stimulus package. heh. i said package.

you've heard about the latest round of stimulus pkg being distributed to us regular folks - right? it's about $13 per week on everyone's paycheck. i have no idea who thought this up or how it works. like, i think it's some sort of tax break, but since we don't have a flat tax, how does it work that everyone is getting the same amount? there is very little talk about how it was conjured. there's very little talk about it at all, save scoffing. everyone's all like - $13? what the hell can i do with $13? i probably won't even notice it. ah-hah! did you see it? the brilliance is in the smallness.

see, the problem with the big stimulus checks is that people save them or use them to pay off existing debt. normally, that would not be a problem. saving & paying off existing debt are good things, but - here's the key - they don't stimulate the economy. for the stimulus to work as it's designed to, we must all go out and spend it. $13 per week for 52 weeks is $676. if you received a check for $676, what would you do with it? probably pay off existing debt or save it - this has been proven through past stimulus checks to be our modus operandi.

so instead of giving us $676 apiece, they are giving us $13 per week. not enough to even notice. a small trickle that will work its way back into the economy. the simplicity is part of the brilliance.

and, the stimulus goes to people who are working - people who are bringing home a paycheck. it's not just free money being handed out randomly to people who aren't even working. sorry to you people who aren't working, but i am supporting a bunch of you already with my tax $$ so instead of handing more to you, it's nice to get a wee bit back for myself.

a wee bit every week. not enough to notice. an extra tank of gas. a couple sub sammiches or baked potatoes. an extra steak at the supermarket. a book. a new pack of tee shirts. this or that. something small. but added together, and it's not so small anymore.

and what would you buy with $676 if you did spend it? a wii? a washing machine? new tires for the car? you'd make one large purchase, and then go back to your regular habits. with the wee bit extra every week, there's a constant supply of money being spent here, there, & yonder. the supply is constant and widespread, and we all get used to spending again. we're all scared to spend, concerned we'll need the money later, and probably wouldn't spend our $676 at all [yes, i already said this]. it's not scary to spend $13. it just slips through your hands. you get comfortable with spending again.

widespread & consistent. nonthreatening & easy.

simply brilliant.