An Open Letter

To President Obama, his cabinet, and all members of Congress.

You keep telling us the economy is in Dire Straits, and Immediate Action is Necessary.

You want to pass a bill worth nearly a trillion dollars, to "jump start" things, create jobs, etc., etc. Except most of this won't be available for over a year...

Here's an idea.

Instead of raising taxes, and running up the National Debt, simply declare 2008 a
"tax holiday." Forgive all income taxes on wages, interest, etc. for 2008. this would still run up the National Debt, yes, but, on the other hand, it would put millions, not billions, of dollars directly in the hands of those best suited to jump-start the economy: The citizens of the United States.

A lot of us will turn around on receipt of our (100%) tax refunds and pay bills, thereby pumping millions of dollars into the banking and credit industries. Saving or even (re)creating jobs.

And a lot of us will immediately spend the (100%) refunds on... stuff. Cars, big-screen TVs, ipods, guns, trips to Tahiti, a new roof, whatever. Thereby pumping millions of dollars into the manufacturing, service, and retail sectors. Saving or even (re)creating jobs.

Some of us will split the two. Many of us will do one or both, plus donating to charitable organizations.

Whichever option we choose, we will not be cursing you for a bunch of unprincipled, corrupt, pork-addicted, crooks, conniving to bankrupt the nation in the name of saving it, all to funnel sweetheart-deal money into the pockets of your cronies in exchange for kickbacks or favors.

Or... You can continue as you are, and hope that we are as stupid as you seem to think.

As Nanabozho is my witness, I wrote the above before I checked Sound Politics today and found the link to the following quote from President Hopey-Changey:

In the end, the answer to our economic troubles rests less in my hands, or in the hands of our legislators, than it does with America's workers and the businesses that employ them. They are the ones whose efforts and ideas will determine our economic destiny, just as they always have. For in the end, it's businesses -- large and small -- that generate the jobs, provide the salaries, and serve as the foundation on which the American people's lives and dreams depend. All we can do, those of us here in Washington, is help create a favorable climate in which workers can prosper, businesses can thrive, and our economy can grow.

The bolded text would lead one less familiar with the tendencies of Democratic politicians to believe that tax cuts are in the offing...