crazy....paying your mortgage bill next month might be considered a wise investment choice. It baffles me to think, in the face of our country's current mortgage crisis and in the midst of government-funded bail-outs, we are being encouraged to go out and spend our rebates on "frills," instead of ensuring we have a roof over our head.

But, alas, it is inevitable, American will go out and buy "stuff" they don't need then complain they don't have enough money to pay their bills...it's the American Way, and our government is betting on it.